Starred review from April 25, 2022
Ten-year-old, brown-skinned Elvie searches for her parents in this hopeful dystopian graphic novel set in 2101. Fifty years after a deadly “sun shift” endangered humankind and wiped out nearly all mammals, most people live underground to avoid lethal sun sickness. Because Elvie’s caretaker, white biologist Flora, developed an antidote to the ailment from the scales of monarch butterflies, available in small, perishable batches, the duo can travel in daylight. They traverse the West Coast in their mobile lab, classic road trip–style, following the butterflies’ migration and hoping to produce a vaccine while attempting to locate Elvie’s parents, who went to Mexico seeking “monarch medicine” eight years earlier. Pillaging marauders and crumbling infrastructure plague the coast, making for a gripping and action-packed tale. Bold ink lines paired with vibrant watercolors lend an ethereal feel to the sun-drenched landscape, providing a whimsical gentleness to Case’s eerie, futuristic world. Elvie records nature observations and maps out her travels in her journal, balancing educational exposition with the ominous atmosphere of this fresh and timely apocalyptic narrative. Ages 9–12.
May 1, 2022
Gr 6 Up-It's 2101, and a solar apocalypse has killed most of humanity; those who survive must stay underground to avoid getting sick from sun exposure. Elvie, an endlessly curious Black preteen, lives with her guardian Flora, a scientist who has found a way to turn monarch butterfly scales into an antidote to sun sickness. During the day, Elvie and Flora forage for food and supplies, study monarch medicine, and avoid other humans, who are either rivals or outright enemies. Hoping to develop a vaccine, Elvie's scientist parents have traveled to Mexico to gather materials from the monarchs that flock there at the end of their migration. They haven't returned, but Elvie believes they are still alive, so she and Flora set off to Mexico to find them, relying on a dwindling supply of the antidote to keep them safe. Case's artwork showcases the strong relationship between Flora and Elvie through detailed body language and expressions, and each has a unique voice. Excerpts from Elvie's naturalist journal bookend important discoveries the pair make on their journey and show her to be quick-witted, scientifically-minded, and intuitive. Vibrant colors spread from page to page, mirroring the monarch butterfly's sunset orange hues. Each panel is filled with detailed drawings and text, which at times overwhelm the page. However, this graphic novel packs a punch, expertly balancing science fiction with the looming environmental crisis, highlighting the delicate balance of every aspect of our planet's relationship with the sun and our ecosystem. VERDICT Meticulously researched biology and environmental science make this a unique addition to any library serving teens.-Elise Martinez
Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Starred review from May 1, 2022
Spectacular cartooning, meticulous world-building, and an arresting post-apocalyptic premise form the foundation of this exceptional graphic novel. Set in the summer of 2101, the story follows ten-year-old Elvie and her caretaker, Flora, as they track migrating monarch butterflies south along the western seaboard. Such a journey has become treacherous ever since the 2049 shift in the sun's radiation levels, leading to the worldwide extinction of nearly all mammals. A small number of humans survived underground, able to inhabit the surface only at night; however, Flora has developed a temporary medication for "sun sickness" using scales from monarch wings. The pair's quest to reunite Elvie with her parents in Mexico, despite earthquakes, crumbling infrastructure, and double-crossing strangers, leads to a hard-earned, hopeful ending. Case's ink and watercolor illustrations are lush, dynamic, and impressively consistent from panel to panel, allowing readers to immerse themselves in a believable near-future of solar-powered cars and automated roadside construction machinery. Hand-lettered sound effects are skillfully integrated into nearly every scene, whether a massive tsunami ("WHHHHHHHHH") or slurps of spaghetti ("SPTTTTTTTHHH"). Practical facts (such as how to properly hang a hammock or survive a snake bite) are generously peppered across the narrative, injecting a continual dose of realism. Patrick Gall
(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
May 1, 2022
Spectacular cartooning, meticulous world-building, and an arresting post-apocalyptic premise form the foundation of this exceptional graphic novel. Set in the summer of 2101, the story follows ten-year-old Elvie and her caretaker, Flora, as they track migrating monarch butterflies south along the western seaboard. Such a journey has become treacherous ever since the 2049 shift in the sun's radiation levels, leading to the worldwide extinction of nearly all mammals. A small number of humans survived underground, able to inhabit the surface only at night; however, Flora has developed a temporary medication for "sun sickness" using scales from monarch wings. The pair's quest to reunite Elvie with her parents in Mexico, despite earthquakes, crumbling infrastructure, and double-crossing strangers, leads to a hard-earned, hopeful ending. Case's ink and watercolor illustrations are lush, dynamic, and impressively consistent from panel to panel, allowing readers to immerse themselves in a believable near-future of solar-powered cars and automated roadside construction machinery. Hand-lettered sound effects are skillfully integrated into nearly every scene, whether a massive tsunami ("WHHHHHHHHH") or slurps of spaghetti ("SPTTTTTTTHHH"). Practical facts (such as how to properly hang a hammock or survive a snake bite) are generously peppered across the narrative, injecting a continual dose of realism. Patrick Gall
(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
Starred review from February 1, 2022
Grades 5-8 *Starred Review* For a postapocalyptic survival struggle, Little Monarchs is nothing short of a romp, vibrant with a sense of exploration, adventure, and discovery. Ten-year-old Elvie is an irresistible combination of precocious knowledge and competence, childlike obstinacy and longing. Ever since a disaster apparently claimed her parents, she has been on a perennial road trip with scientist Flora--part guardian, part big sister--searching out monarch butterflies. From the monarchs, they extract (non-lethally) an element that allows Flora to synthesize a medicine that counteracts the sun's shifted radiation, which has decimated Earth's mammal population. Their ongoing quest is complicated, though, by the discovery of a young boy and, eventually, his adoptive family, creating difficult and dangerous dilemmas, both emotional and practical. Case exalts science and its meticulous application and brings it to life through Elvie's journal, in which she discourses on various real-life survival necessities, like which plants are safe to eat and how to survive a snakebite. At the same time, slightly exaggerated facial features express depths of emotion, and the painterly, nuanced palette supports the story's measured complexity as it considers how and when we should put our faith in other people. It is a romp, but one that acknowledges tragedy and sacrifice and still ends on a pitch-perfect page of imminent joy.
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Starred review from February 15, 2022
A 22nd-century picaresque with nefarious characters, chosen family, unavoidable camping, and lifesaving butterflies. It's 2101, and most mammals have died from sun exposure--a fate the few remaining humans suffer if they don't live underground as Deepers. Some Deepers are friendly; others will take what they can get by any means necessary. Since Elvie's parents departed for Michoac�n, Mexico, 8 years earlier in search of more monarch butterflies, ran into danger, and have not returned, 10-year-old Black science whiz Elvie has been cared for by her guardian, Flora, a White scientist. Flora and Elvie hope to make a vaccine that enables humans to tolerate sunlight. They struggle to find food, and Flora's awful cooking sometimes makes their foraged food inedible. Elvie's journals, which contain her homework, science notes, and sketches, trace their journey--including tracking their latitude and longitude daily--as they follow the amazing migration path of the monarchs, whose young have the ingredient necessary for making both the sun sickness antidote and the vaccine. The eclecticism of Case's lively visuals in this riveting graphic novel will keep readers both enthralled and learning. The book teaches some astronomy, botany, biology, entomology, animal science, knot tying, and more. Elvie's special relationship with Flora, along with her quick wit, scientific knowledge, and careful observation skills, makes her a character worth following. Yet she's all kid--and one who badly wants to be reunited with her parents. Superbly written and illustrated; keeps readers breathless and guessing until the end. (author's note) (Graphic fiction. 8-12)
COPYRIGHT(2022) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
January 1, 2022
Spectacular cartooning, meticulous world-building, and an arresting post-apocalyptic premise form the foundation of this exceptional graphic novel. Set in the summer of 2101, the story follows ten-year-old Elvie and her caretaker, Flora, as they track migrating monarch butterflies south along the western seaboard. Such a journey has become treacherous ever since the 2049 shift in the sun's radiation levels, leading to the worldwide extinction of nearly all mammals. A small number of humans survived underground, able to inhabit the surface only at night; however, Flora has developed a temporary medication for "sun sickness" using scales from monarch wings. The pair's quest to reunite Elvie with her parents in Mexico, despite earthquakes, crumbling infrastructure, and double-crossing strangers, leads to a hard-earned, hopeful ending. Case's ink and watercolor illustrations are lush, dynamic, and impressively consistent from panel to panel, allowing readers to immerse themselves in a believable near-future of solar-powered cars and automated roadside construction machinery. Hand-lettered sound effects are skillfully integrated into nearly every scene, whether a massive tsunami ("WHHHHHHHHH") or slurps of spaghetti ("SPTTTTTTTHHH"). Practical facts (such as how to properly hang a hammock or survive a snake bite) are generously peppered across the narrative, injecting a continual dose of realism.
(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)