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Magic Girls #1
Kira and the (Maybe) Space Princess
Fashionable fights, flashy attacks, and friends that are out of this world! This wacky and funny graphic novel series is a love letter to manga fans. With a tongue in cheek humor and delightfully fun action scenes, this series is perfect for fans of Sailor Moon , Cardcaptor Sakura , and Katie the Catsitter .
There's nothing cooler than Magical Girls - pretty superheroes fighting villains with the power of friendship and glitter? What could be better than that! This year in middle school, Kira is going to be cool and popular and have SO many friends because she’s going to be a MAGICAL GIRL! ...Or not.
Frustrated beyond belief, Kira makes a wish on a shooting star that her life will change – and when Catacorn, a cat-unicorn-space-princess, crashes into Kira's backyard, it seems her wish has come true…kinda…maybe… Oh no. Is Kira's dream of being a Magical Girl really possible...or is Catacorn not really what she promises to be?
There's nothing cooler than Magical Girls - pretty superheroes fighting villains with the power of friendship and glitter? What could be better than that! This year in middle school, Kira is going to be cool and popular and have SO many friends because she’s going to be a MAGICAL GIRL! ...Or not.
Frustrated beyond belief, Kira makes a wish on a shooting star that her life will change – and when Catacorn, a cat-unicorn-space-princess, crashes into Kira's backyard, it seems her wish has come true…kinda…maybe… Oh no. Is Kira's dream of being a Magical Girl really possible...or is Catacorn not really what she promises to be?
256 pages, Hardcover
First published March 5, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
March 5, 2024
Small bit of review: I quite enjoyed this one. I had BIG issues with Kira, really wanted to sling her into space several times she was just so rude, but in the later half things went better in regards to her and I started to, very slowly, like her more. I loved art. Tulip was great. Catacorn was an interesting character and I loved finding out more about her. The transformation and the outfits and the actions were all just SO awesome and I now want to watch some mahou shoujo anime (well, technically I am watching one, but I mean a more pure mahou shoujo, teehee). I loved how the graphic novel got better and better and I loved the ending. It was just so fab. Oh, and plus points for the colours and sparkles. Also the cover was a lot of fun. Oh, and I liked the bonus extras, those made me happy. Oh, and I cannot forget that I love everyone living on Neo-Earth. Not just humans, but also mermaids, aliens, and others. And yes, I want book 2!
Also check out my 15 reactions to the book on my blog: https://twirlingbookprincess.com/2024...
Also check out my 15 reactions to the book on my blog: https://twirlingbookprincess.com/2024...
January 22, 2024
Middle school struggles, magic, catacorns, epic battles, and warp missions!? This was a fun, quirky read that pulled in some inspiration from one of my childhood favorites, Sailor Moon! Fans of The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza, Phoebe and Her Unicorn, and anime-esque reads will love this one.
July 19, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley for an honest review for a digital review copy.
And thanks to Taylor for finding this and recommending it!this was more like 3.5 stars.
I grew up on the US dub Sailor Moon, love magical girl manga and graphics. So I went in with high expectations. The art was cute and distinct. I wish the plot was a little more clear, sometimes the focus was lost on is this a character & friendship building story, the real backstory on the Space Princess (which I need more explanation about, and I’m sure book 2 will explore). We got to know Kira we learn she wants to be a magical girl, but doesn’t like Tulip the actual local magical girl. Why is so much sparkle energy needed? In Sailor Moon it was always for nefarious purposes.
Good graphic, just wanted a little plot and purpose.
And thanks to Taylor for finding this and recommending it!this was more like 3.5 stars.
I grew up on the US dub Sailor Moon, love magical girl manga and graphics. So I went in with high expectations. The art was cute and distinct. I wish the plot was a little more clear, sometimes the focus was lost on is this a character & friendship building story, the real backstory on the Space Princess (which I need more explanation about, and I’m sure book 2 will explore). We got to know Kira we learn she wants to be a magical girl, but doesn’t like Tulip the actual local magical girl. Why is so much sparkle energy needed? In Sailor Moon it was always for nefarious purposes.
Good graphic, just wanted a little plot and purpose.
April 3, 2024
'Magic Girls: Kira and the (Maybe) Space Princess'
*(happy) sigh*
Sometimes, I just want to read a silly kids' comic about magical girls.
'Magic Girls' is a parody of the genre, to be sure, and it is boisterous, over the top, all over the place, crudely-and-not-particularly-well-drawn, sparkly, and in it anything goes - no idea is too stupid and nonsensical to be included. But darn, it has fun with the concept, and the magical girl genre as a whole, and I had fun reading it. My lifelong love of magical girls seems unconditional, with little regard for boundaries, standards and critical thought.
Basic synopsis: It is Neo-Earth, where there exist vampires, werewolves, robots, cyclopes, cat people, people with pointy ears, people with horns, people with shiny crystals for hair, angels, mummies, centaurs, talking fogs, and mermaids. Annual Land and Sea battle competitions - where magical girls from both the land and the sea fight each other - take place seemingly at random for dominance and entertainment. Our protagonist is Kira, a friendless, not-yet teenage human student at Neo-Earth Junior High (apparently the whole planet is... yeah you know what, just go with it), who wants to become a magical girl and be a somebody. The newest resident "secret" magical girl is fellow student Tulip, aka Fairytale Fighter, whom Kira hates for being popular and "perfect", even though Tulip really is nice and shy, and dealing with her own problems in her responsibilities as a magical girl. Anyway, one night Kira wishes on a shooting star - well, a trashcan from outer space - and out pops Catacorn, a half-cat/half-unicorn alien princess (though no one on Neo-Earth believes in space aliens, when everything else there does exist... huh, ha, this is lampshaded, at least). Kira sees Catacorn as her familiar, sent to give her powers and turn her into a magical girl. Now she can become popular and cool!
The two girls - the wannabe magical girl and the space cat princess - each have their own ulterior motive, with varying levels of selfishness. But as the story develops, can the magic girls learn and grow to genuinely like each other, and understand and respect one another, and become friends? Together, can they become a magical team, a magical friendship duo* (plus, hopefully, Tulip)?
Huh. Guess that wasn't so basic, was it? Not as short as I'd thought it would be.
Wow, what a fun time! Very funny and satirical. I can tell that the author of 'Magic Girls', Megan Brennan, loves the genre she is parodying. It is an affectionate parody to a T. It's like 'Adventure Time' meets 'Sailor Moon'.
A noteworthy thing I like is there is no attempt to make Kira a "likeable" female protagonist. She is around twelve years of age, and she is loud, angry, moody, selfish, inconsiderate, and yells out whatever is in her head at any given moment. Her character is written and drawn in a comedic fashion, and it is clear that she has no friends precisely because of her rudeness, bitterness, sulkiness, temper, outbursts, outrageously-expressed insecurities, and lack of filter. With her unself-awareness she doesn't notice these flaws in herself. She is like the most obnoxious of shonen manga and anime heroes.
But Kira does mature somewhat as the comic progresses, and slowly realises how badly she treats people and the consequences of her words and actions. Maybe it's not enough to redeem her completely, but I like the uniqueness of her. Besides, in the world she lives in, she is comparatively ordinary, bland and tame; can you blame her for wanting to stand out and be seen? To be special? Like a heroic magical girl with an anthropomorphic animal familiar?
She also learns that getting what she thought she wanted isn't what it's cracked up to be.
What does Kira really want? True friends, maybe?
Unsurprisingly, Catacorn is the cutest, most lovable cinnamon bun character.
Briefly and sparingly included are a nameless, mysterious cool bad boy love interest, and a giant rabbit helmet. Constantly mentioned are sparkle energy, power-ups, and warps. Interdimensional space warp zones. The mermaid "villain", Mystical Mysticeti, is a fun, ultimately harmless foe, too.
'Magic Girls: Kira and the (Maybe) Space Princess' - it can get crowded and messy (the chaotic, leaves-quite-a-bit-to-be-desired artwork doesn't help), and there are plenty of plot holes and unresolved matters and mysteries. But I don't mind. Leave it to the next volume, possibly. Probably.
I expected an all-ages, cute, cartoony, sparkly and funny magical girl comic with a friendship message, and that's what I got. From the title alone I knew what I was in for. It is not meant to be taken seriously. It is weird and different, playful and enjoyable; the author's love is displayed everywhere.
Another Magical GirlTM product to add to my collection. Another guilty pleasure.
Final Score: 3.5/5
* Other names for them mentioned in the comic are: the Cutie Warp Fighters, and a Double Act.
*(happy) sigh*
Sometimes, I just want to read a silly kids' comic about magical girls.
'Magic Girls' is a parody of the genre, to be sure, and it is boisterous, over the top, all over the place, crudely-and-not-particularly-well-drawn, sparkly, and in it anything goes - no idea is too stupid and nonsensical to be included. But darn, it has fun with the concept, and the magical girl genre as a whole, and I had fun reading it. My lifelong love of magical girls seems unconditional, with little regard for boundaries, standards and critical thought.
Basic synopsis: It is Neo-Earth, where there exist vampires, werewolves, robots, cyclopes, cat people, people with pointy ears, people with horns, people with shiny crystals for hair, angels, mummies, centaurs, talking fogs, and mermaids. Annual Land and Sea battle competitions - where magical girls from both the land and the sea fight each other - take place seemingly at random for dominance and entertainment. Our protagonist is Kira, a friendless, not-yet teenage human student at Neo-Earth Junior High (apparently the whole planet is... yeah you know what, just go with it), who wants to become a magical girl and be a somebody. The newest resident "secret" magical girl is fellow student Tulip, aka Fairytale Fighter, whom Kira hates for being popular and "perfect", even though Tulip really is nice and shy, and dealing with her own problems in her responsibilities as a magical girl. Anyway, one night Kira wishes on a shooting star - well, a trashcan from outer space - and out pops Catacorn, a half-cat/half-unicorn alien princess (though no one on Neo-Earth believes in space aliens, when everything else there does exist... huh, ha, this is lampshaded, at least). Kira sees Catacorn as her familiar, sent to give her powers and turn her into a magical girl. Now she can become popular and cool!
The two girls - the wannabe magical girl and the space cat princess - each have their own ulterior motive, with varying levels of selfishness. But as the story develops, can the magic girls learn and grow to genuinely like each other, and understand and respect one another, and become friends? Together, can they become a magical team, a magical friendship duo* (plus, hopefully, Tulip)?
Huh. Guess that wasn't so basic, was it? Not as short as I'd thought it would be.
Wow, what a fun time! Very funny and satirical. I can tell that the author of 'Magic Girls', Megan Brennan, loves the genre she is parodying. It is an affectionate parody to a T. It's like 'Adventure Time' meets 'Sailor Moon'.
A noteworthy thing I like is there is no attempt to make Kira a "likeable" female protagonist. She is around twelve years of age, and she is loud, angry, moody, selfish, inconsiderate, and yells out whatever is in her head at any given moment. Her character is written and drawn in a comedic fashion, and it is clear that she has no friends precisely because of her rudeness, bitterness, sulkiness, temper, outbursts, outrageously-expressed insecurities, and lack of filter. With her unself-awareness she doesn't notice these flaws in herself. She is like the most obnoxious of shonen manga and anime heroes.
But Kira does mature somewhat as the comic progresses, and slowly realises how badly she treats people and the consequences of her words and actions. Maybe it's not enough to redeem her completely, but I like the uniqueness of her. Besides, in the world she lives in, she is comparatively ordinary, bland and tame; can you blame her for wanting to stand out and be seen? To be special? Like a heroic magical girl with an anthropomorphic animal familiar?
She also learns that getting what she thought she wanted isn't what it's cracked up to be.
What does Kira really want? True friends, maybe?
Unsurprisingly, Catacorn is the cutest, most lovable cinnamon bun character.
Briefly and sparingly included are a nameless, mysterious cool bad boy love interest, and a giant rabbit helmet. Constantly mentioned are sparkle energy, power-ups, and warps. Interdimensional space warp zones. The mermaid "villain", Mystical Mysticeti, is a fun, ultimately harmless foe, too.
'Magic Girls: Kira and the (Maybe) Space Princess' - it can get crowded and messy (the chaotic, leaves-quite-a-bit-to-be-desired artwork doesn't help), and there are plenty of plot holes and unresolved matters and mysteries. But I don't mind. Leave it to the next volume, possibly. Probably.
I expected an all-ages, cute, cartoony, sparkly and funny magical girl comic with a friendship message, and that's what I got. From the title alone I knew what I was in for. It is not meant to be taken seriously. It is weird and different, playful and enjoyable; the author's love is displayed everywhere.
Another Magical GirlTM product to add to my collection. Another guilty pleasure.
Final Score: 3.5/5
* Other names for them mentioned in the comic are: the Cutie Warp Fighters, and a Double Act.
April 12, 2024
I think that “Kira and the (Maybe) Space Princess” by Megan Brennan was fun, cute, very tongue in cheek and self aware. I absolutely love the art style and coloring. I think Brennan did an absolutely amazing job at combining the super cute feminine dazzling rainbow fun of the typical shoujo manga with the popular western cartoon style. It was manga-esque, but not, and it was cartoon-esque, but not. I can’t stress enough how much I loved the visuals of this graphic novel. If my review was based on the art alone then this graphic novel would be ten stars.
Unfortunately, I do feel like the graphic novel was weighed down by issues with the characterizations and the plot as a whole. I wish the plot focused on a character who wasn’t so unbelievably self centered and bratty. I’m fully aware that Brennan made Kira so exaggerated for comedic effect (what preteen doesn’t have an angsty self-centered phase?) but I think it really dimmed my enjoyment of the book. The other characters are also quite generic and we don’t hear much from them at all. We do see Caticorn get nervous, excited, and lonely but we don’t get to hear much of her thoughts at all. Although Tulip also was a mostly static character, we do get to see the build up for future volumes. I look forward to seeing Tulip gain some confidence in herself and for Kira to learn even a shred of humility.
Any tension and conflict in the book is because Kira had such a bad personality or inability to see things from an unbiased perspective. Only at the very end is there any legitimate worry going on and even then it’s resolved in a few pages. Most magical girl stories have the main girl(s) have at least a few series battles and villains throughout. Kira’s only enemy throughout was herself and she never really acknowledged that. I was also confused throughout if Kira was ACTUALLY made into a magical girl - the back cover mentions how Caticorn isn’t being completely truthful so I was waiting for that twist. It also seems like there can only be ONE magical girl of Neo-Earth but Kira still seemed sure she could also become one.
I do see that this is going to be a series, so I’ll definitely be reading the rest of them. Hopefully there’s some character development, but if not then the gorgeous art is enough to keep me reading. I don’t think I would be willing to buy my own copy of this, but I would definitely buy art from the author.
Date Read: 04/12/24
Unfortunately, I do feel like the graphic novel was weighed down by issues with the characterizations and the plot as a whole. I wish the plot focused on a character who wasn’t so unbelievably self centered and bratty. I’m fully aware that Brennan made Kira so exaggerated for comedic effect (what preteen doesn’t have an angsty self-centered phase?) but I think it really dimmed my enjoyment of the book. The other characters are also quite generic and we don’t hear much from them at all. We do see Caticorn get nervous, excited, and lonely but we don’t get to hear much of her thoughts at all. Although Tulip also was a mostly static character, we do get to see the build up for future volumes. I look forward to seeing Tulip gain some confidence in herself and for Kira to learn even a shred of humility.
Any tension and conflict in the book is because Kira had such a bad personality or inability to see things from an unbiased perspective. Only at the very end is there any legitimate worry going on and even then it’s resolved in a few pages. Most magical girl stories have the main girl(s) have at least a few series battles and villains throughout. Kira’s only enemy throughout was herself and she never really acknowledged that. I was also confused throughout if Kira was ACTUALLY made into a magical girl - the back cover mentions how Caticorn isn’t being completely truthful so I was waiting for that twist. It also seems like there can only be ONE magical girl of Neo-Earth but Kira still seemed sure she could also become one.
I do see that this is going to be a series, so I’ll definitely be reading the rest of them. Hopefully there’s some character development, but if not then the gorgeous art is enough to keep me reading. I don’t think I would be willing to buy my own copy of this, but I would definitely buy art from the author.
Date Read: 04/12/24
March 10, 2024
Disclaimer: I received this finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Kira and the (Maybe) Space Princess
Author: Megan Brennan
Book Series: Magic Girls Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: BIPOC characters
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, graphic novel, fantasy, magical girl
Publication Date: March 5, 2024
Genre: MG Graphic Novel
Age Relevance: 8+ (small cartoon violence)
Explanation of Above: There is a small amount of cartoon violence in this book, but nothing graphic and there are no weapons used. The violence consists of magic like plant power and water power being used against one another.
Publisher: Random House Graphic
Pages: 256
Synopsis: Fashionable fights, flashy attacks, and friends that are out of this world! This wacky and funny graphic novel series is a love letter to manga fans. With a tongue in cheek humor and delightfully fun action scenes, this series is perfect for fans of Sailor Moon , Cardcaptor Sakura , and Katie the Catsitter .
There's nothing cooler than Magical Girls - pretty superheroes fighting villains with the power of friendship and glitter? What could be better than that! This year in middle school, Kira is going to be cool and popular and have SO many friends because she’s going to be a MAGICAL GIRL! ...Or not.
Frustrated beyond belief, Kira makes a wish on a shooting star that her life will change – and when Catacorn, a cat-unicorn-space-princess, crashes into Kira's backyard, it seems her wish has come true…kinda…maybe… Oh no. Is Kira's dream of being a Magical Girl really possible...or is Catacorn not really what she promises to be?
Review: This was just such a fun read! As a fan of magical girl stories, I loved this book about magical girls and how they’re made/what someone who is like Kira would do if they didn’t necessarily fit a specific magical girl criteria (in the book, she’s totally magical girl material in my opinion. She fits right in there with Usagi and Sakura personality wise). I loved how camp it was too! It was such a fun read, perfect for younger MG readers, and I loved all of the illustrations.
The only issue I had with it is that it was a little confusing in the beginning of the book world building wise, but it did make more sense after a bit.
Verdict: I loved it so much! Highly recommend.
Book: Kira and the (Maybe) Space Princess
Author: Megan Brennan
Book Series: Magic Girls Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: BIPOC characters
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, graphic novel, fantasy, magical girl
Publication Date: March 5, 2024
Genre: MG Graphic Novel
Age Relevance: 8+ (small cartoon violence)
Explanation of Above: There is a small amount of cartoon violence in this book, but nothing graphic and there are no weapons used. The violence consists of magic like plant power and water power being used against one another.
Publisher: Random House Graphic
Pages: 256
Synopsis: Fashionable fights, flashy attacks, and friends that are out of this world! This wacky and funny graphic novel series is a love letter to manga fans. With a tongue in cheek humor and delightfully fun action scenes, this series is perfect for fans of Sailor Moon , Cardcaptor Sakura , and Katie the Catsitter .
There's nothing cooler than Magical Girls - pretty superheroes fighting villains with the power of friendship and glitter? What could be better than that! This year in middle school, Kira is going to be cool and popular and have SO many friends because she’s going to be a MAGICAL GIRL! ...Or not.
Frustrated beyond belief, Kira makes a wish on a shooting star that her life will change – and when Catacorn, a cat-unicorn-space-princess, crashes into Kira's backyard, it seems her wish has come true…kinda…maybe… Oh no. Is Kira's dream of being a Magical Girl really possible...or is Catacorn not really what she promises to be?
Review: This was just such a fun read! As a fan of magical girl stories, I loved this book about magical girls and how they’re made/what someone who is like Kira would do if they didn’t necessarily fit a specific magical girl criteria (in the book, she’s totally magical girl material in my opinion. She fits right in there with Usagi and Sakura personality wise). I loved how camp it was too! It was such a fun read, perfect for younger MG readers, and I loved all of the illustrations.
The only issue I had with it is that it was a little confusing in the beginning of the book world building wise, but it did make more sense after a bit.
Verdict: I loved it so much! Highly recommend.
Read
March 10, 20248.29/10 or 4.5/5
Characters-8
The characters in this book were great. I enjoyed Kira for the most part, and I appreciated her journey in this book. Catacorn was a gem and was the best character in this book for me. Tulip was also a great character, and I loved her fairy vibes. The villain in this story was fun, but i wish we could have seen more from her as a character.
Atmosphere-9
The atmosphere in his book was great. I liked the sci-fi vibes. I’m not much of a Sci-Fi reader, but the art and the characters in this book made Sci-Fi digestible for someone who doesn’t read many space stories.
Writing-9
I enjoyed the fun writing style in this book. Kira and the Maybe Space Princess was a graphic novel that relied a lot on the story, and how the characters interacted with each other. I loved how the art worked well with the story.
Plot-8
I felt like this was a relatable story to middle schoolers. Kira has things she deals with, and like every other kid her age, she is trying to be the best she can. Catacorn both as a character, and the story arc was great. The friendship vibes of this book were great, and I loved how Kira and Tulip came together in the end. Kira goes on a journey in this book, and she learns about herself and others around her at the end of this book.
Intrigue-8
This was an interesting story. I was kept engaged for the most part, but especially once the story got going.
Logic-8
I’m hoping that some of the logic in this story will be explained in later books. It didn’t make sense to me how Kia and Tulip were chosen for their jobs. Also, the story with catacorn didn’t make much sense to me either.
Enjoyment-8
Overall, this was an enjoyable vibe. I liked the characters in the story, and the plot was fun.
Characters-8
The characters in this book were great. I enjoyed Kira for the most part, and I appreciated her journey in this book. Catacorn was a gem and was the best character in this book for me. Tulip was also a great character, and I loved her fairy vibes. The villain in this story was fun, but i wish we could have seen more from her as a character.
Atmosphere-9
The atmosphere in his book was great. I liked the sci-fi vibes. I’m not much of a Sci-Fi reader, but the art and the characters in this book made Sci-Fi digestible for someone who doesn’t read many space stories.
Writing-9
I enjoyed the fun writing style in this book. Kira and the Maybe Space Princess was a graphic novel that relied a lot on the story, and how the characters interacted with each other. I loved how the art worked well with the story.
Plot-8
I felt like this was a relatable story to middle schoolers. Kira has things she deals with, and like every other kid her age, she is trying to be the best she can. Catacorn both as a character, and the story arc was great. The friendship vibes of this book were great, and I loved how Kira and Tulip came together in the end. Kira goes on a journey in this book, and she learns about herself and others around her at the end of this book.
Intrigue-8
This was an interesting story. I was kept engaged for the most part, but especially once the story got going.
Logic-8
I’m hoping that some of the logic in this story will be explained in later books. It didn’t make sense to me how Kia and Tulip were chosen for their jobs. Also, the story with catacorn didn’t make much sense to me either.
Enjoyment-8
Overall, this was an enjoyable vibe. I liked the characters in the story, and the plot was fun.
December 8, 2023
I want to start by saying I am obsessed with cats and unicorns so you’d think a book about a catacorn would be written just for me! I thought this would be an instant favorite for me. I was wrong. Now, I do love the art. The illustrations were adorable! Very “kawaii”. The story, however, wasn’t my thing. I don’t really agree with the message it’s sending out to kids. The main character is kind of a jerk. She’s mean to the catacorn for no reason and is only in 7th grade and already has a really bad “pick me, I’m not like other girls” complex. I wouldn’t want my own middle school daughter to read this book. It’s not a good lesson on how to treat your friends. I get that the end has a redemption and a resolution of a sort, but it doesn’t make up for how badly the main character treated the catacorn during most of the story. I don’t blame her for not liking the popular kids or not wanting to hang out with the tulip girl she’s jealous of, but come on… catacorn was your pal, why’d you do her like that? I did feel bad for Kira, I felt bad for everything she went through. I just didn’t like her attitude and how she handled everything. Catacorn isn’t innocent either. She betrayed Kira by hanging out with tulip and all that, but still. Admitting you’re a bad friend doesn’t make you not one. Kira even gaslights the catacorn at some point and doesn’t believe her when she’s telling her the truth. Weirdly, I think I liked tulip the most.
I liked the idea behind the story, and I liked the magic stuff. I didn’t like the way the characters treated each other.
5 stars for the illustrations, 2 for the storyline.
I liked the idea behind the story, and I liked the magic stuff. I didn’t like the way the characters treated each other.
5 stars for the illustrations, 2 for the storyline.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my e-ARC of Kira and the (Maybe) Space Princess!
𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🦄 ever wondered what a cat mixed with a unicorn would look like
🪄 love magical stories
✍🏻 enjoy graphic novels
🏫 found middle school difficult
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
There's nothing cooler than Magical Girls - pretty superheroes fighting villains with the power of friendship and glitter? What could be better than that! This year in middle school, Kira is going to be cool and popular and have SO many friends because she’s going to be a MAGICAL GIRL! ...Or not.
Frustrated beyond belief, Kira makes a wish on a shooting star that her life will change – and when Catacorn, a cat-unicorn-space-princess, crashes into Kira's backyard, it seems her wish has come true…kinda…maybe… Oh no. Is Kira's dream of being a Magical Girl really possible...or is Catacorn not really what she promises to be?
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
This was a super cute graphic novel about a girl who doesn’t fit in with others. She wants to be a somebody and be admired like her self-made arch nemesis, Tulip. She was a really relatable character for me, as I didn’t fit in well with my peers either during my school years. Wanting the approval of others is completely normal for younger kids, and as an adult, I can say that it’s easier to be okay with not getting that. But what Kira experienced and wanted was 100% valid. I loved her relationship with Catacorn (how cute is she?) and how they have their ups and downs but eventually work through it all. I also really enjoyed the style of the book and characters. I’m excited to see what comes next in book 2!
𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🦄 ever wondered what a cat mixed with a unicorn would look like
🪄 love magical stories
✍🏻 enjoy graphic novels
🏫 found middle school difficult
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
There's nothing cooler than Magical Girls - pretty superheroes fighting villains with the power of friendship and glitter? What could be better than that! This year in middle school, Kira is going to be cool and popular and have SO many friends because she’s going to be a MAGICAL GIRL! ...Or not.
Frustrated beyond belief, Kira makes a wish on a shooting star that her life will change – and when Catacorn, a cat-unicorn-space-princess, crashes into Kira's backyard, it seems her wish has come true…kinda…maybe… Oh no. Is Kira's dream of being a Magical Girl really possible...or is Catacorn not really what she promises to be?
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
This was a super cute graphic novel about a girl who doesn’t fit in with others. She wants to be a somebody and be admired like her self-made arch nemesis, Tulip. She was a really relatable character for me, as I didn’t fit in well with my peers either during my school years. Wanting the approval of others is completely normal for younger kids, and as an adult, I can say that it’s easier to be okay with not getting that. But what Kira experienced and wanted was 100% valid. I loved her relationship with Catacorn (how cute is she?) and how they have their ups and downs but eventually work through it all. I also really enjoyed the style of the book and characters. I’m excited to see what comes next in book 2!
March 8, 2024
Kira and the (Maybe) Space Princess is a graphic novel that pays tribute to the shoujo category of manga. What I really loved about this book is that it was true to the middle school experience while incorporating some fantastical elements. Kira's personality was a very unique one. At times I viewed her as sassy and spunky, while at other times she came across as a bit spoiled. She may not have always been the most likable character, but she definitely felt like a real person and I can appreciate that! On the other hand, Caticorn was a fun and fabulous character through the entire book. There were a couple of scenes where I felt like I should be mad at her, but I just couldn't!
The different rivalries in this book really added a fun element to the story. There was a great mix of action, adventure, and humor that will keep young readers invested. I'm glad to learn that this book will be part of a series because I'm looking forward to seeing what happens with the characters next!
As an educator, I really enjoyed the extras that the author included at the back of the book. It was interesting to learn a little bit about shoujo manga and how it influenced the author. It was also fun to see some of her early artwork and observe how the style changed between those ideas and the final concept. I think that young readers will especially enjoy reading about the author's process of creating comics and hopefully this inspires young fans to try their hand at creating their own!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for the opportunity to review an eARC of this title.
The different rivalries in this book really added a fun element to the story. There was a great mix of action, adventure, and humor that will keep young readers invested. I'm glad to learn that this book will be part of a series because I'm looking forward to seeing what happens with the characters next!
As an educator, I really enjoyed the extras that the author included at the back of the book. It was interesting to learn a little bit about shoujo manga and how it influenced the author. It was also fun to see some of her early artwork and observe how the style changed between those ideas and the final concept. I think that young readers will especially enjoy reading about the author's process of creating comics and hopefully this inspires young fans to try their hand at creating their own!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for the opportunity to review an eARC of this title.
January 21, 2024
I struggled to read this one because it’s different from the other graphic novels I’ve read. I think that the audience the author is aiming for might be around 9-10 years old. For someone who just started to read and can withstand the attention span of 15-20 minutes per sitting, it might be suitable for those kind of children. Anyone older might find this book too immature since it seems this book involves a lot of imagination… even after reading a good 75% of the book, I still don’t quite understand the plot… because all it seems to me is the main character wanting to be someone special and works way too hard to impress and seeks attention from all the students in her school? I’m not sure if the author should be teaching that to kids… that finding favor in the eyes of your classmates should be an ideal thing to do…
I very much enjoy the artwork. I think it is unique in that it almost seems like a child drew this for fun, with the colorful panels and the sparkles in the character’s eyes, which is appealing for young children because it seems almost reliable. But unfortunately, I feel like the storytelling definitely needs a lot more work. Perhaps if the author can explain more about this mysterious magic girl thing, then this book may be more easier to understand. There just seems to be a lot of potholes that I just eventually lost interest in trying to understand what’s going on.
Anyways thank you to NetGallery for providing me a digital copy in advance for review!
I very much enjoy the artwork. I think it is unique in that it almost seems like a child drew this for fun, with the colorful panels and the sparkles in the character’s eyes, which is appealing for young children because it seems almost reliable. But unfortunately, I feel like the storytelling definitely needs a lot more work. Perhaps if the author can explain more about this mysterious magic girl thing, then this book may be more easier to understand. There just seems to be a lot of potholes that I just eventually lost interest in trying to understand what’s going on.
Anyways thank you to NetGallery for providing me a digital copy in advance for review!
February 4, 2024
I grew up loving Magic Girls. I love this story inspired by the most amazing magic girls of Asian manga and anime pop culture. The author is creative and energetic, combining so many of my favorite elements: the magical accessories, the transformations, the fact they are schoolgirls and magical fighters, the evolution of characters and access to new powers, fabulous powers, the clothes, the back stories involving space, moon and royal family, let's not forget Catcorn is hilarious. The expressions are fantastic, I can't forget how Sailor Moon just made me laugh with her expressions so much, and in each energetic page of this novel, I could feel the energy and I could listen to them speaking loud, shouting, speaking fast, laughing. I like the sketchy style of the author and how it works so well with the story. Yet, it's very relatable, not fitting in, being jealous of the popular girls, and thinking that all the good things happen to other people, but in the end, we just have to find our voice, where we belong, and our people. It's the power of friendship. I want to join them in Neo-Earth where all characters are unique and everyone is so diverse. I want wings, tails, and a familiar that looks like a cute Pokemon.
Loved this hilarious story. It's one of those that I collect to re-read when I'm overwhelmed and need to laugh and feel good again. Hope to see more adventures.
Loved this hilarious story. It's one of those that I collect to re-read when I'm overwhelmed and need to laugh and feel good again. Hope to see more adventures.
February 29, 2024
Middle school struggles, magic, and the power of friendship? That is what you get when you open up Kira and the( maybe) Space Princess. This is such a quirky graphic novel. If you are. a fan of magical girl anime's like Sailor moon or Card Captor Sakura this is the graphic novel for you.
Kira is relatable as a young girl who just wants to be special but she doesn't exactly fit in at her school. She is awkward and made another girl Tulip her so called rival. Then she finds Catacorn, a talking cat with a horn, who hira believes is her familiar so she can become a magical girl. Kira and Catacorn are so cute together. They experience ups and downs as they learn about each other on their way to becoming true friends.
So I loved this graphic novel. It is fun, quirky, and colorful. Everything you could want from a story about magical girls. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of Kira and the (maybe) space Princess.
Kira is relatable as a young girl who just wants to be special but she doesn't exactly fit in at her school. She is awkward and made another girl Tulip her so called rival. Then she finds Catacorn, a talking cat with a horn, who hira believes is her familiar so she can become a magical girl. Kira and Catacorn are so cute together. They experience ups and downs as they learn about each other on their way to becoming true friends.
So I loved this graphic novel. It is fun, quirky, and colorful. Everything you could want from a story about magical girls. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of Kira and the (maybe) space Princess.
July 3, 2023
Kira wants nothing more than to become a Magical Girl (think Sailor Moon) but instead the popular girl and her sworn school nemesis becomes one instead. When a catacorn crash lands in her back yard Kira thinks her ship has come in, but she finds out not everything is what it seems.
Wow, this book was all over the place! The author had equated it to how she felt in middle school and she captured the feeling exactly! The teasing, the jealousy, the popular versus unpopular, the feeling of not filling in? It was all there! Also there? The dream of something more, some 'greater purpose' and finding yourself that so many kids go through at that age. Even the fashion faux pas was there! Honestly, as a middle school fitting in story and as a magical girls spoof this was spot on!
Definitely getting this one for our library!
Wow, this book was all over the place! The author had equated it to how she felt in middle school and she captured the feeling exactly! The teasing, the jealousy, the popular versus unpopular, the feeling of not filling in? It was all there! Also there? The dream of something more, some 'greater purpose' and finding yourself that so many kids go through at that age. Even the fashion faux pas was there! Honestly, as a middle school fitting in story and as a magical girls spoof this was spot on!
Definitely getting this one for our library!
December 19, 2023
So part of the books downloaded weird like the text was over lapped a lot.
But that was only a small portion.
This wasn’t my favorite magical girl story. It was giving fairly odd parents randomness. It seemed to try to come off quirky but didn’t exactly work. Towards the end I think it got better because the main character wasn’t so awkward. I get the point is she’s a loner awkward girl but there is a level of like awkward that you can reach where it isn’t relatable. I do enjoy that she came into her own towards the end. And her and the caticorn kept being friends but this magic story isn’t as good as other ones I’ve read in the last year.
I did really enjoy the illustration and would like to see more of this illustration just maybe give the characters the correct face expression I thought the cat was gonna be evil half the time.
But that was only a small portion.
This wasn’t my favorite magical girl story. It was giving fairly odd parents randomness. It seemed to try to come off quirky but didn’t exactly work. Towards the end I think it got better because the main character wasn’t so awkward. I get the point is she’s a loner awkward girl but there is a level of like awkward that you can reach where it isn’t relatable. I do enjoy that she came into her own towards the end. And her and the caticorn kept being friends but this magic story isn’t as good as other ones I’ve read in the last year.
I did really enjoy the illustration and would like to see more of this illustration just maybe give the characters the correct face expression I thought the cat was gonna be evil half the time.
December 16, 2023
I think this story has a particular niche that will find it attractive and I definitely am not part of that niche. I didn't love the storyline - I found it hard to follow along with what was happening throughout the story. The characters were not super kind to one another and it was hard to find redeeming qualities in many of them. The story felt a little convoluted and like it was going in several different directions at once. That being said, the art was really cute and definitely fit into the magical girl genre. Again, while this book was not for me, I do think that there is a group that will find it really interesting to read and enjoy the storyline a lot.
December 17, 2023
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Kira is hoping that junior high will be better, and that she will be popular, but classmate Tulip has gotten a familiar, and is now the cool, magical girl at school. This makes Kira insanely angry, but when a Catacorn crashes in her yard, Kira thinks that having this creature around might help her to be cool as well. I liked the message from the author about middle school being hard for everyone, but Kira has a Misako Rocks level of angst and anger that made this not to my personal liking. Middle grade readers who wear cat ear headbands and think life would be better if they just had their own unicorn will love this one. I'm just too old.
Kira is hoping that junior high will be better, and that she will be popular, but classmate Tulip has gotten a familiar, and is now the cool, magical girl at school. This makes Kira insanely angry, but when a Catacorn crashes in her yard, Kira thinks that having this creature around might help her to be cool as well. I liked the message from the author about middle school being hard for everyone, but Kira has a Misako Rocks level of angst and anger that made this not to my personal liking. Middle grade readers who wear cat ear headbands and think life would be better if they just had their own unicorn will love this one. I'm just too old.
March 7, 2024
Adorable With Brights & Fun Cartoons
Thoughts: 💡
The friendship between Kira and Catacorn made me chuckle. The story is light and entertaining, but tackles a few issues that would be meaningful to a middle school aged child.
I personally enjoy comics and graphic novels but chose this one with my nephew in mind. It was a bit above his age level but he still really enjoyed looking at the pictures with me.
✨This is the first book in the series and book two is already in the works.
Stats:📊
Characters: 💙💙💙💙💙
Middle Grade Graphic Novel: Action and Adventure, Humor, Magic & Friendship, Coming of Age
Suggested Ages 8 - 12
Thoughts: 💡
The friendship between Kira and Catacorn made me chuckle. The story is light and entertaining, but tackles a few issues that would be meaningful to a middle school aged child.
I personally enjoy comics and graphic novels but chose this one with my nephew in mind. It was a bit above his age level but he still really enjoyed looking at the pictures with me.
✨This is the first book in the series and book two is already in the works.
Stats:📊
Characters: 💙💙💙💙💙
Middle Grade Graphic Novel: Action and Adventure, Humor, Magic & Friendship, Coming of Age
Suggested Ages 8 - 12
January 12, 2024
I am not a fan of graphic novels to begin with, but this one was definitely not for me. The story in itself was extremely weird and bizarre. Not much plot to it, and could have been done better if it was a picture book made for a younger audience. It was a struggle for me to read it, as I did not like it from the beginning. Found myself reading it quickly just so that I could get to the end.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book provided to my children by the publisher via Bookopolis. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book provided to my children by the publisher via Bookopolis. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 19, 2024
This was a very entertaining, gripping, and also thought-provoking middle-grade graphic novel.
Filled with unique, quirky art in a distinct color palette, the story of a school misfit shows how anything is really possible. Also, a Cat-a-corn, a unicorn/ cat mix? Omg, super cute and adorable!
I’m hoping there is book 2 coming soon. I believe a book like this (with a relatable character, gripping text, and beautiful art) will be huge with middle-grade kids.
Filled with unique, quirky art in a distinct color palette, the story of a school misfit shows how anything is really possible. Also, a Cat-a-corn, a unicorn/ cat mix? Omg, super cute and adorable!
I’m hoping there is book 2 coming soon. I believe a book like this (with a relatable character, gripping text, and beautiful art) will be huge with middle-grade kids.
March 4, 2024
My kids and I are excited to be hosting this booktour with @tbrbeyondtours @meganbrennan @rhkidsgraphic, and our tour stops here.
👧🏻 review: This graphic novel is akin to reading a manga but with really funnier content. I thought the story was a bit weird in the beginning but the graphic illustrations and the moral aspects of the story are really good. Kira and Catacorn are two oddities, and I think this a funny middle-graders’ graphic novel that has some interesting elements to it.
👧🏻 review: This graphic novel is akin to reading a manga but with really funnier content. I thought the story was a bit weird in the beginning but the graphic illustrations and the moral aspects of the story are really good. Kira and Catacorn are two oddities, and I think this a funny middle-graders’ graphic novel that has some interesting elements to it.
Read
March 8, 2024I’m not sure what to write this one because I really did not enjoy it much. But I also don’t really like to give graphic novels low ratings. I’d say most of the graphic novels I read are around this age range, so I want it to be clear that that’s not why I didn’t like it 😅 I just felt like the plot was lacking and very confusing.
As a Sailor Moon fan, I liked the general idea of this story. The graphics were cute and I pretty pretty much like anything with cats.
As a Sailor Moon fan, I liked the general idea of this story. The graphics were cute and I pretty pretty much like anything with cats.
February 25, 2024
My Top 5 Reasons to Read this Book:
1. Beautiful, vibrant graphics!
2. magical friendship with a cat-unicorn-space-Princess.
3. A different perspective on tackling junior high problems and beyond…
4. How to be a true friend to someone with a broken horn.
5. We are all stronger with friends by our side.
1. Beautiful, vibrant graphics!
2. magical friendship with a cat-unicorn-space-Princess.
3. A different perspective on tackling junior high problems and beyond…
4. How to be a true friend to someone with a broken horn.
5. We are all stronger with friends by our side.
March 7, 2024
This was a really sweet as candy graphic novel! I wasn’t too fond of Kira for a while but as the story progresses she gets more and more tolerable! The graphics were super pretty and the aesthetic was adorable. This wasn’t a slick plot as it was just all around fun friend cute times. If that makes sense. But it’s an easy and enjoyable read!
November 2, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley & Random House Children's for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.
The art style was really cute and stylistic but the writing was confusing. I could not remotely follow anything in the story and its characters...especially with how annoying the protagonist was. It's a shame since I do like magical girl stuff but the plot was just all over the place.
The art style was really cute and stylistic but the writing was confusing. I could not remotely follow anything in the story and its characters...especially with how annoying the protagonist was. It's a shame since I do like magical girl stuff but the plot was just all over the place.
December 12, 2023
Definitely a cute middle grade graphic novel. Kira and Catacorn are a little… high energy and can be a little cringe, but it’s junior high and everything is powered by cutie sparkle friendship energy. First in a series and I’m definitely ready for the next
December 23, 2023
Such a sweet story- shared with my 11 and 9 year olds and they loved it as well!
My son. 5th grade resonated with the material more but both the kids and myself loved the story, friends, plot, writing, and graphic illustrations!
My son. 5th grade resonated with the material more but both the kids and myself loved the story, friends, plot, writing, and graphic illustrations!
March 14, 2024
This was a pretty cool story I love graphic novels, so I was excited to get this copy of the book. The beginning was kind of annoying because she kept talking about how she didn’t wanna hear about tulip and having everyone go on and on basically telling her jealous was frustrating.
March 22, 2024
3.5 stars
I thought this was really cute, and the art style was fairly unique for a middle grade GN. I wish the plot had been a little more cohesive, since I wasn't sure how much to actually trust Catacorn for quite a while, but I enjoyed it and will be on the lookout for future volumes!
I thought this was really cute, and the art style was fairly unique for a middle grade GN. I wish the plot had been a little more cohesive, since I wasn't sure how much to actually trust Catacorn for quite a while, but I enjoyed it and will be on the lookout for future volumes!
July 13, 2023
Cute cute. Would have loved this as a child!
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