Mystery of the Map (Poptropica Book 1)

December 15, 2015
Based on Poptropica, Jeff Kinney's (of Diary of a Wimpy Kid fame) online role-playing game, this graphic-novel spinoff envisions three friends who find themselves marooned on a mysterious island. One fateful day, Asian Mya, white Oliver, and Latino Jorge find their hot air balloon purposefully steered into a rough patch of weather by its rogue captain, Octavian. The group crash-lands on a strange jungle island, which they quickly learn is populated by odd and often dangerous beings and creatures, such as horn-helmeted Vikings and vicious saber-toothed tigers. The trio discovers that they are in possession of a magical map that follows their commands. However the inhabitants of the island--including the fearsome Viking leader Erik the Red--are hunting them, and Octavian, who was separated from them after the crash, wants his map back. Fans of the online game will immediately recognize the wide-eyed, minimally detailed characters and the lush island scenes of Poptropica, although those without any prior knowledge should be able to jump right in without any alienation. Bright, animated colors and zippy cartoonlike action make for an easily accessible first offering that provides just enough exposition to hook young readers and keep them seeking out subsequent adventures. A peppily paced adventure yarn sure to delight fans of the franchise, both old and new. (Graphic adventure/fantasy. 6-12)

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February 15, 2016
Grades 3-6 Based on the online role-playing game developed by the ever-popular Jeff Kinney, this new adventure comic series gets off to a flying start when the hot-air balloon Oliver, Mya, and Jorge are in is hijacked by villainous Captain Octavian, before it crash lands on a mysterious island inhabited by a variety of extinct creatures (dodos!) and a village full of ancient, very intimidating Vikings. Having found an interactive map, the three are able to pinpoint their location on the island, escape from the Vikings, and go after Octavian, who stranded them there. The story, while not deep, is action-packed and speeds along quickly, with lots of corny jokes thrown in to keep readers giggling. The lively art mirrors that on the website, featuring bold, colorful panels and characters with giant heads and expressive eyes. Fans of the online game will delight in reading a story about one of Poptropica's many islands, and newcomers will have no trouble falling into this adventure.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2016
Mya, Oliver, and Jorge are enjoying a hot-air balloon ride when their evil captain purposefully crash-lands them on a tropical island. The local population of Sabertooth tigers, Dodo birds, and Vikings (who soon become their captors) drives home the strangeness of their situation. Merritt's droll, bug-eyed characters enliven the swiftly moving graphic-novel mystery, but some of the jokes and dialogue fall flat.

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)