Agent Moose by Mo O' Hara, with art by Jess Bradley

 I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this fantastic crime caper of a graphic novel aimed at seven to twelve year olds featuring a moose, an owl, a barracuda, porpoise taxis, a chameleon and a pelican among other creatures

The premise is straightforward enough. Agent Anonymoose, a special agent, and his sidekick Owlfred, an owl, are tasked with the case of a missing turtle. Annoyed about Camo Chameleon being awarded his '100 crimes solved' trophy, Agent Anonymoose and Owlet set about tracking down the mystery turtle by using a variety of disguises including a mermaid, a palm tree, and a coconut.

What I really liked about this graphic novel is the wealth of extra detail that is provided. Agent Anonymoose and Owlfred have their own 'case files' at the start of the novel that provide all sorts of extra information about them, from their distinguishing features to their favourite drinks. The artwork itself is pitched just right for this age range and I really enjoyed all the additional details added to the scenes.

The relationship between the two protagonists is very cleverly explored and the addition of multiple layers of subtle humorous jokes throughout means that this book will work on many levels depending on where the reader falls within the target age range.

This is the type of graphic novel that young readers will return to again and again, inspiring them to continue their love of reading, and bringing the characters and plots to life through the use of such vibrant artwork. I cannot wait to read the sequel! Five stars!


Comments