It seems like a long time ago now, but Cici used to be a regular girl with a regular family: mom, dad, little sister Sofia, and Abuela. But then her dad left, her Abuela came to stay, and Cici turned 10 and discovered she was a fairy! Since then she’s been struggling with learning to control her powers and use them correctly, adjust to family changes and her mom’s new friend, and learn to look beneath the surface and think about her actions.
In her third adventure, A Perfect View, Cici and her new friend Kendra, her mom’s boyfriend’s daughter, are going camping with Cici’s dad and little sister. Cici has everything planned down to the last detail despite her Abuela’s warning that she should be open to surprises, especially with her magic. But she hadn’t planned for getting the wrong campsite, rain, missing marshmallows, or a mischievous forest sprite!
Page and Doerrfeld’s art is consistent with the first two books. Cici looks younger than her ten years, with her large head and eyes. Readers can see her in transition, moving from a young child to a teen, as she struggles with her feelings, her magic, and her changing family. Kendra has a more mature face and often seems taken aback at Cici’s childish behavior, but she’s also understanding of her struggles. Cici’s fairy sight continues and through her eyes we see her father portrayed as a lovable, happy-go-lucky bear, her little sister as a cautious turtle, and brief glimpses of her mother as an octopus, whose many arms are always busy. The colorful illustrations and their pink and purple backgrounds, shifting to green for outdoor scenes, are as charming and eye-catching as in the first volumes.
This series won’t appeal to readers who have moved on to the more exciting and involved middle grade graphic fantasies like Amulet or Bone, but readers who are still not quite ready to leave childhood, are struggling with family and friendship issues, or enjoy sparkly-sweet stories will be delighted by the next volume in this series. Parents will appreciate the gentle lessons about growing up that are woven into each story, and the introduction of new magical creatures, like the forest sprites, are sure to charm new readers immediately. The portrayal of a happy, suburban Hispanic family is also a welcome addition to the canon of graphic novels for elementary age students.
Cici: A Fairy’s Tale: A Perfect View, vol. 3
by Cori Doerrfeld
Art by Tyler Page
ISBN: 9781467761543
Lerner Graphic Universe, 2017
Publisher Age Rating: 8-12
