Marnie Plummer is a lonely girl who is completely obsessed with the book series, The Griffon Riders of Crystalfall. Tiffany Rodriguez is a popular cheerleader with a passion for baseball and a lack of it for books. One day, the two girls are completing community service hours for their school when a strange magical creature named Orion appears before Marnie, who instantly recognizes him as a character from The Griffon Riders series. He has brought a griffon egg to the real world and will return when the griffon is old enough to help the Chosen One defeat the witch Elel. An egg destined for the Chosen One … Tiffany. However, Marnie is the one who has read the books and who has no friends or life at school. Doesn’t she deserve to be the Chosen One instead?
Tiffany’s Griffon is a middle grade graphic novel about the power of friendship and how fantasy cannot truly take the place of reality, even with all of its challenges and difficulties. The eponymous griffon plays a role, but the story is ultimately about the connection between Marnie and Tiffany.
As an awkward girl teased at school, Marnie has an inherent dislike of Tiffany due to the more popular girl’s seemingly perfect life. At first, she rebuffs Tiffany’s attempts at friendship. However, when Tiffany is able to make the egg hatch, and the baby griffon is obviously attached to her, Marnie realizes that she needs Tiffany after all. As the two girls take care of the baby griffon, named Nero by Tiffany after her favorite baseball player, they realize they are more alike than they realize and that their differences aren’t that impossible to embrace. Marnie learns that there is more to Tiffany than a pretty popular cheerleader, but she takes longer to learn that there is more to herself than she knows.
Throughout the story, Marnie holds on to her desire to be the Chosen One, almost at the cost of her newfound friendship with Tiffany. When Marnie and Nero are transported to the world of The Griffon Riders, Tiffany is left behind with a weakened Orion. The two girls work together across the two worlds to free the characters of The Griffon Riders and unravel the mystery behind the witch who can change the magical world just by writing in her book.
The art is absolutely beautiful and has the look and feel of a magical girl manga. Perfect for a middle grade graphic novel with fantasy elements. Nero is adorable, and Marnie and Tiffany are lovingly rendered. The two girls could not look more different, but they are both fully realized characters. During more lighthearted scenes, their exaggerated expressions add humor and charm to the story, but the art style switches skillfully from comedy to graceful depth depending on what the story needs.
Tiffany’s Griffon has a publisher rating of ages 10-14. The story is definitely for that age range, but readers slightly younger or older can still appreciate it. The themes of fandom and friendship will appeal to any reader who has ever geeked out about something.
Tiffany’s Griffon
By Magnolia Porter Siddell and Maddi Gonzalez
First Second, 2024
ISBN: 9781250757821
Publisher Age Rating: 10-14
NFNT Age Recommendation: Middle Grade (7-11), Older Teen (16-18), Teen (13-16), Tween (10-13)
