4th, 5th, Middle School ; Paperback, Graphic Novel ; Highly Recommended

The Prisoner of Shiverstone, by Linette Moore

A graphic novel about a smart, spunky girl intent on discovering the secrets of the hidden-from-the-world Utley Island and a mysterious voice on an old radio she’s fixed. Bright, bold colors and crazy mad-scientist inventions fill this energetic adventure. The main character is an inspirational girl who loves science and solving mysteries, namely how to rescue her grandfather from inside a giant Shiverstone crystal on the island. I love that she finds a place for herself in a location that honors diverse thinkers and inventors while also protecting the mainland from dangerous technologies. This island is a prison that no one living there seems to mind because it allows them to be themselves. A fun graphic adventure with weird sci-fi inventions is sure to please middle grade readers.