Kirkus Reviews

Set in a future from which humanity has vanished, leaving only legends behind, this text-and-graphic-novel hybrid takes a chatty young chipmunk from the supposed safety of his hollow-tree home to a derelict city ruled by a komodo dragon with "ratmink" minions, and then on to an idyllic animal community perched atop a plateau ringed by poisonous fog. Along the way he gathers a trio of friends—most notably Olive, a mechanically minded bear whose flying machine provides a hair's breadth escape from the Dragon Queen. The illustrations, done in pen with light blue highlights, depict Thelonious and associates walking erect, wearing looted human—or in Thelonious's case—doll clothing and puzzling out the purposes of the human artifacts around them. In every other chapter, the text and pictures blend into full graphic-novel format, providing needed boosts to the tale's generally slow pacing. That, along with occasional quirky incidents such as the appearance of a mute (at first) homunculus may be enough to draw in a few readers, but those hoping for sustained drama, suspense or humor will be disappointed. An abrupt end signals future episodes on the way; perhaps they'll be better. (Fantasy. 10-12)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

In this first book in the Fog Mound series, a husband-and-wife team's novel/graphic novel hybrid smoothly alternates chapters between prose and comic book panels. Thelonious Chipmunk lives in the Untamed Forest in a shaky tree house; he has moved away from home because his family doesn't share his belief that human beings really existed at one time. High-tension, comic-style panels chronicle the fellow being literally swept off his feet during a rainstorm, into the City of Ruins—complete with abandoned subways, stores and homes. He befriends Fitzgerald, a Vespa-driving porcupine who makes his home in a deserted bookstore. Together they meet the Olive Bear, who has learned to operate an "ultra-light" helicopter, or "velocicopter" (solar panels offer a convenient explanation for the problem of energy sources throughout the tale). Antics ensue, culminating in the discovery of a frozen human ("<EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">Frozen scientist," a sign reads, "Push red button to activate thawing process"), and the authors offer some savvy commentary on how members of any species should treat one another. The artwork's minimalist palette (black and blue) gives the story a quiet charm (even the prose sections contain an abundance of artwork), while a classy book design brings to mind Chris Ware, albeit more optimistic in theme. This tale creates a charming and compelling world, and ends with a whopper of a cliffhanger sure to bring readers back. Ages 8-12. <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">(July)

ALA Booklist

Gr. 4 7. The team behind several early reader books, including the Danger Joe Show series, offers the first episode in the Fog Mound series, introducing Thelonious, a young squirrel with a taste for legends who is swept away by a flood and left in the Ruined City. Exploring this strikingly imagined world, he meets a porcupine librarian and a helicopter-flying bear, and together they make a dangerous journey to the Fog Mound, an idyllic land holding clues to humanity's disappearance. The alternating chapters of illustrated prose and charming, highly detailed sequential art display a fascination with the power of stories to inspire adventure and unlock mysteries. Form doesn't always seem to suit content: the action is largely presented in prose, and the lengthy conversations are comics. The transitions are smooth, however, and one memorable escape scene makes full, thrilling use of graphic storytelling tools. Elements of Watership Down,TheWizard of Oz, and the film Planet of the Apes contribute to a genuine sense of discovery, and although many answers are left for future volumes, this book will be a great way into prose for reluctant readers.

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6 Thelonious is a young chipmunk who lives in a world where humans exist only in legend. During a violent rainstorm, his tree is ripped from the ground, and he is swept away to a city populated by animals of the lowest criminal element. He soon finds himself in the company of Olive, a bear with a gift for mechanics; Fitzgerald, a porcupine who guards the books that were left behind when the humans died; and Brown, a shifty lizard who joins their group to escape a life of slavery. Together they must find their way back to the idyllic commune that exists atop the Fog Mound. In doing so, they will discover clues as to what happened to the humans. Written in chapters that alternate between traditional prose and comic-book format, the story is a gentle introduction to graphic novels. The illustrations are delightfully cartoonlike, and they are tinted in a soothing blue that beautifully complements the postapocalyptic setting. Unfortunately, the narrative is heavy-handed in espousing the evils of humanitys lack of concern for the environment, and the story takes a silly idealistic turn when the animals arrive at their destination. Despite these flaws, this is an easy and entertaining read that will appeal to reluctant readers as well as those exploring the graphic-novel genre. Heather M. Lisowski, Philip S. Miller Library, Castle Rock, CO

Horn Book

Young chipmunk Thelonious is carried by flood to a ruined city, a relic of the extinct human race. There he helps search for the mysterious Fog Mound, which holds clues to the past. Comic-style black-white-and-blue illustrations enforce rather than enhance the text, conveying little character or emotion and rendering a potentially fascinating landscape in only the most predictable of details.