Starred Review ALA Booklist (Mon May 08 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Starred Review A kid and their dog going on an adventure may be one of the most classic setups for stories aimed at young people, yet, in the hands of author North and artist Henderson, this frequently seen premise is the invitation to explore an exciting new world; one Marguerite is determined to save. She and talking dog Daisy have trained their whole lives to find and bring back the items Uncle Bernard needs to cast a world-stabilizing spell. Because in this world, 1999 did see a world end with catastrophe, but it wasn't Y2K; it was the return of magic that rendered electricity and everything that depended on it dead. Now Marguerite and Daisy have to cope with magic changing by region, muggers who can teleport wolves as backup, and the nagging sense that their mission isn't as straightforward as assumed. North and Henderson are a delightful team with this work, which shares many qualities with their run on The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl. Marguerite and Daisy are both determined, spunky heroes who want to help others in big and small ways. Fans of Adventure Time will love the alternate-universe backstory as well as the various uses of Marguerite's one spell.

Horn Book (Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

The premise of this page-turning graphic novel is that on the eve of the twenty-first century, the world plummeted into an electronic meltdown, causing plane crashes, hospital blackouts, and depleted food and supply chains. Years later, with the world now a dystopia consumed by decaying technology, magic surfaces in the hands of a few who power spells by sheer emotion, with good or sinister intentions. The story hits the ground running with Marguerite de Pruitt, the "Chosen One," and her talking dog sidekick, Daisy, in pursuit of rare magical totems. Armed with a single unlocking spell, she maneuvers through a fragmented world divided into magical realms to retrieve three enchanted items for her uncle Bernard, who plans to use them to cast the ultimate spell and save the world from apocalyptic destruction. Along the way, she and Daisy encounter strangers, allies, and enemies while navigating friendship, love, duty, and betrayal. The rapidly paced plot unfolds as Marguerite embarks on a quest punctuated by periodic flashbacks, with some narrative sequences unfolding through wordless panels. Occasional scenes in striking limited palettes create a cinematic spectacle for readers in the mood for a mix of science fiction and fantasy wrapped in mystery.

Kirkus Reviews (Thu Dec 28 00:00:00 CST 2023)

The creators of the original Squirrel Girl comic series pitch an intrepid young adventurer and her talking dog into a fragmented multiverse.Trusting readers to go with the flow, North and Henderson leave much of their scenario unexplained or hanging in this setup episode. Raised on tales of how electricity stopped at the turn of the millennium and magic started to work-but with different, reality-shattering results in different places-Marguerite de Pruitt has spent years being trained by her Uncle Bernard to fetch three totems that will, he claims, allow him to cast a spell that will vanquish the "bad magic" that is gradually destroying the Earth. The authors drop a hint at the outset that all this is not as it seems and add climactic revelations that prove it, but they kick-start the action on the first page and don't let up until a close that leaves Marguerite; her shaggy and voluble chow chow sidekick, Daisy; and Jacin, a new friend from this era, kicked up in a time loop, ready for further thrilling adventures. The human cast is small and racially diverse and effortlessly includes queer characters. Brown-skinned Marguerite, who wears her long black hair in a single braid, develops a crush on a boy from a multiracial family with two moms; pale, blond Jacin presents as a butch girl.A fine romp setting up for further worldbuilding in future entries. (Graphic fantasy. 12-14)

School Library Journal (Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Gr 9 Up— Marguerite is the Chosen One on a quest to eliminate a dark magic that could destroy an already fractured world. Raised by her uncle Bernard, who survived the cataclysmic arrival of magic in 2000 AD, Marguerite utilizes a singular spell and a talking dog companion, Daisy, in pursuit of three magic totems across magically separated realms. The titular "other unknown risks" come from changes between realms: Marguerite's spell has a different effect and cost everywhere she goes. Each realm's inhabitants wield their own unique spells to help and hinder. Daisy and Marguerite have a close bond, reinforced in dire and lighthearted scenes. This is as much a road trip buddy comedy as it is an epic quest. Detail and lighting are applied according to mood, with Henderson expertly sliding between casual travel vibes and high-stakes encounters. Flashbacks to Marguerite's upbringing with Uncle Bernard flesh out both their characters, while subtle clues hint at game-changing twists to come. Bernard is white; Marguerite has brown skin. The cast has a diverse range of skin tones. VERDICT Past and present collide in a magical showdown for the fate of the world. Make sure Squirrel Girl fans get a front row seat.— Thomas Maluck