Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews (Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

A second gathering of new graphic tales, diverse of plot and atmosphere but thematically linked by island settings and every bit as stellar as its predecessor (Explorer: The Mystery Boxes, 2012). All seven anchor scary or exhilarating nautical adventures to metaphorical underpinnings. In Kibuishi's own "The Fishermen," for instance, an Ahab-like obsession with catching the big one leads a sailor into a cave that turns out to be a giant mouth. One young castaway meets a crab ghost with a massive "Carapace" (Jason Caffoe), and another bonds with an older version of herself in the enigmatic "Desert Island Playlist," by Dave Roman and Raina Telgemeier. In the eeriest entry, Chrystin Garland's "The Mask Dance," a young island girl is lured to join tiki-masked celebrants who turn out to be dead. Printed on coated stock that really shows off the rich, clean colors, each tale's art is drawn in a different style but with easy-to-read figures, background details, dialogue and narrative. Each also ends with a rescue or a promising development, which gives the entire collection a buoyant tone. First rate. (Graphic short story anthology. 7-12)

School Library Journal Starred Review (Fri Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2013)

Gr 4 Up-Carrying on the spirit of the much-loved "Flight" anthologies, Kibuishi continues his vision in this graphic novel that's filled with imaginative and kid-friendly stories. The book's variety is its greatest strength, creating mass appeal for a wide audience through an excellent mix of art styles, tones, and themes. Jake Parker starts off with a clever and retro-looking story about an island of lazy bunnies that forget the meaning of hard work. Chrystin Garland expertly takes the island motif in a complete different direction with a curious girl who must escape from an island of ghosts. Dave Roman and Raina Telgemeier's "Desert Island Playlist" does not disappoint with its thought-provoking story about a girl trying to find herself, although it may be Michel Gagn&3; who steals the show with a visually stunning tale about a school of fish fleeing an erupting underwater volcano. Ending on Kibuishi's own cautionary tale about a power-driven sea captain, Lost Islands is a great sequel to The Mystery Boxes (Abrams, 2012) that is masterfully told and beautifully drawn. A must-have for any collection.— Peter Blenski, Greenfield Public Library, W

ALA Booklist (Fri Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2013)

Best known for his celebrated series Flight and Amulet, award-winning comics creator and editor Kibuishi presents the second volume of his comics anthology geared toward middle-school readers, after Explorer: The Mystery Boxes (2012). This collection features seven minicomics written or drawn by comics luminaries, such as Raina Telgemeier (Drama, 2012), Dave Roman, Michel Gagné, and Kibuishi himself. Each fun and fantastical story centers on the theme of islands, both in a physical and philosophical sense. Kate Shanahan and Dave Shanahan's "Radio Adrift" tells the story of a radio DJ who wants to travel, so he takes his station with him. Roman and Telgemeier's "Desert Island Playlist," meanwhile, finds a lonely girl o already felt alienated from her friends and family a probably metaphorical desert island, where she discovers convenient company after some tidy self-reflection. Though not as inventive as its debut volume, this sophomore effort's solid artwork, dialogue, and stories will still be a great introductory title for young or struggling middle-school readers starting to explore the world of graphic novels.

Horn Book (Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

Kibuishi's first graphic-novel anthology, Explorer: The Mystery Boxes, contained seven very different stories about the same mysterious object; here the individual contributors weave diverse tales about lost islands. Kibuishi wraps up the collection with his own contribution, about a fisherman whose greed nearly kills him and his crew. Another satisfying anthology that will leave readers eager for the next.

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

A second gathering of new graphic tales, diverse of plot and atmosphere but thematically linked by island settings and every bit as stellar as its predecessor (Explorer: The Mystery Boxes, 2012). All seven anchor scary or exhilarating nautical adventures to metaphorical underpinnings. In Kibuishi's own "The Fishermen," for instance, an Ahab-like obsession with catching the big one leads a sailor into a cave that turns out to be a giant mouth. One young castaway meets a crab ghost with a massive "Carapace" (Jason Caffoe), and another bonds with an older version of herself in the enigmatic "Desert Island Playlist," by Dave Roman and Raina Telgemeier. In the eeriest entry, Chrystin Garland's "The Mask Dance," a young island girl is lured to join tiki-masked celebrants who turn out to be dead. Printed on coated stock that really shows off the rich, clean colors, each tale's art is drawn in a different style but with easy-to-read figures, background details, dialogue and narrative. Each also ends with a rescue or a promising development, which gives the entire collection a buoyant tone. First rate. (Graphic short story anthology. 7-12)

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

In this eclectically entertaining follow-up to Explorer: The Mystery Boxes, Kibuishi and a crew of cartoonists again take turns weaving seven tales based around a loose theme. This time the motif is islands, and the contributors are left to interpret it in illustrated shorts. Some, by using their strange and remote settings as microcosms, underscore the value of hard work (Jake Parker-s -Rabbit Island-) or finding one-s niche (Katie and Steven Shanahan-s -Radio Adrift-), while others examine more abstract concepts such as exploration and isolation (Jason Caffoe-s -Carapace-). Together, they coalesce into a product greater than the sum of its parts. Standouts include Chrystin Garland-s -The Mask Dance,- a gorgeous rendering of a young islander-s terrifying nocturnal encounter with shamanic spirits, and Dave Roman and Raina Telgemeier-s fable -Desert Island Playlist,- about a castaway girl who is literally confronted by her past and future. With this second showcase Kibuishi affirms his editorial savvy for amassing talented creators and providing a vehicle to let them do what they do best: use comics to tell funny, thoughtful, and just plain good stories. Ages 9-up. (Oct.)-