Suri wants to be a monster tamer, but right now she's just an orphan living on the outskirts of a traveling caravan. Although she still hopes for her monster-taming powers to show up, Suri's whole life changes when an encounter with a mysterious boy leads to an attack by caitsiths (cat monsters) and a journey with unexpected new friends. Having honed her graphic-novel skills on the Sam & Friends mystery series (written by Mary Labatt), Rioux is now branching out with an original series. The spookiness, surprise, and fun of Sam & Friends are still present in this fantasy adventure, and Rioux's full-color art sparkles with life. She's got a great sense of comedic timing and also knows how to pace action and scary scenes alike. Both her characters and her plot are layered and strongly developed, and Suri is a likably adventurous girl. This first volume in the Cat's Cradle series is only the beginning of Suri's story, but readers won't feel short-changed; they will be eager for the next book.

Suri is a young stowaway with a traveling caravan and a natural-born storyteller who longs to be a "monster tamer." Things are not always what they seem as Suri gets a taste of the risky vocation and embarks on a mysterious quest. This graphic novel's elegant, muted illustrations work with the story to combine humor and heart with fantastical suspense.

A would-be tamer of monsters hooks up with a diminutive would-be monster in this auspicious series opener. As advertised, the supposed dragon tooth that parentless young storyteller Suri buys from a scruffy market vendor does indeed bring her luck--of both kinds. On the one hand, the ball of magical golden string that she finds in the road belongs to a trio of vicious tiger creatures called "caitsiths" who use the string to masquerade as humans and really, really want it back. On the other, Suri achieves her avowed desire to become a monster tamer when she meets Byron, a humongous if overly friendly dog, and the surly 500-year-old imp Caglio who (through not-yet-explained means) created him. Large of hair and fierce of scowl, Suri dashes through Rioux's character-centered, cleanly drawn panels like a force of nature, evading the clutches of pursuers (or, sometimes, not) and bouncing back resiliently from every reverse. After several narrow squeaks, the author sends her on her way, dog and imp in tow, in search of more monsters and unmindful of a band of pursuers coming up close behind. Stay tuned. Action-packed, easy to follow and featuring a cast of monsters inimical and otherwise, along with a winningly intrepid heroine. (Graphic fantasy. 10-12)