February 1, 2016
The title, cover, and comics-style art at the beginning of each chapter hint that Keil’s (Life in Outer Space) novel might be a superhero adventure where the powers of good must defeat evil. Not so much. Even Alba, a recent high school graduate trying to figure out what comes next, readily admits, “As stories go, I’m fully aware that my world is probably not the most riveting of narratives.” Alba lives at her mother’s bakery in desolate Eden Valley outside of Melbourne, Australia. A talented artist, as evidenced by sketches of her alter-ego Cinnamon Girl, Alba debates following her passion or staying in the familiarity of the Valley and near Grady, her best friend since birth. Then, a doomsday prophecy floods their town with eccentrics, brings back another old friend, and leaves Alba questioning her future even more. Alba is a feisty, fun, and introspective narrator, and her relationship with Grady definitely warrants readers’ attention, but the promise of an “incredible adventure” is an empty one; this meandering story is much more about friendship and self-discovery. Ages 12–up.
February 15, 2016
Changes are imminent for a small-town girl who's faced with the end of high school--and, perhaps, the world. Sarah Jane--better known to her friends as Alba--likes her simple life in Eden Valley, a remote farming town in Australia. She spends her days obsessing over and creating her Cinnamon Girl comics (panels from which decorate the pages), helping at her mother's bakery, and hanging with her close-knit group of friends. All together, they are a mostly white, hugely likable group. Post-graduation, Alba is dragging her feet about making plans and reluctant to leave the comforts she knows. Alba's relationship with her longtime best friend, Grady, also is changing, but she can't quite put her finger on why he's been acting differently. When a self-proclaimed Internet prognosticator declares that the rapture is nigh and only their village will be spared, their town is suddenly inundated with hippie-ish refugees, turning the bucolic burg on its head. When another of their friends, a chubby-turned-hunky television actor named Daniel, comes back, her life becomes ever more complicated. Whip-smart banter mixes with thoughtful introspection as Alba figures out what to do with her life and faces the fears that have been holding her back. With a dash of swoon-worthy romance and a healthy helping of humor among the chaos, expect a wide readership to be thoroughly entertained. An amusing and perceptive take on post-adolescent life changes--with a twist. (Fiction. 14 & up)
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February 1, 2016
Gr 9 Up-Alba is content with her life helping her mum run the local bakery and working on her graphic novels. Her current work in progress, The Adventures of Cinnamon Girl, exaggerates events that she and her friends experience. One day, her best friend, Grady, finds a clip on YouTube with Alvin Smith (alias Ordinary Ned), who warns everyone that the apocalypse is coming and the only place that is safe is Eden Valley. This news brings flocks of people to town, quickly transforming it into a version of Woodstock. Meanwhile, Daniel Gordon, an old flame and childhood friend of Alba's, comes back to town, causing Alba to face some familiar feelings. With the apocalypse coming, Alba has some difficult choices to make, including which boy should have her heart. Keil starts out the novel with a casual, conversational style, with Alba speaking directly to readers. However, that style is quickly dropped, and Alba begins narrating the story, forgetting about readers. The pacing is slow, and the character development is weak, particularly the protagonist. Keil throws in an unrealistic twist, which will most likely disappoint. Meanwhile, the relationship between Alba and Grady is predictable, resulting in an anticlimactic ending. VERDICT This is a slow novel with flat characters that should be purchased only by libraries with a large budget and a very high graphic novel fan base.-Erin Holt, Williamson Cty. Public Library, Franklin, TN
Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
July 1, 2016
Crowds descend upon Alba's "Oklahoma! meets Smallville" home after a TV prophet predicts that her tiny town will alone survive the apocalypse. Meanwhile, Alba struggles to figure out what to do after graduation and deals with the return of an old friend; working on her comics helps her process everything. Alba's tart, pop culturesavvy voice keeps this heartfelt story, illustrated with occasional comics-style art, fresh.
(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
July 3, 2014
The summer after she finishes high school, Alba plans to work at her mother’s bakery, hang out with her friends, draw some more of her rebellious comic book character Cinnamon Girl and spend as long as possible ignoring the undecided future looming before her, regardless of how hard her life-long best friend Grady pushes her. She’s not expecting some YouTube prophet to announce that, not only is the end of the world nigh, but the only place that will survive is her tiny hometown. Figuring out the future is even harder when you’re not sure it will exist and your town is overrun by end-of-the-world fanatics with questionable personal hygiene. The Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl is every bit as nerdy, goofy and dramatic as Melissa Keil’s Ampersand Project-winning book Life in Outer Space. It is also every bit as loveable, touching and addictive. Keil has such an incredible knack for bringing characters to life in a way that takes the potentially clichéd plotlines and turns them into something charming, hilarious and utterly unputdownable. Delightfully quirky and oh-so-much fun, a tangible sense of place paired with Alba’s strong voice make Keil’s new book a total hit.
Meg Whelan is the children’s book buyer at the Hill of Content Bookshop in Melbourne