Misfits of Avalon (2014), Volume 2

June 1, 2016

Gr 7 Up-This book picks up shortly after the first volume, which told the story of four teenage girls who were selected for a magical purpose. Each teen has a ring that cannot be removed until her quest is complete, although the exact nature of the mission is sometimes confusing. These characters are at times tough to like. Some have stable home lives, while others don't always attend classes. What they all have in common is their desire for a greater purpose. These flawed characters are more realistic but also at times frustrating, because they don't always make the choices we expect of heroes. In this installment, the girls spend most of their time looking for the sword Excalibur, although once again it is not exactly clear why. This entry was originally published online at kelmcdonald.com, and much of the artwork has a less polished, webcomic feel. A mystical dog/man named Cu gives the protagonists the minimum amount of information to complete their tasks (for instance, offering them foreign phrases to say without telling them what the words mean). By the end of the book, it still isn't apparent whether the girls should be completing these missions at all. VERDICT For fans of fantasy and realistically drawn antiheroes.-Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library

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