Wizkit: An Adventure Overdue by Tanya J. Scott

Abstract

Reviewed by: Wizkit: An Adventure Overdue by Tanya J. Scott Danica Ronquillo Scott, Tanya J. Wizkit: An Adventure Overdue; written and illus. by Tanya J. Scott. Atheneum, 2023 [144p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781665900836 $20.99 Paper ed. ISBN 9781665900829 $12.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9781665900843 $9.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 4-6 Wizkit is a one-eyed cat and wizard apprentice who loves lounging around the house and using magic to do household chores, even though her Teacher Magus advises, “You cannot rely on it as an easy solution to everything. Some things you must do yourself.” When the two of them find Book, a talking library book that is long overdue, Teacher Magus assigns Wizkit the task of returning Book to the library to gain experience one cannot find indoors. Despite Wizkit’s reluctance to go outside, she realizes that her time journeying and forming new friendships with Book and other strange creatures can be a wild and fun adventure. Scott has illustrated a wholesome and quirky graphic novel debut, with simplistic layouts expanding the enchanting settings with warm vibrant colors, text to textless panels smoothly moving the narrative to introduce new characters, and humorous and sarcastic dialogue between the overly optimistic Book and the cynical cautious Wizkit. When coming across peculiar side characters, like a river shrine dragon, talking rocks and mice, and a three-headed bird with their own set of problems, Wizkit finds her true magic by courageously providing words of wisdom to them based on her new lessons and experiences. Young readers will be encouraged to step outside their comfort zone and learn that “Sometimes you can do a lot, without even knowing you could . . . and that’s how you find out you can do it.” Early character and background sketch designs are included. Copyright © 2023 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois