(1) YA Illustrated by Rebecca Mock. In this third graphic novel collaboration between Larson and Mock (Compass South, rev. 7/16; Knife's Edge), what begins as a twentieth-century family drama quickly uncoils into a much more sinister--and spellbinding--modern fairy tale. Vonceil Taggert is the youngest of five siblings and the most adventuresome of the lot. So when her eldest brother, Elber, returns to Oklahoma after his service in WWI and immediately marries his longtime sweetheart, it's a disappointment to Vonceil, who'd had higher hopes for her favorite sibling. The nuptials also vex the stylish and enigmatic Greda, a Frenchwoman who claims to be Elber's ex-love and whose bruised pride causes her to curse the Taggert farm's spring to run with only salt water--a death sentence given the current drought. Vonceil pledges to restore their water and, with the help of an unlikely accomplice, discovers secrets about Greda that will affect the Taggert family forever. In Mock's skillful art, each panel glints with sharp, precise color work and expert shadow play, highlighting the cruel, dark side of Larson's world--a satisfying blend of the mythical and the historical that will enthrall graphic-novel lovers.

Reviewer: Niki Marion | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2021

(2) YA Eighth graders Bina and Darcy head back to school in this spirited graphic novel, the sequel to All Summer Long (rev. 7/18). Darcy is convinced that their band Fast Fashion needs a drummer. Protagonist Bina doesn't agree, but when they discover that classmate Enzo is a musical prodigy with intimidating drumming skills, changes are put in motion beyond Bina's control and at a pace for which she is unprepared. With Enzo, the band changes its name to the Candids and there is pressure to make its songs "louder. Edgier. Shoutier." Darcy and Enzo start dating, and Bina struggles to understand and express her feelings, resulting in an argument at a thrift store and Bina being dumped--via text message--from the band she co-founded. As if that's not enough, Bina is not sure how to feel about her best friend Austin's displays of romantic interest and how that fits within her own identity development. ("What's the difference between liking someone and liking them?") While plot and layout are straightforward, an emphasis on conversation allows for characters' relationships and emotions to take center stage. Light purple washes contrast with thick, bold lines, creating an appropriate balance in a narrative containing moments of both emotive strength and fragility. Other symbolic visual elements, such as arrows and sound effects, add backstory and humor.

Reviewer: Elisa Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2020

(2) YA In this sensitive coming-of-age graphic novel, Bina's BFF/next-door neighbor Austin is away at soccer camp (and ignoring her texts) the summer before eighth grade. Bored, impressionable, guitar-playing Bina starts hanging out with Austin's older sister, who shares her love of music, and she's pushed outside her comfort zone (e.g., babysitting, boys). A monochromatic palette with sunny oranges plus unobtrusive panels and lettering allow Larson's believable dialogue to shine.

Reviewer: Elisa Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2018

(3) 4-6 Four Points series. Illustrated by Rebecca Mock. Twelve-year-old twins Alex and Cleo (Compass South) continue to search for their fabled family treasure. Tensions grow between the siblings, but they must work together to survive pirates and a shipwreck. This second volume of the nineteenth-century-set graphic-novel series travels from San Francisco to the Marshall Islands, extending the diverse cast and again examining issues of gender, race, and class amid high-seas adventure.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Rebecca Mock. In 1860, twelve-year-old twins Alexander and Cleopatra Dodge head to San Francisco, planning to con a wealthy man into believing they're his long-lost twin sons. On the way, they meet another set of redheaded twins with the same idea. A variety of panel sizes keeps the pace brisk in this rollicking graphic novel series-opener, and plenty of tantalizing questions remain.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2016

(3) YA Illustrated by Tintin Pantoja. Lin, a teen who writes superhero adventures, inadvertently becomes a superhero herself via her cell phone; she thwarts a robbery then stops the digital possession of another teen and ultimately must face off against the villainous cyber-force behind it all. Strong characters and a quick plot with suspenseful loose ends will leave readers wanting sequels. The black-white-and-purple manga-style art has broad appeal.

Reviewer: April Mazza

(2) YA In this graphic novel, a search for gold leads to devastation for one family and potential salvation for its descendants. Intriguing linked tales alternate focus between Josey, who lives on a farm in Nova Scotia in 1859, and Tara, who inhabits the same land in 2009. Larson flips gracefully back and forth between time periods, embellishing her realistic black-and-white cartoons with mystical touches.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2010

(4) YA At camp, Abby tries to fit in with cool girls Zoë and Beth. Friendship dynamics change when Shasta, a girl who claims she was hit by lightning, becomes Abby's bunkmate. In this graphic novel, the action can be hard to trace, jumping between real and possibly imagined events. The black-and-white ink panel drawings effectively display the wide-ranging emotions of the middle-school characters.

Reviewer: Laura A. Woollett