(1) 4-6 This debut graphic novel introduces readers to Helga Sharp, a unique and entertaining iteration of the plucky heroine. Tired of boarding school, Helga sets off to rescue the owner of the mysterious voice emanating from her newly built transistor radio. It's not long before she finds herself on the shores of a mysterious island, where the mainland has secretly exiled its "mad scientists." Erasmus Lope is among them, an infamous investigator who was presumed dead after a huge explosion, but who lives confined inside a large red crystal as the titular Prisoner of Shiverstone. Helga succeeds in liberating Erasmus, but even more importantly, she finds a way to liberate herself from the expectations others have placed on her. In the process, she rewardingly also finds a home. The quirky characters and inventive world-building are largely products of the cartoonish style of the gouache and watercolor illustrations, while the composition and layout of the comic panels help the outlandish plot zip along. This delightful confection will entice readers with a good mix of fantasy, mystery, and action.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2022