Nell of Gumbling

July 10, 2023
Twelve-year-old Nell, portrayed with light brown skin, learns to appreciate her hometown in this winningly wholesome fantasy graphic novel by Steinkellner (the Okay Witch series), formatted as the protagonist’s illustrated journal. Seventh-grader Nell lives in the workaday storybook village of Gumbling, which was the Kingdom of Gumbling until the king stepped down “100-ish years ago.” She’s excited to start her apprenticeship, especially since she knows she’s going to be assigned to the famous artist Wiz Bravo. When she is, instead, assigned to Mrs. Birdneck, the Town Lorekeeper, Nell’s dad and pa lend earnest encouragement despite her wallowing (“I will be wasting all this time after school doing something I will hate”). Upon the arrival of two entrepreneurs, who claim to be descendants of the former king and intend to rebrand the town as a fairy tale vacation destination, Nell realizes that Mrs. Birdneck’s archives might hold the truth about the retired king’s wishes. Steinkellner fashions Nell and her dramatic, mythical classmates—including a centaur and a fairy—with explosive emotion that leaps off the page. Gently humorous prose teems with goofy asides and astute musings, while thinly lined, softly colored art initiates the first installment of this freewheeling series. Ages 8–12.

Starred review from July 1, 2024
Grades 3-7 *Starred Review* In this follow-up to Nell of Gumbling, Steinkellner's eponymous character is embarking on a summer camp program in the enchanted forest with her best friends--what could go wrong? Lots, of course! They have to complete a series of challenges as a team, and the best team by the end of the week will be named champion. Nell is determined to win and sure that her team of friends has what it takes, but Gil, a tiny Thumbkin, has not been his usual cheery self. When the team accidentally shrinks to the size of Thumbkins, their enchanted-forest challenge becomes way, way harder. Steinkellner has a real knack for middle-grade concerns, such as friendship struggles, rivalries, and developing empathy, and transporting those classic middle-grade plot points into an enchanted forest with varied magical beings works seamlessly, with smoothly incorporated world building. Presented as Nell's journal recording their camp adventure, the heavily illustrated novel features comics panels of various scenes as well as detailed renderings of a playful combination of real (tansy, wood sorrel) and fantastical (underberries, which resemble raspberries growing underground) details of the forest, which become all the more dynamic with the change in scale once the kids get tiny. Nicely balancing playfulness and emotional grounding, this offbeat hybrid novel is sure to charm fans of both comics and prose.

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Starred review from July 1, 2024
Crushes, competition, and calamity ensue on a class camping trip. Following on Nell of Gumbling: My Extremely Normal Fairy-Tale Life (2023), this cheery sequel follows ruddy, bespectacled Nell Starkeeper as she's about to embark on an adventure with friends Thumbkin Gil, fairy Myra, human Leabelle, and unicorn-centaur Voila. The group is competing in the Multi-Disciplinary Wilderness Engagement Adventure, and the stakes are high, especially since Nell's rival, Tony Pfluff, is also there. With his good looks, Romesh Roy, Nell's group leader, immediately catches her eye, but her crush is tempered by his determination to win at all costs. The dynamics between the friends falter as unspoken crushes and resentments surge among them. When a misspoken wish upends Nell and the crew, communication and teamwork may be the only options that will save them. Steinkellner offers readers an alluring mix of Nell's prose journal entries alternating with full-color comic panels; together they form a visually delightful page-turner. Though the story is rooted in a fantasy world, readers (especially those who appreciate the gentle angst of Raina Telgemeier's and Judd Winick's graphic novels) will find this volume utterly relatable; they'll appreciate the young friends' stumbles as they navigate their ways through life's twists and turns. The cast is diverse, with queer characters, a range of skin tones, and a refreshingly realistic spectrum of body sizes. A heartwarming and whimsical sequel. (annotated script, fun facts) (Graphic fantasy. 8-12)

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October 1, 2024

Gr 4 Up-Nell is going to spend an entire week living in a forest with a bunch of other seventh graders, and she couldn't be happier. Because this is an enchanted forest, there's a greater chance that things could go magically right or magically wrong, but what's most important is that Nell will be able to spend some quality time bonding with her friends. What she doesn't expect are crushes that go nowhere, crushes that form connections, plenty of funny misunderstandings, a play that bears a strong resemblance to A Midsummer Night's Dream, and a wish that accidentally comes true. Like the previous book in the series (My Extremely Normal Fairy-Tale Life), this is part graphic novel and part illustrated journal. It's a funny and magical adventure, filled with small epiphanies as Nell learns how to be a better listener and friend. The artwork is cute, cartoony, and contains plenty of visual humor. The exotic location is also the perfect setting for all kinds of amazing and colorful creatures, which adds even more appeal to this story. VERDICT For older kids and younger teens who love stories that feature fantasy, friendship, summer camp, and the power of teamwork.-Andrea Lipinski

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