Praise for Manu:
International Latino Book Award, Silver Medal Winner
Washington Post Best Children's Book of the Year
Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
Amazon Best Book of the Month
American Library Association Best Graphic Novel for Children
American Booksellers Association Indies Introduce Pick
American Booksellers Association Indie Next Pick
Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Get Published by Graphix Contest Winner
Recipient of four starred reviews
★ “Fernández’s cartoon artwork in saturated tones and with lush, vibrant backgrounds dense with plants makes for charming, light-hearted atmosphere, within which she affectionately depicts the rich variety of love people can have for one another, such as the love of a parent, foster parent, or best friend.” — Booklist, starred review
★ "Drawing from her own Dominican experience, Fernández weaves together religion, lore, and brujería and creates a world in which magical powers bestowed by saints and evil eye necklaces work hand in hand. Fun, refreshing, antics-filled magical adventures." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ "Fernández’s fast-paced graphic novel debut explores striving for individuality while yearning to belong, reminding readers that differences should never preclude extending kindness and love." — Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ "Though the emphasis on magic will draw in fantasy fans, this poignant graphic novel will resonate with any reader seeking a tale of friendship conquering all." — School Library Journal, starred review
"Fernández, an incredibly adept cartoonist, fills her pages with hilarious gags, rebellious children and a main character who has to come to terms with her true self before she can truly excel." — The Washington Post
"Adorable... If you've got a kid who loves comics, Manu is a solid choice with some really lovely art." — NPR
"A beautiful tale with really lovely art and endearing characters." — Book Riot
"This adorable, vibrant, and fantastical graphic novel perfectly captures the power and magic of friendship." — Cat Chapman, bookseller at Oxford Exchange in Tampa, FL
"A funny, friendship-filled adventure. Manu, Josefina, and their classmates will be a treat for all kids but especially for Latinx kids who may have dreamed about a magic school whose classmates looked like them." — Brein Lopez, bookseller at Children's Book World in Los Angeles, CA
★ 12/01/2021
Gr 4–7—Was she abandoned on a doorstep by an ogre? Or maybe she was raised by wolves in the mountains. Perhaps one day the ground opened up and she emerged—almost everyone at La Academia de Santa Dominga, a school for girls with magic abilities, wonders about Manu's origins. Her magic is far more powerful than that of the other students, and that, combined with her propensity for mischief, lands her in trouble with the Catholic nuns who run the school. When Manu's magic starts malfunctioning, Sister Noela wonders if the saints are intervening to prevent the wild child from using her powers. Eager to prove she isn't the sinister creature that so many believe her to be, Manu turns to an unorthodox solution that may have disastrous consequences. While Manu may be an outcast, she has firm friends; the obedient, studious Josefina and Mother Dolores, the nun who brought her to the school, stick by her despite her missteps, and Fernández conveys these relationships with warmth and tenderness—and hints that there might be more than friendship between Manu and Josefina will delight readers. Fernández's exuberant, vibrant cartoons depict a lush island setting and humorously convey the chaos Manu wreaks; as the narrative turns more serious, the palette shifts appropriately. The tale is set in the Dominican Republic; characters are Latinx and frequently mix in Spanish phrases. VERDICT Though the emphasis on magic will draw in fantasy fans, this poignant graphic novel will resonate with any reader seeking a tale of friendship conquering all.—Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal
★ 2021-07-27
A young witchling struggles when she loses her magical powers.
Manu (don’t call her Manuela) has grown up at La Academia de Santa Dominga with the religious sisters who found her as a baby. She might have the strongest magical talent, which stems from her unknown past, but that doesn’t make her the best student at the academy—she’s always getting in trouble. When tragedy strikes and Manu’s magic starts regressing, Manu worries she has been cursed and blames Josefina, her best friend, as Josefina had wished the magic be taken away when one of Manu’s jokes got out of hand. Now Manu must decide between following the advice and remedies doled out by Mother Dolores, who believes that the magic bestowed by the saints should be used only to “serve the poor and the powerless,” or looking for answers elsewhere—even though it might endanger her and her friends. Drawing from her own Dominican experience, Fernández weaves together religion, lore, and brujería and creates a world in which magical powers bestowed by saints and evil eye necklaces work hand in hand. The setting, coded as Latin American since Spanish is spoken, provides an environment in which the narrative and illustrations explore complex relationships between accessible characters that often require forgiveness, understanding, and acceptance to survive. Characters are racially diverse; Manu has brown skin and black, puffy hair.
Fun, refreshing, antics-filled magical adventures. (maps, character list, author's note, sketchbook) (Graphic fantasy. 8-12)
