Graphic Quest: Abracadabra

by Alex Gutteridge, Lucy Su (Illustrator)

An unexpected visitor comes to a teenage birthday party, and shares the strange story of her past.

Genres: Graphic Novels

79 pages, Paperback

First published October 31, 2001

About the author

Alex Gutteridge is the author of 12 children’s books. Her work includes humorous young fiction, stories for reluctant readers and YA novels. Her book Oven Chips for Tea was broadcast on the radio and her 2013 novel, Last Chance Angel, was short-listed for eight awards including the Romantic Novelists’ Book Award in the young adult category. She has had two picture books published in South Korea and her latest YA novel, No Going Back, published by Templar Books was commended at the Sheffield Book Awards and won the Northamptonshire Children's Choice Book Award.

Alex was born and brought up in Leicestershire where she still lives. An only child she spent a lot of time making up stories inside her head and sometimes getting into trouble for that! Her first book was based on an old Leicestershire legend about a highwayman and his wife and nearly all of Alex's books have been submitted as unsolicited manuscripts.

Alex is currently working on another YA novel and has just completed some young fiction and an adult romance.

Alex occasionally blogs about her writing inspirations at alexgutteridge.blogspot.co.uk
You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.

Reviews

[✖ · Rating 4 out of 5]

very short

[Eli Poteet · Rating 2 out of 5]

The cover called my name, it reminded me of an old hardy boys or Nancy Drew mystery adventure. I like how the author writes about abandoned places in England- that's awesome to be story telling as well as playing upon local historical myths and folklore. I am not impressed with the title, there's a lot of books of the same name. I also was unimpressed with the characters, I didn't feel a genuine identity or personality from anyone. I also felt like several of our key human sense were left out and neglected. This neglect was an accident versus being done intentionally with a reason for a point. But damn Id say this is a sturdy book, i dearly wish more graphic novels and illustrated storybooks utilized a similar process of hefty book producing.

[katyjanereads · Rating 1 out of 5]

1. These kids are teens but the writing seemed like it was for elementary kids.
2. I would equate the writing style to maybe The Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew. Good in their day, but cheesy in today's standards.
3. It was supposed to be a ghost story but I was never once scared. Confused a lot. But not scared.
4. I still don't really understand the ending. Why did Becca look like Charlotte. What did the charm have to do with it?
5. I did like the late 90's early 2000's clothing.

[Laura Salas]

Stone Arch graphic novel.

At his cousin's birthday party, Tom hopes to see Becca, the girl he likes. Instead, he meets Charlotte, Becca's double. Tom is confused because Charlotte died 350 years ago.

It was still a bit vague, not a clear plot/resolution.