Zatanna & A Mansao Dos Segredos

by Matthew Cody

Zatanna e seu pai, um mágico profissional, vivem em uma casa especial, a Casa dos Segredos, que é cheia de magia, quebra-cabeças, portas misteriosas e criaturas de contos de fadas - é a casa que todos na vizinhança falam, mas evitam. Não que Zatanna se importe, porque ela está perfeitamente contente. Mas um dia na escola, Zatanna enfrenta um valentão e tudo muda ... incluindo seus amigos. De repente, Zatanna não tem tanta certeza sobre seu lugar no mundo, e quando ela volta para casa para contar a seu pai, ele está desaparecido, perdido dentro de sua própria casa. (Zatanna & The House Of Secrets)

Zatanna & the House of Secrets

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Dc Comics, Superheroes, Childrens

144 pages, Paperback

First published February 18, 2020

About the author

Originally from the Midwest, Matthew Cody now lives in New York City with his wife and son. When not writing books or goofing off with his family, he teaches creative writing to kids of all ages.

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

"There's a certain house on a certain street that everyone talks about. A house full of secrets . . . " -- from the opening pages

Spirited (ha-ha) little graphic novel featuring a thirteen year-old version of DC's 'mistress of magic,' Zatanna and the House of Secrets was an whimsical and heartfelt adventure done just right. (It also serves as something of a quasi-origin story, which is nice as this character - although she has been around over 50 years (!) now - is still not a household name like Superman, Batman or Wonder Woman.) Zatanna - in addition to dealing with the usual adolescent issues of a typical suburban teenager - is thrown into a Wizard of Oz-type of situation, separated from her father with only the family pet as a companion in a mystical dimension. However, 'magic' is her family's business, so Zatanna quickly learns to wield her other-worldly powers against a villainous demon-witch who is attempting to obtain control of the domicile in the title. I loved Yoshi Yoshitani's illustration style, and author Cody has crafted a winning story to showcase this underutilized super-heroine.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is part of DC Zoom and clearly intended for middle school aged readers. Zatanna is a 13-year old living with her stage magician father. The first 3rd of the book has Zatanna dealing with typical middle school issues of peer pressure and trying to fit in. I was a bit bored by it honestly. It wasn't until Zatanna discovered her magical heritage that it started to pick up. Zatanna and Klarion the Witch Boy go on a magical journey through the House of Secrets in search for her father. I liked the little Cain and Abel Easter eggs scattered throughout the house. (For those of you not in the know, Cain and Abel were the original occupants of the House of Secrets.) All in all, it's a fine book for children, but there's no much there for adults.

Received a review copy from DC and Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.

[Noura Khalid (theperksofbeingnoura) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you DC Comics and Random House for the gifted review copy!

I loved every minute of this graphic novel! It’s intended for a younger audience but I think anyone can appreciate the story and art for this one. We get to follow the magical life of a younger Zatanna and her friendly familiar Pocus. I can definitely see a younger audience loving this but I think adults will appreciate this one as well. I personally really enjoyed this. The plot was a lot less serious than other DC Comics but it was a really fun read and it was definitely something I needed after reading a couple of serious books one after the other.

The story was super fun and light (I’m a sucker for anything with magic and talking animals). The art design was absolutely perfect in every way possible. The capturing of the House of Secrets was magical and the whole graphic novel was paired with such vibrant colors and beautiful art. The story was so imaginative! Yoshi Yoshitani did an amazing job when it came to bringing to life the story that Matthew Cody created. Together they made a wonderful addition to the DC Comics universe.

The story also sheds some light on important topics for middle graders like the importance of friendship and family and the support that comes with both.

In conclusion, I would recommend this 100%. I loved every minute of it and I’m looking forward to reading what DC Comics comes up with next!

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is the first of this new wave of DC Graphic Novels for Kids (and I'm including the short-lived Zoom imprint) that I enjoyed from start to finish. The stylized art is cool; the story had some nice twists, humor, and Easter eggs for longtime DC fans; and Zatanna is just a fun character to get to know all over again. Nice!

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zatanna is just trying to survive middle school. She and her stage-magician Dad live in a mysterious house with an adorable pet rabbit, Pocus. Zatanna believes that her father's magic tricks are just illusions, until one fateful day when she encounters real magic. She realizes that the house holds more secrets than she ever knew, and she must navigate trick stairs, cold dungeons, and enigmatic doors to escape the clutches of a wicked sorceress and save her father.

I loved this comic from start to finish! Zatanna is a wonderful character, and she has some good personal development and teen angst that packs an emotional punch. The plot is enchanting and mystic with lots of wonderful surprises and twists. I loved the magical elements in the House of Secrets, and especially the magical characters and creatures that Zatanna meets as she discovers a new world of wizardy and spells.

One of the best things about this book is Zatanna's close relationship with her father, Zatara. Since her mother is dead, Zatanna really relies on her father and they have a special bond. They have some ups and downs, fighting as all families do, but ultimately they love and support one another.

I was so impressed with this imaginative story! The artwork is absolutely gorgeous, and has an enchanting quality that drew me into the story. The panels are clear, showing the action in a sharp way that makes the story easy to follow. The colors are rich and vibrant, and I loved the smooth contrast in colors that makes the artwork pop.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clever, enjoyable, magical romp! Zatanna and the House of Secrets is perfect for a young audience, neatly introducing the character, her backstory, and potential future adventures as she discovers who she is. The art is cute and clear, absolutely perfect for the book. It's a quick, fairly simple read, but again, that's perfect for the audience (and for this old man). I especially loved Zatanna's interactions with Pocus, the rabbit/pooka. Too cute.

[aqilahreads · Rating 2 out of 5]

absolutely love the art but plot wise is a little bit choppy in some parts.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

So meant to do this review earlier, but life got away from me, as it does for one. Anywho, to the book!

This was a cute read and I really love the trend of graphic novels geared towards younger readers with female heroes. I'm not well versed in comics, so this is a great introduction to me of the character Zatanna. It feels age appropriate. The artwork was cute and funky and I liked the characters and the storyline.

3.5 stars, a solid 3 star read. Definitely recommended.

My thanks to NetGalley and DC Entertainment/DC Comics for an eARC copy of this to read and review.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story with absolutely adorable artwork. I was surprised (and a tad disappointed) that the tension Zatanna was experiencing with her friends wasn't truly wrapped up. But I guess that's realistic? Or perhaps that will be explored more in a sequel?

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

That's my girl!

[amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

In our house of secrets, minutes can seem like hours, hours like days.

Cute is one word to describe this.
Heartbreakingly cute in both words and artwork.
Zatanna lives in a house that I would DIE for. Magical and made of dreams, she resides with her father and a cute bunny named Pocus.

Zatanna knows her home life isn’t normal and that people in the neighborhood talk about her house which is dubbed the House of Secrets. It has never bothered her until she becomes excluded from cool events like dances after school.

Uhh, that probably was a good thing however. When Zatanna is invited to one that’s when she encounters the son of a witch at said party.

That’s when the secrets of the house are revealed.

This book surprised me. I went in expecting just your normal YA graphic novel but came out with something completely different and for that I’m happy. Zatanna is adorable and Pocus as a bunny sidekick was great.

The magical aspect was simple and great and the house was interesting and full of surprises. I felt that some of the characters could have been fleshed out a bit more but that is my only gripe honestly.

The artwork is gorgeous and so pleasant to look at. The colors draw you in immediately and you just want the story to go on and on.

I wish this was a series honestly rather than a one shot. That’s how much I enjoyed this.

Thanks very much to Edelweiss AND Netgalley for this copy of my ARC. All opinions are my own.

[eva ⚘ · Rating 3 out of 5]

[3.5⭐]

this was cute and fun! particularly liked the art style and overall message conveyed; however, i would have liked it even more if the school drama was resolved in more detail / the characters showed growth

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This all-ages Zatanna story is all around a fun offering. First up, it presents an enjoyable Zatanna at age 13 or so. Second, it makes strong use of DC elements, putting her in the House of Secrets with Father Zatara and even including Klarion. And finally, it's got absolutely beautiful art that really fits with its YA foundation.

With all that said, there's also enough depth, and a few surprises, to keep adult readers interested. It may not be as rereadable as a Vertigo book, but it's nonetheless a very enjoyable read.

(4.5 stars, really.)

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

The setting steals the show in this tale of a teenaged magician searching for her dad. A house that changes, with multiple rooms and magic? And a talking bunny? Sign me up! I love the house, the pooka, the villains, and Zatanna’s special kind of magic (not to mention the room behind the black door 💙)! I had no idea Zatanna ties into the DC universe until I finished the book.

[Rabbit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Art⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Story⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Anubha (BooksFullOfLife, LifeFullOfBooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this a lot

[Hollie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like the overall message this story offers and watching Zatanna grow into herself and her magic was really nice to see.

[ame · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can read my review at my blog:
https://ohnobooks.wordpress.com/2021/...

[Cass Moskowitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was so fun! Silly magic, fun family dynamics, and a *spoiler* talking bunny! A fun romp all around.

[Chloe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have recently been reading and for the most part enjoying the new DC graphic novels that have been released. However, with most of those that I have read, I have been aware of the characters that they centred on. With this one, I had never heard of Zatanna so I was interested in learning more about her.

This graphic novel has a target audience of younger children, which I tried to keep in mind whilst I was reading it. The narrative follows Zatanna as she investigates the secrets of her own home, exploring rooms and the mysteries within them. While this sounded like a lot of fun, I did not enjoy reading it that much. Unfortunately, I was not particularly interested in the story, as it was simply not as engaging as some of the others that I have read. The art of this graphic novel was fine, but certainly not my favourite.

Zatanna was a fierce and determined protagonist, as she set out exploring her relationship with magic. However, I found Klarion to be the most interesting character and I would certainly love to learn more about him in the future. Zatanna's friends, especially Margo, really annoyed me. They were quite rude to her, but Zatanna just seemed to accept how cruel they were being.

For me, Zatanna And The House Of Secrets was a disappointing read, as I was never particularly interested in the narrative. I read this graphic novel with the hope of learning more about the character of Zatanna, who I knew absolutely nothing about. However having finished reading it, I feel as though I did not learn very much about her and it has not inspired me to read more about the character either. Perhaps younger readers, who are the intended audience of this graphic novel, would enjoy this a little more than I did.

Rating - 2/5
★★

There is also a link to this review on my blog here!

[Palos Heights Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the book that the Tween Graphic Novel Club chose for our next meeting, that sadly had to get canceled. Although there was not a discussion, this book was still so enjoyable.
This was my first introduction to Zatanna, a magician and comic book character from DC comics.
Like Diana: Princess of Amazons, we get a younger Zatanna and how she is dealing with having a magician father and a mother who has supposedly died.
Zatanna finds that there is more to magic than the sleight of hand that her father, Zatara, uses. Her entire house is a House of Magic, where her father is the last caretaker.
There are people and beings who would like that magic, and would do anything to get it, including kidnapping Zatara himself!

I really like this theme of using comic book characters to relate to middle grade students. It is interesting to see these characters growing up, rather than just already adults who are fighting crime.

-Reviewed by Lauren B.

[Dev · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty cute although ultimately a little bit simplistic for me as an adult reader. It's a graphic novel that is set up more like a manga - with fewer panels per page, etc - so it's definitely a very quick read. The art is very cute though and the story was pretty fun as well. Pretty much only knowledge of Zatanna and the House of Secrets comes from Justice League Dark and other Constantine related properties so it was cool for me personally to see something with the same subject matter but a very different mood.

[Mery ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was cute!

Zatanna changes a lot in the story. She learns things about herself and her family that she couldn’t have imagined at the very start. Her biggest challenges came from losing the “adult” characters who had always advised or protected her. She had to make her own way – although she did get help from a source she wasn’t expecting.

My only “complaint” is that the talking bunny had to be called a “familiar” which will put off some readers/families because of occult connections. I am not 100% familiar with Zatanna’s full history, but I know one of the villains has a “familiar,” so maybe that is part of the character’s history and would never be changed. But I felt like the bunny could have just been a magical talking bunny and left at that.

I love the confidence Zatanna has by the end – in herself and in her magic. She understands where she fits and she stands up for herself with Witch Boy. She also seems more confident in her own skin by the end. She’s found her footing and her purpose!

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I needed a book with a rabbit on the cover for the reading challenge....I decided to change the category and make it a "dog"- so that I could continue reading books off my shelf....but then I stumbled upon a used bookstore while in Fed Hill....and the first book I picked up in the graphic novel section was this YA book. As the book looked fun, I took it as a sign. :)
This is a short story about a young girl who's father is a magician and mother is dead....and then a villain shows up....with her angsty son....and they must band together to help each other out of their predicaments. There is a rabbit...Pocus who is a sidekick.
This book was very simple. Not sure I would go in search of the rest of the series, but it was a fun read and the art was nice. I was surprised to see this is a character from DC Comics....I hadn't heard of her.

Read if you need a break.

PopSugar 2023 Reading Challenge: A book with a rabbit on the cover

[Benjamin]

How? Kiddo been reading a lot of Wings of Fire graphic novels mostly solo, so I can't record them here. But this I randomly picked up at the library and we read together in an evening.

What? Zatanna is a weird kid with some trouble: her single dad has secrets, her best school friend is now saying she's weird, and some boys are picking on her.

And that's before she unlocks her magic power and gets attacked by the Witch Queen. Now she has to partner with her dad's familiar and save him by figuring out who she is.

Yeah, so? I haven't been pushing DC comics on the kid, not as much as I would like to do, but grabbed this at a library, and we read it in a day, and we liked it. I just asked him if he wanted to say anything about the book and he said no, but he also earlier said he would read more all-ages Zatanna books if they exist.

[Mehsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty fun book about a girl named Zatanna who can do magic and who in this book finds out her house is actually magic. It was a really fun read and I loved Zatanna and how strong she was. How quick she was to find her powers and how to use them. I loved that she never gives up but instead just forges ahead and tries everything to save the house, save her dad, and oh yes, defeat the evil intruder (who had an awesome design). The art was pretty OK, it was very cartoon-ish which for me works at times but other times not so much as it misses details.
Pocus was OK, and that says a lot as I am normally not the girl to like magical talking animals.
One of the revelations had me in tears and especially when that meeting happened. The ending was fun and I am happy to see it end like this.

[Artemis Crescent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before 'House of Secrets', I never liked any comic with Zatanna in it (and not much else with her in it, I realise).

She's been around since 1964, and my knowledge of and exposure to her stories, plus stories that include her as a side character (or even less, which I find happens too often with her), is admittedly limited. However, practically all that I have found has either failed to impress me, or has just made me feel uncomfortable, creeped out, or thoroughly disgusted. I mean seriously, how many people's memories and minds has Zatanna violated and effed up over the years? And what about her own memories? How much of her mind is her own? How much of any DC character's mind is their own, thanks to her? No wonder she's the top subject of others' trust issues in the DCU! She's barely a hero, not only because of her incompetence (or plain underutilisation) but the frankly monstrous acts she pulls on her own friends and colleagues.

Zatanna gets sidelined far too frequently in the DC universe, to boot. She is constantly being controlled, manipulated, fridged and saved by men, most notably her father, Zatara, an abusive arse she inexplicable idolises so deeply. Her whole existence revolves around Zatara and Batman, it seems.

Which is a shame, because I adore witches and magical girls, and Zatanna is a female stage magician whose magic is legit and extremely powerful - powerful enough to control the elements, fly, teleport, heal, manipulate minds, manipulate time, defeat demonic forces, detain and contain dimensions and multiverses, and beat anything in the cosmos. Really, she can do literally anything, by just saying it backwards as a spell. She should be a superheroine on the level of Wonder Woman. She should be as popular and as recognisable as Wonder Woman.

Too bad men keep being hired to write her.

Well, thanks to DC's recent line of graphic novels for juniors and teens, made to refresh and reintroduce many of their superheroes and antiheroes in contemporary times, Zatanna receives another chance in the spotlight in 'Zatanna and the House of Secrets'. Yes, again it is authored by a man, Matthew Cody, but it's a good story about her, where she's a real character who's given real development, culminating in her shining as her own independent hero. Surrounding that is a very cute, funny and magical kids' comic, straight out of something from Cartoon Network.

Long story short: Zatanna is the thirteen-year-old daughter of a magician, Zatara. She's an outcast at school, of course, and she wonders if hanging out with other misfits is worth the scorn and teasing of the popular kids (mostly boys); if being true to herself and her friends is worth "missing out" on the cool things in school and life, like parties.

Unbeknownst to her, Zatanna's home is a dormant house full of magic and secrets, allegedly dating back to the beginning of time, and is the First house; and her dad's magic is real, no tricks. When he disappears with a villainous intruder, the Witch Queen, Zatanna must discover her own innate magical abilities in order to find him, and save her house and her family.

Dealing with goblins is the very least of it as she explores the topsy-turvy, labyrinthine puzzle that is the House of Secrets, containing ancient, magical creatures and traps. And doors.

There's a little more to it than that, but that's the hocus-pocus, abracadabra gist of it. There's also a talking rabbit, a witch's cat (who, bizarrely, doesn't talk), a sphinx made entirely of book pages in a library, and Klarion the Witch Boy (who may or may not be a romantic interest for Zatanna in the long run - what? What is that about? Why put that possibility here? Why?).

In 'House of Secrets', Zatanna is a temperamental, dynamic and determined young girl. She's funny, too. Her whole arc and development is ultimately about teaching girls that they are special, that they are stronger, braver, and more powerful than they think. That they are meant for greatness - meant to achieve it - even if they don't know it or believe it yet.

Zatanna has both a male friend and a female friend in her ordinary life, and while she looks up to and relies on her father initially, he is the damsel in distress in this story, and she is the one to rescue him, with the help of her not-so-deceased mother towards the end...

There is a lot of diverse representation in the comic. However, it is not perfect. Zatanna's dead mother is typically blonde, blue-eyed, saintly and angelic (in fact, she looks a lot like the Blue Fairy from Disney's 'Pinocchio'). The villain, the Witch Queen, on the other side of the mum coin (she's Klarion's mother), is a demonic, black-eyed, black-haired, greedy and just-too-ambitious woman with power. She's already a magic queen and is powerful enough, yet she wants the House of Secrets because...I don't know, she simply wants everything? Power corrupts? But at least she can be viewed as cool and OTT entertaining. Zatanna's companions on her quest are male, apart from the nontalking cat.

STILL. 'Zatanna and the House of Secrets' is fun, joyful, touching, inspiring, and (mostly) wholesome. I adore the colourful and cartoony art. It is what a kids' comic about magic, spells and conjuring should be. It is how Zatanna, and her origins and early magician days, should be. As the Mistress of Magic, the Sorceress Supreme, and an otherwise normal girl.

Once again a modern comic revamps and redeems a heroine who's been underused, underrepresented, underestimated, ignored, fridged, and badly treated by men both in and out of her fictional universe, and whose potential has been wasted for the majority of her history.

TNECSERC SIMETRA, TUO GNINGIS.

Final Score: 4/5

[Sirah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although she's always believed herself to be an average kid whose mother died and whose father is a magician, one day Zatanna comes home to discover that her dad has been keeping secrets from her. He races through the house, leaving strict instructions for Z to watch over their pet rabbit, but things get really crazy when a kid steals the rabbit at the school dance and Z comes home to a house that's both like and unlike her own.

This book spent a lot of time one the magic system and world building, but the emotions and character arcs felt underdevelopped. It did a lot well, and I enjoyed myself, but I feel that Z's instant rage at her father and her uncertainty around her friends should have been explained better.

[J.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

My knowledge of Zatanna the DC superhero extends to a vague recollection of her being some sort of magician. So this was a fun middle-grade graphic novel to read as a cute stand-alone, which it totally works as. Zatanna is the quintessential young teenager, discovering herself as she hurtles toward adulthood.

Cody takes one of the conceits of the traditional “female coming of age” story, the importance of house and home, and twists it to great effect. The House of Secrets definitely acts as a character in its own right. Unfortunately, the story only passes the Bechdel test if you really squint; why don’t female leads ever get to have REAL female friends who act as more than two-dimensional foils?

Yoshitani’s colorful artwork supplements the story perfectly, evoking the House of Secrets as a place of both playful magic and subtle danger. I especially adore the expressiveness of the non-human characters, such as Pocus and Yeekl. I’d happily check out any other projects they illustrate.

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Levando em conta que esse é um quadrinho voltado para crianças, Zatanna e a Mansão dos Segredos não subestima e nem superestima. Nem aos pequenos leiores e nem aos leitores velhos. Ele se usa muito bem da mitologia do Universo DC, usando personagens como Klarion, o Menino Bruxo no enredo. Os diálogos são bem espertos, a trama é melhor que de muitos gibis para público regular da DC Comics e os desenhos são encantadores de tão fofinhos. É um prato cheio de magia e feitiçaria, da alegria e desencontros da infância para públicos de todos os tipos. Gostei bastante!