Mirror Town

The Bizarre Bazaar #1

by Daniel Nayeri, Liz Enright (Illustrator)

Enter the Bizarre Bazaar, a phantasmagorical new graphic novel series sure to enchant or entrap its curious customers! In this first twisted tale, a boy stumbles—literally—into Mirror Town, a world where he gets everything he's ever wanted...or so he thinks.

No one ever pays attention to twelve-year-old Abel not his parents, not the cool kids at school, and certainly not his crush, Ginny Mendoza. To them, he's always been practically invisible.

That all changes the day he discovers a peculiar mirror in his neighbor's garage. But this isn't any old mirror, as Abel finds out soon enough when he accidentally falls through it.

What waits for him on the other side is a world just like his, except something is...off. Suddenly, his busy parents are spending every minute with him, his classmates treat him like a king, and now the girl he's been crushing on wants to hang out? It's the life Abel’s always dreamed of; how could he possibly go back to the way things were before?

But not everything—or everyone—is as it seems. Mirror Town hides evil secrets, and Abel will have to unravel them fast before he ends up trapped there forever.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Childrens, Comics, Horror, Fiction

144 pages, Paperback

Published July 8, 2025

About the author

Daniel Nayeri is a writer and editor in New York City. He wrote and produced The Cult of Sincerity, the first feature film to be world-premiered by YouTube. He has had all kinds of jobs around books, including book repairman, literary agent, used bookstore clerk, children's librarian, Official Story-Time Reader Leader, editor, copy-editor, and even carpenter (making bookshelves). He's also a professional pastry chef. He loves Street Fighter 2, hates the word "foodie," and is an award-winning stuntman.

Daniel and his sister/co-writer Dina were both born in Iran and spent many young adult years in Europe. There they learned several languages between them and tried Frosted Flakes for the first time.

Reviews

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Immediately, the premise of this graphic novel will reel the audience in. The idea that each installment of this series could follow the origins of marvelous objects in their store has so much promise and will definitely keep readers coming back for more adventures. The uniqueness of breaking the fourth wall invites the reader in on the magic of the story and the reality of getting everything you want at once being an actual living nightmare is the perfect lesson learned. Honestly, so glad to see that there will be more volumes in this world. The art style is easy to follow yet addictive, so I'd quickly have turned to the next one in the series if it were out already!

Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Ink for the arc!

[Zoe (didyoumeanbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fun!! I was STRESSED reading some of these pages 😂

I don’t read much middle grade/children's literature, but I would definitely recommend this one to young readers! & anyone looking for a fun familiar mirror world journey.

Excited to see what the next volumes hold 😊

(Note: I read a physical ARC of this book.)

[Matt Glaviano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. Feels like it would work better as an animated show; the book end characters would make more sense in that format.

Average stuff with some interesting moments.

[Prof. Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

💫 NetGalley ARC Review 💫

"The Bizarre Bazaar: Mirror Town" offers a genuinely intriguing premise, drawing readers into a world where desires are granted with a sinister twist. As the first installment in a new graphic novel series, it sets the stage well with Abel, a relatable protagonist who feels invisible in his own life. His accidental tumble into Mirror Town, where his every wish seems to come true, immediately hooks you. Who hasn't dreamt of a world where they're the center of attention, with doting parents, adoring classmates, and a crush who suddenly notices them?

The art style is phantasmagorical and fittingly "bizarre," effectively conveying the unsettling nature of Mirror Town. There are moments of genuine creepiness as Abel slowly realizes that his perfect world is too good to be true, and the "evil secrets" hint at a darker narrative to come. This unsettling vibe, coupled with the "perfect, yet twisted, alternate reality" theme, strongly reminds me of Neil Gaiman's Coraline. Just like Coraline's "Other Mother" created a world tailored to her desires that slowly revealed its sinister nature, Abel's Mirror Town offers a similar unsettling allure, making you wonder what price he'll pay for his dreams.

However, the story itself, while engaging, feels a little formulaic. The "be careful what you wish for" trope, combined with the "alternate reality where things are subtly wrong" theme, has been explored quite a bit in young adult fiction. While it's executed competently here, it doesn't offer many surprises for seasoned readers of the genre. Abel's journey of discovery, while necessary, sometimes feels a bit slow, and the pacing could be tighter in places.

Overall, "The Bizarre Bazaar: Mirror Town" is a promising start to a new series with a solid foundation and a captivating visual style. It's an enchanting read that will likely appeal to its target audience. It just needs a bit more originality in its narrative to truly stand out. I'm curious to see where the series goes next, hoping for some more unpredictable twists and turns from the Bizarre Bazaar.

[Sophy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever wonder if magic items really exist? This story follows a young boy getting ready for summer vacation and trying to work up the courage to ask his crush if she’d like to be pen pals. While looking for a gift for her, he stumbles upon a strange little shop but leaves empty-handed since he has nothing to trade. After helping an old lady with some chores, she rewards him with a mysterious mirror.

On his way home, he accidentally falls into a lake—and that’s when things start to get strange. Suddenly, everything in his life seems to go perfectly, almost too perfectly. As he begins to realize something is off, he notices that people around him don’t seem to remember things the same way he does.

This story has a slightly creepy vibe, great atmosphere, and beautiful artwork that ties it all together. Perfect for readers who enjoy magical realism with a mysterious twist.

[Bridgett McKean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book is a graphic fantasy novel and is geared towards middle school age. The book is about the story of a young boy who feels unseen by everyone as he goes through his day to day life. He wants to tell a girl who is a great friend that he likes her more than that. He wants to get her a present from a specific business, not knowing that in doing so he will enter an alternate universe where everything is the complete opposite of his reality. What I love about the book is that there is a moral to the story. Is he more happy with his real life or the alternate reality where he is universally seen and loved? This book is fairly short and makes for a quick read. Most middle school age kids will enjoy this book.

[Briana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Initial Thoughts: I'm going to have to think about this one a bit. What's the result when the summary on the back tells you 95% of the story and there are commentators IN the story also spoiling the main "twist"? I certainly kept reading, I guess because the book was . . . bizarre (lol) enough to keep my attention even though there was close to nothing that happens that is a surprise to the reader in any way. Of course, the best and most rereadable books are not about surprising the reader. There are some minor themes about protagonist Abel working on his self-confidence, but I wouldn't say the book is focused on character development either.

Source: ARC from giveaway

[Diana of Shelved by Strand · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, I love Daniel Nayeri's storytelling in his novels, but graphic novels are not my favorite format and fantasy is not my favorite genre. Mirror Town is the first of Nayeri's "The Bizarre Bazaar" graphic novel series and introduces the two "people" running the bazaar, as well as Abel, a not-cool 12-year-old with a crush on his friend Ginny. Abel meets the proprietors of the bazaar as he seeks a gift to win Ginny's heart before summer break. From there, things keep getting weirder -- kids who love weird should love this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown for the eARC.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

First read of the year! My daughter and I read the second book a few days ago, and then I realized I had this first book in a stack of advanced readers, so we read it tonight. This series really is bizarre, but in an interesting way. The premise is two magical beings have been imprisoned in the human world in a sort of magical thrift shop. They tell stories of magical object, and the people who brought them in. The stories are creepy and surreal. In this first book, a shy 12-year-old receives a mirror that is also a portal. It's fun and clever.

[Sabrina Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had open expectations for this book. Definitely geared towards a middle grade - early young adult section. To me it felt like an Aladdin inspiration from the beginning part where the narrator is talking to us and we find out that they are a Djinn (Genie). They then take us through a story of a young boy and his acceptance for what he has. This is setup for multiple books in the series and would easily be a great series for younger readers.

[Kaitlin Stubbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely something to give a kid who likes reading and/or graphic novels. I was able to read it in less than a half-hour, so it's a quick and easy read. The art is also fun. I liked how it was a story within a story with commentary from the two characters were first introduced to. If I were to continue the series, l'd like more Bruno, but we'll see if I'm tempted to read the rest.

Note: I received this as an ARC from a giveaway

[Emilie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book.

I liked the premise, but the execution was lacking. The two "narrators" popping in constantly kept taking me out of the flow of the story, which led to me almost being confused about the flow and progression of the plot. And the plot itself was unremarkable. I am not sure if I would recommend this book.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abel Azari is a normal kid who wishes he could be “more” . . . more popular, more talented, more outgoing. His visit to a strange little shop, as he searches for a gift for the girl he likes, leads him into a very strange place. It is definitely a place he does not want to be! A good graphic novel that kids will enjoy, although it can get a little confusing.

[Lydia Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this would be more of a book for kids but I enjoyed reading it. I later gave it to my eight and ten year old grandsons and they loved it. They are wanting to read a sequel to this book. We loved the characters, the graphics and the twist in the story. Highly recommend.

[Javierthearcnovice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

This is a good kids graphic novel with some dark undertones. It does have a nice twist that I didn’t see coming.

[Mompop · Rating 3 out of 5]

reminds me of "Creepshow"

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series will be super popular.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm obsessed with Daniel Nayeri's storytelling! This Twilight-Zone-esque series does not disappoint!

[Jennybeast · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely feels like a book that the intended audience will devour and be delighted by -- not really my cup of tea, but I appreciated the twilight zone atmosphere. It's well done.

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC from Netgalley.

[Mrs.MakesReadingFun · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, it was bizarre.
That’s for sure.
I found the story confusing, and the illustrations a little too wacky. Hard to follow & just not for me!

[Libby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled to follow the plot in this MG graphic novel. I'd love to get a kid's perspective on it since I'm definitely not the intended audience.

[Julie Ditton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daniel Nayeri has created great series about a Bizarre Bazaar, a shop for truly strange magical items. The shopkeepers break the fourth wall and act as story tellers to narrate each story. In this first story, a lonely boy searching for a gift eventually finds a strange item that leads him into a different reality. With the title of "Mirror Town", the reader realizes that this is a portal story, long before the main character realizes that things are completely wrong. This fantastic story, where a youngster suddenly gets everything he thinks he wants is fantastic. The illustrations by Liz Enright are clever and literally draw the reader into this world. I accessed an electronic advance reader copy from the publisher, Little Brown Ink. But I can honestly recommend this graphic novel and can't wait to see what else the Bizarre bazaar has in store.