Punk Rock Unicorn

Phoebe and Her Unicorn #17

by Dana Simpson

Break out your purple hair dye and set your guitar amps to full blast in this rocking new collection of Phoebe and Her Unicorn comics by bestselling author Dana Simpson.

Phoebe Howell and her unicorn best friend, Marigold Heavenly Nostrils, are headed to music camp for the summer, where they form a punk rock group with fellow campers Sue and Stevie. Marigold also discovers a portal to a parallel dimension where she and Phoebe come face-to-face with the dark and sinister versions of themselves. Throughout their magical and musical adventures, the best friends learn about the value of friendship, following your heart, and rocking your hardest in this sparkling new collection of Phoebe and Her Unicorn comics by award-winning author Dana Simpson.
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Genres: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Comics, Middle Grade, Humor, Childrens, Juvenile

176 pages, Paperback

Published April 4, 2023

About the author

Dana Claire Simpson grew up in Gig Harbor, Washington, drawing the entire time. She eventually graduated from The Evergreen State College, despite having spent all her time drawing, and not always for credit.

Attempts at doing real work along the way are hardly worth mentioning; the relevant fact is that, from 1998 to 2008, she drew the internet comic strip Ozy and Millie. After winning the Amazon-sponsored Comic Strip Superstar Contest in 2009, Universal Uclick signed her to a development deal for Heavenly Nostrils.

She currently lives in the Seattle area with her tech genius husband and her fairly stupid cat.

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the subtitle says, another Phoebe and Her Unicorn. My only complaint is that the music camp bit which lends the title of the collection comes at the end.

Great bit about letting kids read graphic novels <3

[britt_brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can’t ever go wrong with Phoebe and Marigold! My sweet niece has aged out of these now, but I’m now passing issues on to my friend’s super reader 3rd grader whom I adore. 🦄✨

[Bexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful next book in the Phoebe and Marigold Heavenly Nostrils series. Dealing with a school play, punk rock at music camp, and a first kiss, this series never disappoints.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chuckled often as I read this new installment in Dana Simpson’s book series, but the things I was laughing at were the very things that the target age group of grades 4 and up would not get! Such as the part when Marigold is reading through a script with Phoebe and announces that she did not tell her that the “play was anti-unicorn, pro-mollusk propaganda.” Or when Phoebe calls Marigold’s favorite musician “hipstercorn.” How about the part when Phoebe suggests that Marigold wear a monocle and she responds with, “I draw the line at decreased facial symmetry.” So many comments that have their basis in politics or current events, too. That’s not say that kids won’t laugh at Marigold wearing her Distraction Hat which is simply a hot dog stuck on her horn, or when Phoebe’s friend from music camp wants to be a punk rock musician and sets herself to smashing anything and everything. Like Bugs Bunny and other Looney Tunes cartoons, Phoebe and Her Unicorn books are entertaining for young and old which makes them perfect for reading together. As in other installments, Simpson includes a glossary defining many of the upper level words used in the text and notes which page they are found to encourage vocabulary growth along with entertainment. In Punk Rock Unicorn, Phoebe does develop a little camp crush on a fellow musician named Steve and the two exchange one little kiss. Libraries that already have books in this well-illustrated graphic novel series will certainly need to add this one to their collection.

Thanks, Dana, for the strip that covers exactly why graphic novels are real books and shouldn’t be dismissed!

Thanks for sending me a finished copy of this book, Andrews McMeel Publishing.

[Bunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phoebe kissed a booOooOy, Phoebe kissed a boooOooOooy.

This series is just the BEST.

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty pictures

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

After all these years of Phoebe hanging out with her unicorn Marigold Heavenly Nostrils, it’s finally Phoebe’s turn to be the unicorn. It’s the school play, where Phoebe is auditioning for the lead role, Yoony the Unicorn. At first, Marigold is against the play, as the lead character seems to her to be Sparkles the Snail, and she is not impressed with the pro-mollusk propaganda. But as she runs lines with Phoebe, she goes on a journey of personal discovery to find her inner snail.

Phoebe and Marigold also find a magical portal to a dimension of pure evil and meet their evil counterparts. Evil Marigold has the ability to wear a monocle and tells bad jokes. Evil Phoebe annoyingly pokes at Regular Phoebe and yells out evil things, like, “That one flavor of Skittles you don’t like!”

And once the school year winds down, and it’s time for Phoebe to go to music camp for a week, and Marigold goes with her. Phoebe’s friend Sue jumps out at her and talks about her new musical passion—punk rock. Phoebe is okay with punk, so she decides to learn the bass. Sue decides to learn to smash things. Phoebe pairs with guitarist Stevie to write an original song for the band. And Sue pairs with Marigold to smash things. Having Marigold help her is useful because she can use an Un-Smashing Spell to put the things they smash back together. It’s like recycling.

While Phoebe finds her week being a punk rocker rewarding, she leaves camp having a problem with her parents. They are so supportive of her and her dreams that she doesn’t really have anything to rebel against. Can you be a punk rocker and be happy? Of course, how unhappy can you really be when your best friend is a unicorn?

Punk Rock Unicorn is the latest adventure in Dana Simpson’s Phoebe and Her Unicorn Adventure series. Like the other books in the series, this one is witty and smart, with colorful illustrations and imaginative story lines. And at the back of the book is a glossary, in case you need to know what a gopher is, or Crisco, fetlocks, Southern Belle, teleportation, nuance, or New Coke.

Punk Rock Unicorn is so much fun, all about this adorable friendship and the love Phoebe and Marigold share for each other (which is different than the love Marigold has for herself). They support each other through revenge crushes and anxiety, procrastination and neighing practices. And graphic novels are totally books, just like Phoebe says, and this is one that is worth your time. It would be a great gift for kids looking for a whimsical story to lose themselves in, or for adults looking for the same thing.

Egalleys for Punk Rock Unicorns were provided by Andrews McMeel Publishing through Edelweiss, with many thanks.

[Schizanthus Nerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so Marigold with a mohawk isn’t something I thought I needed in my life but now that I’ve seen it, I want her to keep this look forever.

Other than the awesomeness that is punk Marigold, we meet a bunch of new unicorns, including Prince Aspirational Arrogance, whose presence we absolutely need to bask in.



Phoebe explains nerdiness to Dakota.

I’m a nerd. Everything I SAY is a nerdy thing to say.

We discuss whether graphic novels count as books. Let me clear this up for you… they absolutely do.

Marigold’s distraction hat is very distracting. And definitely more tasty than her contemplation hat.

There’s a portal to a dark reality. A really dark reality.



Phoebe tries out for the school play and Marigold embraces her inner snail. Phoebe ups her procrastination game.

Phoebe goes to music camp and Sue is there. I love Sue!



Phoebe’s concentration face is one of my new favourite things. She’s so relatable.

There’s also a plot twist.

After feeling like I was going over old ground in the last collection, this one felt fresh and new and sparkly. I’m not entirely sure why a nine year old needs to be having their first kiss but other than that weirdness, I loved this collection.

I’m rounding up from 4.5 stars.

Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com/

[Kenya Starflight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun collection of comics by Dana Simpson! "Phoebe and Her Unicorn" really does feel like a modern-day version of Calvin and Hobbes, and while it doesn't get as philosophical as C & A sometimes did, it still shows the same sense of humor, imagination, and friendship dynamic that Bill Watterson's creation did. And "Punk Rock Unicorn" is another great collection.

The artwork of this series remains great -- the character designs of both the humans and the magical creatures are fun, and it's nice to see a variety of designs for the human and unicorn characters. The panel layout is simplistic, but given that these comics were originally newspaper comics that's to be expected. I do hope we get another graphic novel akin to "The Magic Storm" or "Unicorn Theater" sometime...

Being adapted from a newspaper comic, this collection is a mix of standalone gags and story arcs. The story arcs range from the relatively mundane (a school play where Phoebe plays a unicorn, for example) to the magical (Phoebe and Marigold encountering their alternate selves from a dark universe... which is more underwhelming than it sounds). All this culminates in a return to music camp, where Phoebe, Marigold, Phoebe's friend Sue, and newcomer Stevie decide to start a punk band... and Phoebe just may find her first crush.

I love this comic series, and I'm excited to see it continuing strong. It's probably one of the best modern comics, deserving a place alongside "Calvin and Hobbes" and "The Far Side."

[Pamela Highstreet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this magical book through a Goodreads giveaway. I honestly couldn’t wait for it’s arrival. I am an older lady- but I have always held a special place in my heart for unicorns. When I was younger, they were my favorite animal until my brother told me that they didn’t exist. I was horrified. This was the first comic book style writing I have ever read. I really enjoyed it. I love the pictures, the story line is great, it’s just a great book that can be enjoyed by younger kids- all the way on up to the older folks who still hold onto their youth like a moth to light! One of my favorite parts was when one of the characters notices Phoebe’s freckles and calls them, “dark spots of pure wonderful ness.” I used to be insecure about my freckles and I know other kids can be as well, I found it adorable that the author made that adorable comment. There were many times throughout the book that I felt great joy and isn’t that what reading is all about? Now, I want to read the other books in the collection! The other thing I loved is, the innocence of it. My eleven year old daughter just got into graphic novels, comic books, and I made the mistake of assuming they were all just going to be age appropriate and wholesome. I was shocked when I flipped through one and it had big breasted ladies half naked, swear words, gory violence, and just vomiting it’s inappropriateness everywhere! I was wondering if that was just the nature of the beast, if that’s what comics where all about. So I was very thrilled to see that there are other comics out there.

[Jessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marigold has given up her crush on Lord Splendid Humility. Instead, she is going to rebound crush on his opposite. And opposite Prince Aspirational Arrogance is. But Phoebe finds reasons to like him.
Besides, she has a book report to procrastinate writing. And to argue with Dakota about. Are graphic novels real books? (the correct answer, by the way, is yes.)
There is a lovely interlude with Marigold making a small, dark, rainy universe for Phoebe to be sad in and, oh, I wish I had one. Or a unicorn. That would be good too.
Simpson's humor is nowhere more evident than in the story of the hole. Or, as Marigold says, "a magical portal to a dimension of DARK and UNSPEAKABLE EVIL." And then, they meet their evil selves which gives them pause.
It is again time for the school play. This year it is to be "Yoony the Unicorn." We even get to see Marigold's contemplation hat.
Phoebe also returns to her summer music camp where she meets a new friend. And it provides a lovely loop back to the beginning of this book.
Another amazing addition to the series.

[Mike S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes there are slow days on the Bookmobile and sometimes they coincide with putting a kids’ book on the shelf that has the words “punk” and “rock” together. And sometimes that combination is catnip for the manager of the punkest bookmobile in Indiana. The youth of today could do worse in their book choices, as this one had some pretty funny moments (and it felt like some of the jokes were aimed at parents/adults). I hadn’t flipped through any of these, but the dad character is absolutely on the nose and I’m probably friends, or at least acquaintances, with the dude. The story jumped around a little bit and it felt like there were a couple pages of panels that didn’t fit with any of it, like the Sunday paper comics that don’t follow that week’s storyline, and that definitely transported me back to newspaper-reading for the comics as a kid. I doubt this will be any third grader’s gateway into punk rock, but who knows.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've probably read far too many of these books for someone of my age and gender, but it never hurts to pick one up now and again for a quick look. And that's the point here, they never hurt – it's the simple cartoon strip where we see, in one- or forty-page snippets, the life of a girl and her favourite unicorn friend. The comedy is there, and never hurts anyone, the drama – or lack of it perhaps – never hurts either way, and the subjects never get too alien to the intended audience, even when a summer camp devolves into a punk rock smashathon. For having strong punchlines even I could tell were funny, this might even get four stars – I don't think I found quite that quality in the other three I'd sampled over the years.

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

The punk rock sequence of panels was by far my favorite section of this latest Phoebe and Her Unicorn Adventure. While at summer camp, Phoebe teams up with her rebellious friend Sue and a cute boy named Stevie to form a punk rock band (old people music - ha, ha). When Sue becomes more interested in smashing things than playing music, Marigold joins her and they form a duo. With Marigold's ability to cast an unsmashing spell on everything they touch, the damage is minimal. 🎸
Along with the references the punk rock, a New Coke joke will add a few extra guffaws from the older readers. 🥤 A solid addition to the series. 🦄👧

[Becky B · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of Phoebe and Her Unicorn comic strips. This collection includes the series on Phoebe and Marigold meeting their dark dimension selves, Phoebe getting the part of Uni the Unicorn in a play and Marigold finding she identifies with the sparkly snail character more and discovering fan fiction in the process, and then a return to music camp where Phoebe's friend convinces them to try punk rock.

This was the best Phoebe and Her Unicorn collection in quite a while. It was full of amazing comics and spot on humor. I loved it.

Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: None
Ethnic diversity: Unstated
GBLTQ+ content: None specified in this volume

[Lilac Daffodil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hey, fellow bookworms! 📚 How are you guys doing today? So, I really enjoyed this book in the Phoebe and her Unicorn series. I enjoyed seeing Phoebe and Stevie form a band, and I totally ship them! My favorite character was Sue, because she has such a funny personality. There were lots of fun moments, such as when Sue and Marigold formed a group called Sparkling Destruction and they dressed like punk rockers and smashed things. Also, there is a new character named Alejandra who we haven't really gotten to know yet. I would like it if the next book could dive deeper into her character. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed my review! If you liked it, you should follow for more!

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graphic Novel
I received an electronic ARC from Andrews McMeel Publishing through Edelweiss+.
Phoebe and Marigold are back and exploring new musical styles at summer camp. They both venture into punk to join Sue's new band. As expected, the humor shines through along with the love and friendship. I appreciate the way Simpson shows her characters' flaws and others acknowledging them and still accepting them.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good addition to the series and, as per my preference, a book that has more of an overall structure to it. Although not a lot of Montana or the Goblins who are probably my favourite characters. Well, other than Phoebe and Marigold of course.

The punk rock was kind of fun, albeit not as central a storyline and, in the end, not as much fun as some of the other storylines that played out before band camp took place.

[Tammy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not sure what I expected, maybe something more positive, glittery and cute given that the main character is a unicorn. I was looking forward to giving it to my granddaughter and was disappointed to find out i wouldn't want her to read it even if she was the right age to do so. The unicorn is, instead, arrogant and self entitled.

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phoebe Howell and her unicorn BFF gear up for music summer camp, where they each try something new and learn new things about themselves and each other.

Sweet and fun. True to its origins as a web-comic, this reads more like a series of charmingly interconnecting comic strips than a longform graphic novel but who really cares? Because duh, PUNK ROCK UNICORNS.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed book 17 in the Phoebe and Her Unicorn series. Chucked several times and I just really appreciate the wit and vocabulary used. There is also a glossary in the back for higher level words that younger readers may not know.

In particular, I appreciated the back and forth on graphic novels and how they are actually good reading!

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the meta conversation of whether graphic novels “count” as books.
Plus Phoebe saying she didn’t want to do something just to spite everyone who told her to do it without asking her opinion. Felt that one hard.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phoebe Howell, and her unicorn Marigold Heavenly Nostrils are back again, and this time they tackle school plays, parallel dimensions, and summer band camp. The laughs keep coming as the duo through it all remain the best of friends.

[Jeimy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Phoebe and I adore her narcissistic unicorn, Marigold Heavenly Nostrils. I was reading this one at work and could not contain my laughter. I ended up sharing many panels with my coworkers.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too, too cute. I love the gentle representation of the different characters here. It suggests that it's so normalized that it's not even a topic of discussion.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has a lot of really hilarious moments, with both individual comics and sequential stories. My brother and I loved the realistic reference to punk rock being "old people music."

[Lucy Takeda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will be snickering about “ a gopher of pure evil!” for weeks! What a fun read!

[Zoë]

Very funny. Reminded me of reading Sunday comics back in the day.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are dreadfully wholesome and cute! 🙂

[Katie Slott]

graphic novel
middle grade
fantasy/slice of life
<3 <3 <3