Adorable Empire: A Graphic Novel

by Laura Terry, Laura Terry (Illustrator)

Overview

From the creator of Graveyard Shakes, a funny and charmingly offbeat middle-grade graphic novel for fans of The Witch Boy and Making Friends.

Nothing has been going right for Jinx. People at school think she's a goth weirdo, and now her parents are getting divorced. She has to move to an unfamiliar apartment building that doesn't feel like home -- and that doesn't have her dad. And when a new neighbor gives her a mysterious crystal, her life is turned even more upside down by the Adorables, a mischievous band of magical creatures. They are messy, distracting, and, worst of all, they follow Jinx everywhere. She just wants to be left alone! (Well, maybe she's okay with getting to know another girl in her building, Robyn, a little better…) Getting rid of the Adorables turns out to be harder than expected, but they might just help Jinx find her way back to happiness.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338554366
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	08/05/2025
Sold by:	Scholastic, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
File size:	168 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Laura Terry is the creator of Graveyard Shakes, which was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, and illustrated Anna Strong and the Revolutionary War Culper Spy Ring. After a childhood misspent raising pigs, selling hot dogs, and drawing princesses, Laura ran away to the relative splendor of an all-girls boarding school. She later graduated from Pratt Institute and the Center for Cartoon Studies. Laura now spends her days in Brooklyn with her poodle, Muffin. To learn more, visit her online at lauraterry.com.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Adorable Empire:

"Sincere emotions punctuated with funny and magical moments elevate this charming work. Engagingly original, featuring a likable protagonist and plenty of humor and tenderness." — Kirkus Reviews

"Terry takes a sensitive look at divorce and navigating ­parental relationships, the evolving nature of friendships, and gender identity, with characters that have relatable appeal for middle graders... With the Adorables to soften difficult ­issues, readers will enjoy Jinx's story and a sprinkling of magic in their own lives." — School Library Journal

Praise for Graveyard Shakes:

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

"Poignant." — The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"The striking illustrations are simple and endearing, tempering the mood of the more frightening scenes... A great addition to graphic novel collections; hand to fans of Raina Telgemeier." — School Library Journal

"Affirming girl power and the importance of staying true to yourself, this story will resonate with readers who, like Katia, build relationships on their own terms." — Kirkus Reviews

"That the afterlife can be as complicated as regular life will strike a wryly funny note with young outcasts and loners, but Terry never loses sight of the idea that even misfits can find community by being themselves." — Publishers Weekly

"Terry's soft colors and bold lines bring the emotions of her story to life and will appeal to the eyes of readers who enjoy Raina Telgemeier's or Ben Hatke's work." — Booklist

From the Publisher

2025-05-16
A Manhattan girl’s life is temporarily taken over by some eccentric monsters.

Jinx Kagen faces challenges: her parents’ separation, moving to a new apartment, missing her loving but unreliable dad (who’s living in Chicago), and dealing with bullying and the end of a friendship. In her new apartment building, Jinx picks up a cylindrical orange crystal belonging to her neighbor Greg—and he cryptically tells her that he can’t take it back and has to get out of there. The crystal overhears Jinx wishing for a happy family; she wakes up the next day surrounded by miniature, big-eyed creatures. Jinx dubs the mysterious beings the Adorables: Squirrley is fond of eating, fire-breathing Avey can fly, Bun can grow huge, and the fuzzy orange Pom-Poms poop flowers. The “little gods of chaos” (Greg’s description) follow Jinx everywhere. Before they and the crystal move on to someone else, their mischief and devotion help Jinx work through her overwhelming emotions and connect with Robyn and TJ, Greg’s young relatives, who are cat sitting while he’s away. The dominant shades of violet and blue contrast with Jinx’s goth style and the Adorables’ bright colors. Jinx, who is fat and presents white, and Robyn, who reads Black, share their coming-out stories and sweetly confess that they “likelike” one another. Sincere emotions punctuated with funny and magical moments elevate this charming work.

Engagingly original, featuring a likable protagonist and plenty of humor and tenderness. (concept art, author’s note)(Graphic fantasy. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews