Order of the Night Jay (Book One): The Forest Beckons

by Jonathan Schnapp

Overview

Making friends can be hard for a nervous bear, even at summer camp. But Frank’s about to discover a mystery… and the camp needs him to save the day!

Frank is perhaps the most un-bear-like bear Camp Jay Bird has ever seen. Actually, he's probably the ONLY bear Camp Jay Bird has ever seen. And there are tons of bugs, he's getting picked on, and he can't seem to earn a single badge! But there's Ricky, an excitable little raccoon who shares Frank's love of Mega Bunny comics. But Ricky's friendship might be more than Frank can handle. After breaking camp rules, getting lost in the woods, and discovering ancient secrets about the long-forgotten Order of the Night Jay, how will Frank explain all this to his dad?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781603095105
Publisher:	IDW Publishing
Publication date:	09/20/2022
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	821,273
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 7.75(h) x 0.47(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Jonathan Schnapp lives in Rochester, NY, with his amazing wife and two obnoxious cats. He spends most of his time painting, drawing, writing, and running around the neighborhood. He also has worked with several STEM companies, doing STEM things. He received his MFA in Imaging Arts from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 2008. While not his first comic, Order of the Night Jay is his first published graphic novel.

Editorial Reviews

"A fun camp adventure for those who adore talking and clothes-wearing animals!" —School Library Journal

“…a detective-duo heist, a moving and cautionary tale of friendship and openness prevailing against prejudice, or a chilling campfire yarn… The first in a thrilling series, this one forgoes the cliffhanger entirely and plunges straight over the edge, leaving readers hungry for more.” —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

06/24/2022

Gr 4–6—Comics-loving kid bear Frank reluctantly sets off on his first trip to Camp Jay Bird, a wilderness camp for small woodland creatures. While he makes fast friends with Ricky, an affable raccoon, Frank also faces bullies, camp-wide prejudices against bears, and his own fears about being in the woods for the first time. He copes by creating his own comic, The Adventures of Super Bear, and throwing himself into solving a mystery. The camp's two biggest bullies, Jake and Spud, use a magnet to reverse the polarity on Frank and Ricky's compass during an orienteering badge exercise. The incorrect reading leads Frank and Ricky to a mysterious cave with a secret message at its entrance. The more-curious-than-brave bear and raccoon set out to crack the code and reveal the secrets of the cave. There are many charming qualities in this graphic novel—beautifully drawn and colored natural settings, the age-appropriate explanations of practical wilderness skills, and the absolute cuteness of a group of animal campers. Additionally, there are interesting mini comic introductions for several characters, Frank's "Super Bear" comics, and an excerpt from the beloved, fictitious Mega Bunny comic. However, these extras often overshadow the main characters and plot, making the transitions between the different types of material clunky. This story also revs up the action in the last few pages of the book and ends on a massive cliff-hanger. While this will have some readers excited for the next installment, the abrupt ending is likely to be a barrier to fully enjoying this volume's story. VERDICT A fun camp adventure for those who adore talking and clothes-wearing animals!—Jennie Law

School Library Journal

2022-05-11
Camp Jay Bird is alive with secrets...or is it?

In his comics, Frank is the mighty Super Bear, who fears only three things: math, his dad, and summer camp. But in real life, shy and nervous Frank is about as unbearlike as a bear can be. Sent away to camp by his father, he’s sure that his summer is ruined; the only thing worse than the bullies are the bugs, and he's the only bear there, to boot! At least with a friend by his side, Ricky, a hyperexcitable raccoon, the ordeal has the potential to become an adventure...perhaps more of an adventure than either bargained for. In the (un)dead of night, Frank and Ricky soon discover that some secrets are better left undisturbed. Schnapp's debut graphic novel doesn't seem certain whether it'll become a detective-duo heist, a moving and cautionary tale of friendship and openness prevailing against prejudice, or a chilling campfire yarn, but it somehow manages to be all three and more. Varying in size, palette, and intricacy, the panels are wonderfully dynamic and engaging. Hints of characterization come through both explicitly and in the easy-to-overlook details, and even minor characters are imbued with surprising depth. The first in a thrilling series, this one forgoes the cliffhanger entirely and plunges straight over the edge, leaving readers hungry for more.

Something wicked this way comes...hopefully, a sequel in the making. (Graphic novel. 8-12.)

Kirkus Reviews