Timo the Adventurer

by Jonathan Garnier, Yohan Sacre (Illustrator)

Overview

Having read every book in his tiny village, young Timo decides it is time to leave home and become a hero. And while that is easier said than done, Timo is determined to succeed. When he rescues an enchanted beast named Broof, Timo gains a gruff and reluctant ally. But little does good-hearted Timo suspect that Broof’s mysterious past will bring complications to his journey.... An engaging hero, surprising plot twists, and a host of fantastical creatures keep readers turning the pages of this spell-binding fantasy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780358360117
Publisher:	HMH Books
Publication date:	10/13/2020
Pages:	128
Sales rank:	256,280
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 6.40(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Jonathan Garnier has worked in graphic design, video games, and comics—not only as a writer, but also as an editor and art director. He lives in France.
 


Yohan Sacré is a graphic novelist and children’s book illustrator. He lives in Belgium.

Editorial Reviews

"The eye-catching scenes are certainly a draw, but Garnier also turns classic adventure tropes upside down....a refreshing change of pace in middle-grade adventure comics."—Booklist

"In this vibrant French import....[there's] potential here for Timo and his animal sidekick to quest again for parts unknown and stories not yet told." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 

From the Publisher

2020-07-14
An adventure-seeking boy learns to use his judgment and not see the whole world through quest-colored glasses in this French import.

Young Timo loves adventure stories and feels “stifled” and “cooped up” by village life. When he’s read every book in his village, Timo runs away to become a hero—but it’s much less fun than he’d thought. Adventure means he’s sometimes cold, humiliated, or homesick. But it’s not all bad. Timo frees a giant, talking raccoon from a trap, which surely defines him as a mighty warrior with a magical ally. His conviction that his every experience is due to his heroic destiny prevents Timo from realizing that not all heroes and villains are as they appear. Sepia-toned pages from Timo’s journal between sections of his journey reveal his initial grumpiness that not everyone takes him seriously. Though early on in his quest Timo’s arrogance and self-centered naiveté are on display, they vanish as points of character growth as Timo, who presents White, actually does become a semimagical hero. One ally/antagonist Timo encounters is a brown-skinned girl with a White father; all other characters of note are fair-skinned people or magical creatures. The occasional dragginess of Timo’s maundering inner monologue is salvaged by the lovely muted palette of Sacré’s dynamic, stylized illustrations, which are laid out in neat, squared-off panels.

A perfectly serviceable hero’s journey. (Graphic fantasy. 7-12)

Kirkus Reviews

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