The Amulet #3: The Cloud Searchers
This third book in Kibuishi’s fantasy-epic Amulet graphic-novel series has the gaggle of heroes led by young Emily, the requisite prophecy fulfiller with unharnessed powers, searching for a fabled city in the clouds while dodging capture by evil elf overlords. Star Wars and Tolkien continue to loom large as influences, and the cinematically grand visuals of otherworldly scenery continue to be one of the series’ deftest draws. But plenty of action and complex characters (including a few who were bad guys not too long ago) will also satisfy. The series looks poised to settle into a nice long Bone-like run. Grades 4-7. --Ian Chipman