Martian Ghost centaur by Mat Heagerty

Louie is a fierce, passionate high schooler who cares deeply for her struggling small town. Southborough is a tourist destination made famous by a sasquatch sighting decades ago. Businesses have depended upon the tourist income for survival, but traffic to Southborough has slowed in recent years. The town has become a target for a tech mogul who begins buying up businesses and properties as a future headquarters location. Louie’ dads own Squatch Burger, a local eatery, and the latest target of Start-up.com’s land grab. Louie makes it her mission to save her dads’ business, and her entire town, from disappearing forever.

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Louie is high spirited and has a pretty short fuse. There are several narrative montages that are a little hard to follow, like one of Louie trying out many pranks in order to bring back tourism. There are some pretty big leaps narratively speaking. Many of the threads get woven together by the end, but while it’s happening, the storyline seems a bit fractured. that contribute to a disjointed plot line. Regardless, this fun story has some really appealing elements, including quite a few 90s pop culture references, wholesome LGBTQ+ representation, and a positive representation of the charm of a small town. This title would be good for fans of Lumberjanes or The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl.

The publisher rates this book for ages 12+, which seems appropriate. Younger grades may still appreciate the basic storyline, but the references and allegorical jokes may be lost on them.

Sara’s Rating: 7/10
​Suitability Level: Grades 6-8

Publisher: Oni Press
Publication Date: March 16, 2021
ISBN: 9781620108499 (Paperback)

​Tags: Rating: 7/10, Suitability: Elementary School, Suitability: Middle School, Graphic Fiction, Family, LGBTQ+, Humor