Hilarious, touching, and utterly engaging.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy of this title.

I received a copy of this book from Abrams Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It’s been a long time since I read a Lumberjanes comic so it was a joy to revisit this world and these characters in novel form. This was a quintessential Lumberjanes adventure — an accidental discovery leads to a harebrained scheme undertaken with less than adequate preparation, a seemingly insurmountable obstacle, some brilliant problem solving and teamwork, a little help from their friends, and a safe return back to camp to do it all again tomorrow — but this time in a fresh, new format.

I particularly enjoyed being able to see into the characters’ heads in ways you can’t really do in a comic, and I appreciated that April, who was the genius behind the whole quest, did learn that she can’t just drag her friends off to every adventure she cooks up without considering whether they want to or what THEIR plans for the day were. The Cloudys were an absolute joy, and I loved the interesting and unconventional take on unicorns. Mariko Tamaki managed to capture the characters perfectly and all in all this was a fantastic addition to the greater Lumberjanes universe. Highly recommend it for fans of the comics and new readers alike.

My thanks to Abrams Books for the review copy!

I'm divided about this one. I read this (the novel) before reading any of the comics. And honestly, this would read better as a comic. The dialogue, descriptions, and general writing just feel a little....off...for a prose novel, but all of it would work better in graphic form. However, I did appreciate that this was one (relatively) self-contained story, whereas comics tend to have storylines that arc across issues and volumes. It did feel as though they expected you to have already read the comics, though, since there were references to events, people, etc., which I assumed (and now know) were from the comics.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. These LumberJanes books are excellent for young girls. Hopefully, they will empower girls.

I adore this comic. The art design is so cute and the story is so empowering. It was so strongly feminist, full of adventure and excitement. Totally worth checking out!

I loved this book! The full review will be posted soon at kaitgoodwin.com/books! Thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity to connect books to their readers!

"Welcome to Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady Types. The five scouts of Roanoke cabin—Jo, April, Molly, Mal, and Ripley—love their summers at camp. They get to hang out with their best friends, earn Lumberjane scout badges, annoy their no-nonsense counselor Jen . . . and go on supernatural adventures. That last one? A pretty normal occurrence at Miss Qiunzella’s, where the woods contain endless mysteries.

Today is no exception. When challenge-loving April leads the girls on a hike up the TALLEST mountain they’ve ever seen, things don’t go quite as planned. For one, they didn’t expect to trespass into the lands of the ancient Cloud People, and did anyone happen to read those ominous signs some unknown person posted at the bottom of the mountain? Also, unicorns.

This hilarious, rollicking adventure series brings the beloved Lumberjanes characters into a novel format with brand-new adventures."

Firstly, if they just got an editor to check all the typos I'll be happier than I am reading the comics. BUT there's a big secondly... no Noelle Stevenson!?! For shame!

I really enjoy the Lumberjanes graphic novel so was excited to dive into this novel. Unfortunately, this did not work for me in this format.

I'm automatically suspicious of novelizations of graphic novels even if, as in this case, its a new story. Part of the appeal of a good comic is the way that the images reveal as much if not more than the text. Its facial expressions and physical attributes or movements that inform character. Those things can be hard to relay in straight text. Especially in a series like LumberJanes which relies on the weird magical and absurd. Though this is technically a new series, there were references to events from the comics and it does rely somewhat on previous knowledge of characters. All told, though, its a decent read. Entertaining.

As a librarian for Middle School students I love having chapter books to push with a graphic novel. I was excited to read this Lumber Jane chapter book after having read all of the graphic novels. This was a fun read and gives the read more insight to all the characters. My Lumber Jane fans will be thrilled.

Lumberjanes: Unicorn Power! (Lumberjanes #1) by Mariko Tamaki brings the beloved Lumberjanes characters into a novel format with brand-new adventures. Welcome to Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady Types. The five scouts of Roanoke cabin—Jo, April, Molly, Mal, and Ripley—love their summers at camp. They get to hang out with their best friends, earn Lumberjane scout badges, annoy their no-nonsense counselor Jen and go on supernatural adventures. That last one? A pretty normal occurrence at Miss Qiunzella’s, where the woods contain endless mysteries. Today is no exception. When challenge-loving April leads the girls on a hike up the TALLEST mountain they’ve ever seen, things don’t go quite as planned. For one, they didn’t expect to trespass into the lands of the ancient Cloud People, and did anyone happen to read those ominous signs some unknown person posted at the bottom of the mountain? Also, unicorns.

Lumberjanes: Unicorn Power! is a a fun to read adventure. I loves that the personalities of April, Jo, Mal, Molly, and Ripley were consistent with those from the graphic novels- and the illustrations were a lovely addition. I liked that there was a good deal of back story and character building, so that newcomers to the series are not completely lost as to who is who. I do think that fans of the graphic novel will enjoy the read more than others, but new readers will still be able to enjoy the read. The story of the Lumberjanes and the unicorns was fun, silly, and a little goofy. exactly what I expect from the characters and their slightly hyper personalities. I enjoyed the humor and friendship that is so much a part of the graphic novel series, and think that this switch of mediums was very well done.

Lumberjanes: Unicorn Power! is a great, fun read. I prefer the original format- the artwork and stories in the graphic novels are fabulous- however this book is well worth your time. Fans of the graphic novels, and anyone that wants to read about adventurous girls having amazing adventure will fully enjoy the book.

The Lumberjanes are getting the novelization treatment and branching out to a whole new group of young readers in Lumberjanes: Unicorn Power! Renown comics writer Mariko Tamaki and Brooke Allen – the original artist and one of co-creators of the Lumberjanes comics – have come together to create all new adventures for April, Jo, Molly, Mal, and Ripley. Unicorn Power! is the just first in an on-going series for middle grade readers set in the Lumberjanes universe. It’s the perfect way for kids who may not be all that into comics to meet the characters and experience the kind of fun, kooky supernatural adventures the girls find themselves getting wrapped up in regularly.
The book does it’s best to provide just the right amount of background for new readers without being too redundant for long-time Lumberjanes fans. Unicorn Power! takes place sometime after Issue #28 when Barney (formerly of the Scouting Lads) joins the Lumberjanes. Quite a bit of groundwork has already been laid out for the characters, camp, and general strangeness of their world in the comics so the book does need to play a bit of catch up in the early chapters. This can make the start of the book feel a little slow but it doesn’t take long to start connecting with the story and characters.

Lumberjanes: Unicorn Power! doesn’t revolve entirely around unicorns as one might think. Yes, they are important, both in the beginning and in the book’s final chapters, but as is almost always the case in Lumberjanes arcs, it’s the girls themselves who take the forefront. No matter how much weirdness goes on, the books – comics or otherwise – are really about them. And in this case, Unicorn Power! focuses a lot on April and her overzealousness (something the comics have addressed, too). When she gets an idea in her head she’s determined to follow through even if it’s not necessarily what the other girls want to do.

In this book, the girls discover a mysterious mountain after running across a herd of unicorns and April is determined that they will earn all kinds of awards by being the first Lumberjanes to reach the top. But like most Lumberjanes adventures things aren’t what they seem and they find themselves in a pretty serious predicament.

Ultimately, Unicorn Power! tells an entertaining story that has a solid message in the way it addresses April’s pride and ambition. We also see some really great character development in a few of the other girls, too, with Mal especially confronting her fears.

While Lumberjanes: Unicorn Power! is clearly written for a younger audience the story still has some of the same crossover appeal that you’ll find in the comics. As an adult reader I love the Lumberjanes and the comics are always among my favorite releases of the month. And I was still able to enjoy this story, too, once I really got into it.

The book actually takes on an almost comic-like structure by being split into four parts. In a way I think that really helps Lumberjanes switch from it’s usual format to prose. The four parts act as four issues and thus Unicorn Power! feels a lot like a comic arc. The fact that Brooke Allen once again lends her talents to the book helps, too. The whole thing – from the story to the illustrations – feel like they were pulled straight from the comics.

Lumberjanes: Unicorn Power! is a fun, new Lumberjanes adventure that new readers and comic fans alike will love. Those who may not be familiar with the comics will undoubtedly want to rush out and get the first volume after they finish this book. And those who are caught up on the comics will eagerly wait for the second book in this series, Lumberjanes: The Moon is Up!, which comes out next year!

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A REVIEW COPY WAS PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER

Just as much fun as the comics. I would definitely recommend this to my students.

This was a fun and cute story but I definitely prefer Lumberjane's in comic form. I love all the extra nuance we get when we can see the characters. Plus, It's easier to follow along with all the crazy hijinks and creatures that show up at the camp. This wasn't too hard to visualize because unicorns are so common BUT I'm not sure how the stories would fair in this medium if it was a more obscure creature.

Cute as always but I'd rather have a comic.

I am a huge Lumberjanes fan and honestly, before I started reading the book I did not know if this was a novelization of the stories I already read or a new collection. Turns out it was a little of both, new story in a novelization format.

Sadly, for me I didn’t love it. Lumberjanes: Unicorn Power was so hard to read. First, I didn’t like how it was written, sometimes it was a little Lemony Snicket, I love the guy, but just HIS writing no other people using his style, then other times it was way too… cringe? Unbelievable? I know it’s about unicorn, but it was more a caricature of the actual characters than a good, I don’t know what the word is, adaptation? I guess that’s the word.

Sometimes it was too childish, sometimes too cringe, sometimes it feel like a Lemony Snicket wannabe.
The worst part it’s that I could not love the characters in the same way that I do when I read the comics. April and Ripley are amazing in the comics, but in Unicorn Power they are annoying.

I’m not exactly very excited for a sequel, leave my babies just the way they are and where they are IN COMICS.

I did not like this book, but I am not it's intended audience. I found it to be too obnoxious and slap stick like. However, 4 out of the 6 copies at the library where I work are checked out so I am sure that the children are enjoying it.

I feel like I've missed a lot since I haven't picked up the graphic novels. A lot of descriptions are just missing and I don't have a clear picture of what these characters and the setting looks like.

Lumberjanes: Unicorn Power is a fun story that follows April, Jo, Mal, Molly, and Ripley on yet another adventure. This one involves unicorns and a magic mountain. I enjoyed the story and the pacing. The characters were so much fun to be around and I love how each girl has their own personality. I will be recommending this book to other people.

I breezed through these 150 pages where our heroines, once again, find themselves inadvertently in unimaginable trouble.

Lumberjanes: Unicorn Power! is an adventure of epic proportions, because when can you have more fun if not at camp with your best friends wandering through the woods, investigating mysteries, and finding supernatural creatures grazing in fields?

This book is about everyone of cabin Roanoke. Jo, April, Molly, Mal, and Ripley. Even Jen and her near-constant worrying if the girls are really paying attention to what she wants them to do. But in little ways it's a bit more about April. It's April who often leads them on adventures, plotting and planning beforehand. It's April who doesn't stop, won't stop, and keeps moving. And it's April who leads them here, first looking for different types of plants and then up a mountain. It's all well and good to lead, to plot and plan, but sometimes you have to stop and think. You have to stop and ask your friends if they're all okay with climbing up a strange mountain.

Having read some of the comics, I think this is a great companion for young readers. It's quick and fun and messy like their comic adventures with a little more character insight and background than you'll get from a character's conflicted expression. Here in book form, the girls' thoughts and feelings are more accessible. And I fell in love with new character Barney, the genderqueer/non-binary camper who's new to the Lumberjanes. The illustrations by Brooke A. Allen were great, a wonderful reminder of the comic art and a great break in the prose. I would certainly recommend this to middle grade readers of the Lumberjanes comics.