Something about The Prisoner of Shiverstone was missing for me. For most of the book I felt like I was missing something.

Extremely charming illustrations, and I think Hedley was my fave--the poor butler robot just needs to know how to have some fun!

A story of outcasts, of belonging, and found family. Full of quirky characters, odd robots, mystical inventions and morally-questionable scientists on a hidden island, and a girl who finds herself lost there... or is she?

The main beats of the plot were enjoyable, but the details and humor were a bit rough - it didn't quite land for me in a lot of cases. There were literal plot... devices... that came out of nowhere to bring tension without any explanation of origin. The art style was cute but the lettering looked dot matrix, perhaps it was the ARC version? Overall it's something that I think a middle-grade audience will appreciate, but it didn't affect me beyond surface level.

This was a delightful story about a sharp girl who goes on a fun, high-stakes adventure to rescue a mad scientist from a prison island.

Helga was a strong main character that I think many middle grade readers will admire. She’s witty, intelligent, curious, and tenacious. She went after her goals with determination and also consideration for those around her, not wanting her actions to harm others while still wanting to meet her objectives. I love seeing such dynamic characters in any book I read but especially in children’s and middle grade books. I’ve always loved coming across smart, snarky female characters and Helga certainly fits into that category.

The setting was really fun- an island full of mad scientists forced into this seclusion is amazing! I liked the differences between the Mainland and Utley Island. Besides making the island itself seem like a fun place to be, the author used the differences between these two setting and and their inhabitants to promote self-expression and creativity.

The artwork was really fun! I did read this on my Kindle and it was in black and white, so I’m not sure if that’s what the book looked like or if it was just because of my Kindle. Regardless, I enjoyed the artwork and how well it depicted the characters’ emotions and their surroundings. One of the characters in this book is a robot who feels so many different emotions and all of them are so apparent in his body language and facial expressions, I just loved it.

There were a couple points throughout the book where I thought I might have skipped a page because the transition was so sudden. It doesn’t appear that I missed any pages so it seems like it was either the book jumping around a little too much or I just wasn’t following like I should’ve. This wasn’t anything too major and ultimately didn’t take all that much of my enjoyment away while reading this book but it is something I think is worth mentioning.

I would certainly recommend giving this book a read, regardless of your age. It’s a quick read but includes a fun adventure, wonderful artwork, a spunky main character, and some great messages about unabashedly being the best version of yourself. In my mind you just can’t get much better than that!

I loved the sass and ingenuity of this MC and the quirky setting! The drawings work well with the text, and the pace is quick. My heart always roots for a kid who has to sneak around to help someone, and this story puts that at the center. It's also great to see a girl who like to invent, tinker, and build things. An enjoyable read!

Fun and twisty story about a mysterious island, mad scientists, and a prisoner who needs rescuing. Awesome artwork and page-turning adventure make this graphic novel a middle school winner.

A wonderfully drawn, exciting adventure about nonconformity, espionage, and mad science. Set in a world where most scientists have been separated from the general population and sent to live on an island together. Great fun!