The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin-ADVISABLE

Colfer, Eoin, and Donkin, Andrew. ill. by Giovanno Rigano. The Supernaturalist. Disney Hyperion, 2012. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Pgs. 128. Language: G, Violence: PG-13, Sexual Content: G

Set in the futuristic Satellite City, children who are unclaimed by parents or whose parents have died, are sent to live in an orphanage. Cosmo Hill is one of those unfortunate children who were sent to live at Clarissa Frayne Institute for Parentally Challenged Boys. Each orphanage has to find their own way to fund the orphanage since the government doesn’t provide any funding. Inmates at Clarissa Frayne are subject to horrible science experiments. The only ways out are escape, adoption, and death.The average life expectancy of orphans is 15. Cosmo is 14. Since the last two are very unlikely to happen in a favorable way, Cosmo chooses to run away when the orphanage’s bus crashes. Pursued by one of the corrupt wardens, he finds himself facing the last option a little sooner than expected. As he lies dying next to his dead friend, he sees some really weird creatures begin feeding off of him. Saved by a group of rebels known as the Supernaturalists, Cosmo learns how to fight back and save his city, but will the groups efforts be enough? Can they stop the weird creatures and the government? Are they somehow linked?

An action-packed dark science fiction for graphic novel fans. The pictures are dark and make the text hard to read, but the story is fast-paced and keeps you wanting to read. The characters are entertaining and likable. Readers who like adventure, action, futuristic societies, and paranormal fiction will enjoy reading this book. MS, HS. ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Kira M, Youth Services Librarian, WHI Public Library.