The Secret of the Night Parade by Jem Yoshioka

I saw this one and immediately thought that it'd be a good fit for October. This is the 2nd in a graphic novel series for middle graders, and I believe it slides into the Asian myths surrounding yokai and the like. I'm really curious to see how a night parade goes because this could be very gripping and fun. It doesn't hit the shelves until November, so there's plenty of time to get excited about the release, too.

Let's pick it up and see what it's about!

THE SECRET OF THE NIGHT PARADE

Folk Remedy, Book 2

by Jem Yoshioka

Andrew McMeels Publishing

Middle Grade Fantasy  /   Graphic Novel

256 pages

ages 8 to 12

COMING NOVEMBER 10th!!!

Maple and her friends journey deeper into the mysterious world of yÅ kai, where one person's secrets could change everything. A magical middle-grade graphic novel for fans of Spirited Away and Inuyasha .

In Folk The Secret of the Night Parade (Book 2), Maple finds herself in the Hidden City of yokai, the supernatural creatures of Japan. Surrounded by danger, she and her friends Ember, Sky, and Peach must navigate the city's colorful characters, seeking allies and avoiding enemies.

Maple must grapple with how the hidden world is changing her and whether she even wants to return to her old life. The secrets behind her mysterious dreams and Ember's true identity will test who she can trust.

Book 2 of a magical middle-grade graphic novel series

Steeped in Japanese folklore and yokai lore

Art evoking traditional woodblock prints

Perfect for anime and manga fans
Full of friendship, folklore, and fast-paced adventure, return to the world of the yokai!

GOODREADS      /      PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Starting where book one left off, this adventure circles around growing friendships while visiting the dangers of a yokai realm.

Maple doesn't have much time left to find a way to leave the yokai realm and head back home to the human world. She already has horns on her head and knows that the next mutation is only a few weeks, at most, away. With the help of her odd collection of friends, who also each harbor their own secrets, she's headed to one of the major yokai cities and hopes to find a priestess there who can help. But yokai hate humans, and she's sure to be discovered when thrown into the crowds. Plus, Ember, her best friend, is acting strange and it's becoming more and more clear that he's hiding something huge.

I didn't read the first book in this duology (?) but didn't have too much trouble sinking right in. Of course, a lot of backstory was missing, so I would suggest reading this one in order.

This is a steady paced read, which keeps the pages turning the entire way through. While there are some more dangerous scenes, this read focuses more on the relationships between the group of friends and their very vibrant personalities. A couple of them are harboring huge secrets, and while Maple trusts each of them, sometimes it's questionable if she really should as they disappear without wanting to give a reason as to why. This creates an interesting tension and keeps the reader wondering about the reasons until the end. There's also some possible romances and maybe romances woven in, but the main thrust of the tale still remains on the friendship end. The back-and-forths between each of them adds a smile to the face and keeps the atmosphere light.

The graphics are nicely done and make the world come to life while keeping this lighter feel. It's easy to sink into each character and enjoy their tales thanks to the imagery. 

The plot, in general, is fairly straightforward but still carries enough side-notes to keep it interesting. There was a section toward the end where I grew a little confused as to what was happening but another glance and everything was clear. 

It's an enjoyable world with fun characters to root for.

And here she is...

Jem Yoshioka is an award winning comic artist from the very real and not-at-all-fictional location of Wellington, New Zealand. She fell in love with comics because she can blend together her two loves of drawing and writing. It's been years now and unfortunately no one has been able to get her to stop, so they've given up trying (the lesson here is that stubbornness is a virtue). She lives a cozy life in a central city apartment with her black cat. Folk Remedy is her debut graphic novel.