Aster - Thom Pico
- Aster and the Accidental Magic - This adventure for kids is translated from the original French in two volumes (Aubépine: le génie saligaud and Aubépine: le renard furax). In a world not quite like our own, a couple bring their young daughter, Aster, to live in the countryside to avoid a race of intelligent and angry birds engaging in their annual migration, destroying everything in their path. Exploring the "boring" countryside on her own, Aster discovers a very naughty genie who grants her three wishes with a monkey's paw style literality. Also, she befriends an ancient woman who keeps a flock of woolly dogs and her frenemy, a distrustful fox that wants to rule the world. It's entertaining enough, but a little too wacky and "anything goes" in its world-building; I'm not sure what the birds have to so with anything. [3.5]
- Aster and the Mixed-Up Magic - Aster is alienating her older brother and her classmates by seemingly ignoring them, but in reality her duties as the magical Queen of Summer take up all her free time. Saving the town from a bureaucratic talking ram and his army of
rebellious, albeit inept, sheep requires Aster to let Reed in on her secret, and seek
help from her classmates and neighbors. Later, Aster explores a magical
realm and continues her epic battle of wits against the valley's
trickster spirit. I thought this one was funnier and more carefully plotted than its predecessor. I especially like how Aster devises clever, nonviolent solutions. [4]
