Gr 4-8-Beetle, a 12-year-old goblin, lives with her grandmother, the helpful town witch. Action-packed yet heartfelt, short and sweet yet riveting, this one is not to be missed. Relying on intersecting plotlines in lieu of a more straightforward romp, Layne conveys themes of independence, identity, and realization of one’s potential. Characters’ LGBTQ identities, such as Beetle and Kat’s changing relationship, as well as the use of the they pronoun for Blob Ghost, are gently woven throughout the narrative. Layne’s supernatural cast is fantastic, from green-skinned Beetle and her grandmother to Kat and Marla, respectively, skeletal cat and bird creatures. Simultaneously gorgeous and goofy, the artwork is reminiscent of the animated series Bee and Puppycat and a delicious love letter to shoujo manga. And unless Beetle and Kat do something, the mall will be demolished, with Blob Ghost still trapped inside. Kat’s a sorcerer’s apprentice for her menacing aunt, Marla Hollowbone, who just happens to have bought out the mall. Beetle and Kat don’t get along quite the same as before-there might be feelings involved now-but Kat isn’t here alone. Though magical forces prevent Blob Ghost from leaving the mall, Beetle is certain that the two will always be pals-until Beetle’s former best friend, Kat Hollowbone, arrives. When she’s not bored to tears being homeschooled on goblin magic, she’s hanging out with her best friend, the teeny and adorable Blob Ghost, a floating, speechless, but incredibly expressive red orb who haunts the local mall.

And hopefully ride a broom without crashing.īeetle, a 12-year-old goblin, lives with her grandmother, the helpful town witch. Now, Beetle has less than a week to rescue her best ghost, encourage Kat to stand up for herself, and confront the magic she’s been avoiding for far too long. If Blob Ghost doesn’t escape the mall soon, their afterlife might be coming to a very sticky end. Beetle’s quickly being left in the dust.īut Kat’s mentor has set her own vile scheme in motion. Kat is everything Beetle wants to be: beautiful, cool, great at magic, and kind of famous online. And now Beetle’s old best friend, Kat, is back in town for a sorcery apprenticeship with her Aunt Hollowbone. is cursed to haunt it, tethered there by some unseen force. She’d rather skip being homeschooled completely and spend time with her best friend, Blob Glost. Then there’s twelve-year-old goblin-witch Beetle, who’s caught in between. In the eerie town of Allows, some people get to be magical sorceresses, while other people have their spirits trapped in the mall for all ghastly eternity.

Beetle & the Hollowbones by Aliza Layne