As a child, Aeslin Flinn loved The Avalon Chronicles, which her parents read to her at bedtime. But her mother refused to continue reading the story after her father disappeared. Now Aeslin is 14. When her best friend, Samantha, finds a book called Once in a Blue Moon , Aeslin realizes it’s a sequel to the beloved tale of her childhood. But the world of Avalon has darkened since Aeslin was younger: characters she loved have been living in misery. This perfectly paced graphic novel follows Aeslin as she makes the stunning discovery that she can read herself into the world of Avalon. Even more shocking is the truth behind her father’s disappearance. Now Aeslin has a chance to rescue her father, not to mention to dress in cool knightly clothes and to wield a sword or two. Aeslin moves in and out of the fantasy world of Avalon while trying to handle the challenges that most other 14-year-olds face in reality: an annoying mother who just doesn’t get it and harbors too many secrets, a crush on the cutest boy in school, and a best friend whose best intentions often cause trouble. Both Aeslin and Samantha are at an important stage in figuring out who they are and what they can contribute to the world. But Aeslin’s challenge is complicated by trying to determine to which world she has the most to contribute. Black-and-white drawings create remarkable contrasts between the two worlds and a careful reader will spot anachronisms: Aeslin’s school uniform looks out of place in Avalon, for example, and medieval houses look silly in the middle of a busy contemporary street. This is the first volume of an exciting and promising new series. (Ages 10-15)