Author: Heather Nuhfer
Illustrator: Amy Mebberson
Publisher: IDW Publishing
# of Pages: 90 (in the digital, ebook ARC)
Release Date: 24 September 2013
Publisher's Summary: Get ready for another unforgettable adventure in the land of Equestria! Twilight Sparkle and gang are confronted with a perilous new danger in the form of a long-unseen enemy!
Review: It's no secret that I'm overly fond of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. The bulletin board in my office has a herd of twenty small plastic ponies marching across the top of the frame and I've been known to quote Twilight Sparkle in times of stress or when a book I'm particularly excited about comes into to the library. (For example: "Get back! All of you! This is my book. And I'm going to READ IT!") I mean, as a child born in the 80's who loves books more than most things, who wouldn't love MLP:FiM, especially since the protagonist is a unicorn librarian!
I was excited when Netgalley gave me an ARC of the MLP:FiM graphic novel and I devoured the book in one sitting. I liked the graphic novel for all same reasons I like the show - it's witty, chock-full of inside jokes, and the characters are independent girls (fillies?) who don't need to rely on anyone else to succeed. And, of course, the moral lessons and underlying themes are all about the importance of friendship and being true to one's self. All of this is achieved without relying on saccharine sweetness or outdated tropes. There are some pretty blatant stereotypes (tomboys, girlie girls, know-it-alls, freaks & geeks) but these roles aren't rigid and each character is allowed to be more than her type.
Everything works really well as a graphic novel. The animation translates well to book form and I love that the one-liners and asides to the audience get their own panels. The plot is fast-paced and fun, with just enough drama to keep it exciting. (Although there's never any doubt that there will be a happy ending!) I absolutely recommend this book to anyone, boy or girl, tween or adult, who enjoys the world of ponies and Equesteria.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
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