About the Book
-
Author:
- Geneva Bowers
- Genres:
- Fantasy
- Graphic Novels
- Magical Realism
- Voices:
- Cis Girl
Cover Story: Kawaii
BFF Charms: Eventually x2
Talky Talk: More Kim Than Jalissa
Arty Art: Wet
Bonus Factors: Superpowers, Aliens
Relationship Status: No Second Date
Cover Story: Kawaii
I love the play with textures and light on this cover, and the depictions of the two main characters is spot on—you know what you’re in for with them through this image.
The Deal:
Kim and Jalissa Vasquez are cousins who couldn’t be more dissimilar. Having just moved to the city of Los Aguaceros, Kim is looking to make it big in the fashion world with her looks and design talent. Jalissa, who wears the same outfit every day, just wants to go to work and return home to watch her soap operas. When they’re both struck by a strange light one night at the beach and end up with superpowers, Kim sees her new gift as a way to make a name for herself. Jalissa is just along for the ride (and, perhaps, to keep her somewhat flighty cousin from getting herself killed).
BFF Charms: Eventually x2
Kim and Jalissa both took a while for me to warm up to. Kim because of her bubbly and flighty nature, and Jalissa because of her gloomy and standoffish one. (I’m somewhere in the middle, with a leaning toward Jalissa, if I’m honest.) They’re young and naive—particularly Kim—and don’t quite seem to have a plan for themselves more than living day to day. I think they’ll get themselves together, given a bit of time, but I was definitely leaning more Roger Murtaugh when we first met.
Swoonworthy Scale: 1
Kim finds a “boyfriend” the day they move to the city, but there’s little swoon between the two of them. (He’s terrible.) And Jalissa might have a thing for the owner of her favorite little restaurant, but we only get to see them together once and Jalissa’s response to her lasts for all of a panel.
Talky Talk: More Kim Than Jalissa
Although the story is pretty easy to follow, it’s a bit muddied and confusing at the start. It wasn’t clear when the incident that caused Kim and Jalissa’s superpowers happened that it had actually happened. The explanation for what’s going on in the city comes very late in the book, is left kind of unresolved. (There is a note in the book that there is more to come, however, so I’m assuming this book is the first in a series.) I did like the use of flashbacks to explain more about Kim and Jalissa’s personalities and backstories, but the dialogue definitely took a backseat to the art.
Arty Art: Wet
Page via Bloomsbury YA
Los Aguaceros is typically a sunny city with a coastline, but the influx of the fish-like creatures plaguing the city—which Kim and Jalissa fight—causes it to become very rainy. Their powers, too, are water-based. So there is a lot of water in this book, and Bowers has a deft hand at illustrating its movement and fluidity. The color palette is minimal, lots of blues with pops of red and black and white, which really draw the eye to the action. The backgrounds, too, look like they’re done with watercolors. It’s a lovely book; Bowers has a unique style that I really enjoy.
Bonus Factor: Superpowers
Kim and Jalissa’s powers are similar, yet different. Kim can float herself and other things and shoot beams of water energy at her foes. Jalissa can use the water energy to form weapons, like baseball bats and knives. Their powers are very representative of their personalities.
Bonus Factor: Aliens
Semi-spoiler alert, but the fish-like things floating around Los Aguaceros are aliens. Which it was easy to posit from the very start, but isn’t confirmed until the end of the book.
Relationship Status: No Second Date
We had a good time together, Book, but I don’t think there’s much chemistry between us. Sometimes things just don’t work out, you know? And, like they say, there are plenty of fish-like creatures in the sea.
Literary Matchmaking
Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Lisa Sterle’s Squad is also about a girl who’s new to her city and has to deal with some magical changes.
Scott Westerfeld, Alex Puvilland, and Hilary Sycamore’s Spill Zone also has an otherworldly uncertainty about it.
Hope Larson and Rebecca Mock’s Salt Magic is another graphic novel with a magical twist.
FTC Full Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Bloomsbury YA, but got neither a private dance party with Tom Hiddleston nor money in exchange for this review. Hovergirls is available now.
