- Graphic Novels
- Ages 8–12
- Fantasy
Aster: Aster and the Accidental Magic
Book 1 of 2 in AsterView the full series
A bright, energetic fantasy graphic novel about a bored girl who moves to the middle of nowhere and finds magic. Great for readers who like witches, dogs, countryside weirdness and fast visual adventure.
- Best for8–12
- FormatGraphic
- Length224 pp
- Read aloud~1 hr45 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Conversational
- Comedic
Tone
- Funny
- Adventurous
- Whimsical
- Warm
- Exciting
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Aster expects her family's move to the countryside to be a disaster: no friends, nothing to do, and parents too busy with science. Instead, the middle of nowhere turns out to be full of magic, odd creatures and dangerous surprises. Thom Pico and Karensac create a lively, colourful graphic novel with strong child appeal: boredom turns into adventure, a dog becomes a key companion, and Aster has to navigate a world she does not yet understand. The tone is energetic and comic rather than dark, making it a good fantasy step-up for readers who like Hilda, 5 Worlds or Witch Boy but want something a little lighter. Aster is useful as a visually inviting middle-grade graphic fantasy with independence, family background and magical discovery at its centre.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 8–12
- Read aloud · 7–11
- Independent · 8–12
Prose load
Light
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Workable
Works well for
- Gift-buying
- Reluctant readers
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
3 / 5 · Workable
Sensitive-child
3 / 5 · Mostly fine
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Fantasy graphic novel
- Magic
- Dog companion
- Reluctant readers
- Translated comic
Avoid if
- Prefers realistic stories
- Wants quiet books
- Dislikes magic creatures
Particularly good for children who are…
- Reluctant reader
- Moving house
- Struggling with reading
- Anxiety and worry
In the classroom
How it works in school.
A funny, charming fantasy-comic series — a reluctant-reader pleaser and classroom-library staple.
A book children love that happens to support school — never a stand-in for the texts a class is taught with. Reviewed for the classroom · June 2026.
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
The specific delight is the dog and the magic — Aster furious about the move to nowhere, the countryside turning out to be packed with odd creatures, the dog becoming her chief co-conspirator. The Aster opener for a kid who wants Hilda's energy in a French-comics palette.
- Adventure and freedom
- Animal companions
- Having a secret base
- Magic powers
- Secret world
Why parents love it
The Thom Pico / Karensac translated graphic novel — French-comics style, stubborn-girl protagonist, lively colour and comic tone. Strong lighter alternative to Hilda / 5 Worlds / Witch Boy for readers who want fantasy with less weight.
- Beautiful illustrations
- Quick to read
- Shared humour
In the series
Aster.
2 books · open the series →
About the creators
About the creators.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
If you liked this, try…
Lateral matches. Same shelf, different texture.
Come into this from…
Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.
Where to go next…
Escalation reads — a step up in scale, silliness, or stakes.
Where you’ll find it
On these reading lists.
Buy or borrow
Pick up a copy.
- Bookshop.org ↗
- Waterstones ↗
- Amazon UK ↗
- Hive ↗
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