- Graphic Novels
- Ages 8–12
- Fantasy
Aster: Aster and the Mixed-Up Magic
Book 2 of 2 in AsterView the full series
A second Aster graphic novel with more family, more magic and more trouble. Best for readers who enjoyed the first book's bright fantasy adventure and want a richer continuation of the magical countryside world.
- Best for8–12
- FormatGraphic
- Length256 pp
- Read aloud~2 hr
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's life in the middle of nowhere is no longer the boring disaster she expected. Magic has turned everything upside down, her family's experiments are starting to look more interesting, and her dog companion remains one of the best parts of the adventure. In The Mixed-Up Magic, Thom Pico and Karensac build on the first book with more family energy, more magical complications and more colourful fantasy action. The series continues to feel playful rather than heavy, though the continuity makes this less ideal as a first entry than Aster and the Accidental Magic. This is a solid second-series record for children who want approachable graphic fantasy: energetic, visually appealing, less intense than Rema or Amulet, and especially friendly to readers who like magic wrapped in comedy and family chaos.
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
- 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
- Series follow up
- Reluctant readers
Avoid if
- Has not read book 1
- Prefers realistic stories
- Wants quiet books
Particularly good for children who are…
- Reluctant reader
- Struggling with reading
- Moving house
- Making friends
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 magic getting weirder — the family experiments becoming more interesting, magical complications multiplying, the dog still the best part of every page. The second Aster for a reader settled into the world.
- Magic powers
- Animal companions
- Secret world
- Adventure and freedom
Why parents love it
The second Aster — continuity assumes you read the first, more family energy and more colour, same playful-not-heavy register. Reliable continuation for the reader who wants magic-plus-comedy graphic fantasy.
- 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.
Buy or borrow
Pick up a copy.
- Bookshop.org ↗
- Waterstones ↗
- Amazon UK ↗
- Hive ↗
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