- Graphic Novels
- Ages 7–11
- Fantasy
Hicotea: A Nightlights Story
Book 2 of 2 in NightlightsView the full series
The second Nightlights story sends Sandy through a turtle's shell into a hidden museum of the natural world, where she must help finish an unfinished painting. A dazzling, gentler adventure about curiosity, nature and creativity.
- Best for7–11
- FormatGraphic
- Length64 pp
- Read aloud~30 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Conversational
Tone
- Whimsical
- Gentle
- Thought provoking
- Adventurous
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
On a school field trip to the river, Sandy wanders away from her class and finds an empty turtle shell lying in the mud. Peering into its dark hollow, she tumbles into an astonishing world: the shell is a vast museum of the natural world, filled with sculptures, paintings and books, kept by a wise old turtle called Hicotea. But one painting sits unfinished, and the wetland it depicts has fallen still and barren. To restore it, Sandy and Hicotea must confront the strange, ever-multiplying bird-creature that frightened the turtle into hiding. Lorena Alvarez returns to Sandy's world with another jaw-droppingly beautiful graphic novel, trading some of the first book's eeriness for wonder, curiosity and a quiet love of the living world. Every spread teems with invented flora and fauna, and the story gently threads together imagination, art and caring for nature into something both magical and hopeful.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
A great fit for readers of about 7 to 11 who love atmospheric, image-rich comics, and gentler than the first book. Younger children of 5 or 6 enjoy sharing it and hunting through the detailed spreads. It has genuine adult crossover appeal for anyone who loves illustration.
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- Best fit · 7–11
- Read aloud · 6–10
- Independent · 7–11
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
4 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Beautiful illustrations
- Nature lovers
- Young artists
- Imaginative kids
Avoid if
- Wants fast paced action
- Dislikes dreamlike stories
Particularly good for children who are…
- Interested in art and creativity
- Interested in science
In the classroom
How it works in school.
A rich stimulus for topics on nature, habitats and biodiversity, and a beautiful model for children exploring comics, world-building and observational drawing.
A book children love that happens to support school — never a stand-in for the texts a class is taught with.
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
Climbing into a turtle shell and finding a secret museum of nature is an irresistible idea, and the pages burst with invented creatures and plants. Sandy gets to be the one who saves the day by finishing the picture, which feels genuinely satisfying.
- Secret world
- Adventure and freedom
- Making a difference
Why parents love it
Even more gorgeous than the first book, and gentler, with a lovely undercurrent about curiosity and caring for nature. The invented ecosystems are a joy to pore over, and it rewards slow, repeated looking as much as reading.
- Beautiful illustrations
- Indie gem discovery
- Great writing
In the series
Nightlights.
2 books · open the series →
About the author & illustrator
Lorena Alvarez.
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.
More like this…
Books that share themes and topics with this one.
