- Graphic Novels
- Ages 6–9
- Science Fiction
Juniper Mae: Knight of Tykotech City
Book 1 of 3 in Juniper MaeView the full series
A bright, STEM-flavoured graphic adventure about a young inventor stepping into a hero role. It is a strong pick for readers who like gadgets, robots, colourful world-building and accessible comic storytelling.
- Best for6–9
- FormatGraphic
- Length64 pp
- Read aloud~30 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Conversational
- Comedic
Tone
- Adventurous
- Exciting
- Warm
- Whimsical
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Juniper Mae is a brilliant young inventor growing up in the huge, high-tech world of Tykotech City. In her dad's repair shop she builds jet packs, warm-and-dry socks, floating fish bowls and all kinds of strange gadgets, but her imagination is especially fired by the legendary Guardian Knights. When disaster threatens the city and Juniper's home is put in danger, she has to stop tinkering from the sidelines and become the kind of hero she has always admired. This first Juniper Mae graphic novel mixes sci-fi invention, fantasy-knight iconography and child-friendly action in a colourful, easy-to-follow format. Sarah Soh's animation-influenced artwork gives the book strong visual appeal, while the 64-page length and clear adventure stakes make it welcoming for younger graphic-novel readers and children who are building reading confidence.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 6–9
- Read aloud · 5–8
- Independent · 6–9
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
- Stem adventure
- Young inventor
- First graphic novel
- Colourful action
- Robot fans
Avoid if
- Prefers realistic stories
- Wants dense prose
- Dislikes action peril
Particularly good for children who are…
- Reluctant reader
- Interested in science
- Interested in art and creativity
- Low self esteem
In the classroom
How it works in school.
A bright STEM-flavoured adventure-comic series — a reluctant-reader pick with a science spark.
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 workshop — Juniper Mae building jet packs and floating fish bowls in her dad's repair shop, dreaming of the legendary Guardian Knights, having to step up from tinkerer to actual hero when the city is threatened. The Sarah Soh graphic novel debut for a young STEM-curious reader.
- Being special or chosen
- Making a difference
- Adventure and freedom
- Secret world
Why parents love it
The Sarah Soh series opener — sci-fi invention and fantasy-knight iconography, animation-influenced art, 64-page length friendly to younger graphic-novel readers. Strong for gadgets-and-robots fans building reading confidence.
- Beautiful illustrations
- Quick to read
- Conversation starter
- Shared humour
In the series
Juniper Mae.
3 books · open the series →
About the author & illustrator
Sarah Soh.
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.
More like this…
Books that share themes and topics with this one.
Buy or borrow
Pick up a copy.
- Bookshop.org ↗
- Waterstones ↗
- Amazon UK ↗
- Hive ↗
When you buy through the links above, we may earn a small commission — it never costs you more, and it never changes the books we choose. How we’re funded →