Nimona

YA READS:

Stevenson, N. (n.d.). Nimona 
[digital image]. Retrieved December 
3, 2016 from http://gingerhaze.
com/nimona

Stevenson, N. (2015). Nimona. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN: 978-0-06-227822-7; $12.99 (paperback).

Disclaimer: If a good professional review of a book is unbiased and objective, then this review will not be professional.  I just love this book too much to not rave about it.  I'm now a fan girl.

Nimona is not your average teenage girl.  She is smart and quick witted, has a cutting sense of humor, and… um… can shape shift into whatever living thing she can image.  Rather than use her powers to assist The Institution, she shows up on the doorstep of villain Lord Ballister Blackheart and offers her services.  At first, Blackheart is not persuaded, but quickly comes to see how a girl-turned-shark might be a helpful asset.  So together, they set off to try and dethrone the Director of the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics, and her right-hand-man, Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin (aka: the hero of the story).  Using science and girlpower, strength of will and stubborn determination, Nimona fights to accomplish her goals.  Readers will eventually have to determine for themselves who the true hero is, and discover how much freedom and inclusion really cost.  Beautifully drawn and colored, with snappy humor and plenty of heart, Nimona deserves a spot on any reader’s shelf.

AWARDS according to Stevenson's website, Fiction DB, and Wikipedia:

* New York Times bestseller

* Harvey Award nominee

* 2012 Best Web Comic Prize by Slate Cartoonist Studio

* 2014 Best Web Comic by Paste Magazine

* 2015 Eisner Award nominee

* 2015 National Book Award nominee and finalist

* 2015 Cybils - Graphic Novel/YA (Finalist)

* 2015 Kirkus Reviews - Starred Review

* 2015 National Book Award - Young People's Lit. (Nominee & Finalist)

* 2015 Publishers Weekly - Starred Review

* 2015 School Library Journal - Starred Review

HOMEMADE TEES:

First, some of Nimona's most comedic moments happen as she's morphing into other things.  One of her favorites seems to be a shark.  Show your fan status by declaring that you, also, are a shark!

CanvasAndStars. (n.d.). Nimona [digital
image]. Retrieved December 3, 2016
from https://www.redbubble.com/people
/canvasandstars/works/23006476-nimona
?grid_pos=21&p=mens-graphic-t-shirt

Or, if that's not enough, feel free to go full-body shark yourself!  Your shark-pajama-costume-onesie is available at WalMart!

Secret Treasures. (n.d.). Women's
 hooded character sleepwear [digital
image]. Retrieved December 3,
2016 from http://tinyurl.com/jamb45x

WANT MORE? Noelle Stevenson earns her double nerd credit while playing literary Pictionary with some friends!