Dragonfire: 18,000 Holes in the Universe (Adam Wallace & Lisa Foley, illus James Hart, HarperCollins)

Tee off into the surreal world of Dragonfire: 18,000 Holes in the Universe, the first book in a new graphic novel series by Adam Wallace and Lisa Foley, with imaginative illustrations by James Hart (Shower Land, Anh Do’s Sky Dragon series). Twins Noah and Jordie are joined by their friends, the easy-going Mags and the brilliant Marco and his birdie Cheeko. When the twins’ eccentric uncle threatens to turn their dilapidated and abandoned family home into apartment blocks, the gang sneaks in to explore it. Inside, they find a cryptic note and a glowing golf ball left behind by Noah and Jordie’s grandfather, whose disappearance 20 years ago remains a mystery. The unexpected arrival of Felicity, the bully, swings the gang into a fantastical journey to the greatest golf course in the universe. There, they must lean on their courage, wit and newfound friendships to survive and find their way back. This book is a humour-filled and otherworldly adventure for readers aged 7+ that encourages trusting other people’s ideas and discovering the importance of belonging. Fans of Andy Griffiths’ Treehouse series will love the characters, their friendships and the jokes throughout. Both new readers and fans of Wallace’s previous graphic novels (Fartboy, Fart Club) will enjoy the charm and imaginative world crafted within the vivid pages of Dragonfire: 18,000 Holes in the Universe.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Nominated for Bookseller of the Year (2023), Emma Pei Yin is also a freelance writer and reviewer. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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