Princess Decomposia and Count Spatula

Reviewed by: Jill O'Connor - North Yarmouth Academy, Yarmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: July 21, 2015

Review

The black & white line drawings of this sweet graphic novel seem basic when you start reading, but Watson's story of familial obligation, cooking experiments, and ill-fated love wins you over so completely that no fancy drawings or flashy colors are necessary. And since most of the characters are undead (mummies, ghouls, zombies, a vampire), they would probably be black and white anyway. Princess Decomposia spends her days unofficially running the castle while her grumpy, hyperchondriacal father lies in bed avoiding all royal tasks. Princess Dee hardly has time to eat, let alone deal with all matters of the underworld. When her cook quits, she has to skip lunch and interview replacement candidates. Count Spatula wins her over with his baking and gets the job, and eventually, with his natural sweetness, Dee's heart. The cantankerous king disapproves, the couple take a holiday aboveground and mayhem ensues. Dee's quick thinking saves the day, though, and she is able to confront her duty-shirking father. The story lightly deals with issues of class, gender inequity, and duty, and shows that when a mistake is made, ownership should be taken and an apology issued. And that it is okay to stand up for oneself. Oh, and love wins, even between a lowly pastry vampire and a noble type-A ghoul. An easy one to recommend for middle and high school GN collections.

Overall Book Score: very good