Millie of the mansion manages to successfully combine three highly regarded graphic novel genres: mystery, making friends, and mental health (specifically, dealing with anxiety).
It sounds like a difficult goal, but Karina Evans and Andrea Bell make Amy, the main character, understandable and sympathetic from the beginning. She likes mysteries and is socially awkward. It’s easy to tell when you’re lost in your head, as you stay in full color while the rest of the world around you turns gray.
Then her classmate Reagan invites her to a murder mystery birthday party. It’s something Amy will definitely enjoy if she can get over her anxiety. The comic book format allows us to join the children in imagining the murder scenario at the mansion, since that is what is drawn when they are “in character.” And pretending to be someone else named Millie and enjoying the mystery helps Amy.
It’s pretty obvious how this will all play out, but going on the journey with Amy is entertaining and heartwarming. My only quibble is that while it’s obvious that Amy is reading about Sherlock Holmes, from the quotes, she’s not reading the original stories but rather some kind of modern sequel. Still, I loved watching her learn to shine with a supportive group of new friends.
(Review originally published in Good Comics for Kids).