School Library Journal

When two girls venture from their home, following a trail of rocks, they and their two charges end up trapped within the cave of Mangittatuarjuk, a fearsome child-eating creature. With cunning, they are able to escape, fetch help, and stop Mangittatuarjuk from harming others ever again. This Inuit tale issues a fairly gruesome warning against wandering off—the rotting faces on the endpapers give readers a sense of what to expect. The author explains in the foreword that this is the version that she remembers hearing as a young girl. Atmospheric, painterly illustrations complement the text. The graphic novel layout works well, setting a good pace, and increasing tension as needed. Most of the story is told through straightforward explanatory narration rather than dialogue. The plain white speech bubbles awkwardly stand out against the other colors. A glossary transliterates and defines the Inuktitut words used. VERDICT A beautiful, accessible tale; for most folktale collections.—Rachel Forbes, Oakville Public Library, Ont.