A while back, I found Forsynthia V01: Rise of the Cupcakes by Rachel DiNunzio in an online reader copy. I was blown away. I thought it was one of the most fun, cute, silly, adorable, graphic novels I had seen. It was “spooky” as we had to fight attacking cupcakes, but it was sweet (not just because of the cupcakes) but because it was funny, clever and the family dynamic was perfect. The sisters get along. The parents are modern and caring (if maybe a bit prone to being a bit absentminded professors). There is a funky grandmother. It just worked. Therefore, when I learned that there was going to be a second volume, I was terribly excited.
Eventually, I was able to get a physical copy of Forsynthia V02: The Shrink Ray Sleepover. Which is a cute sequel that does need the first book to understand a few points. But beware, there are twists and turns that mean trouble for Forsynthia and her family! If Honey I Shrunk the Kids and Indiana Jones and James Bond and a classical mystery had really fun, funky and cool dragons (who are more squishy lizards than giant dragons) this is that.
Sisters Forsynthia and Daisy get ready for a sleepover with their grandmother. They pack everything they need: snacks, sleeping bags, flashlights, binoculars, slingshot, a grappling hook, stuffed toys. They are also preparing for an out of this world event that only happens every thousand years or so. And mom is going to study a new artifact that her boss has found. An artifact that is going to revolutionize the world: a shrink ray. That is if she can figure out how to open the clock it is encasing it. A funny mishap, a shrunken set of siblings, grandmother and her pickup truck, lead to misadventures. But also, they find a way to help mom with her problem, too. This is wrapped up in bold, bubbly, simpler illustrations that are fun and help show some of the sillier moments with even more humor than text alone can give you.
While best for probably ages at least six and up, it works for most ages as it is family friendly and adventurous to keep the reader engaged.