Name: Sunky's review of Aquicorn Cove by K. O'Neill
Item: Aquicorn Cove
Rating: 4
Author: Sunky

K. O'Neill

"Enchanting." - KIRKUS Unable to rely on the adults in her storm-ravaged seaside town, a young girl must protect a colony of magical seahorse-like creatures she discovers in the coral reef. From the Eisner Award-winning author of The Tea Dragon Society and Princess Princess Ever After comes AQUICORN COVE, a heartfelt story about learning to be a guardian to yourself and those you love. When Lana and her father return to their seaside hometown to help clear the debris of a big storm, Lana remembers how much she’s missed the ocean—and the strong, reassuring presence of her aunt. As Lana explores the familiar beach, she discovers something incredible: a colony of Aquicorns, small magical seahorse-like creatures that live in the coral reef. Lana rescues an injured Aquicorn and cares for it with the help of her aunt, who may know more about these strange creatures than she's willing to admit. But when a second storm threatens to reach the town, choices made many years ago about how to coexist with the sea start to rise to the surface. Lana realizes she will need to find the strength to stand on her own, even when it means standing up to the people who she has always relied on to protect her. "Highly recommended for all-ages graphic novel collections, especially those where O'Neill's earlier works are popular." - SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (starred review)

Aquicorn Cove

(Bre)anne✨

Now is the time for us to be guardians to the sea, in return for the life it has given our planet. 

I needed help, but I didn’t know how to ask.

I didn’t know how to explain I needed help with the small things.

The things I never noticed before, until suddenly they took effort. Sometimes I feel like I just want to go to sleep for a while, and wake up when I’m stronger or things are different somehow.

The best thing about getting a storm, though, that good-looking weatherman is always on the television.

This book is for everyone who protects the sea, and those who will inherit the responsibility. Thank you for taking care of our beautiful world.

Megan Lapides

Sunky

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I've been meaning to read one of Katie O'Neill's works because even at first sight, I sort of fell in love with her art style, and this one was promising to be a good first pick; considering my never-ending love for the sea and just water in general & stories set on or near the water, this piece of hers was a complete hit. The art really is adorable, the story gives nothing new, really, but is very light and a breeze to get through, with a very important message at the end. And the small bit of lesbian romance we were given! God, I loved that.

Now I really want my own aquicorn though...

Moth

I was a big fan of The Tea Dragon Society, so to have a chance to read and review this title as well was big. I was beyond hyped and it did live up to it.

Lana and her father go to visit her Aunt Mae on a small island after a storm. It just happens that Lana's mother was killed in a similar storm, bringing up a lot of emotions for the three of them. Lana finds a seahorse like creature that's injured and decides to nurse it back to health. By doing this, she gets visited by grown Aquicorns who bring her lost items. Including an item that her Aunt Mae had thrown into the ocean. 

Basically, this story is about protecting the waters and the life in it by doing away with plastic nets that hurt the coral reefs and other parts 0f the ocean. Which brings bigger and more dangerous storms. But it's done in a magical way, with a person who looks after the sea and is basically Mae's girlfriend. She talks about the importants of not over fishing and fights for the right of the sea creatures. Mae of course plays the part of most of society of needing food and money to survive. Lana is the reason that bridges in between and gets Mae to realize that her stance is wrong. 

Basically, the art and story is adorable. Is it more of a piece about protecting the ocean? Yes. But we NEED books like this if we want our planet to survive for the future generations to come. Highly recommend.

Krystyna 

I absolutely loved the illustrations in this book and the story was so adorable. I think that the art in this book and  The Tea Dragon Society is the cutest illustrations I have seen. This story, while being adorable, also sends out an important message to young readers. It addresses important issues concerning the environment and how even the smallest changes can make a big difference. I adored these characters. This was such a great little read and I am so happy I picked it up. Plus, I am beach and ocean obsessed so the setting of this book was icing on the cake. I highly recommend it!

Now available in paperback, AQUICORN COVE is the beloved K. O'Neill story about a young girl who must protect a colony of magical seahorse-like creatures she discovers in the coral reef. When Lana and her father return to their seaside hometown to help clear the debris of a big storm, Lana remembers how much she’s missed the ocean—and the strong, reassuring presence of her aunt. As Lana explores the familiar beach, she discovers something incredible: a colony of Aquicorns, small, magical seahorse-like creatures that live in the coral reef. Lana rescues an injured Aquicorn and cares for it with the help of her aunt, who may know more about these strange creatures than she’s willing to admit. When a second storm threatens to reach the town, choices made many years ago about how to coexist with the sea start to rise to the surface. Lana realizes she will need to find the strength to stand on her own, even when it means standing up to the people who she has always relied on to protect her.

A beautiful graphic novel looking at damage to our oceans and how grief affects us. Love that it's queer! Had me tearing up at certain points.

TW to be added later

A beautiful graphic novel looking at damage to our oceans and how grief affects us. Love that it's queer! Had me tearing up at certain points.

Izza

5 stars | This is my favourite Katie O’Neill so far! The illustrations are gorgeous and it has a good message. Absolutely recommend 💖

Flavia Louise

This was really nicely drawn, the story was cute and the issue it touched on important. Very nice reading experience.

Alexa Jade

Lincy

It was a super cute read, it had a nice message and was filled with beautiful illustrations.

Lila Harrison

Grace O'Callaghan

This is perfect. Absolutely perfect. Magical creatures? Check. Queer relationship? Check. Talk of protecting the environment? Check.

• This is one of the cutest styles of art I’ve ever come across. Katie O’Neill is beyond talented. She’s really good at conveying emotions and what’s happening without any words. The colour palette was also spectacular, lots of warm but slightly desaturated tones, perfect for the coastal setting.

• The weakest part of the story were the characters. They had some personality traits and had good arcs but I didn’t personally connect with them. I don’t hold this against it though as it’s a very short graphic novel and I don’t believe the characters were the main focus.

• There’s also a subtle f/f romance, but it’s really not the centre of the story, just really great to see.

• Aquicorns are the magical creatures I didn’t know I needed. Why aren’t there more of them? They’re just so sweet and wholesome and just want to protect the coral.

• The message of this book is what really struck me. I’ve been trying my best to lower my impact on the environment and I loved the way the book encouraged you to do that. It never became preachy or forced but just showed you how we are damaging our environment and what we can do about it.

• I also loved that O’Neill put a bit in the back about coral reefs and how we can protect them. I think resources like that are immensely valuable, particularly to children who may not learn about these things in school.

Overall, a really cute read with a powerful and important message about protecting the planet. I’d highly recommend giving this to a child as it’s really accessible and will bring attention to something they may not have been aware of. I’ll definitely be reading more of Katie O’Neill’s work.

Justine Rose

I love Kay O’Neill’s art style, it’s so sweet!

Abby Hoggatt

Mari

This book is so precious and I read it in like thirty minutes. This is perfect if A) you want to learn more about the coral reefs and how it impacts things like climate change and B) if you have a young child and you want to educate them on how to better the planet. 

This book is not complex, and it doesn't have much of a plot. However, I love the message in it. This author is known a lot for her diversity rep in her books and this one is no different. I really loved how this book focused on the environment, especially the coral reef. I feel that the coral reef can be easily brushed aside when there is a conversation about saving the planet. The conversation talked a lot about being sustainable and how fishing can harm the coral reefs and - as a result - harm the land it borders. 

I live close in Florida, so the coral reefs are a very important topic and this book just made me even more appreciative of it. It also made me think about what I might be doing that impacts the coral reef in a negative way.

Renee Delcourt

Sweet, wholesome, and magical. Great meaning behind it for children learning about ocean conservation.

Elodia

Aquicorn Cove is about a girl returning to her village after a storm has hit. It is a story about loss and coping, but it also has an environmental message that has a lot of impact.

Both the art and story were beautiful and even though it is short it has a lot of meaning. The characters were unique and loved how strong the women are.

*Received and ARC from Netgalley of this book for an honest review.

Kelsey Holtaway

This was like a Miyazaki movie in graphic novel form.

Heartfelt, lovely, and tender. It’s short, but the author does a strong job of connecting us to the setting and cast of characters. 

I also appreciated the greater themes of global warming and protecting our oceans, as well as grief and family.

Rachel Isaacson

I loved this so much. It also has a really great message to it. The information in the back about coral reefs and how to help them is also wonderful.

Featured on bec&books.

Trigger warnings:(view spoiler)[ grief, parental death, drowning (hide spoiler)]


This is by far the most emotional book by Katie O'Neill that I have picked up. But weaved in with gorgeous illustrations and O'Neill's signature gentle story-telling this is not emotion that will gut-punch you. Rather, it's the raw, dull aching of real-life. 

But with this emotion, O'Neill wraps the reader up in a soft but surreal story of fantasy, love and overcoming. 

As always, this author/illustrator has created something very special.

agnese

➼ 4 stars

this made me feel all warm and happy inside. kay o'neill has my whole heart.

Hayley 📖🌈💜🌸

Beautiful art and message about the importance of caring for our oceans and the natural world.

maevaeatsbooks

THIS WAS SO CUTE AND SUCH A POWERFUL MESSAGE
READ THIS TO YOUR CHILDREN AND READ THIS FOR YOURSELF

Erin 

This was delightful. I am such a big fan of Katie O'Neill's books and art. If you love her Tea Dragon series, you'll love this too. There's just so much care and kindness in her stories. My only wish is that this was longer, or there were more of them.

Megan Lapides &
Aquicorn Cove by K. O'Neill

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