Sanity and Tallulah by Molly Brooks

Sanity Jones and Tallulah Vega are best friends, even though they don't seem to have much in common except being stuck on an out-of-the-way space station in the far corner of the universe. Sanity is a brilliant inventory and genius, who doesn't always think before she creates. Tallulah is an imaginative, sweet girl who's not so good with the whole "science" thing. Their parents are scientists, sort-of-ex smugglers, and directors on their isolated space station.

SPOILERS

The story begins with the two getting into trouble, yet again, when Sanity creates, as Tallulah's mother says, "a carnivorous animal in the laboratory and has been feeding it out of my budget." But, protests Tallulah, Princess Sparkle Destroyer of Worlds is super cute! Princess Sparkle Destroyer of Worlds also happens to be a three-headed kitten. But really cute! When she gets to know you. From genetic experiments, to being grounded, to a life-threatening situation on board their space ship, Sanity and Tallulah stick up for each other and get in and out of trouble together. There are hints to darker and more serious issues (beside the whole "nearly dying" part at the end) but in general this is a ship that is a happy family. There are arguments and disagreements, power struggles and emergencies, but it's primarily a family of strong, confident, and capable women and men who work together well.

The art is primarily in shade of pink, navy blue, and gray. Sanity is black, as are her parents, and a bit on the skinny side. Tallulah is short and red-haired, not looking much like her white-haired father, a double-amputee but more like her short and curvy mother who runs the science lab. Princess Sparkle Destroyer of Worlds is an adorably fluffy three-headed kitten (no matter what size she gets to, being fed on genetically enhanced meat).

After the breathless conclusion, which wraps up not only the storyline but also shows the strong bonds of family and friendship among the stations' residents as they work together and trust Sanity to save them, there are hints of future adventures!

Verdict: A wonderful new graphic novel series, sure to fly off your shelves. This will appeal to all graphic novel fans, especially readers of Zita the Spacegirl and Cleopatra in Space. Highly recommended.

ISBN: 9781368008440; Published 2018 by Disney-Hyperion; Borrowed from another library in my consortium