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I meant to just skim through this graphic novel, as the art style wasn't my favorite, but the storyline caught me and I ended up reading it cover to cover.
The story begins with a wise turtle telling a group of small furry animals the story of the Star Knights - how stars fell from the sky, a gift from the Star King that granted the brave, beautiful creatures the power to transform into human knights who defended the Milky Way Marsh from the evil marsh witch and her minions. The small creatures troop off to play and are joined by Tad, a frog - only to violently reject him as a slimy, evil creature. Tad makes an effort to overcome their prejudice, but between the angry marsh dwellers, who tell him that the Marsh Witch is a toad and salamanders and frogs her evil minions, and the attacks of the Fallen Fauna, Star Knights who have been mysteriously corrupted, he despairs of ever being more than a slimy frog.
Then stars begin to fall again and Tad hopes for the chance to realize his dream. But what is his true wish? What is the real story behind the Star Knights and the Marsh Witch? Who are Tad's true friends and family? After a series of adventures, Tad finally discovers that truth behind the Marsh Witch, the Star Knights, and the Fallen Fauna - not to mention the Star King.
The doll-like knights wear quasi-medieval clothes, capes, and sport shiny weapons while stars spangle various creatures on earth and in the sky. The cute images bely the more serious underlying messages of the book about prejudice, misconceptions, and the corruption of power, but still make for a generally light and feel-good adventure. Stereotypes are turned on their heads and readers are shown that beauty does not always equal kindness or goodness and you can't judge an amphibian by its appearance.
Verdict: Hand this one to fans of lighter graphic novel fantasies like Drew Brockington or Kaeti Vandorn or read together as a family or class.
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