Creature Clinic

Myth Valley’s Creature Clinic treats all manner of ailments and injuries for magical beings under the shipshape management of austere Dr. Orc, who, like her name suggests, is a humanoid, green-skinned orc. Working alongside the doctor are her daughter, Kara, a senior medical resident, and werewolf Dr. Tucker Wolf, whose ambitions and poor bedside manner make him less than agreeable. When a giant with an unconscious, brown-skinned human stuck in his boot collapses at the clinic’s doors, Dr. Orc demands that the “disgusting thing” be denied treatment and taken back to his own land: “Humans are the most dangerous species alive and have brought nothing but war and destruction to Myth Valley.” Behind Dr. Orc’s back, Kara cares for the human, whom she hides in the custodian’s quarters. Things go sideways when her patient awakens; even so, Kara is surprised to find he isn’t as terrible as her mother claims. This bold, brightly colored fantasy graphic novel turned kid-friendly medical drama by Than (the Super Sidekicks series) tackles a complex tale about xenophobia in which the trust earned and lost within friendship and family dynamics take center stage. Laugh-out-loud doctor-patient interactions are balanced by realistic scenarios depicting anxiety and bullying. Ages 8–12. (May)

Correction: This review has been updated to reflect the book's art.