The Return of King Doug

As a child, Doug Peterson climbed down a well near his family's vacation house and found a mythical land called Valdonia. The magical creatures of this world, who were engaged in a war with a dark queen, named Doug their king, and it was prophesied that he would lead them to victory. But Doug returned to his parents and the city, forgetting all about his mission. Years later, Doug, now a slacker 33-year-old with a son named Oscar, heads to the vacation house and end up taking on the adventure he left behind as a boy. The story is told with a light touch and plenty of gags, with modern conveniences like cellphones employed as weapons, and Doug's laid-back attitude getting them both into trouble. Clark's drawings are action-packed and full of movement, and he does a great job showing the pair's progression toward maturity through expressions and gesture. The lesson is, after all, about growing up, and both Doug and Oscar return to their world with a new attitude about commitment. That said, the moral of the story is never heavy-handed, and this fun read can be embraced by younger readers as well. Ages 13–up. (Nov.)