Scullion: A Dishwasher’s Guide to Mistaken Identity by Jarad Greene

Scullion: A Dishwasher’s Guide to Mistaken Identity by Jarad Greene. Oni Press, 2020. 9781620107539

Format: pdf (available 7/20)

Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 3

Genre:  Fantasy

What did you like about the book? Darlis is a lowly kitchen scullion in Timberwood’s castle, but he has greater ambitions of becoming a baker. The kitchen is extremely busy due to the upcoming wedding of the warrior Riqa to Prince Char. Riqa is famous for having written “The Fair Maiden’s Guide,” which Darlis loves, as it shows lots of battle tricks. His knowledge of strategy comes in handy when he is kidnapped by trolls who think he is Riqa. Darlis’s pal Mae, a new scullion, sneaks out of the castle to look for Darlis. It turns out that Riqa has sneaked out of the castle, looking for Char, who also sneaked out of the castle. Then Riqa is captured by the trolls, and then Char is too! Competing bands of trolls try to exact ransom and use all of these captives in order to market their illegal toll bridge. It’s a silly comedy of errors, featuring evil trolls who aren’t that evil, and disguises which only work for so long. The setting is amusing: a medieval village, but with modern details such as billboards advertising a cooking school, a mini lyre with headphones, and more. The main characters and town populace are racially diverse and gender roles are fluid. A cute, gentle graphic story.

Anything you didn’t like about it? No

To whom would you recommend this book?  For fantasy graphic novel fans, ages 10-14.

Who should buy this book? Elementary and middle schools and public libraries

Where would you shelve it ? Graphic novels, either Children’s or Teen

Should we (librarians/readers) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? No

Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City and State: Stephanie Tournas, Robbins Library, Arlington, MA

Date of review: May 29, 2020