Graphic Novel Review - 'Adorable Empire' by Laura Terry

'Adorable Empire' - that's an oxymoron.

But seriously, this is a sweet, cute, and touching children's graphic novel, that's a little sad and true to life. It's more slice-of-life than fantasy, but it does its coming-of-age tale job well. It could be adapted into a Studio Ghibli film. There's definitely some influence. It's also a bit like Pokémon.

'Adorable Empire' is about middle school goth girl Jennifer "Jinx" Kagen, who lives in Manhattan, and ends up moving apartments with her mother after her parents' divorce. Things were already bad enough at school, where her former best friend is now friends with a mean girl and won't stick up for Jinx. Moving on and growing up is hard.

On top of everything else - and that includes missing her absent dad - on the first day moving into the new apartment, the depressed teen picks up a mysterious crystal belonging to a reclusive neighbour. According to him, it is now hers.

The next day, little annoying magical creatures enter Jinx's life.

Chaos, confusion, hijinks, self-esteem, embracing change, finding happiness, and learning to appreciate what you have at present, ensue.

Oh, and did I mention the LBGTQ+ elements? Because 'Adorable Empire' has LBGTQ+ elements in it.

Jinx is queer, and her mysterious neighbour, Greg, is gay (it is a part of why he is a loner and was made a pariah by most of his family), and there is Robyn, Greg's cat-and-cuteness-loving niece, who befriends Jinx and forms a romantic bond with her. Queerness is openly talked about and discussed between the young characters, who are still figuring themselves out. This is fantastic to see in a middle grade book.

I shouldn't have to keep bringing attention to this and praising it to high heavens like it's unusual (it isn't, just FWI), exceptional (it isn't, just FWI), and brave (it isn't, and it shouldn't have to be, just FWI) wherever I see it, in 2025. But I do, depressingly, tragically.

When queer people are normal. They are as natural as breathing. They exist. They are valid, and are valued. They are human. Kids especially need to be aware of this fact.

Thank you, 'Adorable Empire' by Laura Terry, for your representation.

(Adorable Jinx is a fat girl, in addition to being a queer goth girl.)

Laura Terry's Author's Note at the end is worth reading, as it is vital.

It's a shame that the book doesn't have a less problematic title. The creatures - Jinx calls them the Adorables - are only a few, and they are not an empire. They never form an empire. They don't have one, and they didn't come from one, as far as anyone knows. They're just there. They're around to "help" and annoy young Jinx. (Hi Jinx!)

Or is it a reference to the Empire State Building, which is a part of the graphic novel's setting? I don't think we ever see it, though, except on the cover. It's never even mentioned within the story itself. I don't know, it's weird.

'Adorable Empire' - it's 'My Neighbor Totoro' meets 'Pokémon' meets 'Yo-kai Watch' meets 'The Spiderwick Chronicles' meets a queer coming-of-age modern fable. One species of Adorable grows flowers - symbolism! The art is good and cute, too.

Except, why does Jinx have such teeny tiny feet? Seriously, they are tinier than the tiniest Adorable. This is even brought to attention when one of the creatures picks up one of her tiny boots with its mouth.

There are almost as many cats here as there are in 'Katie the Catsitter'. In fact, if you like any children's cute and touching slice-of-life, coming-of-age graphic novel, whether they contain supernatural stuff or not, then give 'Adorable Empire' a go (though that title still makes me cringe, and confused).


'Be kind. Kindness is everything.'


Final Score: 4/5