Agent Cupcake

Twelve-year-old Miguel Mangayayam’s encyclopedic knowledge of mythical creatures is put to the test in this bouncy graphic novel by the team behind the Debian Perl: Digital Detective series. When Miguel’s essay on unicorn culture garners the attention of the director of the Mystical Beasts Bureau, Miguel becomes MBB’s first human detective, tasked with solving mysteries alongside Agent Cupcake, MBB’s lone unicorn operative. After receiving reports that unicorns are mysteriously losing their magic, the duo embark on an investigation that leads them deep into the bowels of Hoard, a megacorporation claiming to sell “everything you need—and more!” As Miguel grows into his spycraft skills, he struggles with imposter syndrome and worries about disappointing both Agent Cupcake and his own mother, an MBB engineer. Frenetic energy zings throughout allegorical plotting, which accessibly tackles topics involving workplace mistreatment, corporate corruption, and greed. Confectionery-colored illustrations ensure that spirits are always high, and interactive elements—indicated by a spyglass icon on select pages—encourage readers to join in the protagonists’ codebreaking and puzzle-solving. Human characters are portrayed with varying skin tones. Ages 8–12. (Nov.)