Parents' Guide to

Nimona

By Michael Berry, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Brash shape-shifting hero soars in graphic-novel fantasy.

Book Noelle Stevenson Fantasy 2015
Nimona Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 13+

Based on 5 parent reviews

Spitfyre
Spitfyre Adult
April 1, 2022
age 16+

Inaccurate Review

The "expert review." on this book is not accurate. The protagonist, Ballister, does not end up in a relationship with the female scientist (who was just a minor character.) It turns out that Ballister is gay, and ends up in a relationship with his nemesis, Goldenloin. The mainstream review is entirely incorrect on this account. The review is also less than accurate on the positive role-model section. It neglects to mention that Nimona has "killed lots of people", in her own words, and that some of those killings are shown in the book. Since the character is depicted as a young, adolescent girl, I find that disturbing in the extreme.

This title has:

Too much violence
2 people found this helpful.
Resuko7658
Resuko7658 Adult
April 26, 2021
age 18+

Amazing

Nimona is so good in many ways, with how the story looks into the turama of a person like nimona adding how she thought she was doing a good thing but with her ending up as an experiment for people. With the plot hitting people with how in some situations made them not trust anyone around them and being aggressive when their fears are triggered. But it also made people feel even if their life is going the way they want it to good, they might have a friend who would look out for them when their in need to talk in your darkest hour.
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Shape-shifting Nimona wants nothing more than to be the faithful and adventurous sidekick of supervillain Lord Ballister Blackheart. She's full of bold ideas, but most of them involve numerous casualties. Blackheart wants Nimona to be a bit less rash and bloodthirsty, and they develop a plan to discredit Blackheart's nemesis, Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin, and the Institute of Law Enforcement and Heroics. In doing so, they learn what it means to be a hero and what kind of legacy they want to leave behind.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5):
Kids say (8):

It's hard to resist the brash audacity of the title character of this well-constructed, fast-moving, funny, and touching fantasy. Nimona is the first to rush off to battle in the name of supervillainy, but there are times when it's better for her to be more discreet. With a loose drawing style that facilitates both big action sequences and quieter character interactions, writer/illustrator Noelle Stevenson knows how to construct and execute each scene for maximum humor, even when the story takes a more serious turn. Nimona is a dazzling debut, a graphic novel to be savored by young and old alike.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the appeal of graphic novels and comics. What kinds of stories are best suited for the medium?

  • How do people decide whether someone is a hero or a villain? Is it possible to fit both roles at the same time?

  • How can you repair a broken friendship? What makes for a good apology?

Book Details

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