Out on a Limb is the second book in the Cassandra: Animal Psych series.  It is a quick, short graphic novel that is aimed at female readers.  It follows the escapades of Cassandra and her dog Dolly.

The graphics in this book are well done–full of lots of color and detail.  The characters are consistent but showcase different styles and the book utilizes varying sizes of panes in the same page to keep the view fresh.  I found it a little confusing as at one point there were two parallel stories with parallel picture panes going on, but it’s such a short book that you quickly are beyond the few pages where this occurred.

The thing I found most detracting is that it doesn’t appear the author picked an audience.  The animal loving psychic (although psychic abilities were never really demonstrated) is written for a young elementary audience.  Helping with finding a new home for a pet, visiting a retirement community, responsibilities of owning a pet are concepts meant for a younger audience.  In parallel was Cassandra worried about her first date and the love life of her now step-sister.  This story line is really more appropriate to an older audience.  It seemed a bit disjointed and as such, I just didn’t find the book as enjoyable.

For those comfortable with a more mature topic for younger readers this is probably a decent pick, but older readers may find the story too young for their taste.

This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Graphic Universe

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  None

Violence and Gore:  None

Sex and Nudity:  Kiss on cheek; hand hold; kiss on lips.

Mature Subject Matter:

Blended families.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

None