Six children live together in a government facility under strict security and far from prying eyes. This facility is called The Playroom. These children look human (most of the time), but are vastly different in many ways, and they are being studied and tested. As a group they are called Irregularities.

There is Omar who is half Yeti. He was the first to arrive at The Playroom, for his own safety. Next came Maggie, the youngest of them at age six. Maggie is half Octopus with tentacles for hair. She looks up to Omar as an older brother. There is Clarice – a silent Selkie, Newt, an alien who can morph into a human boy, and Sylvie – a changeling child Will-O-Wisp. Lastly is Jaali, a Were-Bear.

The worst thing at The Playroom is the boredom. The children’s schedule never changes much, but they are well cared for and safe – until a message appears on Newt’s computer. Someone has been watching them through the web-cam.

Panic is rife. If the facility’s security has been breached, how safe are the children? It’s decided they must leave.

But that ‘someone’ is watching closely and under order to catch these six Irregularities. They are perfect for a particular ‘Collection’.

The children find themselves on the run, from not only those who sent them fleeing in the first place, but members of the public who have always wanted to know what was hiding in the facility.

Can the children hide their identities, suppress their individual powers, and find somewhere safe to live away from everything they’ve known for most of their lives?

This graphic novel is a gripping read. At first I was drawn in by the cover and the strange humanoid creatures in the design. Getting to know these kids was fun as they tease, bicker, laugh and support each other, especially when they find themselves on the run.

The back story for each character is eased effortlessly into the plot and the personalities are portrayed brilliantly through the dialogue and illustrations. There is a lot going on in this story as different characters deal with the present and the past, helping them grow and move on from past traumas with their friends at their side.

They might be different and have special powers, but there is someone even more powerful watching their every move.

Another Kind has engaging characters with super powers, an action packed escape, an evil villain and a well structured story all in one volume. The illustrations are in full colour, clear and concise in their portrayal of the action and emotions of the characters. A character’s pronouns are discussed, and another realises their own, but this thread isn’t developed further.

One of the best graphic novels I’ve read this year.

Author – Trevor Bream

Illustrator – Cait May

Age – 10+

Graphic Novel

(2023, Harper Collins, Graphic Novel, Aliens, Cryptozoology, Creatures, Humanoid, Secret Government Facility, Evil Collector, Super Powers, Action, Friendship, Fantasy, Selkie, Octopus Girl, WereBear, Yeti Boy, Changeling, Will-O-Wisp, Irregularities, Differences, Loyalty, Escape, Running away, Conspiracy Theorists, Gang Rivalry, Secrets, Science)