My 13-year old says two thumbs up! Graphic novels are so popular with the middle graders. This is a must have for our collection

Jennifer Holm is an amazing writer and artist and all of her graphic novels don't disappoint. This one included! I was happy to see it on the Texas Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List 2022

I love this series. The first book was pretty good, but this second one I finished quickly. It was so creative and fun.

Fun sequel that digs a little deeper into the original characters, touching on themes of honesty, bravery, and forgiveness, with all the creativity and humor that made the first book so fun!

Not as compelling as the first book in the series, but still a fun graphic novel about a group of kids and what they can accomplish when they use their imaginations and work together.

A fantastic follow-up to one of my favorite graphic novels! I often recommend this book to young readers with big imaginations.

The Cardboard Kingdom returns! With more adventures and a closer look at each character's life. Sell's books always fly off my shelves, and I know this one will too.

Cardboard kingdom #2 was. Five star review for my 5th grader. My son loved the sequel of this series! Perfect for a middle grade reader. Does a wonderful job of introducing a few tough topics without being too much.

Another creative installment in the Cardboard Kingdom series. This series is full of diverse and unique characters that appeal to children of all ages. This story fits a lot of small plot points, such as Jack's transformation into the sorceress, Vijay's fear of the monster and being the Beast once again. The illustrations and story flow so well and would be a lovely read for kids of all ages.

This was such a cute graphic novel. I've read the first one and I really enjoyed that one so I thought I'd like this one too and I was correct! I love the creativity that the kids show when they are making their cardboard creations. Overall, a great follow up to the first book. Definitely check it out if you've read book one!

Another great inclusive story of neighborhood make believe. This time there's a longer cohesive story than the vignettes of the previous book and it touches on when you should tell others that a friend is having trouble. Gentle lessons in an action packed plot.

Thank you NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

My students absolutely LOVED The Cardboard Kingdom #1 that we've worn through 2 copies already! I knew I just had to get my hands on reading the second one. I love how the kids are pushed outside their comfort zones as they figure out who they are and who they want to be. This was an awesome sequel, and we will definitely be adding it to our classroom library!

I love this series where kids are trying to authentically figure out who they are and who they want to be. I love how the kids are pushed outside of their comfort zone and able better themselves. If you haven't read this series you need too. The illustrations are fantastic I love the color pallet.

I loved this sequel to the Cardboard Kingdom as much as the first. The artwork is beautiful, eye-catching, and fun for all readers, young and old. I just love how serious issues are discussed in a way that shows positive conflict resolution. I also enjoy that parents aren't involved much it gives a feeling of older days when kids would have free rein over their play and their neighborhoods. This is a definite recommendation book for me to all kids and even teens.

Chad Sell is a wonderful comic artist. His stories are always lush and fun and engaging. This sequel was no different. Coming back to the Cardboard Kingdom was like seeing an old friend with new stories to tell.

This is such a joyous, hopeful series. The Cardboard Kingdom 2 continues with the children getting excited about Halloween coming up and planning their costumes. However, there is a monster lurking somewhere in the Kingdom that the kids must find and stop.

This was just such a great sequel to Cardboard Kingdom. All the groups work together to defeat the monster, but is it a monster or something else? Filled with a diverse cast of characters that all want to support each other (eventually...) and focus on real ways to handle issues that come up for kids. With excellent artwork yet again, this was just a great addition to the story.

When Vijay gives up his title, the Beast, it’s due to the teenager bullies of the neighborhood he withdraws into himself. His sister and friends can’t get him to respond to them. That same night Nate breaks his leg to chase after a monster he saw. No one believes him. Then others see the monster. The unknown monster is roaming in the cardboard kingdom when it gets dark. The monster is horrible looking with claws or wings or tentacles? The individual sees different things when looking at the monster. What is this monster? Even though Halloween is soon, the kids become monster mashers. They will go to any length to save the kingdom and get the monster. Why is there a monster? How did it get there? And did someone create the monster? If so, who?

The author or authors writes about the difficulties of little kid becoming big kid. The transition also causes them to question internally. It’s never easy transiting from little to big to teenager to adult. Hopefully this will help those kids who read this know that they aren’t the only ones to wonder about growing up.

I enjoyed the first Cardboard Kingdom book and this pulled me through the second. I am not sure it had quite the same magic as the first one. I wanted some of the characters to be a little more developed as I read this one, but that had me wondering if that wasn't also true of the first one but I was pulled in by the novelty of the first original tale.

Before I get into the bones of this book, I need to say it right here: I had to request the first Cardboard Kingdom from a library other than mine, because both my copies ARE NEVER THERE. When I covered at my neighborhood branch while mine was closed? Their copy was out, too! Chad Sell has tapped into something incredible with his Cardboard Kingdom and Doodleville books: he's woven fantasy storytelling into a realistic setting that captures what we've been doing as children for as long as any of us can remember. His characters create their own fantasy worlds with cardboard costumes and by bringing their doodles to life, and as you read it, he (and his collaborators - there are so many, find them here!) seamlessly has his characters inhabit the "real world", having a conversation, and then - in the space of a panel - the conversation continues, but those cardboard costumes are now high fantasy dress pieces, and we see these kids as they see one another. It's just incredible, and the kids in my library system can't get enough of it.

In the second Cardboard Kingdom book, we have Vijay, who goes by The Beast, decide he's not going to be The Beast anymore. He's being bullied by some mean teenagers, and he pulls into himself, unreachable to his friends and even his older sister. Meanwhile, another friend, Nate, sees what he swears is a giant monster outside his window one night, and breaks his leg trying to get a better look at it. Who is this scary monster? Is it a new cardboard character, or is this something really, really, real and scary? (Depends on who you're talking to.) With a gender- and culturally-diverse group of friends working together, this latest Cardboard Kingdom adventure is exactly what middle graders need. They have the chance to see themselves and receive encouragement to continue living through their imaginations and creativity. I love this series, and even more, I love Chad Sell's webpage, where you can find costume designs and coloring book pages for Cardboard Kingdom and Doodleville.

The Cardboard Kingdom was an Eisner nominee (2019), received 5 starred reviews, and was a Texas Bluebonnet second place.

The Cardboard Kingdom: Roar of the Beast was created, organized, and drawn by Chad Sell with writing from nine other authors: Jay Fuller, David DeMeo, Katie Schenkel, Molly Muldoon, Vid Alliger, Manuel Betancourt, Michael Cole, Cloud Jacobs, and Barbara Perez Marquez.