Aurora and the Orc

French comics creator Trondheim (the Ralph Azham series) slips impressive emotional depth beneath the breezy comedic surface of this deadpan graphic novel. When a teleportation spell mistakenly transports an orc to a human classroom, young Aurora’s first question is “Does he have to sit next to me?” Subsequent queries receive unsatisfying answers, solidifying Aurora’s belief that she’s the only one who seems to find the situation unusual. (Her teacher remains unruffled, her classmates are thrilled, and her mother’s main concern is the orc’s favorite food.) Soon, Aurora becomes the newcomer’s reluctant guide to human life, explaining everything from cameras and bathrooms to money and the important rule against eating people, lessons that unravel less than smoothly. The book’s first half thrives on culture-clash comedy. The chafing of the orc’s affable yet battle-hardened perspective—interpreting classroom silence as torture-resistance training or a too-soft bed as punishment—against Aurora’s increasing exasperation paves a path toward eventual understanding as Aurora and the orc broach questions about his origins. Minimalist artwork with comic-strip appeal depicts characters with varying skin tones and reinforces the brisk momentum. What begins as loosely connected classroom antics develops into a thought-provoking mystery about the way prejudice is taught. Ages 7–10. (June)