Hoping to escape her evil, doughy foster father, Emma Drinkwater sneaks into Kokonino County, the human-free home of the New Muses. She quickly finds herself embroiled in the Great Pie War launched by Kokopelli, flute-playing Muse of Tunes and Tricks, against Urania, the high-minded Muse of Astronomy. The stakes are high: Mr. Drinkwater is holding Emma's teacher hostage in the cellar while he attempts to decode a secret message involving Emma's real parents. The Muses could help, but not while they're distracted by flying pies, which are rapidly escalating from Smart Pies to Smarter Pies to SMARTEST PIES — state-of-the-art, satellite-guided pies hurtling through the air, zeroing in with greater and greater accuracy as the Great Pie War crumbles to a messy conclusion. Gonick's alternate universe is crammed with off-the-wall characters and sly, smart humor, along with plenty of spot illustrations to help reluctant young readers make the transition from graphic novels to narrative fiction.