A grand time with graphic novels
Reviews by
Melissa Oxborrow
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[May 01, 2015]
May
is National Graphic Novel Month! To help celebrate, enjoy these reviews of some
great graphic novels. Not sure what a graphic novel is? A graphic novel is
simply a novel that is written in comic-strip format. Words and art combine for
a unique reading experience. These titles are for school-age children and teens,
both fiction and non-fiction, and have fabulous reviews. My thanks to patrons
and library staff that made these wonderful recommendations!
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El Deafo
by Cece Bell, c2014
This 2015 Newbery Honor Book is based on the life of the author, who lost
her hearing at a young age. Set in the 70s with characters portrayed as
rabbits, the story chronicles Cece’s childhood adventures---things everyone
can relate to, like dealing with a friend that likes to boss you around,
crushing on a cute boy, the everyday challenges of school and just trying to
find a place in the world. But Cece’s other struggles are unique. How can
you fit in when you’re wearing a huge hearing aid strapped to your chest?
How can you figure out what your girlfriends are saying at a slumber party
when it’s dark and you can’t read their lips? How can you get others to see
you for the superhero that you are? Humorous and sensitive, this is a great
pick for children, grades 3 – 7. Young fans of Raina Telgemeier’s Smile
should definitely give this one a try.
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The Stonekeeper
(Amulet: Book One)
by Kazu Kibuishi, c2008
The Stonekeeper is the first title in the Amulet series which includes six
volumes so far. We have a hard time keeping it on our shelves! It’s a
fantastical adventure featuring Emily and Navin who have moved with their
mom to their great grandather’s mysteriously creepy home. It’s not long
before the kids are lured to an underground world filled with robots, demons
and talking animals. Their new friend, a mechanical rabbit named Miskit,
helps them navigate their new world and will stand by them as they face a
danger they never could have imagined. This is a great pick for a variety of
ages, especially appropriate for grades 3 - 7, but with a story and
illustrations that will draw even high school teens.
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The Adventures of Superhero Girl
by Faith Erin Hicks, c2013
This is the quirky and humorous tale of a teenage girl who is
desperate to be the superhero of all superheroes. Life, however,
seems to keep getting in the way. How do you keep your superhero
mask on unless it’s with super glue? What if money’s tight so you
have to buy your capes at the thrift store? How does the whole
romance thing work when you have a secret identity? When you’ve run
out of money and obviously the superhero gig doesn’t pay, do you
have to get a “real” job? How do you balance fighting crime and
defeating alien monsters with the everyday trials of growing up?
Fabulous illustrations and laugh-out-loud situations makes this a
must-read for ages 12 and up.
Donner Dinner Party
(Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales)
by Nathan Hale, c2013
Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales are a great way to introduce history
to the reluctant reader. This series is an especially great pick for
boys, grades 3 – 7. Informative and entertaining with a perfect
blend of gruesome facts and a touch of humor, Donner Dinner Party is
a wonderful example of the quality of this series. It is, of course,
the tragic story of the Donner party, beginning as they leave
Springfield, Illinois in 1846 and following them across the country
until they reach their horrifying end. It’s not an easy story and
Hale gives the readers a gently humorous heads-up now and again that
something coming up might be upsetting, if they want to skip ahead.
Recommended for children, grades 3 – 6, but still accessible to
older teens who may want a quick historical read. The library has
more of Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales that present other characters
and moments in U.S. history.
During the month of May we will be highlighting our adult, juvenile
and young adult graphic novels with eye-catching displays. Come on
in to Lincoln Public Library, 725 Pekin Street, and check them out!
[By
MELISSA OXBORROW,
Lincoln Public Library District] |