A grand time with graphic novels
Reviews by Melissa Oxborrow

[May 15, 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!

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.
 

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.

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]