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READING STYLE GUIDE

Graphic Novels 2019: New Directions

1/30/2020

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Graphic Novels for the Win

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One of the historic announcements at the 2020 American Library Association’s Youth Media Awards was the Newbery Award. Jerry Craft’s New Kid is the first graphic novel to receive this distinction.
Previous award-winning comics include:
2007 Printz award American Born Chinese, 2007 Sibert honor To Dance, 2015 Newbery honor El Deafo, 2015 Caldecott honor This One Summer, 2016 Newbery honor Roller Girl, 2016 Sibert honor Drowned City, 2017 Coretta Scott King Award March: Book Three, 2017 Excellence in Nonfiction Award March: Book Three, 2017 Printz Award March: Book Three, 2017 Sibert Award March: Book Three, 2017 Pura Belpré Award Lowriders to the Center of the Earth, 2019 Morris Finalist Check, Please!, 2019 Excellence in Nonfiction Honor, Faithful Spy (hybrid text and graphics), 2019 Excellence in Nonfiction Finalist Hey Kiddo, 2019 Excellence in Nonfiction Award The Unwanted, 2019 Sibert Honor The Unwanted. ​
2007 was the breakthrough year with graphic novels capturing the Printz Award and a Sibert Honor. There followed an eight-year gap (EIGHT YEARS!) before graphic novels began to pop up on award lists. Two titles each were awarded in 2015 and 2016. In 2017 one book, March: Book Three garnered top honors with four ALA awards, in addition to the National Book Award for Young People's Literature and an Eisner Award. That's a lot of stickers on one cover! The momentum built in 2019 with four comics winning awards and The Unwanted received two awards.
This year New Kid earned the covetous Newbery Award. Graphic novels for the win. Huzzah!
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Worth Noting

Sequential panel format that combines images and text offers an engaging reading experience. In addition to the recognized 2019 titles, many other delightful and informative graphic novels were published during the year. These comics feature a variety of subjects and employ innovative storytelling techniques. They are gems. Take a look.
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Young California surfer Trot and her one-eyed cat discover a fantasy underwater world. Inspired by Vietnamese folktales and Frank Baum, they are brimming with stunning design and nouveau style art.
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Historical fiction chronicling the life and legacy of African legend Shaka with fascinating insights into Zulu history. Explores the complex role of leadership and chronicles the expanded the role of women in this society. The second of two volumes.
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Middle grade tale of witchcraft and magic. It's also a story of three generations of women. Thoughtful contemplation of identity with a unique twist. Bonus: sparkles with wit and visual humor.
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A well-researched account of Brontë's struggle to become an author is featured in The Center for Cartoon Studies reality-based series. An independent woman living in the 1880's and supporting herself is a compelling story. 
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This hybrid combines distinct first person narrative text with emotion-packed images which give life to this  story of immigration and sibling rivalry. Bonus: amazing mouth-watering cakes described in each chapter.
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Big Ideas That Changed the World recounts this significant historical event in graphic novel format. Excellent pacing enhances the tension culminating in the successful lunar landing of Apollo 11.
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Real Life Reporter

12/4/2019

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Cub by Cynthia L. Copeland

I know how it's supposed to work in seventh grade:
You are who the other kids say you are.
But I'm not OK with that.
​I'll say who I am.
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Established author Cynthia L. Copeland’s first graphic novel sparkles with wit and warmth.
​Twelve-year -old Cindy navigates a tightrope of middle school complexities: shifting alliances among the microcosm of students, moving from platonic relationships to the first stirrings of romantic interest, and a growing awareness of the world beyond junior high school.
Divided into the three seasons of the school year, Cub introduces fresh-faced and free-wheeling Cindy entering seventh-grade. An individualist, she's not part of the vicious circle who take pleasure in taunting other students. She copes by appearing "dead," that is invisible and unresponsive to personal attacks.
When her former best friend Katie decides to join the mean students clique, Cindy discovers other interests and makes new friends. Her English teacher notes that she has potential as a journalist and arranges ​an internship  with the local newspaper. Leslie, an up-and-coming investigative reporter, takes Cindy under her wing. She invites Cin to accompany her on assignments, teaches her interviewing techniques, constructively edits early attempts at investigative journalism, and encourages Cin to develop photography skills.
By spring Cindy has a contemporary hairstyle, a wider circle of friends, an awareness of the world outside the confines of her school, and increased self confidence. She finally admits to Leslie that she doesn't like tea, gently informs her mother that she wants to abandon the nightly ritual of curling her hair in rags, and summons the courage to advertise her talents as an artist for a summer job. Her persistence is recognized by her father. He praises her achievements and eventually offers to help her create a dark room.
Her success spills over into the lives of others. Her parents learn to appreciate and encourage her interest in journalism and accept her desire to assert herself. Her newly found friends support her. Even Katie asks to reestablish their friendship. Cindy wisely makes room for Katie, while maintaining her other friends and interests. Cindy learns that some of her preconceived ideas about people may not be true. She learns to rethink some of the labels she has placed on others.
Copeland frames her memoir within the larger context of world events: the Watergate break-in and subsequent resignation of Nixon, protecting the environment, the Vietnam War, and a push to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. Interestingly the Issues of the early 1970’s continue to be relevant in 2020.
The narrative highlights the juxtaposition between life of a seventh-grader and larger issues on the world stage. One telling scene: after Cindy receives a camera as a gift, she studies and applies herself to learning photojournalism. When a friend makes an offhand request "Take a picture of me!" she responds "No way, you goofball. I'm taking photos for the newspaper."
Page and panel design are well-suited to subject matter. Cindy's typewritten reports fill an entire page and include Leslie's editorial markings. Images of typed text are background in several important scenes, giving prominence to Cin's evolving identity as a journalist. Significant events appear as headline banners. The scene in the newsroom on receiving accounts the Vietnam War's end spans the two-page spread with reporters furiously scrambling to report the news-breaking event.
​Small details highlight the 1970's era: candy buttons attached to paper strips, flared jeans, troll figure collections, memories shown as a scattering of Polaroid snapshots. ​
​Faces are rendered with simple eyes and noses. It's the expressive eyebrows and mouths, especially a mouth full of braces which poignantly reveal emotion.
Pitch perfect story of middle grade, Cub is a worthy and welcome addition to the graphic novel memoir canon that includes Guts, Smile, Roller Girl, Real Friends, and All’s Faire in Middle School. With braces flashing, Cindy careens through the town. Occasionally she falls down, at times doubts herself, but often succeeds spectacularly.
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Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: January 7, 2020 Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers ISBN: 978-1616209933
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King Shaka: Zulu Legend by Luke W. Molver

11/4/2019

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King Shaka Zulu Legend by Luke W. Molver

He who beats but is not beaten
The voracious one of Senzangakhona
Whose spear is red, even on the handle.
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King Shaka: Zulu Legend continues the fascinating story of this historic figure, Introduced in Shaka Rising: A Legend of the Warrior Prince. As with the first volume, Molver sets the work of historical fiction within the context of a storyteller capturing the rapt attention of her audience as she continues her tale.
​This format emphasizes the importance of an oral language tradition, the epic "larger than life" stature of King Shaka, and mythological elements in this graphic novelization.
With his rise to power King Shaka united many of the local clans resulting in the Zulus becoming a dominant force throughout south Africa. Shaka maintained an elaborate system of governance which provided protection and assistance while allowing local chiefs some autonomy over their own lands.
​It was during his reign that white settlers arrived on Zulu soil. Attempts to establish relationships between the Zulu and the British were difficult and less than successful.
Molver paints Shaka as a conflicted man. The demands of ruling, fighting attacks from neighboring clans, negotiating the arrival of white settlers, receiving conflicting advice from those he trusted took their toll.
Finding the balance between the roles of conqueror and protector, between uprooting treachery and honoring family loyalty were part of King Shaka's ongoing governing challenges. His leadership strengths outweighed his missteps.
The role of women during King Shaka's reign is fascinating. While the culture was patriarchal, women held positions of prominence and influence. Shaka's mother, referred to as She Elephant and his aunt known as The Kingmaker exerted considerable influence. Shaka appointed women as amakhosikazi, overseers in outlying areas who served as proxies for the king.
Bold color palette and strong images which aggressively dominate each panel accentuate the life and times of this compelling historical figure.
His influence and place in Africa's history have earned him the honorific title of legend. King Shaka is now regarded as the founder of the Zulu nation.
Rich back matter enhances the work. Sections include: "The Story Continues," "How Accurate is This Story?" "The Historical Setting of King Shaka's Time," "The Challenges of Leadership," "Zulu Political Structures," "The Role of Women," "Siblings," "The Royal Homestead," "Zulu Culture and Beliefs," "Language and Naming," "Questions and Ideas for Going Deeper," "Glossary," and "Pronunciation Guide."
Learn about the Shaka’s early life and his rise to power in Shaka Rising: A Legend of the Warrior Prince.
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Copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: October 1, 2019 Publisher: Story Press Africa: 978-1946498939
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Women’s Business

9/24/2019

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Charlotte Brontë Before Jane Eyre
by Glynnis Fawkes introduction by Alison Bechdel

Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! -
​I have as much soul as you, - and full as much heart!
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​Charlotte Brontë Before Jane Eyre is an insightful and well-researched portrait of young Charlotte Brontë.
Prologue features Brontë receiving a letter from England's Poet laureate Robert Southey. A series of panels focus on Charlotte and the emotions that play across her face as she reads his critique of her poetry. 
Literature cannot be the business of a woman's life.
This opening sets the stage for an illustrated chronology of the sixteen-year struggle for Brontë and her sisters Emily and Anne to establish themselves as authors. The 1800’s were not a period favorable for educated women who aspired to move beyond the traditional vocations of teacher or governess.
Following the death of her mother, Charlotte is sent, along with her three sisters, to an austere boarding school. Both of her of older sisters die from "consumption" and the two younger girls are withdrawn from the school.
The four surviving Brontë children remain at home, where their imaginations take flight as they create an elaborate world based on a set of toy soldiers. They call their fantasy world Glass Town. It becomes the basis for their early ventures into writing.
We will be the subject of tales and verse for years to come! Hooray for Great Glass Town!
Eventually Charlotte and Emily return to school and prepare to become teachers. Both girls find the life of a teacher and governess to be distasteful. They want to write. Assuming constant care of young charges leaves no time for these accomplished siblings to pursue their passion for writing. They receive this advice: women cannot support themselves as authors.
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Finally the sisters determine that they will find a way to see their work in published form. All three women submit novels for consideration. Anne's Agnes Grey and Emily's Wuthering Heights are accepted. Charlotte's The Professor is rejected. Fortunately Charlotte receives this encouraging response: perhaps she might write another novel for consideration. She gets to work on a story set on the moors. The main character is neither wealthy nor glamorous. She has endured a painful childhood. Despite difficulties the heroine is determined to succeed. Her name is Jane Eyre.
Brontë writes, pouring her life and her heart into the work. When she is ready to submit her final clean copy of Jane Eyre she learns that if the publisher rejects the novel she must pay both sending and returning shipping fees. She risks a double payment if the novel is rejected. She decides to send the manuscript.
I've been writing incessantly for a year- what will come of it?
Her book is accepted.
Fawkes concludes Brontë’s story with a full-page tribute to Jane Eyre. First published in 1847, it has never been out of print, has been adapted numerous times for a variety of media, and translated into approximately sixty languages.
Emily Bechdel’s Forward serves as a a personal and fitting introduction.​ Back matter is a treasure trove of valuable resources. Author’s Postscript offers a rationale for focusing on the life of Charlotte, the influence of the Glass Town Saga, and the necessity of editing Brontë’s writing to fit within the constraints of sequential art. Panel Discussions meticulously document specific details with supporting sources of information. Selected Bibliography, Credits, and a Thank You conclude the work.
It is not necessary to read or to even be familiar with the novels of Brontë to appreciate her ongoing efforts to establish herself as a credible author. Her story is a moving tribute to the desire to follow one’s passion regardless of societal mores. Above all, it is a poignant glimpse into the struggle to advance the stature of literary women.
This beautiful and thought-provoking graphic novel is part of The Center for Cartoon Studies reality-based cartoon series. A rich resource and worthy addition to libraries and the school curriculum.
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Fawkes line drawings and ink wash are an excellent medium for the pastoral British Isles ​setting.
Meet Glynnis Fawkes as she discusses two of her recent projects.

Brontë Times Three

Can't get enough of Brontë? Try this imaginative introduction to Glass Town, the fantasy world created by the Brontë siblings, a graphic novel version of Jane Eyre, and a young adult novel inspired by Jane Eyre.
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Uncorrected copy provided by publisher
Pub date: September 24, 2019  Publisher: Disney-Hyperion ISBN: 978-1368045827​
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Which Witch

8/20/2019

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The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner

I have to be both a witch and a person.
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It’s Halloween and thirteen-year-old Moth Hush has given a lot of thought to the costume that she will wear to school. She decides that she will definitely ​be a witch. Black dress. Pointed hat. Nothing unusual about that.
​The girl who doesn't fit in decides that a traditional Halloween costume is a great way to assimilate. Maybe not.
​While trying to help the new kid in school, she discovers that she has extraordinary powers. Her mother confirms that she is, in fact, a witch. Moth learns that she comes from a long line of witches, both her mother and maternal grandmother are witches.
I’m a witch... Everything finally DOES make sense. I always thought I was just weird.
Local lore tells of a witch colony that disappeared centuries ago. Each year students reenact the story. In a strange twist of fate, Moth the costume assistant and her friend Charlie assume the roles of their ancestors in the production. Will they follow the script, or will they choose to reject the town’s traditional witch mythology and create a new reality?
There is ongoing tension between generations of women in the Hush family. Grandmother flees from an oppressive community and creates a new protective world. Mother rejects this exclusive society of witches and chooses to live among humans, never using or speaking of her latent powers. Moth is intrigued by her newly discovered identity. She wants to learn more about herself and her magical abilities.
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This wide-eyed thirteen-year-old navigates the perilous life of middle school while simultaneously exploring Hecate, a witch’s realm existing in a parallel universe. It's new and exciting but strange and frightening. When history collides with the present, old wounds are reopened and past injustices exposed.
Three generations of witches. ​Three manifestations of Hecate: maiden, mother, crone. Three different perspectives on the practice of witchcraft. Mothers try to protect daughters. Daughters seek to break away and create a new life. Who is right?
Magic is an integral story element. Moth explores the past by jumping into her mother’s diary with a cat who is the reincarnation of a family friend and benefactor. Moth's mother, who appears ageless, reveals that she was born in 1675.
Mommy looks a lot younger than she actually is. And it's not just because she moisturizes regularly.
This graphic novel can be enjoyed on several levels. The Okay Witch is an entertaining story of a girl discovering her true nature.  It's a fascinating examination of the mother-daughter dynamic. Readers will also find similarities to historical accounts of early New England witchcraft.
The tale is chock full of delightful tidbits: references to classic movies " I don't think we're in Massachusetts anymore," clever asides "I don't do 'safe.' You've seen me eat expired yogurt,” and interesting visual clues. It will take several readings to catch all the goodies Steinkellner packs into every page.
While the book is marketed for middle grade readers, it has wide-range appeal. Libraries will want to feature this comic in Halloween book displays. Classroom teachers searching for a fresh fictional companion to the study of Salem Witch trials can ditch the well-worn play and add The Okay Witch to the curriculum. It would also make a thought-provoking selection for mother-daughter book clubs.
 Steinkellner's graphic novel debut is smart, quirky, and clever. 
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: September 3, 2019  Publisher: Aladdin  ISBN: 978-1534431461
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Tummy Trouble

7/30/2019

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Guts by Raina Telgemeier

Can you be sick even if you're not sick?
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Uber-talented Raina Telgemeier has done it again. She has created a companion volume to her endearing and enduring classics Smile and Sisters. Guts is also autobiographical. It recounts Telgemeier’s bouts with stress and the mental, social, and emotional costs of anxiety. This may be her most personal book to date, detailing her childhood panic attacks, phobias, and anxiety. She opens up about the distress that she experienced and her body's responses to these fears. ​
Beginning in the fourth grade, Raina begins worrying about vomiting, an experience that assaults all of the senses: sight, sound, taste, and smell. The possibility of throwing up, even hearing the word vomit becomes a trigger, sending her to the bathroom.
​Stress-provoking factors multiply. They include crowded living conditions, fear of speaking in public, the possibility of contracting the flu, and eating contaminated food. The result: this young girl spends her days and nights in a state of continual turmoil.
There are numerous visits to doctors who suggest possible causes. Everything from food poisoning to puberty and Irritable bowel syndrome are suggested. ​None of these diagnoses seem accurate.
Fortunately, her mother suggests therapy and arranges for Raina to meet with a professional who helps her work through her issues.  Together they plan ways that she can anticipate anxiety triggers and deal effectively with her angst. She eventually reaches the point where she can share her coping techniques with others. She is amazed to learn that she is not alone. Others have health-related problems. Others find therapy helpful. 
Raina brilliantly uses the graphic novel format to tell her story. She knows when to over-fill a panel or page with people and actions, reinforcing her suffocating claustrophic feelings. Panel placement is an integral part of the story, at times horizontal bands move from the top of the bottom of the page.  Full page panels set the scene and provide important background information.  A full page is a significant statement which invites readers to pause. One of my favorites is the full-page image of her sneakers.  As readers pause to consider what it feels like to look down at shoes and become "grounded" they can experience the value of this technique.
Facial expressions and body language are a hallmark of her work. She effectively captures fear, frustration, and eventually, self-confidence.
Panels which are predominantly green signal her moments of extreme distress. A swirling mass of worry and doubt encircle Raina in various shades of green.
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The poignant dedication acknowledges the fears that many children face. Telgemeier reaches out to her readers, describing her pain and the ways it manifests itself. Individual battles with stress will vary. However children who live with anxiety will see and understand that they are not alone.
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​Thanks Raina. It takes courage to relive painful childhood experiences. It takes talent to accurately record your experiences in comic format. It takes empathy to share your journey through dark moments with young readers. It takes intention to seek help through therapy.
You are a woman of courage, talent, empathy, and guts.
Readers are fortunate that their beloved author has shared her story.
Thank you.
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Telgemeier Treasures

Collect them all. They are kid-tested, award-winning, time-honored classics. 
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Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: September 17, 2019  Publisher: Graphix  ISBN: 978-0545852500
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Lunar Landing

7/16/2019

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Lunar Landing July 20, 1969

We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things,
​not because they are easy, but because they are hard
John F. Kennedy
Fifty years ago, the United States made history when astronaut Neil Armstrong stepped onto the surface of the moon. The Apollo 11 mission was the culmination of years of research and testing. Relive this momentous occasion with these stunning books for young readers. A picture book, historical fiction in graphic novel format, a comic book, and an illustrated volume of free verse brilliantly showcase this incredible accomplishment and the variety of formats authors employ to bring true stories to life.

Go for the Moon: A Rocket, A Boy, and the First Moon Landing
by Chris Gall

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From childhood, Chris Gall has always been fascinated with rockets and space exploration. Go for the Moon: A Rocket, A Boy, and the First Moon Landing chronicles the parallel stories of the Apollo 11 launch and a young boy’s attempt to replicate the event on a personal and considerably smaller scale. His rocket is a water rocket that he transports via a little red wagon. He builds a lunar module from cardboard boxes and climbs inside. He and his brother replicate the difficulty of precisely reaching the moon with a soccer ball and a stone.
Gorgeously illustrated and chock full of fascinating facts, the generous trim size invites readers to experience the Apollo11 mission from a kid’s point of view. Grab a glass of Tang and share in the adventure.
​Copy provided by publisher
​Pub date: June 11, 2019 Publisher: Roaring Brook Press ISBN: 978-1250155795

Rocket to the Moon!: 
​Big Ideas That Changed the World
​by Don Brown

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Big Ideas That Changed the World, a series created by Don Brown, "celebrates the hard-won succession of ideas that ultimately remade the world." Rocket to the Moon! is the first book in Don Brown's Big Ideas That Changed the World series This volume recounts the history and development of rockets.
​A substantial portion of the book is devoted to the United States' space exploration, including the "space race" with Russia. The narrative culminates with the successful Apollo 11 lunar landing.
​Line drawings, and link wash are clean and straightforward, moving the narrative along. The full-page panel of the moon's surface appropriately gives readers pause. Pacing shows the module’s slow descent to the Sea of Tranquility with a series of jagged-edge panels. Horizontal panels zoom in on one footstep as it descends the ladder to the moon's surface.

T-Minus:
​The Race to the Moon
by Jim Ottaviani ill Zonder Cannon Kevin Cannon

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Jim Ottaviani’s fictionalized retelling of the race between the USA and the USSR to reach the moon is a gripping, emotionally charged saga. T-Minus: The Race to the Moon chronicles the development of space exploration and the back stories of key players such as Robert Goddard and Sergei Korolev.
The failures, successes, political intrigue come to a climax when Apollo 11 reaches its destination and NASA's astronaut takes the first steps on the moon.
Hard to put down. Read the author’s notes for information on his storytelling process as well as suggested bibliography.
Inventive placement of rockets which break out of rigid panel frames and span the entire vertical space is noteworthy. The black and white line art is well-suited to the subject matter.
Public library copy.
​Pub date: May 9, 2009 Publisher: Adallin ISBN: 978-1416949602
Countdown:
​2979 Days to the Moon 
by Suzanne Slade ill Thomas Gonzales
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Countdown: 2979 Days to the Moon chronicles events leading up to and concluding with the first lunar landing on July 20, 1969. The narrative begins with the challenge uttered by President John F. Kennedy in May 1961.
​Suzanne Slade, a mechanical engineer who worked on several space projects including the development of Saturn V rocket, is well qualified to write this superlative work of nonfiction. Her lyrical text vivifies the marvel of space exploration. The free verse is accompanied by direct quotations, systematically describing each of the eleven Apollo missions.
​Gonzalez' paintings are enhanced with infographic spreads located between chapters. Generous trim size (10.3" x 11") while accessible and easy to handle, gives added emphasis to the grandeur of this achievement. The book's text, with clear clean font is thoughtful placed, awarding the narrative added significance. For contrast, pages describing the Apollo 8 expedition as it moves to the far side of the moon are black with striking white text. ​
Electronic copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: March 5, 2019 Publisher: Amulet Books ISBN: 978-1419734045
Copy provided by publisher
​Pub date:Sept 1, 2018 Publisher: Peachtree Publishers ISBN: 978-0399246531

Video Resources

Field Trip

Take a cross-country tour of Apollo 11 celebrations throughout the United States. The Smithsonian has curated a list of cities around the United States that are holding a variety of events this summer to coincide with the anniversary, from exhibitions to rocket launches to parades. Commemorate the Apollo 11 mission and lunar landing in a city near you,
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Under the Sea

5/31/2019

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Sea Sirens: A Trot & Cap’n Bill Adventure
​by Amy Chu & Janet K. Lee

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California surfer Trot spends her summer days with Cap’n Bill, a one-eyed rescue cat wearing a tiny red life vest who joins her on the surfboard and her Vietnamese grandfather who is in the early stages of dementia and sometimes wanders off.  
One day Trot and Cap'n Bill sneak away to catch a big wave. Her board capsizes, sending them into a magical world in the briny deep. When sea serpents threaten a bevy of lovely sea sirens, Cap'n Bill lashes out, sending away the serpents.
In gratitude, the seahorse-riding sirens give Trot and her cat the ability to breathe underwater and transport the duo back to their mother Queen Aquareine and her opulent kingdom, or more accurately, queendom. They are honored with a lavish celebration.
A special guest arrives for the festivities: grandpa!  He slipped into the ocean and wandered into this enchanted aquatic paradise. ​
Cap'n Bill revels in the food and the adulation, Trot thrills at surfing on the backs of rays. And granddad enjoys viewing aquatic life. Then trouble strikes.  Grandfather is kidnapped by the King of the Serpents. It's up to Trot and her mermaid friend to rescue grandpa and avert a war between the sirens and serpents.
Sea Sirens: A Trot and Cap'n Bill Adventure is replete with homages to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. There's the faithful pet who accompanies a girl on a fantastic journey, a traveler who arrives in a locality quite by accident and becomes its mythical and revered leader, a giant balloon that can traverses between two worlds, and a heartfelt "There's no place like home" ending.
It appears that there is more to the story.  Trot has the precious pearl given to her by the queen and perhaps she may use it again. Stay tuned for the next adventure with this intrepid surfer and her one-eyed feline. 
Note: Keep an eye on Cap'n Bill and his snarky attitude. He steals the show in more than one scene.
Inspired by L. Frank Baum’s The Sea Fairies as well as Vietnamese folktales and fairy tales, Amy Chu has fashioned a remarkable comic. She breathes life into the story with imaginative characters and an interesting plot twist.  Inclusion of Vietnamese dialog and folktale elements enrich this sumptuous tale.
Janet K. Lee's art is stunning.  Innovative layout with full pages, insets, circles and angular lines burst beyond the confines of traditional rectangular panel configuration. Her art nouveau style is well suited to the story, giving it a classic feel. The gorgeous aqua-rich color palette and settings are magical. 

More Underwater Adventures

Enchanting tales of girls who live underwater. Gorgeous art. Compelling storytelling. Answer the siren call and read these graphic novel adventures by award-winning creators David Wiesner, Donna Jo Napoli, and Metaphrog aka Sandra Marrs and John Chalmers.
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Copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: June 11, 2019  Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers  ISBN: 978-0451480163
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Big Ideas

2/12/2019

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Rocket to the Moon!: Big Ideas That Changed the World
​by Don Brown

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Big Ideas That Changed the World, a series created by Don Brown, "celebrates the hard-won succession of ideas that ultimately remade the world."  Rocket to the Moon! is the first book in the BIG IDEAS series, exploring the development of rockets.
​Rodman Law, a New Jersey daredevil parachutist in the early 1900's, is the character who narrates the chronology. He provides commentary and adds his own witty asides. 
I bet I'm the first guy to try flying in a rocket. OK, OK, there's a sketchy story about a Turkish guy who did it in 1633, but come on, 1633? I'm not buying it, so I'm claiming the title.
Briefly mentioned are the Chinese invention of gunpowder, as well as fifteenth and sixteenth century experimentation with rockets. The narrative progresses with greater detail when detailing the research of twentieth-century Russian, American, and Romanian scientists and the work of American-German aerospace engineer Werner von Braun. His association with Hitler's Germany is mentioned. ​​
​A substantial portion of the book is devoted to the United States' space exploration, including the "space race" with Russia. The narrative culminates with the successful Apollo 11 lunar landing.
Brown includes trivia tidbits that will fascinate young readers, including such things as peeing and pooping in space, strapping upright pilots in the lunar module with Velcro, and jerry-rigging a ballpoint pen to replace a broken switch.
They lightened Eagle by discarding an impressive pile of junk: boots, a camera, canisters, scoops, a shovel, space suit parts, and an empty storage container. They left a bag of barf, too, so watch your step if you're ever on the Sea of Tranquility.
Line drawings, and link wash are clean and straightforward,  moving the narrative along. The full-page panel of the moon's surface appropriately gives readers pause. Pacing shows the module’s slow descent to the Sea of Tranquility with a series of jagged-edge panels. Horizontal panels zoom in on one footstep as it descends down the ladder to the moon's surface.
Solid back matter adds significant value to this work and includes an extensive spaceflight timeline that begins with Jules Verne's 186 novel From the Earth to the Moon, continues with Robert Goddard's 1914 U.S. patents on multistage and liquid-fueled rockets, and concludes with SpaceX launch of the world's heaviest rocket in 2018. Brown directs readers to the NASA timeline for additional information. A brief biography of Rodman Law, endnotes citing sources for all individual quotes, a bibliography of books, articles, television programs, movies, and websites as well as an Author's Note round out the ten pages of back matter.
Informative. Fascinating. Engaging, Entertaining. An important addition to collections everywhere.

Don Brown Comics

Brown's historical comics have received numerous awards including Sibert honor awards and the YALSA Nonfiction award. Try these  excellent, well-researched graphic novels.
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Rocket History 

Explore the history of space travel with these graphic novels.
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Electronic copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: March 5, 2019 Publisher: Amulet Books ISBN: 978-1419734045
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Finding Your Voice

1/18/2019

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"the story of a girl who lost her voice and wrote herself a new one"
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For two decades Laurie Halse Anderson has been speaking out, giving voice to teens who have experienced horrific trauma. Speak has brought the shame and humiliation experienced by rape victims out of the dark recesses of suppressed memory. Acknowledging the suffering, the rage. Initiating the first steps to healing.
In my early years as a youth librarian, Speak was constantly requested, always checked out. The story is as relevant to a fourteen-year-year-old girl from a small Texas town in 2000 as it is to a teen living in urban New York in 2019.
Now Anderson has added two companion books to her YA classic: a graphic novel and a personal memoir. Together these three make a significant contribution to the canon of important literature for young adults.
Here’s the beauty of these books: you can read them in any order. Maybe you discovered Speak long ago and recently learned that there was a graphic novel version of the story that spoke so poignantly to teens. Maybe you see a shiny new book titled Shout with an intriguing cover and now seek for other books by the author. Doesn't matter which book you read first, the order will be just right for you. No matter who you are or where you come from, the journey through pain and anger to triumph over tragedy can be found within these pages,
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Speak
by Laurie Halse Anderson

It all started in 1999. Laurie Halse Anderson published her first book: a ground-breaking young adult novel chronicling the story of fifteen-year-old Melinda Sordino. Beginning her freshman year, this young student is ostracized by her former friends and classmates. She is singled out at a school pep rally for calling the police at a summer party.
What Melinda cannot say is that she was raped at that party. School becomes unbearable. She is constantly confronted with the shame and agony of that night, as the boy who raped her is a student at her school. Shunned by her friends, 
Melinda's life has deteriorated to the point where she seldom speaks. Art class is her refuge. Creating becomes a means of safely expressing herself. With the encouragement of Mr. Freeman, her art teacher, she is able to face the reality of her sexual assault. She begins to acknowledge her hurt, finally confronts her attacker, and eventually finds the courage to speak up and speak out.
Speak earned the distinguished honor of being named a finalist for the 1999 National Book Award for Young People's Literature.
​Copy accessed from public library
Pub date: October 22, 1999   Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux  ISBN:  978-0374371524
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Speak: The Graphic Novel
​by Laurie Halse Anderson ill by Emily Carroll
Publishing a graphic novel version of Speak is both an obvious choice and a brilliant decision. This visceral narrative translates to striking visual imagery.
Anderson chooses to update the original story, including references to cell phones and Instagram. This gives the narrative a fresh, contemporary vibe. Her Author's Note serves as an introduction. A helpful list of organizations which support victims of sexual assault contains descriptions and contact information can be found in the back matter.
​Emily Carroll eschews the traditional panel strip format, opting for a mix of full page images, spaces defined by diagonal lines, and boxes outlined in bold black. She uses Mel's facial expressions and body language to tell the story. Close-ups of a hand or part of a face provide sharp focal points. ​The excruciatingly raw self-portraits are painful to view. At times her face is mutilated, often distorted, even erased as Mel reveals her self-loathing. Most illustrations are rendered in multiple shades of gray. Intense scenes are a violent study in black, the anger exploding on a page that a rigid panel box cannot contain.
​Copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: February 6, 2018   Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)  ISBN:  978-0374300289
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Shout
by Laurie Halse Anderson

Told primarily in verse, this memoir covers a wide range of events and emotions. Part One shares moments from Laurie’s difficult and conflicted childhood, her rape at age thirteen and subsequent reliance on drugs to mask the anguish, the slow ascent from depression during tenth grade, her year as a foreign exchange student in Denmark, and her foray into writing for teens. Part Two explores the publication of Speak and the impact it has had on her and a world-wide audience. Part Three returns to recurring symbols and themes: trees, blood, family, and stories. She acknowledges her parents’ personal troubles, but is willing to maintain a relationship with each. What a generous heart!
I loved the little glimpses into her extraordinary life. Some of my favorite poetic snapshots include her year in Denmark, her dream or more aptly described as her nightmare that was the genesis for Speak, and Laurie's heartwarming meeting with Walter Dean Myers.
While Shout is an apt name, some poems feel like they should be read sotto voce. These verses are the inner longings of the wounded yet resilient spirit that resides in many, far too many of us.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: March 12, 2019  Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers  ISBN:  978-0670012107

Bonus: Additional Resources

Since my early draft of this post, a twentieth anniversary edition of Speak​ has been released. It includes a new introduction by Ashley C. Ford as well as an afterword by Jason Reynolds. This edition also features an updated Q&A, resource list, an essay, and poem by Anderson. I look forward to reading this updated edition.
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I’ve Talked With Teenage Boys About Sexual Assault for 20 Years.
​This Is What They Still Don’t Know
 Laurie Halse Anderson Time January 15, 2019
Laurie reads "Me,Too" from Shout.
Laurie reads "Listen" from the 20th edition of Speak.
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    I like talking about books and  interesting ideas. I like thinking about how books affect my life. Not particularly interested in giving out stars or in rating books. 

    Audio Publishers Association
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