Gunnerkrigg Court by Thomas Siddell

Volume 1: Orientation
Published in 2009. 296 pages.


This is the first collection of Tom Siddell's popular and award-winning webcomic (www.gunnerkrigg.com). It received a 2009 Cybils Award for Young Adult Graphic Novel.

My 11-year-old son is a big fan of Gunnerkrigg Court - both the graphic novels and on the web. He tells me that he loves the combination of sci-fi and fantasy, and also that he likes the characters and the connections. ("Even if the main characters are girls," he says, "I still like the books.")

An entry on Wikipedia describes the webcomic as follows:

The comic tells the story of Antimony Carver, a young girl who has just started attending a strange and mysterious school called Gunnerkrigg Court, and the events that unfold around her as she becomes embroiled in political intrigues between Gunnerkrigg Court and the inhabitants of the Gillitie Wood, a forest outside the school. The comic's style and themes include elements from science, fantasy creatures, mythology from a variety of traditions, and alchemical symbols and theories; the literary style is heavily influenced by mystery and manga comics.

I've finally read the first volume. The illustrations are beautiful, but I have to admit that I'm not sure I "get it." But now, my son says, I have to read the second one!

2010.74

Resistance, Book 1by Carla Jablonski & Leland Purvis

Published in 2010. 124 pages.


In keeping with my recent (mostly) unintentional focus on World War II, I picked up this young adult graphic novel from the "new releases" shelf at the library - this time getting a view of the war in France. In the wonderful way that graphic novels do, it illustrates the evil of war in a very accessible way.

On the back cover, Jane Yolen (author of The Devil's Arithmetic) is quoted:

A forceful reminder of both the broad horrors and the small braveries of that period of history, things we should never forget.

I understand that this is the first in a trilogy. I eagerly await the next episode.

For an excerpt from the book and a reading group guide, visit the book's page on the Macmillan website.

2010.41

Calamity Jackby Shannon and Dean Hale

Illustrated by Nathan Hale.
Published in 2010. 144 pages.


I didn't like this sequel to Rapunzel's Revenge as much as I liked the original, but it is a fun interpretation of "Jack and the Beanstalk."

By the way, I enjoyed meeting Shannon Hale (for the second time) at the Utah Book Bloggers Winter Social in February.


2010.22

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rulesby Jeff Kinney

Published in 2008. 224 pages.


As I was gathering my pile for Dewey's Read-a-Thon in October, my ten-year-old son insisted that I include Rodrick Rules. I did read it - but I didn't like it as well as either the original or The Last Straw. Up next, at Sugar Bear's urging, is Dog Days.

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Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Strawby Jeff Kinney

Published in 2009. 224 pages.


When I reviewed the first book in this series, I mentioned that I'd read it at the recommendation of my then-nine-year-old son. He loves this series, so when I saw The Last Straw at the PTA book fair, I had to pick it up for him. My son read many parts to me, and then when he left it in my bedroom, I picked it up and started reading. Before I knew it, I'd read the whole thing. I think this one had a few more "life lessons" than the first - and I know that my son thought it was terrific.

2009.14

Good As Lilyby Derek Kirk Kim & Jesse Hamm

Published in 2007.
176 pages (according to amazon.com, as the pages are not numbered).


I picked up this book because I enjoyed Derek Kirk Kim's work in The Eternal Smile. I think it's a bit ambitious thematically for a 176-page graphic novel, but overall I enjoyed it a lot.

From the back cover:

Following a strange mishap on her 18th birthday, Grace Kwon is confronted with herself at three different periods in her life. The timing couldn't be worse as Grace and her friends desperately try to save a crumbling school play. Will her other selves wreak havoc on her present life or illuminate her uncertain future?

2009.43

Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale,Dean Hale, and Nathan Hale

Published in 2008. 144 pages.


This is the first graphic novel by Newbery Honor-winning novelist Shannon Hale, her husband Dean, and an unrelated man also named Hale. A sequel, entitled Calamity Jack, is due to be published next year.

Rapunzel's Revenge won a 2008-2009 Cybil Award in the category of Graphic Novels - Elementary/Middle Grade.

Be sure to check out Shannon Hale's Rapunzel's Revenge webpage.

2009.25

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Published in 2007. 271 pages.


I read this one at the recommendation of my nine-year-old son. A reluctant reader, particularly of fiction, he was so excited about this series - which he heard about from some school friends - that he asked his grandmother for both Diary of a Wimpy Kid and the sequel Rodrick Rules for Christmas. (A third book The Last Straw has just been published.) I got him the Do-It-Yourself Book as a Christmas gift too. He says that this series is "awesome!"

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is "a novel in cartoons" - not really a graphic novel, but designed to look like a journal of lined paper with drawings in it. I enjoyed it, even if I found much of the humor to be more appreciated by a nine-year-old boy than by his mom. I do like the mom in the book; we see her through the eyes of Greg (the "wimpy kid" of the title) but it's evident that she's a feminist and good at imposing consequences for bad behavior. Most of all, I love that my son has a book that he loves!

2009.4

To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novelby Siena Cherson Siegel and Mark Siegel

Published in 2006.
64 pages (according to amazon.com, as the pages aren't numbered).
Robert F. Sibert Honor Book in 2007.


To Dance, a children's graphic novel recommended to me by my goodreads friend george, is a delightful look at the life of an aspiring ballerina.

2008.63

Janes in Loveby Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg

Published in 2008.
176 pages (according to amazon.com, as the pages are not numbered).


From the back cover: The coolest clique of misfits plays cupid and becomes entangled in affairs of the heart. People Loving Art In Neighborhoods (P.L.A.I.N.) goes global once the art gang applies for a grant from the National Foundation for the Arts. And the Janes will discover that in art and in love, general rules don't often apply.

What I thought: I loved The Plain Janes, and I loved this sequel. Maybe it's just my inner teenage-girl - but I truly hope for more episodes in this Minx graphic novel series.

2008.60

The Plain Janesby Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg

Published in 2007.
176 pages (according to amazon.com, as the pages are not numbered).

I first heard about the young adult graphic novel The Plain Janes from Dewey, who reviewed it and then sent a copy to me and my daughters. (Thanks again, Dewey!) Sugar Plum (age 12) read the book the same day it arrived, immediately emailed the author because she liked it so much, and claimed our copy as her own. Last month I happened upon the book in Sugar Plum's bedroom and decided it was time for me to read it. I started it late one Friday before bed and finished it the next morning. Like Sugar Plum, I fell in love with the book!

The Plain Janes is a story about art, fear, belonging, being yourself, and making a difference. I think those are topics to which each of us, regardless of age, can relate. The Plain Janes is Castellucci's first graphic novel, but a sequel Janes in Love is due out soon.

I'm new to the world of graphic novels - but I've so enjoyed the ones I've read so far (two volumes of Fashion Kitty, American Born Chinese, and this one). I'm also going to check out some of Castellucci's novels.

2008.50

Fashion Kitty versus the Fashion Queenby Charise Mericle Harper

Published in 2007. 96 pages.


Back in October, my daughter and I read Fashion Kitty for our mother-daughter book club. It was my first experience with graphic novels, and I found Fashion Kitty to be a delightful character and the novel to contain a number of meaningful messages that I hoped would continue in the sequel.

This second in what I hope will be a long-lived series did not disappoint me. Bullying and consequences. Individuality and family. The color pink and correct spelling. All this and more in the adventures of Fashion Kitty!

2008.15

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

Published in 2006. 233 pages.
2007 Printz Award Winner.


With its themes of race, identity, and self-acceptance, this graphic novel (only the second I've ever read) was a great follow-up read to Nothing but the Truth (and a Few White Lies). Three separate stories that come together in the end, this is a quick read. I started it on Tuesday while sitting in the high school parking lot waiting for my daughter and finished it last night while eating an egg roll and a fortune cookie. The more I think about the book, the more I like it. Author Gene Luen Yang's discussion of the origins of the book (here) brought me nearly to tears. I think this is a book that everyone ought to read!

2008.12

Fashion Kitty by Charise Mericle Harper

Published in 2005. 89 pages.


What in the world? I will admit that this graphic novel for children is not my usual fare! An accident transforms a regular girl kitten into a superhero capable of dealing with fashion emergencies.

Why I read this book: This is the pick for October's meeting of the mother-daughter book club I attend with Sugar Plum.

My thoughts about this book: While fashion is of little importance to me, I do like the color pink. But is that enough to recommend the book? I did find it to be delightful! I like that Fashion Kitty is powerful, helps other people, and pokes a bit of fun at those who are obsessed with fashion, and I like that her parents encourage independent thought. Did I get all that out of 89 pages?! Well, I think it's there. (Maybe I'll check out the second in the series - Fashion Kitty versus the Fashion Queen - to see if those themes continue.)

Something else I learned: Graphic novels are shelved under 741.5 in the Dewey Decimal System. When I noticed the number on the spine of the book, I exclaimed, "This is shelved in the non-fiction section?!" Without missing a beat, Sugar Plum said, "That's because Fashion Kitty is real!"

2007.61