Remarkable Reads: 'A Christmas Carol'
RSSBy Dodie Ownes
MULLARKEY, Lisa, adapt. A Christmas Carol (Calico Illustrated Classics). illus. by Howard McWillliam. Magic Wagon. 2010. Tr $19.65. ISBN 978-1602707436. Remarkable Reads is produced by the editors at NoveList, the leader in readers' advisory electronic resources. For more information, visit NoveList. This article originally appeared in the newsletter Extra Helping. Go here to subscribe. This title arrived too late for the column, but I thought I'd add it here - VAMPIRE CHRISTMAS CAROL, EBENEZER SCROOGE, VAMPIRE SLAYER - Kensington, 2011, 978075826683. You never would have guessed that vampires are at the root of Scrooge's unhappiness - and living in his basement. From Sarah Gray, also author of WUTHERING BITES. * = Required information
December 1, 2011
So many media versions of this classic Dickens tale are floating around, it's almost impossible to make a list of them all. The titles below include print options (and the classic version, of course) in several genres. I have to tell you this—in the "what will the teens pick up off the coffee table" challenge, It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Zombies (Harper, 2009) was a hands-down winner. Morbidly funny yet festively appropriate, this could be the hit addition to your holiday reading list.
Gr 3-6—A good choice for reluctant readers as well as those who just want a little more space on the page, Mullarkey's adaptation will serve a wide range of kids. Though there are just a few illustrations, these do well to break up the text and add a bit of Victorian-era atmosphere. The compact size of the book and its modern look will be less threatening to those who tend to avoid the classics.POMPLUN, Tom, ed. Christmas Classics (Graphic Classics). Vol. 19. Eureka Productions. 2010. pap. $17.95. ISBN 978-0-9825630-1-4.
Gr 7-12—Featuring eight Christmas stories by a variety of well-known authors (Mark Twain, Charles Dickens, O. Henry, Willa Cather), this graphic novel collection is sure to please readers and fans of comic book art. Each story is illustrated in a different style, and the range of the artists is amazing. A very complete endnote contains background information on both the writers and the illustrators. Teens won't be able to walk by the spooky cover without picking it up!DICKENS, Charles. A Christmas Carol, The Graphic Novel. Sean Michael Wilson, adapt. illus. by Mike Collins. Classical Comics. 2008. pap. $16.95. ISBN 978-1-906332-51-8.
Gr 6 Up—This graphic novel version of A Christmas Carol brings amazing energy to the story with outstanding illustrations, set against Dickens' full text. Marley's ghost is a translucent blue that seems to vibrate off the page, while the ghost of Christmas past glows like the sun. Readers will feel completely immersed in Scrooge's journey from bitter tightwad to joyful celebrant. Back matter includes a comprehensive overview on Dickens and the Victorian era, as well as an artist's note and teacher resources.LEVITHAN, David. Marly's Ghost: A Remix of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol. illus. by Brian Selznick. Speak. 2007. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-14-240912-1.
Gr 7-10—This twist on the Dickens classic has a brokenhearted teenager in the place of Scrooge, and Valentine's Day as the turning event rather than Christmas. Ben is sure he will never love anyone again after his girlfriend dies. But then three ghosts come visit him—the Ghosts of Love Past, Love Present and Love Future—and like Scrooge, he begins to realize that there is still hope. Selznick's black and white crosshatch illustrations add to the old-timey feel. While the plot may feel a bit gimmicky, it's a fun read that may catch a few readers by surprise.SPRADLIN, Michael. It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Zombies: A Book of Zombies Christmas Carols. illus. by Jeff Weigel. Harper. 2009. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-1-4420-8238-0. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-195643-0.
Gr 7 Up—Spradlin and Weigl give the zombie treatment to thirty favorite Christmas carols with hysterical results. Who could resist a few rounds of "Deck the Halls with Parts of Wally" or "Here Comes Zombie Claus" while enjoying the holiday season with family and friends? The introduction by Christopher Moore is both funny and enlightening ("Spradlin is descended from a long line of the undead"). A great jump-starter for a teen program during the winter break!
Reader Comments (2)
Posted by Dodie Ownes on December 12, 2011 01:02:41PM
