Graphic Novels
RSS
BATTLE, Craig & Ramón Pérez. Max Finder Mystery Collected Casebook. vol. 4. unpaged. Owl Kids. 2010. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-897349-80-9. LC 2009935531. COOPER, James Fenimore. The Last of the Mohicans. retold by Tom Ratliff. illus. by Li Sidong. maps. Web sites. ISBN 978-0-7641-6299-2; ISBN 978-0-7641-4447-9. LC 2009930808. DESBORDES, Astrid. Daydreams of a Solitary Hamster. tr. from French by Claudia Bedrick. illus. by Pauline Martin. 55p. Enchanted Lion. 2010. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-59270-093-6. LC number unavailable. FONTES, Justine & Ron Fontes. Casebook: Atlantis. ISBN 978-1-60754-588-0. IWAOKA, Hisae. Saturn Apartments. vol. 1. illus. by author. 189p. Viz Media. 2010. pap. $12.99. ISBN 978-1-4215-3364-3. LC number unavailable. JONES, Gerard. Networked: Carabella on the Run. illus. by Mark Badger. 134p. NBM. Sept. 2010. pap. $12.99. ISBN 978-1-56163-586-3. LC 2010929157. LEMKE, Donnie. Wheelies of Justice. illus. by Douglas Holgate. 32p. (Graphic Sparks: Bike Rider). Stone Arch. 2010. PLB $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4342-1892-6. LC 2009029069. MARR, Melissa. Challenge. vol. 2. illus. by Xian Nu Studio. unpaged. (Wicked Lovely: Desert Tales Series). Tokyopop. 2010. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-149349-2. LC 2010920502. NYKKO. The Calling. Bk. 4. illus. by Bannister. 48p. (The ElseWhere Chronicles). CIP. Lerner/Graphic Universe. 2010. PLB $27.93. ISBN 978-0-7613-6068-1; pap. $6.95. ISBN 978-0-7613-6069-8. LC 2009037643. POWELL, Martin, retel. Alice in Wonderland. illus. by Daniel Perez. 72p. (Graphic Revolve Series). glossary. CIP. Stone Arch. 2009. PLB $25.32. ISBN 978-1-4342-1585-7; pap. $6.95. ISBN 978-1-4342-1740-0. LC 2009013681. TORRES, J. Alison Dare: Little Miss Adventures. ISBN 978-0-88776-934-4. High School ALLEN, Brooke A. A Home for Mr. Easter. illus. by author. 197p. NBM. 2010. pap. $13.99. ISBN 978-1-56163-580-1. LC 2010922846. AONO, Shunju. I'll Give It My All... Tomorrow. vol. 1. illus. by author. 200p. Viz Media. 2010. pap. $12.99. ISBN 978-1-4215-3365-0. LC number unavailable. ELLIS, Warren. Planetary: Spacetime Archaeology. vol. 4. illus. by John Cassaday & Laura Martin. unpaged. WildStorm. 2010. Tr $24.99. ISBN 978-1-4012-0996-4. LC number unavailable. KINDT, Matt. Revolver. illus. by author. 192p. Vertigo. 2010. Tr $24.99. ISBN 978-1-4012-2241-3. LC number unavailable. LEMIRE, Jeff. Sweet Tooth: Out of the Deep Woods. vol. 1. illus. by author. 126p. Vertigo. 2010. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4012-2696-1. LC number unavailable. LOCKPEZ, Inverna. Cuba: My Revolution. illus. by Dean Haspiel. 144p. Vertigo. Sept. 2010. Tr $24.99. ISBN 978-1-4012-2217-8. LC number unavailable. TATSUMI, Yoshihiro. Black Blizzard. illus. by author. 128p. CIP. Drawn & Quarterly. 2010. pap. $19.95. ISBN 978-1-77046-012-6. LC C2009-906805-2. UEDA, Rinko. Stepping on Roses. vol. 1. illus. by author. 192p. glossary. Viz Media. 2010. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4215-3182-3. LC number unavailable. VAUGHAN, Brian K. The Last Man: The Deluxe Edition: Book Three. illus. by Pia Guerra, Goran Sudzuka, & José Marzán, Jr. 304p. Vertigo. 2010. Tr $29.99. ISBN 978-1-4012-2578-0. LC number unavailable. WOOD, Brian. DMZ: Hearts and Minds. vol. 8. illus. by Ryan Kelly & Riccardo Burchielli. 190p. Vertigo. 2010. pap. $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4012-2726-5. LC number unavailable. YUMI, Kiiro. Library Wars: Love & War. vol. 1. tr. from Japanese by Kinami Watabe. illus. by author. unpaged. Viz Media. 2010. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4215-3488-6. LC number unavailable.
Elementary and
Middle School
ALLEY, Zoë B., retel. There's a Princess in the Palace. illus. by R. W. Alley. 34p. CIP. Roaring Brook/A Neal Porter Bk. Sept. 2010. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-471-4. LC 2009042483.
Gr 2 Up-The team who dreamed up the hilarious There's a Wolf at the Door (Roaring Brook, 2008) is back with princess fairy tales that are as fluid as they are fractured. This colorful, oversize graphic novel is packed with puns, witticisms, and sarcastic asides. It opens as Cinderella-whose real name turns out to be Ashley-tries on the glass slipper and it fits. "My princess! Marry me!" says handsome Prince Dennis. "My prince! Okay!" says Cinderella. Before you know it, they have a daughter. A certain witch who is not invited to the christening casts a spell and-voila!-Princess Dawn becomes Sleeping Beauty. She is something of a spoiled brat and wakes to the kiss of another handsome prince-one who takes himself far too seriously. But she's not ready to make a commitment, so off she goes into the woods, where she invades the house of seven dwarfs and turns into Snow White. Wouldn't you know it, the same witch who put her whole household to sleep now offers her a poisoned apple. The serious prince once again engages in mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and this time S.B./S.W.'s ready for marriage. Her daughter falls in love with a frog, and her granddaughter is forced to sleep on a mountain of mattresses concealing a terribly uncomfortable pea. Two mice provide a clever running commentary in all five tales, and the witch who appears throughout gradually undergoes a dramatic change of lifestyle. Marvelous for anyone with a wry sense of humor, There's a Princess in the Palace deserves a place in every library.-Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY
Gr 4-8-Max Finder and his friend Alison often work together to solve mysteries that happen in and around their Canadian hometown of Whispering Meadows. Ten of the stories are in comic form, and three are straight narratives, but they all have the same basic structure: a crime is committed, the kids collect clues and interview suspects, and Max or Alison announces that he or she knows who the culprit is. Readers then turn the page to see whodunit and why. Because the short stories originally appeared serialized in Owl magazine, the episodes can be somewhat repetitive, an issue that may be solved simply by not reading the book cover to cover. The mysteries also seem a bit too easy to solve-sometimes readers can successfully intuit the guilty party without the benefit of any of the clues at all. Still, they're a lot of fun, and the addition of visual clues to the familiar minute-mystery format enhances the enjoyment. The good news is that for fans of Max Finder, there are three previous volumes to devour.-Jason M. Poole, Webster Public Library, NY
SHAKESPEARE, William. The Merchant of Venice. retold by Fiona Macdonald. illus. by Penko Gelev. photos. chron. Sept. ISBN 978-0-7641-6298-5; ISBN 978-0-7641-4446-2. LC 2009934381.
ea vol: 48p. (Graphic Classics Series). reprods. index. Barron's. 2010. Tr $15.99; pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-0-7641-4446-2.
Gr 4-6-Two more entries in Barron's series, not to be confused with Eureka's series of the same name. The stories are encapsulated in two-page units of plot and circumstance for easy consumption. Captions explain the events, pictures help to differentiate among the characters, and the volumes are rife with footnotes and explication at the bottom of every page. Breaking the story down into bite-size chunks helps with vocabulary and comprehension, but can wreak havoc with the pacing. Readers are apt to find Merchant overlong, with the narrowly focused chapters giving some of Shakespeare's short, establishing scenes an accidental or unfortunate weight. However, Macdonald strives to maintain as much of the Bard's original language as possible. This effort to represent the original material may be hard going for readers, but it provides an authentic experience that the much looser adaptation of Mohicans can't match. Merchant's artwork focuses on heads and faces, giving each character an opportunity to act out the dialogue, and works quite well, both narratively and educationally.-Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, NH
Gr 4 Up-This disjointed tale about a self-centered hamster falls flat in translation. A series of short vignettes features the musings of Hamster, Rabbit, Mole, Snail, and Hedgehog. At the book's start, Hamster announces his forthcoming birthday celebration to Mole and Hedgehog, adding, "All of you, my dear friends, will have the honor of attending." After page upon page of various animals' wearisome ramblings and philosophizing, the book finally, thankfully, grinds to a halt at the conclusion of the party. Most pages have a title and a short comic-strip layout that are loosely connected in the semblance of a story. Each page is filled with one, two, or more framed illustrations, with text presented as the animals' speech or thought bubbles. This baffling book lacks cohesion, and the tedious and confusing soliloquies/dialogues lack child appeal.-Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI
----. Casebook: The Bermuda Triangle. ISBN 978-1-60754-591-0.
ea vol: 48p. (Top Secret Graphica Mysteries Series). CIP. Windmill. 2010. PLB $29.95. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-6-Confusing layouts, lackluster artwork, and haphazard plots may make finishing these books difficult for many readers. Young Edward Icarus Stein (aka Einstein) has a passion for science. He puts his considerable intellect to use figuring out the unexplained. From his parents' bakery, Einstein and his friends use high-tech "virtual visors" to travel to the scene of famous phenomena. In Atlantis, the crew delves into the history, myth, and theories surrounding this oft-debated lost city. In Bermuda Triangle, they sort the facts from fiction surrounding this mysterious area of the Atlantic Ocean. Events are strung together without a clear focus. Poorly placed word bubbles occasionally interrupt the flow of the text, forcing readers to stop and figure out the correct sequence. The bright, comics-inspired illustrations appear stiff, with characters often awkwardly posed and lacking emotion. Action sequences feel forced; when characters are in danger in the virtual world, they easily escape by "ending the program" or remembering that what they're seeing isn't real. Some readers may feel cheated by this false tension. A web address claiming to direct readers to related Internet sites leads instead to the publisher's home page. Children will be better served reading about these unexplained phenomena in the "Can Science Solve?" series (Heinemann Library).-Travis Jonker, Dorr Elementary School, MI
Gr 7 Up-Some time in the future, all of the humans are evacuated from Earth and moved to a man-made ring that now circles the planet. The luckiest people are the richest ones, because they can afford to have their windows cleaned so that they can see the planet far below them. Mitsu's father was a window cleaner, until the day five years ago that his rope broke (or was cut) and he fell down to the planet below. Now that Mitsu has graduated from junior high, he is about to become a window washer, too. It's a difficult and dangerous job because of the wind, meteorites, and radiation, but it's what he was born to do. This book introduces readers to a world that is both beautiful and tragic-people long to set foot on the planet Earth, but most of them can't even afford to see it. Iwaoka's drawings are for the most part cartoonlike and sweet, especially the people. But when the camera pulls back and readers see things on a grander scale-like Earth as seen through the eyes of a boy hanging tenuously by a rope while floating in space-Iwaoka's detail is suddenly breathtaking. Readers will look forward to the next volume because they'll be rooting for Mitsu to succeed in his career, to make new friends, to figure out what happened to his father, and to visit the surface of Earth.-Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library
Gr 7 Up-Carabella is blue. Literally. Her skin is the color blue. While she does her best to blend into college life and stay under the radar, her new friends Danielle and Alex notice that she has a real aversion to social networking websites. She also does not like sharing information about herself online in general. It turns out that Carabella is from another dimension, a place where individuals are branded with a color after their personalities are determined by similar technology. She meets Nick, who is developing a new kind of "soulshoe." This invention will monitor everything about a person and make it available online. While Cara rushes to stop this from happening, she must also contend with the Red Police, aggressive soldiers from her home who have come to reclaim her. The idea of this graphic novel-to educate readers about the dangers of giving up privacy online-is a noble one in theory, but it does little to make this tale contemporary and fun. Badger's art is extremely messy and incomplete, and lacks a real portrayal of the world Carabella is trying to save. While several science-fiction pop-culture references creep in, readers will realize that this story is more of an imitation of those tales than something original.-Ryan Donovan, New York Public Library
Gr 4-6-Michael Cycle is the goofy star of Bike Rider (a play on the popular '80s television show Knight Rider). He resembles Michael Knight with his big hair and silly quips, and he solves mysteries with the aid of his talking BMX bike, C.A.T.T. and his friends. In this episode, he tries to find a missing reporter. The story is supplemented with character descriptions and a glossary. The premise depends largely on kids knowing what Knight Rider is and getting the joke. For those who don't understand, it reaches for wacky and falls short. The artwork is appropriately cartoonish with lots of colorful explosions but it can't overcome the shaky story. Fans of Knight Rider might pick up the book, but it's mostly forgettable.-Sadie Mattox, DeKalb County Public Library, Decatur, GA
Gr 7 Up-This book, set in the world of Marr's "Wicked Lovely" novels (HarperTeen), tells the story of Rika and her power struggle with the other faeries in the desert. The story opens with a fight scene that ends with a fox faery named Shy being wounded by a rusty iron weapon. It turns out that the faeries are fighting because many of them are angry with Rika for becoming involved with a human boyfriend and for trying to stay out of faerie politics. There are several creative and visual elements in this book, but readers not familiar with either of the original novels or the first volume in this manga series might be confused as the power struggle between the faeries will not make a lot of sense. There are also several attractive characters whose genders are unclear, both to readers as well as to the other characters. This causes additional confusion because we (and they) don't know who should be jealous of whom. The black-and-white artwork complements the action in a manga style, featuring lots of shimmering eyes, pointy teeth, and very pretty boys.-Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library
NERI, G. Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty. illus. by Randy DuBurke. 96p. Lee & Low. 2010. pap. $16.95. ISBN 978-1-58430-267-4. LC 2006017771.
Gr 7 Up-In 1994, an incident of Southside Chicago gang-related violence captured national headlines. Eleven-year-old Robert "Yummy" Sandifer shot and killed his 14-year-old neighbor Shavon Dean. Neri's retelling is based on public records as well as personal and media accounts from the period. Framing the story through the eyes and voice of a fictional character, 11-year-old Roger, offers a bittersweet sense of authenticity while upholding an objective point of view. Yummy, so named because of his love of sweets, was the child of parents who were continually in prison. While living legally under the care of a grandmother who was overburdened with the custody of numerous grandchildren, Yummy sought out the closest thing he could find to a family: BDN or Black Disciples Nation. In the aftermath and turmoil of Shavon's tragic death, he went into hiding with assistance from the BDN. Eventually the gang turned on him and arranged for his execution. The author frames the story with this central question: Was Yummy a cold-blooded killer or a victim of his environment? While parts of the message focusing on the consequences of choice become a little heavy-handed, the exploration of "both sides of the story" is unflinchingly offered. In one of the final panels, narrator Roger states, "I don't know which was worse, the way Yummy lived or the way he died." Realistic black-and-white art further intensifies the story's emotion. A significant portion of the panels feature close-up faces. This perspective offers readers an immediacy as well as emotional connection to this tragic story.-Barbara M. Moon, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY
Gr 4-7-Rebecca, Max, Theo, and Noah may be back home, but life hasn't been easy for them. The book opens with Rebecca in intensive care, suffering from an ailment contracted while in ElseWhere. Max has joined a bike gang, and Noah and Theo have spent the last nine months building a new hideout. This volume has less action than its predecessors and uses mystery and suspense to set up a new adventure. A silent hooded figure approaches Rebecca in the hospital and beckons her to follow, ultimately reuniting her with Noah and Theo. She convinces them to return to ElseWhere to find her a cure. There the friends are once again trapped when their portal unexpectedly closes. Meanwhile, Max is fast on their heels in his attempt to rejoin them. The story ends just as the action begins. There is no narration, and while the dialogue is sufficient, the beautifully drawn images, which vary greatly in perspective, are what move this story. When Rebecca hides on a train, readers view the scene from above and over the shoulder of the conductor as well as from the ground looking up at him as Rebecca does from her hiding spot. The cinematic storytelling, glossy pages, and vivid colors lend the mood of an epic adventure and provide an interesting contrast to the cartoon-style characters. Readers will delight in exploring the beautiful landscapes again and again, and the cliff-hanger ending will leave them wanting more.-Kim T. Ha, Elkridge Branch Library, MD
Gr 3-5-Alice in Wonderland is a convoluted story and it is difficult to condense into a short graphic novel. The story frequently skips ahead with such lead-ins as "then…" or "a few seconds later…." Alice is lacking in detail in certain places but the Queen of Hearts and the Mad Hatter are cleverly illustrated. An additional purchase.-Carrie Rogers-Whitehead, Kearns Library, UTRENIER, Aaron. The Unsinkable Walker Bean. illus. by author. 192p. Roaring Brook/First Second. Sept. 2010. pap. $13.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-453-0. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-7-Throughout his childhood, pudgy, bespectacled Walker Bean has listened to his grandfather's tales of adventure on the open seas. Now Walker finds himself smack-dab in the middle of his own thrilling escapade when his ailing grandfather asks him to return a human skull to a trench deep in the ocean floor. Once part of a skeleton of a witch's enemy, this skull has now been transformed into pearl. Armed with his grandfather's journal, an amazing message bottle, assistance from a few trusted friends, and his own clever and inventive mind, Walker braves pirates, evil witches, and his own fears in this tale of derring-do and skullduggery. Renier's tale is a youngster's dream: adventure with a capital A. The graphic art moves the story along with excellent page layout and a brilliant color palette that serve as fireworks, lighting up the pages with cannon muzzle blasts and ships ablaze. Clever writing, though sometimes a little convoluted for young readers, is filled with humor and puns. Readers should be prepared to suspend all logic and ties to reality. They will find a ship with a garden complete with large fruit trees and a gardener who practices composting onboard. The crew uses matches and employs phrases such as "Holy Guacamole." But for those who are ready to lay aside these concerns for a while and take off with Walker in an adventure of a lifetime, this is an exciting choice.-Barbara M. Moon, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY
----. Alison Dare: The Heart of the Maiden. ISBN 978-0-88776-935-1.
ea vol: illus. by J. Bone. 96p. CIP. Tundra. 2010. pap. $10.95. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-6-Alison Dare, 12, is impetuous and bossy, and her sidekicks follow the old-fashioned Nancy Drew archetypes of "ditzy and timid but good-hearted" and "tomboyish and frumpy but brave." The initial cast of characters outside of the three girls has little introduction, and struggling readers may have a difficult time following the story lines. In Little Miss Adventures, readers eventually meet Alison and learn her story. The action is more about her archaeologist mom and superhero dad, and because she is introduced late in the text, it's a long wait to find out where she fits in to their exciting world. Kids are likely to be bored or frustrated by that wait. Despite the shaky start, Heart of the Maiden has many entertaining moments (including a run-in with an Evil Elvis as "King Memphis" and a completely believable "he said/she said" account of a mummy's curse). Unfortunately, the black-and-white pen-and-ink cells are cramped and styled for teens rather than the elementary audience these books seem to be trying to engage. For uninitiated graphic-novel readers, they have too much text, which takes the place of action, and the action itself is difficult to follow. Traditional novel fans will find plots filled with holes and main characters who are not particularly likable or easy to relate to. These books would serve best in a collection in which readers are primed for more difficult graphic-novel styles.-Sarah Provence, Churchill Road Elementary School, McLean, VA
Gr 9 Up-Tesana, an obese, emotionally immature teenager, steals a rabbit from a high school fundraiser because she believes it's the Easter Bunny. In attempting to return it to its home, she ends up being chased by a stage magician, a greedy pet-shop owner, a farmer, cosmetic scientists, and a horde of animal-rights activists. The book is low on message, but filled with emotion, as its unstable protagonist causes trouble to cascade around her and inspires rage, greed, regret, and defiance in those she encounters. That said, while the book builds to a sweet ending and a degree of hope is, at long last, established, the primary activity is establishing and intensifying an extended chase scene, with more and more people joining in to prevent her from reaching her destination or to acquire her precious cargo. The tone is both comic and raw, with the fantastic elements providing some much-needed escapism from Tesana's miserable existence. This is reinforced by the artwork, which is scratchy and scribbly, but energetic, with a rock-solid understanding of cartooning and kineticism. Thoroughly enjoyable entertainment, with an unusual protagonist and showcasing a quirky new voice in comics.-Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, NH
Gr 10 Up-It's hard to feel sympathy for someone like Shizuo Oguro. Instead of supporting himself and his daughter, he quits his corporate job of 15 years and decides to hang around the house playing video games and trying to become a manga artist. There is one major obstacle: he isn't very talented. He is frequently belittled by his father and by his coworkers, and he has to borrow spending money from his own daughter. His relationship with her is strained for another reason, as well: he discovers that she is working in the sex industry when he runs into her after his visit to a local "fashion health" (full-service) massage parlor. If there is something positive to be said for Oguro, it's that he is not judgmental of other people. Like Don Quixote, his outlook is often strangely positive even in the face of bad news. The story is sometimes funny, but in a poignant way rather than in a laugh-out-loud way. Aono's simple line drawings are less polished than the artwork usually found in manga, but they fit the story of this struggling artist. At the end of this volume, it appears that Oguro's daughter is willing to believe in his dream, and that this will motivate the man to one day become a published author. The next volume in the series will presumably demonstrate just how much of Oguro's dream will be realized.-Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library
Gr 10 Up-After six years, the final volume of this critically acclaimed homage to pulp heroes and superhero comics is finally available. Ellis does not disappoint, wrapping up the epic series as dramatically as one would expect. Planetary is an archaeological organization dedicated to uncovering the hidden history of the 20th century-a history of heroes, monsters, and magic largely unknown to the general public-in order to benefit humanity. A group of superpowered scientists, known as "the four," are also in the process of gathering similar information, but for less-noble purposes. Elijah Snow, Jakita Wagner, and The Drummer-representing Planetary as field operatives-need to find the four and stop them before they become too powerful. The plot concludes with a face-off between Snow and Randall Dowling, the four's mastermind. Engaging as the story itself may be, Planetary's brilliance lies more in the rich history of comics and comic lore that Ellis draws from and cleverly weaves into the narrative from beginning to end. This book stands shoulder to shoulder with such great works as Neil Gaiman's "Sandman" and Alan Moore's "Swamp Thing" (Vertigo).-Jason M. Poole, Webster Public Library, NY
Gr 10 Up-Sam goes to bed after another boring and predictable day, only to discover when he wakes up that the world has changed. It is suddenly beset by disasters including an outbreak of avian flu and a rapidly escalating war. These events begin to change the characters in a "desperate times call for desperate measures" kind of way, and Sam finds himself doing things he would never have guessed. If this plot device had been the main core of this book, it would have been a good read. But what turns it into an astounding read is that when Sam wakes up the next day he finds himself back in his ordinary world where he leads a humdrum existence and his girlfriend doesn't understand him. Then the next day he's back in the postapocalyptic world where Seattle has been destroyed and Sam's sexual tension with his boss is escalating. Each day he alternates between these two worlds, where some things are completely different and others are the same. Sam soon realizes that he is one of several constants between the two worlds, and he embarks on a dangerous journey to try to save humanity and change both worlds for the better. Kindt's artwork is dark and gritty, simplistic at times but able to convey a range of emotions. The cover image is especially effective at grabbing prospective readers' attention. Teens who give this book a try will be richly rewarded with a very unusual story.-Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library
Gr 10 Up-Years ago during the Affliction, billions of people died and children were born as human/animal hybrids. Gus, a human/deer hybrid, was raised in isolation for years, but after his father dies hunters come to capture him. He is rescued by a mysterious man who tells him that he will take him to a preserve for hybrid children. While Gus is never sure if he should trust Jepperd, he goes with him because he is lonely. What follows is a voyage through what is left of the country, during which Jepperd gives Gus candy (and the nickname "Sweet Tooth") and fights through all of the obstacles that are in their way, usually with violent methods. While Gus is the protagonist, Jepperd continues to steal the spotlight. Readers know that he has sympathy for Gus and for other characters they meet along the way, and they know that he saves Gus's life multiple times. But they also know that he frequently lies. What isn't clear until the end of the book is just how much he has been lying. Sweet Tooth is often visually stunning and even cinematic. It primarily uses a muted palette that reflects the darkness of this postapocalyptic world, but bright colors burst from the page during moments of violence, and there are quite a few of those in this book. An outstanding choice for most collections.-Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library
Gr 10 Up-This memoir is an excellent example of the graphic novel's ability to make pain visible. Opening panels dated December 31, 1958, introduce Sonya, fashionably dressed in vibrant red, looking forward to a new year with Fidel Castro's overthrow of the Batista regime and a new hope for Cuba. "I feel a new beginning has come for my country. Finally the justice and equality we have yearned for is about to happen." Sonya gets caught up with the fervor of this movement and renounces her plans to study art. Instead she joins the military and commences medical studies in her zeal to bring positive change to her beloved country. However, life in Cuba becomes progressively worse. This is signaled visually by the change to a black-and-white palette. She is imprisoned and tortured by her own country. Her mother, stepfather, and infant sister are finally able to leave, but Sonya stubbornly refuses to go, clinging to her dreams and ideals. The final panel reveals her tear-stained face, etched with the years of pain and horror as she finally leaves Cuba. "I don't know right from wrong anymore. What happened to the principles we believed in five years ago? I'm always afraid, all the time. All the time." The pain is both visually and verbally palpable. Due to graphic depictions of violence and nudity this searing account is most appropriate for mature readers.-Barbara M. Moon, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY
Gr 10 Up-Part of a line of classic reprints by a renowned manga creator, this early work evokes the visual and structural conventions of film noir. A depressed pianist, unable to remember if he murdered the father of the woman he loves, escapes from his prison train into a blizzard while chained to a career criminal. There are many strands of suspense: Is the protagonist a murderer? Will they escape the police? Will his companion chop off his hand in order to free them from their chains? It is difficult to accept the tension of each of these circumstances. The constant howling of the winter wind and the bleakness that the characters must navigate suitably instills a sense of hopelessness, and the criminal companion looks constantly ready to commit violence. However, this is also part of the difficulty, as the facial expressions are reduced to minor abstractions. The lack of expressive detail prevents a degree of engagement with the inner drama of the characters and instead reduces them to stock figures. The concluding expository coincidence doesn't help in this regard, and could leave readers feeling slightly cheated. Created in 1956, Black Blizzard is part of the Silver Age of American comics, and while its sense of storytelling and structure seems more cinematic than corresponding U.S. crime comics, the figure work may not be appreciated without historical perspective.-Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, NH
Gr 10 Up-Sumi Kitamura dreams of rice and roses. But then she must wake up to her real life. When her irresponsible brother disappears once again, she must come up with 2000 yen to pay off his debt and feed the orphans whom he keeps bringing home. She is left with no choice but to consider prostitution. Enter Soichiro, a handsome and temperamental man who willingly offers to buy her for the exorbitant amount that she needs. But the money comes at a much higher price than Sumi anticipated. She must marry Soichiro and become a lady of high society in a matter of days. He warns that she must never love him and that he will never love her. But her heart already belongs to someone else. Set in 1892 during the Meiji Era in Japan, this manga is reminiscent of My Fair Lady meets the ever-popular love-triangle story. Sumi is a wonderfully written character-the Eliza Doolittle darling of the manga set. All of the characters are delightfully expressive, and Ueda cleverly uses action words to convey sound effects. A helpful glossary puts some of the terms mentioned in the story into context. A wonderfully enthralling love story.-Kimberly Castle, Medina County District Library, OH
Gr 10 Up-This work reprints volumes 24-36 of the original comic series in a gorgeous hardcover edition. Yorick Brown and his capuchin monkey, Ampersand, are the lone male survivors of a planet-wide "gendercide." The loss of 48 percent of the population has thrown much of the planet into chaos, creating dangerous conditions for everyone-especially the only man alive. Yorick makes his way to San Francisco, to Dr. Mann, who is trying to find the cause and cure for the male plague. Agent 355 shadows him and protects him from a variety of spies, fanatics, criminals, and nuts who would stand in his way. When Ampersand is kidnapped and whisked off to Japan, they must take to the seas to try and find him. The artwork is stunning, featuring the original strips and cover work. Muted tones and changing palettes are expertly used to convey mood and tone. The highly original plot is compelling and fast moving, with plenty of action. The use of flashbacks, hallucinations, and fantasies within the story line may confuse weaker readers. Most teens will want to read the previous volumes first. Harsh language, adult situations, and occasional partial nudity make this one most appropriate for public libraries.-Anthony C. Doyle, Livingston High School, CA
Gr 10 Up-America is at war. Such is the concept behind this series about the resulting chaos from a new American civil war having turned Manhattan into a demilitarized zone. This collection follows two main story lines. The first is about Tony, a street cop who lost his wife and children in the initial evacuation of the city. Recruited into a cultlike terrorist cell, he is forced to relive his loss over and over again in daily group-therapy sessions. When he begins to suspect that he's being manipulated by the man in charge, he receives a promotion and a chance at revenge, but is that enough to convince him to carry out his "final" mission? The second story follows Matty Roth, an ex-journalist who has been pulled into and ultimately changed by the political and warlike environment that Manhattan has become. Tensions mount as recently elected leader Parco Delgado announces to the outside world that he has a nuclear device, escalating the already tumultuous relationship that the city had with the rest of the U.S. Although each story is illustrated by a different artist, both capture the immediacy and danger that the world of DMZ represents. Characters are often cloaked in shadow and placed in corners, obscuring who they really are. The crumbling Manhattan of the near future is often shown in broad daylight, highlighting the decay of hope.-Ryan Donovan, New York Public Library
Gr 11 Up-In the near future, Japan can legally restrict or censor any offensive media. Only libraries can acquire and circulate materials, censored or not. The Library Defense Force (LDF) was formed to protect libraries and their collections. While in high school, Iku Kasahara witnessed an LDF agent stop a government raid on a bookstore. She vowed to join the organization and be like her hero. Fresh out of college, new recruit Iku struggles through LDF training, which is like military boot camp. Based on the light novels by Hiro Arikawa, this adaptation to manga is well crafted. The artwork features natural, realistic character design and movement. Characters' faces are distinctive and expressive. Scenes are nicely detailed; layouts are not overcrowded. The action is fluid and easy to follow. The writing is very good, with engrossing story lines and nuanced characters. However, a problematic area is the treatment of women. Tall and athletic, Iku is the first woman to apply for a combat Defense Force position and not the traditional Librarian post. At one point, her superior slaps her across the face. In other instances, Iku is comforted by encouraging pats on the head from that same officer. Library Wars delivers an appealing, determined female lead in the midst of an intriguing war on censorship being waged in bookstores and libraries. Readers will be curious to see if future story lines focus on Iku's adventures as an LDF agent or on her quest to find her mystery hero.-June Shimonishi, Torrance Public Library, CA
