Champion

Gr 7 Up–Can a great, important biography effectively work if woven into the narrative framing of a fictional graphic novel? This is what Abdul-Jabbar’s new biography attempts as he focuses on his life as an activist instead of just a basketball player. Monk is a student who has spent all of his time being a baller, to the point where it is his entire identity. Unfortunately, it means he is not responsible with the rest of his life, which leads to trouble. While his coach saves him from jail, he still assigns Monk a punishment by making him research Abdul-Jabbar’s life, focusing solely on his work as an activist. Unfortunately, the story fails to strike a balance between its fictional narrative and the integration of Abdul-Jabbar’s activism in a way that feels natural or effectively conveys the intended lesson. Instead, there are random splashes of pages about Abdul-Jabbar’s activism that do not weave into Monk’s tale, pulling readers away from the main plot. However, the narrative’s weak points are compensated for by the illustrations, which are done beautifully and filled with action. Laroche demonstrates an understanding of how to break down just enough information into each panel to make sure readers see and feel the momentum.