Kirkus Star
THE KIRKUS STAR
Awarded to Books of Exceptional Merit

BROWSE BOOK REVIEWS




Children's and Teen: High School


Cover art for MANGAMAN
CHILDREN'S
Released: Nov. 14, 2011
by Barry Lyga, illustrated by Colleen Doran

"An inventive offering, sure to please fans of both American and Japanese comics. (Graphic fiction. 13 & up)"
A daring piece of graphic-novel meta-fiction explores the tropes of manga versus Western comics. Read full book review >
Cover art for MY BOYFRIEND BITES
CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 1, 2011
by Dan Jolley, illustrated by Alitha E. Martinez

"Hip, steamy fun. (Graphic paranormal romance. 12-14)"
A small-town teen fond of taking on difficult boyfriends as "projects" acquires a taste for tougher challenges when her newest one turns into a giant bat. Read full book review >
Cover art for SITA'S RAMAYANA
CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 1, 2011
by Samhita Arni, illustrated by Moyna Chitrakar

"A valuable piece of historical literature brought to the forefront for thoughtful new readers. (Graphic novel. 12 & up)"
A vibrantly illustrated graphic-novel retelling of an ancient Indian legend. Read full book review >
Cover art for AMERICUS
CHILDREN'S
Released: Aug. 30, 2011
by M.K. Reed, illustrated by Jonathan Hill

"This will change no minds, but its heart is in the right place. (Graphic fiction. 12 & up) "
A well-intentioned study of book-banning in the heartland. Read full book review >
Cover art for BAKE SALE
CHILDREN'S
Released: Aug. 30, 2011
by Sara Varon, illustrated by Sara Varon

"An offbeat story about the sacrifices made for friends, about the very everydayness of such acts and the pitfalls and pleasures in their wake. (Picture book. 6 & up)"
Varon returns with another strange and charming graphic work that touches on the theme of her terrific Robot Dreams (2007), namely: how fine friendship can be, and how surely it leads you down a twisty road of joys and melancholy. Read full book review >
Cover art for DEFIANCE
CHILDREN'S
Released: July 19, 2011
by Carla Jablonski, illustrated by Leland Purvis

"A crisp, edge-of-your seat historical tale. (Historical graphic fiction. 12 & up)"
A sharp follow-up to Resistance (2010) takes place one year after French teenager Paul Tessier joined the Resistance and helped his Jewish friend Henri escape the Nazis. Read full book review >