Gamers and puzzlers will lose themselves for hours flipping back and forth through this book’s crafty charms.
A clever story requiring investigation, diligence, and the ability to think outside the box.
This “choose your own adventure”–style graphic novel uses a unique navigation system that invites readers to decide between panels as well as pages to find clues to several endings. An introductory page explains how to navigate, and the opening scene’s basic decision tree acts as a tutorial before the real exploration begins. Cartoon illustrations in a gray and blue palette are spare yet highlight crucial details such as the difference between day and night (players can navigate in daytime and nighttime modes, resulting in different interactions in the same places). The story, involving a legendary sea creature that enforces morality among a medieval island community, is the catalyst for meeting the island’s residents and learning their history. Plot progression will depend on the reader, including their scruples toward reading multiple paths at once, though the reveals and lore in this analog video game of a book are most rewarding when explored one panel at a time. The puzzles are designed to challenge and delight; let them. The protagonist—and reader stand-in—has skin the white of the page and is female; other characters have skin that is either white or gray.
Gamers and puzzlers will lose themselves for hours flipping back and forth through this book’s crafty charms. (Graphic fiction. 10-16)Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-4197-5779-2
Page Count: 144
Publisher: Amulet/Abrams
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022
Brava!
From award winner Telgemeier (Smile, 2010), a pitch-perfect graphic novel portrayal of a middle school musical, adroitly capturing the drama both on and offstage.
Seventh-grader Callie Marin is over-the-moon to be on stage crew again this year for Eucalyptus Middle School’s production of Moon over Mississippi. Callie's just getting over popular baseball jock and eighth-grader Greg, who crushed her when he left Callie to return to his girlfriend, Bonnie, the stuck-up star of the play. Callie's healing heart is quickly captured by Justin and Jesse Mendocino, the two very cute twins who are working on the play with her. Equally determined to make the best sets possible with a shoestring budget and to get one of the Mendocino boys to notice her, the immensely likable Callie will find this to be an extremely drama-filled experience indeed. The palpably engaging and whip-smart characterization ensures that the charisma and camaraderie run high among those working on the production. When Greg snubs Callie in the halls and misses her reference to Guys and Dolls, one of her friends assuredly tells her, "Don't worry, Cal. We’re the cool kids….He's the dork." With the clear, stylish art, the strongly appealing characters and just the right pinch of drama, this book will undoubtedly make readers stand up and cheer.
Brava! (Graphic fiction. 10-14)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-545-32698-8
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Graphix/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: July 21, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2012
SEEN & HEARD
A rather unsatisfying graphic novel, sure to disappoint fans of Ellis’ book.
A graphic-novel adaptation of Ellis’ heartwarming story of Parvana, a young girl in Afghanistan who cuts her hair and dresses as a boy to earn money for her family when her father is imprisoned by the Taliban.
Adding a layer of remove from the original, this graphic novel is an adaptation of the upcoming film version, and it varies significantly from the original book. Notable deviations include the absence of helpful Mrs. Weera, who provides so much support to Parvana and her family in the original book, and two new details: a grudging former student who tattles on Parvana’s father and Parvana’s solo visit to rescue her imprisoned father. Much story is lost as a result of the numerous deviations, which also sadly promote Western views of Afghanistan, such as rampant corruption and violent men. Even as a stand-alone title for readers not familiar with the book, the storyline is bumpy, moving in fits and starts. At one point, Parvana’s mother decides to abandon Parvana and leave for the neighboring village but then changes her mind midway. Another disappointment is the book cover, which shows Parvana selling chai, something she does not do in either story (although her friend does). The only redeeming factor is the beautiful artwork, stills from the film, with its vivid use of colors to display context, such as use of red for war and black for the Taliban rule.
A rather unsatisfying graphic novel, sure to disappoint fans of Ellis’ book. (Graphic historical fiction. 10-14)Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-77306-118-4
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Groundwood
Review Posted Online: Dec. 2, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2018
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