by Joey Weiser ; illustrated by Joey Weiser ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 7, 2019
A light look at “vengeance” and what it really takes to “calm a wounded spirit.” (Graphic fantasy/folklore. 8-12)
A wild pig’s ghost must choose between seeking revenge against the hunter who killed her or freeing her still-living parents, who have been enslaved by a demon.
When Truff, the deceased wild-pig protagonist, scares off two teenage boys out to pick “luminous plums,” her “disembodied squeal” echoes so loudly it catches the attention of Claude and Stanley, two forest spirits interested in “keeping the peace.” Claude and Stanley sense Truff’s “serious negative vibes” and, after investigating, conclude this “haunting” results from a spirit “bound due to strong, unresolved feelings, or unfinished business.” Claude and Stanley convince Truff to search for her parents, but when they reach Truff’s home, they discover her parents have been captured by Mava, a mountain demon. Just as the three stand ready at the entrance to Mava’s domain, the distant sound of the hunter draws Truff’s focus back to desires of retribution, and she must decide between payback and family. The story’s approach to the afterlife, mention of vegetarian “monks,” and moral relativism reflect a modern outlook with roots in Eastern philosophies. Even the demon’s name may remind readers of the Buddhist figure of Mara. Weiser’s graphic novel, with its lively artwork reminiscent of Sunday comic strips, renders the complex themes both entertaining and understandable. Additionally, Stanley’s straight man to Claude’s funny man provides comedic moments.
A light look at “vengeance” and what it really takes to “calm a wounded spirit.” (Graphic fantasy/folklore. 8-12)Pub Date: May 7, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-62010-654-9
Page Count: 168
Publisher: Oni Press
Review Posted Online: March 30, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2019
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by Joey Weiser ; illustrated by Joey Weiser
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by Raina Telgemeier ; illustrated by Raina Telgemeier ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 13, 2016
Telgemeier’s bold colors, superior visual storytelling, and unusual subject matter will keep readers emotionally engaged and...
Catrina narrates the story of her mixed-race (Latino/white) family’s move from Southern California to Bahía de la Luna on the Northern California coast.
Dad has a new job, but it’s little sister Maya’s lungs that motivate the move: she has had cystic fibrosis since birth—a degenerative breathing condition. Despite her health, Maya loves adventure, even if her lungs suffer for it and even when Cat must follow to keep her safe. When Carlos, a tall, brown, and handsome teen Ghost Tour guide introduces the sisters to the Bahía ghosts—most of whom were Spanish-speaking Mexicans when alive—they fascinate Maya and she them, but the terrified Cat wants only to get herself and Maya back to safety. When the ghost adventure leads to Maya’s hospitalization, Cat blames both herself and Carlos, which makes seeing him at school difficult. As Cat awakens to the meaning of Halloween and Day of the Dead in this strange new home, she comes to understand the importance of the ghosts both to herself and to Maya. Telgemeier neatly balances enough issues that a lesser artist would split them into separate stories and delivers as much delight textually as visually. The backmatter includes snippets from Telgemeier’s sketchbook and a photo of her in Día makeup.
Telgemeier’s bold colors, superior visual storytelling, and unusual subject matter will keep readers emotionally engaged and unable to put down this compelling tale. (Graphic fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-545-54061-2
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: July 1, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2016
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by Raina Telgemeier ; illustrated by Raina Telgemeier
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by Raina Telgemeier ; illustrated by Raina Telgemeier
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by Raina Telgemeier ; illustrated by Raina Telgemeier
by Stuart Gibbs ; illustrated by Anjan Sarkar ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 5, 2024
Will satisfy fans but could be better.
Young CIA agent-in-training Benjamin Ripley switches sides—or is he just going undercover?—in this graphic version of the third Spy School caper.
Sticking to the plot of the 2015 original, this episode sees the talented math whiz recruited by nefarious organization SPYDER after being (unjustly, he fumes) kicked out of the CIA’s academy. While training in a hidden school for evildoers with other prospective villains, including Ashley Sparks, a gushy former competitive gymnast with a fondness for portmanteau words (sweet + awesome = swawesome), Ben gets wind of a dastardly scheme to make billions on government construction projects. Hot if inept pursuit by both rival espionage agencies takes Ben from a secret underground command center to the top of the Statue of Liberty. But while the action has a rapid flow in the art (Sarkar is good at portraying fights, high-speed chases, and explosions), several characters are drawn with generic features and such a limited range of expressions that even with help from the cast gallery, it’s hard to tell them apart easily. Still, along with coming through in the suspenseful climax—thanks to clever deductions and quick thinking—by the end, Ben has also achieved a long-sought breakthrough with Erica Hale (code name “Ice Queen”), a superbly omnicompetent schoolmate who has his heart as well as his back. The cast largely presents white.
Will satisfy fans but could be better. (Graphic thriller. 8-12)Pub Date: March 5, 2024
ISBN: 9781665931946
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024
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by Stuart Gibbs ; illustrated by Stacy Curtis
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by Stuart Gibbs ; illustrated by Stacy Curtis
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by Stuart Gibbs
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