A mostly smooth adaptation sure to delight fans new and old.
The second volume in a popular graphic-novel spinoff delves deeper into one dragonet’s past.
Jumping right into the action where previous volume Wings of Fire (2017) left off, the “dragonets of destiny” have escaped captivity and now travel to the underwater realm of SeaWing dragon Tsunami. In the Kingdom of the Sea, outspoken cerulean-hued Tsunami is reunited with her long-lost mother, Queen Coral, and is delighted to have seemingly found her place. However, all is not as it seems in Queen Coral’s court, where the dragonets soon learn that deception and treachery abound. Tsunami is soon faced with a difficult decision: Does she remain with the trusted dragonets or stay with the family of whom she has always dreamed? In Deutsch’s graphic-novel adaptation, Sutherland’s high-fantasy series is lushly sprawling and intricate in its worldbuilding and character development. Holmes’ illustrations are richly imagined, conveying the many action scenes through a vivid lens, and colorist Laiho uses a jeweled palette for the dragons. Some scenes may be tough to follow for readers unfamiliar with the original series, but the fast-paced and thrilling adventures more than make up for this minor quibble. Although all characters are dragons, familiar themes such as acceptance of those who are different and finding one’s place in the world are explored, broadening the appeal beyond dragon devotees.
A mostly smooth adaptation sure to delight fans new and old. (Graphic fantasy. 7-13)Pub Date: Feb. 26, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-545-94221-8
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Graphix/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Nov. 25, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2018
What a wag.
What do you get from sewing the head of a smart dog onto the body of a tough police officer? A new superhero from the incorrigible creator of Captain Underpants.
Finding a stack of old Dog Mancomics that got them in trouble back in first grade, George and Harold decide to craft a set of new(ish) adventures with (more or less) improved art and spelling. These begin with an origin tale (“A Hero Is Unleashed”), go on to a fiendish attempt to replace the chief of police with a “Robo Chief” and then a temporarily successful scheme to make everyone stupid by erasing all the words from every book (“Book ’Em, Dog Man”), and finish off with a sort of attempted alien invasion evocatively titled “Weenie Wars: The Franks Awaken.” In each, Dog Man squares off against baddies (including superinventor/archnemesis Petey the cat) and saves the day with a clever notion. With occasional pauses for Flip-O-Rama featurettes, the tales are all framed in brightly colored sequential panels with hand-lettered dialogue (“How do you feel, old friend?” “Ruff!”) and narrative. The figures are studiously diverse, with police officers of both genders on view and George, the chief, and several other members of the supporting cast colored in various shades of brown. Pilkey closes as customary with drawing exercises, plus a promise that the canine crusader will be further unleashed in a sequel.
What a wag. (Graphic fantasy. 7-9)Pub Date: Aug. 30, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-545-58160-8
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Graphix/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 31, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2016
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SEEN & HEARD
BOOK TO SCREEN
An emotional, much-needed historical graphic novel.
Sandy and his family, Japanese Canadians, experience hatred and incarceration during World War II.
Sandy Saito loves baseball, and the Vancouver Asahi ballplayers are his heroes. But when they lose in the 1941 semifinals, Sandy’s dad calls it a bad omen. Sure enough, in December 1941, Japan bombs Pearl Harbor in the U.S. The Canadian government begins to ban Japanese people from certain areas, moving them to “dormitories” and setting a curfew. Sandy wants to spend time with his father, but as a doctor, his dad is busy, often sneaking out past curfew to work. One night Papa is taken to “where he [is] needed most,” and the family is forced into an internment camp. Life at the camp isn’t easy, and even with some of the Asahi players playing ball there, it just isn’t the same. Trying to understand and find joy again, Sandy struggles with his new reality and relationship with his father. Based on the true experiences of Japanese Canadians and the Vancouver Asahi team, this graphic novel is a glimpse of how their lives were affected by WWII. The end is a bit abrupt, but it’s still an inspiring and sweet look at how baseball helped them through hardship. The illustrations are all in a sepia tone, giving it an antique look and conveying the emotions and struggles. None of the illustrations of their experiences are overly graphic, making it a good introduction to this upsetting topic for middle-grade readers.
An emotional, much-needed historical graphic novel. (afterword, further resources) (Graphic historical fiction. 9-12)Pub Date: Oct. 5, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5253-0334-0
Page Count: 112
Publisher: Kids Can
Review Posted Online: June 28, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2021
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BOOK REVIEW
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