Title: Bus Ride Bully (My 1st Graphic Novel)
Author: Carl Meister
Illustrator: Remy Simard
Publisher: Stone Arch Books
Copyright: 2011
Price: $22.65
ISBN: 978-1-4342-2059-2
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Summary and Quick Thoughts: The bus: one of those “no man’s lands” for kids and a perfect bullying spot. Bus drivers are too focused on the loud kids and making it to school on time. For Gavin, this is an all too true reality. Every day Gavin boards the bus, hating the smell, hating the color, and fearful of Max, his Bus Ride Bully who finds him no matter what and squishes Gavin into the window and steals his snacks. Every day Gavin lives in fear. When Max doesn’t ride the bus because of a bike accident, things change. Bus Ride Bully is a simple graphic novel that has more appeal in a school setting than a public setting, but fills a slight need for good graphic novels for young kids.
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Recommended Audience: ages 5 to 7 (young readers)
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Things to be aware of: N/A
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Further Thoughts: Bus Ride Bully makes one giant mistake in telling the story of bullying: they become friends. According to a popular bullying prevention program, we should look for books to help children cope with bullying and should steer away from stories where the bully and the bullied child become friends. In fact, Bus Ride Bully has this unbelievable twist in the story that is hardly believable. Yes, boys may bully girls because they like them, but boys bully boys because they want to be friends? Not believable to me. I actually expected Gavin to get beaten to a pulp when he visited Max. Instead, they were instant friends. YEAH. RIGHT. Not believable and certainly not bibliotherapeutic to kids being bullied on the bus and looking for answers in this book. On the other hand, it does make a good discussion book about bullying behaviors and whether that “twist” is believable or not. Bus Ride Bully is a title helpful to those who are looking for titles on bullying to use as discussion, or in need of beginning graphic novel readers.
What a shame though. I had more hope for this one.
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Bonus: Discussion questions at end of book. How to read a comic book (of this ilk, a mix of text and comic panels)
Source: Library copy.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Skim by Mariko and Jillian Tamaki
Title: Skim
Author: Mariko Tamaki
Illustrator: Jillian Tamaki
Publisher: Groundwood Books
Copyright: 2008
Price: $18.95
ISBN: 978-0-88899-753-1
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Summary and thoughts: Kimberly Keiko Cameron (AKA Skim/Kim), is not concerned with her classmates. When Katie Matthews, a classmate, is first dumped by her boyfriend, Kim recounts the gossip to her diary. It isn’t until Kim hears that Katie’s ex-boyfriend commits suicide until Kim begins the journey to learn about herself from her beliefs to her friends to her sexuality.
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Will Teens Like It? Tough call. More mature readers will probably enjoy this.
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Things to be aware of: language, drugs, underage smoking, underage drinking, suicide, Wicca/Witchcraft (in the true sense), homosexuality
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Further Thoughts: Skim is simply a “coming-of-age” story about Kim. The trigger for her is the fact that Katie Matthews’s ex-boyfriend kills himself, which starts a movement in the school to target those who are at-risk for suicide, including Kim. She just brushes it off and continues about her school day. Yet, if it wasn’t for this catalyst, Kim wouldn’t face the fact that her best friend may not be the best person for her.
The affections of a female teacher open Kim up to her first feelings of love and then loss, which turns into depression. Her way out of the funk is by reaching out to Katie.
Skim sends strong messages about being a teenager and being true to oneself. Sometimes it takes the over-reaction of a school to start the process of questioning one’s beliefs. Sometimes something a friend says makes you realize they are not the best person to be with. Either way, Kim faces these challenges and more in Skim.
The artist’s rendering of the story remind me of old fashioned Japanese prints. I’m not a big fan of the art, but the line drawings convey how Kim feels throughout the story. The best part of the art though is that you can see Kim’s transformation from the beginning of the story to a slightly more overweight girl trying to overcome her first breakup.
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Bonus: ALA GGN 2009
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Source: Library copy
Author: Mariko Tamaki
Illustrator: Jillian Tamaki
Publisher: Groundwood Books
Copyright: 2008
Price: $18.95
ISBN: 978-0-88899-753-1
-----------
Summary and thoughts: Kimberly Keiko Cameron (AKA Skim/Kim), is not concerned with her classmates. When Katie Matthews, a classmate, is first dumped by her boyfriend, Kim recounts the gossip to her diary. It isn’t until Kim hears that Katie’s ex-boyfriend commits suicide until Kim begins the journey to learn about herself from her beliefs to her friends to her sexuality.
---------
Will Teens Like It? Tough call. More mature readers will probably enjoy this.
--------
Things to be aware of: language, drugs, underage smoking, underage drinking, suicide, Wicca/Witchcraft (in the true sense), homosexuality
----------
Further Thoughts: Skim is simply a “coming-of-age” story about Kim. The trigger for her is the fact that Katie Matthews’s ex-boyfriend kills himself, which starts a movement in the school to target those who are at-risk for suicide, including Kim. She just brushes it off and continues about her school day. Yet, if it wasn’t for this catalyst, Kim wouldn’t face the fact that her best friend may not be the best person for her.
The affections of a female teacher open Kim up to her first feelings of love and then loss, which turns into depression. Her way out of the funk is by reaching out to Katie.
Skim sends strong messages about being a teenager and being true to oneself. Sometimes it takes the over-reaction of a school to start the process of questioning one’s beliefs. Sometimes something a friend says makes you realize they are not the best person to be with. Either way, Kim faces these challenges and more in Skim.
The artist’s rendering of the story remind me of old fashioned Japanese prints. I’m not a big fan of the art, but the line drawings convey how Kim feels throughout the story. The best part of the art though is that you can see Kim’s transformation from the beginning of the story to a slightly more overweight girl trying to overcome her first breakup.
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Bonus: ALA GGN 2009
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Source: Library copy
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Prime Baby by Gene Luen Yang
Title: Prime Baby
Author: Gene Luen Yang
Illustrator: Gene Luen Yang (Colored by Derek Kirk Kim)
Publisher: First Second (:01)
Copyright: 2010
Price: $7.99
ISBN: 978-1-59643-612-1
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Summary and Quick Thoughts: Thaddeus K. Fong is not happy with the fact he has a baby sister. In fact, he tells his parents exactly how he feels, landing him in the corner, but he’ll show his parents. One day, he plans to rule the world, so the prime numbers he’s learning about in class? Useless. That is until he learns prime numbers might be a way to communicate with aliens. His sister has been talking oddly with her “ga-gas.” Soon, he discovers that his sister could be an alien and suddenly, she’s throwing up slug alien space ships. What can he do?
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Will Teens Like It? This is a title more enjoyed by adults.
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Things to be aware of: Nothing.
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Further Thoughts: It is clear that Thaddeus can see connections in things that other people do not. It is also clear that he has some issues he needs to work through before anyone will believe him.
I’m not sure what it is about this title, but it rubs me the wrong way. While a co-worker was laughing out loud, I could only read this, think “Heh, the aliens are kinda cute” and not laugh. I like Yang’s art work and I enjoy his stories, but I’m not exactly impressed by this title and like his other works, fear it will have a short lived shelf life. The issue of the story, for the most part, is the need for Thaddeus to accept he is no longer an only child, but this is not a child’s story. Thaddeus, at 8 can use YouTube, purchase an island, and create a ray gun. Then, there are the peaceful aliens who just want to make the world a better place.
Overall, I like the art style (Yang’s style usually doesn’t bother me), but find the story neither appealing nor memorable. Adults will probably find this a more enjoyable read, especially since it ran in the NY Times Magazine. I’d pass on this for children’s collections for Thaddeus’s higher level thinking and I’d pass on this one for teens for sure. Adults seem to be the audience for this one.
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Bonus: ALA Great Graphic Novel 2011
Source: Library copy.
Author: Gene Luen Yang
Illustrator: Gene Luen Yang (Colored by Derek Kirk Kim)
Publisher: First Second (:01)
Copyright: 2010
Price: $7.99
ISBN: 978-1-59643-612-1
-----------
Summary and Quick Thoughts: Thaddeus K. Fong is not happy with the fact he has a baby sister. In fact, he tells his parents exactly how he feels, landing him in the corner, but he’ll show his parents. One day, he plans to rule the world, so the prime numbers he’s learning about in class? Useless. That is until he learns prime numbers might be a way to communicate with aliens. His sister has been talking oddly with her “ga-gas.” Soon, he discovers that his sister could be an alien and suddenly, she’s throwing up slug alien space ships. What can he do?
---------
Will Teens Like It? This is a title more enjoyed by adults.
--------
Things to be aware of: Nothing.
----------
Further Thoughts: It is clear that Thaddeus can see connections in things that other people do not. It is also clear that he has some issues he needs to work through before anyone will believe him.
I’m not sure what it is about this title, but it rubs me the wrong way. While a co-worker was laughing out loud, I could only read this, think “Heh, the aliens are kinda cute” and not laugh. I like Yang’s art work and I enjoy his stories, but I’m not exactly impressed by this title and like his other works, fear it will have a short lived shelf life. The issue of the story, for the most part, is the need for Thaddeus to accept he is no longer an only child, but this is not a child’s story. Thaddeus, at 8 can use YouTube, purchase an island, and create a ray gun. Then, there are the peaceful aliens who just want to make the world a better place.
Overall, I like the art style (Yang’s style usually doesn’t bother me), but find the story neither appealing nor memorable. Adults will probably find this a more enjoyable read, especially since it ran in the NY Times Magazine. I’d pass on this for children’s collections for Thaddeus’s higher level thinking and I’d pass on this one for teens for sure. Adults seem to be the audience for this one.
------
Bonus: ALA Great Graphic Novel 2011
Source: Library copy.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Tyranny by Lesley Fairfield
Title: Tyranny
Author: Lesley Fairfield
Illustrator: Lesley Fairfield
Publisher: Tundra Books
Copyright: 2009
Price: $10.95
ISBN: 978-0-88776-903-0
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Summary and Quick Thoughts: A startling image greets the reader when the book is opened: a skinny, line drawing monster is holding an unnaturally thin young woman telling her not to eat. The skinny, ling drawing monster is Tyranny, Anna’s manifestation of her eating disorder. Anna started out a normal child, but as she entered her teen years, body image issues run rampant. Throughout this thought provoking story, Anna struggles with her eating disorder, facing women suffering from the same issues as herself, and opportunities to change her ways, only to slip back down into depression on top of her eating disorders. Tyranny guides her along this slippery slope until she starts the healing process.
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Will Teens Like It? It is appropriate for teens who are facing eating disorders or friends who have eating disorders.
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Things to be aware of: mild nudity
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Further Thoughts: With such an image as described above, who would not want to dive deeper into this story? Pages turned as I read this, and surprisingly, I was able to pick up the subtle clues the author/illustrator “peppered” throughout the story. For example, in the first half of the book, mirrors have a little note in the corner stating “Mirrors don’t lie.” From the story, we know that mirrors can lie as evidenced from Anna’s thinning body to her perception in the mirror that she is “plump.” From this point of view, it is easy to see how easily and quickly someone with an eating disorder could fall into the traps of “I’m not thin enough.” As a character, Anna is lucky and so is the author/illustrator.
For the author/illustrator, this is her first graphic novel and she has also battled anorexia and bulimia. Her own personal battles, I am sure, helped shape this strong graphic novel. The chosen art style of simple black, white, and grays suit the story and allow for images of Anna fading away, being thin, and her thoughts.
As I read this title, I couldn’t help think of a graphic novel I read on depression years ago which proved to be somewhat helpful bibliotherapy. This title, paired carefully, is a wonderful bibliotherapy tool for anyone suffering from bulimia, anorexia, or any other eating disorder (although, to note, the opposite view of eating all the time is only touched upon briefly).
------
Bonus: This WAS an ALA GGN Nomination. Disappointed to see it didn't make the cut.
Source: Library copy.
Author: Lesley Fairfield
Illustrator: Lesley Fairfield
Publisher: Tundra Books
Copyright: 2009
Price: $10.95
ISBN: 978-0-88776-903-0
-----------
Summary and Quick Thoughts: A startling image greets the reader when the book is opened: a skinny, line drawing monster is holding an unnaturally thin young woman telling her not to eat. The skinny, ling drawing monster is Tyranny, Anna’s manifestation of her eating disorder. Anna started out a normal child, but as she entered her teen years, body image issues run rampant. Throughout this thought provoking story, Anna struggles with her eating disorder, facing women suffering from the same issues as herself, and opportunities to change her ways, only to slip back down into depression on top of her eating disorders. Tyranny guides her along this slippery slope until she starts the healing process.
---------
Will Teens Like It? It is appropriate for teens who are facing eating disorders or friends who have eating disorders.
--------
Things to be aware of: mild nudity
----------
Further Thoughts: With such an image as described above, who would not want to dive deeper into this story? Pages turned as I read this, and surprisingly, I was able to pick up the subtle clues the author/illustrator “peppered” throughout the story. For example, in the first half of the book, mirrors have a little note in the corner stating “Mirrors don’t lie.” From the story, we know that mirrors can lie as evidenced from Anna’s thinning body to her perception in the mirror that she is “plump.” From this point of view, it is easy to see how easily and quickly someone with an eating disorder could fall into the traps of “I’m not thin enough.” As a character, Anna is lucky and so is the author/illustrator.
For the author/illustrator, this is her first graphic novel and she has also battled anorexia and bulimia. Her own personal battles, I am sure, helped shape this strong graphic novel. The chosen art style of simple black, white, and grays suit the story and allow for images of Anna fading away, being thin, and her thoughts.
As I read this title, I couldn’t help think of a graphic novel I read on depression years ago which proved to be somewhat helpful bibliotherapy. This title, paired carefully, is a wonderful bibliotherapy tool for anyone suffering from bulimia, anorexia, or any other eating disorder (although, to note, the opposite view of eating all the time is only touched upon briefly).
------
Bonus: This WAS an ALA GGN Nomination. Disappointed to see it didn't make the cut.
Source: Library copy.
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