Miss Annie: Freedom (Book 1)

Title: Miss Annie: Freedom (Book 1)
Author: Frank Le Gall

Illustrator: Flore Balthazar & Robin Doo
Publisher: Graphic Universe

Copyright: 2011

Price: $29.27

ISBN: 978-0-7643-7884-6
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Summary and Quick Thoughts: Four month old kitten Miss Annie thinks she’s all grown up. She’s determined to get outside and somehow, someday she will. Until then, she’s going to defend the house (from leaves) and chat with her best friend, a mouse, she dubs Keisha after Sarah’s (one of her humans) best friend. Miss Annie does get outside, only to discover that freedom isn’t exactly what she thought it was.

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Recommended Audience: upper elementary (due to events in book 2)

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Things to be aware of: N/A
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Further Thoughts: This does not compare to Chi. Do not compare to Chi. This is not Chi who is the most adorable kitten to read about.

Ok, since this isn’t Chi, but another import and another title about a kitten, this one is interesting it its own way. It takes a Charlie Brown view of humans (excepting the way they talk) where we only see their feet, and Miss Annie’s observations of her humans are silly, yet enjoyable. She does get into cat antics, but in a way, they are not as numerous as…a real cat’s world it seems. Obviously, Sarah wanted the cat, but she doesn’t seem to care for it like her parents do. Huh.

This is a full color comic, which helps it, although Miss Annie’s patterns change periodically, which confused me. How is she supposed to be? Tuxedo? Just black and white?

Miss Annie: Freedom is an enjoyable title and might strike a chord in fans of Erin Hunter’s Warriors series. The first book mainly sets the stage, while the second book focuses more on what happens to Miss Annie in the world. It is no Chi’s Sweet Home though, especially in appeal. The first volume is accessible to all ages, but as Miss Annie matures, my thought is that it will immediately change into a title more appropriate to upper elementary and fans of the Warriors series.

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Source: Library copy.

Zoe and Robot: Let's Pretend

Title: Zoe and Robot: Let’s Pretend
Author: Ryan Sias

Illustrator: Ryan Sias
Publisher: Blue Apple Books

Copyright: 2011

Price: $10.99

ISBN: 978-1-60905-063-4
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Summary and Quick Thoughts: Zoe and Robot are going to climb Mt. Pillow, that is if Robot would just pretend. Like many adults, he can’t see what Zoe sees. A pile of pillows is a snow-covered mountain, the fan is a mountain breeze. Not to Robot. Is all lost or will Zoe figure out a way to help logical Robot pretend?

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Recommended Audience: Children, K-3

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Things to be aware of: Nothing.
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Further Thoughts: Robot sees only a pile of pillows. This story is Zoe’s attempts to get Robot to see the mountain. In an age where I think imagination is disappearing, Zoe’s reminder to just pretend something is not what it is reminds us of the pleasures of pretend playing. Also, Zoe reminds us in the first panel not to spend all our time on video games, which is where she finds Robot when she wants to play. She successfully tears him away for adventures.

This is a simple graphic novel (really more of a comic book) for the beginning reader. Pairing pictures, words, and actions, readers can determine the story. Plus, it is a fun story about logic versus imagination. The illustrations are fun and the text simple, making this a great addition to early comic reader collections.

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Bonus:

Source: Library copy.

Nursery Rhyme Comics

Title: Nursery Rhyme Comics
Author: Editor Chris Duffy

Illustrator: Various
Publisher: First Second (:01)

Copyright: 2011

Price: $18.99

ISBN: 978-1-59643-600-8
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Summary and Quick Thoughts: Nursery Rhyme Comics is a collection of 50 artist renditions of popular and unknown nursery rhymes for kids. The introduction discusses the collection and why it was done for parents. The afterward discusses a little more about nursery rhymes. Each spread is about 1 page to 3 pages long, perfect for those who are interested in bite sized readings.

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Recommended Audience: all ages

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Things to be aware of: None.
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Further Thoughts: This title got a lot of buzz before it was released. I remember it being mentioned in a webinar or an article. Kids were getting copies of pages and were getting really excited for the book to come out. It got great ratings and it is easy to see why.

Take your favorite nursery rhyme and think about it. What images does it conjure for you? For the sake of this, I’m going to think about “Hickory Dickory Dock.” When I was a kid, I had a toy of sorts for the rhyme. It was a basic clock with a mouse running up the side, then down. In this collection, “Hickory Dickory Dock” is illustrated with a little mouse whose duty is to ring the bell. That is certainly different than what you may have pictured. That is exactly how Nursery Rhyme Comics goes.

I can’t pick a favorite. I won’t pick a favorite. Each spread has something to love in it from the hint of a recurring rhyme to a completely reimagining of Little Bo Peep (who looks older and smarter than she is typically portrayed). Each comic has something to it from being in the real world, to being in space, to covering different races of children. All walks of life are represented here and I think that really helps this collection. The artists also represented in this work are the best of the best from Craig Thompson of Blankets to Kate Beaton of the web comic “Hark! A Vagrant” to children’s illustrators David Macaulay (those gorgeous building books) and Nick Bruel (of Bad Kitty fame).

Nursery Rhyme Comics has something for everyone and is a winner in the library, especially for those looking to round out their children’s graphic novel sections.

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Source: Library copy.

Scenes from an Impending Marriage

Title: Scenes from an Impending Marriage
Author: Adrian Tomine
Illustrator: Adrian Tomine
Publisher: Drawn & Quarterly
Copyright: 2011
Price: $9.95
ISBN: 978-1-770460-32-8
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Summary and Quick Thoughts: Oh engagement! The next to last step to the marriage that will tie people together until death –or divorce- do they part. In Scenes from an Impending Marriage readers follow along as Sarah and Adrian try to plan their wedding. From guests to DJs to just trying to do things together, planning this wedding is hard. Tomine uses various art styles to evoke their frustrations about wedding planning and also give readers a little inside humor to wedding planning. It’s enjoyable and something I want[ed] on my wedding planning shelf for a little humor (Note: Pretty sure I read this BEFORE my wedding).
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Recommended Audience: Adults
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Things to be aware of: N/A
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Further Thoughts: The adorable cover of the couple rushing to get married (or away from the altar into their new lives together?) does not show you what is inside the book. The little hard cover book tells the story of Adrian and Sarah as they plan their wedding. Anyone who had planned a wedding (or tried to or dreads it) will understand what happens in this collection of strips showing their ups and downs. The humor is perfectly timed and consistent. The art is fun and I enjoyed the different styles used to tell this (Family Circus, Charlie Brown). A perfect gift or must read for the newly engaged.

Well worth the wait and hunting for this book (I heard about it and waited a while before a library got it).
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Source: Library copy.

A Match Made in Heaven (My Boyfriend is a Monster 8)

Title: A Match Made in Heaven (My Boyfriend is a Monster #8)
Author: Trina Robbins
Illustrator: Xian Nu Studio (and others)
Publisher: Graphic Universe (imprint of Lerner)
Copyright: 2013
Price: $29.27
ISBN: 978-0761368571 (library bound)
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Summary and Quick Thoughts: Morning Glory Conroy is a social outcast at her San Francisco high school. Everyone is in a clique and everyone has to come up with some spin on her name. If she had her way, she’d call her parents “mom” and “dad” and stay home to work on her manga. She is an aspiring manga artist. Someday, she’ll show off her work. Maybe at the upcoming comic-con.

Gabriel is a new student who walked out of who-knows-where. Glory and her only friend decide to help him because he is cute and so obviously confused about life. As Glory and Gabriel fall for each other, they meet opposition first from his unseen uncle and then from his cousin, Luci (with a heart over the ‘i’) who is determined to destroy what Gabriel loves. Amongst all of this drama, Glory’s best friend is having problems with her step-father. Oh, and Gabriel turns out to be an angel.
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Recommended Audience: high school
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Things to be aware of: mild violence, crude humor
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Further Thoughts: Something about this volume did not sit well with me. After I read it, I was like “huh.” I enjoyed it, don’t get me wrong, but something about it was…off and I think it was something to do with the angel portion (mind you, my knowledge of angels is limited so I might have missed a lot) or how Gabriel acted.

Glory is a typical teenager in that she believes the world is against her and everyone, but her best friend, hates her (which annoyed me at first, but thinking on it is a very teen thing to do). She lets herself get trampled on by everyone and teased. She comes to terms with it by the end of the book, but possibly not in the best manner (is snapping back really the answer?). Glory is definitely still a “go-getter” in many ways, but not in the ones that matter to her. She’s afraid to share her manga, but it is ultimately Gabriel who helps her out. Thanks to him, her dreams come true. (While his support is nice, should the actual legwork be done by him? Um…)

The side story in this is with Glory’s best friend and her family drama. Her step-dad has crossed a line and her mother has kicked him out. He wants his biological daughter back, but is forced to stay away. This is what causes the drama in the book. It is also this that gives Glory the opportunity to chase after Gabriel and ultimately fall for him. He’s sweet in his naïveté, in a way, but…there is something not quite right here.

Barry and James are back and it is Barry’s reaction to Gabriel that makes me really want to know what is ultimately going on. Mr. James is back to his grouchy self and we hardly see anything of them later in the book. Bummer after how volume 7 went.

Basically, get this to keep the series going. I suspect teens would relate to this (I know I would have hooked into Glory’s view, but maybe not go for Gabriel), but overall, it left me feeling “meh.”
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Bonus: Ok, here’s another publication date issue (number 7 was just as confusing). Netgalley says May 1st and so does Kirkus, but Amazon says the paperback, at least, is available now. What?

Source: Netgalley Request.

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not (My Boyfriend is a Monster 7)

Title: He Loves Me; He Loves Me Not (My Boyfriend is a Monster #7)
Author: Robin Mayhall
Illustrator: Kristen Cella (with others)
Publisher: Graphic Universe (Imprint of Lerner)
Copyright: 2013
Price: $9.95 paperback
ISBN: 978-0-7613-8548-6
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Summary and Quick Thoughts: Oh football. For the little town of Rojo, Texas, that is everything. When there is a game, the whole town can be found at the game. Rather, most of the town can be found at the game. New student Serena Stevens is not in the mood to watch football. She misses her old town and hates that her family moved her to a small town. Luckily for her, her best friend from her previous school still talks to her, but she’s the one that convinces Serena to go to the football game that changes Serena’s life.

At the football game, Serena meets Cam, epic smart student who occasionally shows up at school. After that, she meets Lance, the captain of the football team. As the story progresses, Serena starts to date Lance, but begins work on a project about Jekyll and Hyde with Cam. Unfortunately, Lance has a “thing” against Cam and as time goes on Lance gets violent and only wants to focus on football, leaving Serena sad and confused.

Serena's love triangle adds another strong entry in this series with the added bonus of more dialogs from Mr. James and Mr. Barry. See my further thoughts below.
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Recommended Audience: high school
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Things to be aware of: emotional abuse; mild violence;
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Further Thoughts: Finally! Another volume with the strong heroines that drew me into this series. I missed the spunk and sharp wit of the girls and something about volume 8 left a bad taste in my mouth after reading it (review forthcoming).

That’s not to say this volume didn’t make me uncomfortable. When I grabbed this book from our “holds-waiting-to-be-filed,” the person processing holds that day made a comment that she was worried this series was all about boyfriends who were horrible to their girlfriends, like emotionally or physically abused. I assured her this was not the case and then read this one at lunch.

WEEEELLLL. It does have emotional abuse it in, which is very interesting, yet it is how this volume handles it that makes this a stronger graphic novel. Serena does continue dating Lance in the story. She wants to get more from him, but he’s upset when she won’t talk about football. As his anger issues come to light, he grows even angrier at her when she doesn’t go to the games. Her parents try to support her, but they ultimately leave her to start figuring this out on her own. I do feel that if a real issue came to light, they would intervene. I did find myself wanting to yell at Serena for putting up with Lance. She should have dumped him. She was smarter than that, but she was smitten with Lance, even if it wasn’t convincing.

This is probably my only issue with this story. Serena seems smart enough to step away, and I couldn’t figure out why she was staying. She seemed to see the signs, but somehow she convinced herself to stay. I think I needed to see more of her thoughts and how she really justified it, but somehow I couldn’t really believe the back and forth between her and Lance.

Now, about Barry and James. Oh boy! They finally do more than just hang out on the sidelines. Mr. James quips about “you girls” which speaks to me in this culminating with a huge event involving the girls and the boys of previous volumes (especially when some disappearing). Barry’s office is shown more with the famous X-Files poster “I want to believe.” That somehow speaks volumes about him to me. His posters are so…mixed. He is definitely traveling around with Mr. James which he hints as much.

If you’ve missed something from the previous volumes (I know I did), its back in this one. An enjoyable read, and I forgot to mention that our girl is a little curvy in this one. Keep the monster loves coming!
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Bonus: Not so much as a bonus, but something confusing. Kirkus has this volume in their reviews, but the publication date says “May 1, 2013.” This is not exactly true as I found it in my library system, on the shelf, and Amazon (sorry, it’s the be-all/end-all on publication dates for me) says it is all ready out, so…maybe a misprint?

Source: Library copy.

An Interesting Marketing Thing

In the age of webcomics, to have a book that is going to be published all ready, but is uploaded like a webcomic is pretty neat. Basically, for some reason I was Googling Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong, the graphic novel, which I'm currently reading the ARC of. The first result was this: Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong, the website. Basically, until the book is published, a page will be updated weekly. It is kinda, sorta, similar to Erstwhile and Red String and some other webcomics I read with an overarching plot, but updated weekly. Erstwhile was all ready published in the beginning (and generally, I get the impression the stories are done when they start uploading them) and Red String is an online manga that the author is working on all along.

The only downside to this is that the free version will probably disappear eventually (as what happened to Friends With Boys), which is a shame. I like my webcomics and until I can get my hands on the book, rereading it online will have to do (and I don't get many of those because I do not have extra cash for books).

Debate anyone? Thoughts? Either way, if you want to preview it, there it is.