I have a line of students who are waiting to read Ghostopolis (Scholastic Graphix 2010). Many of them have already read and enjoyed Bad Island, the other graphic novel by Doug TenNapel that I have in my classroom library. They are not going to be disappointed. I liked Ghostopolis even better. I frequently chortled out loud while reading this one!
Garth Hale is sick, with doctors offering not much hope. Even though he is waiting to die, he doesn’t expect to be accidentally zapped to the ghost world by a washed out ghost wrangler named Frank Gallows. While Frank desperately tries to explain and find a ride into the ghost world to rescue him, Garth discovers that he has special powers in Ghostopolis. He befriends a skeleton horse he calls Skinny and meets his grandfather, who is a twelve-year-old. (You see, time and physics don’t work the same way in the afterlife.) Before long, though, the evil leader of Ghostopolis gets word of Garth’s arrival and starts to hunt him down. In the final confrontation, secrets are revealed–but I’m not telling.
I loved the word play and the pokes at culture and history. How can you not love a ghost named Claire Voyant? All of Ghostopolis was created by the mysterious Joe, a Tuskegee Airman in life, who built this place for ghosts to live. It either took him six days or a billion years. No one really knows since time is all mixed up in the afterlife. The pictures are saturated with vibrant color. My favorite, though, are the facial expressions on the characters.
I don’t expect to see this one on the shelf once I put it out. Now what TenNapel book should I get next?
Either I’m getting better at reading graphic novels or I’m finding better ones to read. I brought several graphic novels home with me over the summer to read. Here they are:
Brain Camp by Susan Kim, Laurence Klavan, and Faith Erin Hicks (First Second 2010):
Jenna and Lucas have been labeled losers by their friends and family. Desperate for a last chance to make something of their children, their parents sign them up for a summer at Camp Fielding. Camp Fielding promises to take juvenile delinquents and slackers and turn them into high achievers with high test scores. Jenna and Lucas discover that something fishy–or is it something birdy–going on at camp. They band together to figure out the insidious secrets behind the camp’s success, but will it be too late?
Amulet, Book One: The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi (Scholastic 2008)
I now understand why this series is so popular in my classroom. I snagged the first one to take home and read over the summer, but most of the rest of the series never came back. I hope they show back up sometime, or I’ll have to buy more to replace them. After a family tragedy, Jenna and Navin move with their mother to an old house that has been in the family for generations. It needs a lot of love before becoming livable, and during the cleanup, the children discover the house holds many secrets. Before the first night is over, they have all fallen through a hole into an alternate reality. A monster devours their mother, and Jenna is claimed by the stone amulet. If she accepts it power, she will have the help of mechanical creatures to save their mother. But if she accepts it power, she also accepts the danger it brings.
I am plowing my way through the graphic novels that have been piling up on my desk. Some of them I snatched up from the bargain books at our last book fair. Some of them have been gifts from students who are helping me beef up my collection.
Arana: The Heart of the Spider by Fiona Avery (Scholastic 2005)
I think superhero fans will like this graphic novel. Anya is a reluctant recruit to the secretive spider society. Miguel believes that she is the chosen one, to be the next hunter. When he saves her life from an attack by the Wasps, she is bound for life. All she wants is to be a normal high school student. Will she come to terms with and claim her destiny before it’s too late? The color illustrations in this one seem to explode off the page. I really need to slow down and look more at the pictures when I read a graphic novel.
The Lightning Thief (Rick Riordan) Graphic Novel adapted by Robert Venditti (Hyperion Books 2010)
I loved the original Percy Jackson series, so I wasn’t sure what I would think of a graphic novel adaptation. I was pleasantly surprised. The color illustrations bring the story into vivid pictures. The dialogue captured the fast-paced adventure of Percy’s first quest with Anabeth and Grover. I wouldn’t want to replace the original completely, but this adaptation stands nicely alongside. It’s much more faithful to the heart of the story than the movie was.
Mystic: Rite of Passage by Ron Marz (CrossGen Comics 2003):
I enjoyed the story in this graphic novel, first published in a series of comic books. Two sisters–one responsible and one not–find their lives turned upside down. Just as the responsible Genevieve is about to be accepted as Guild Master of one of the magic guilds on Ciress, the rite goes horrible wrong. Party girl Giselle finds that she is now host to all seven of the magic guild spirits. Whether she likes it or not, she is now the most powerful magician on the planet. It’s too bad she hasn’t prepared for it at all. With a talking squit (looks like a shaggy puppy) as her only ally, will Giselle survive the magic that now possesses her and those angry magicians who want it back? For once, the artwork caught my eye as much as the words. These color illustrations burst off the page. I just might be getting the hang of these graphic novels.
The Path: Crisis of Faith by Ron Marz (CrossGen Comics 2003)
This graphic novel is much darker than the above one by the same writer. Set it the land of the samauri warriors, it involves war, betrayal, and the loss of faith. Todosi dedicated his life to the arts of war while his brother Obo San dedicated his life to serving the gods. After the gods take Todosi’s life, Obo San vows to use their own weapon against them for revenge. But first he must survive the wrath of his emperor and the demons of an invading army. My favorite part of this graphic novel is the interview with the penciler, Bart Sears, in the back. After reading it, I understood much more what he accomplished with the two page spread layout, the dark images, and his penciling technique.
Rebound by Yuriko Nishiyama (Tokyo Pop 1997)
I successfully finished my first manga novel. I am surprised that it is a basketball story! Who knew that manga included sports fiction? Not me until today. Nate Torres and his high school basketball team, Johnan, won the Tokyo championship. Now they are on their way to Sapporo to play again in the National Championships. They hope to avoid a repeat of last year’s first round loss, but this year they have to get past Kyan Marine Industry–a team full of tough players who don’t mind playing rough. Oh yeah, there might even be a few girls to provide a distraction. I thought this was a fun story once I got the hang of reading from right to left. It might even bring in new fans (of sports stories) to graphic novels.
Harlequin Pink: Idol Dreams written by Charlotte Lamb & art by Yoko Hanabusa (Dark Horse Manga 2006)
I’m starting to get the hang of reading from right to left–and to the variety of topics and genres available through manga. This is a love story that will please readers looking for something light and fluffy. Quincy wins a contest she didn’t eve enter (thanks to her little brother Bobby) for a date with pop idol Joe Ardness. Now she is caught up in a weekend of celebrity with her heart torn between Joe (Is he just using her for the publicity) and Brendan (Can her heart still be satisfied with her dad’s partner in their veterinarian practice?) There’s lots of swooning and flashing cameras in this story even if there’s not much else. It’s even printed in pink ink!
I am coming late to graphic novels, and I’m still not sure I like all of them. Actually, I know I don’t like all of them, but I am finding some I do like. Here are some I picked up at the book fair. They’re coming your way.
Moby Dick adapted by Lance Stahlberg and illustrated by Lalit Kumar Singh (Campfire 2010)
First, a confession. I tried to read the original Moby Dick by Herman Melville, but gave up about 1/3 of the way into it. I simply couldn’t take any more of the overblown description. I stopped just after meeting Captain Ahab and deciding he was completely nuts. I still am not a fan of the story (seriously, who decided this one gets classics status?), but at least I could get through the graphic novel adaptation and learn what happened to the crazy Captain, Queehog, and our fearless narrator. The color illustrations enlivened the story, and the dialogue captured just enough feel of the writing to bring back nightmares. Highlight the next sentence if you don’t mind a spoiler. The whale wins again. Hey, can I say I’ve read Moby Dick now?
WarCraft: The Sunwell Trilogy: Ghostlands by Richard A. Knaak and Jae-Hwan Kim (TokoyoPop 2007)
First, a confession: I have never played a World of Warcraft game or read any of the many books coming from the games. I do have lots of students who play and read these, so when the book fair offered a deal, I snatched it up. I’ve head several students come up to talk with me about it since they’ve seen me reading it. I was a little lost reading this one, probably because it is the third and final book in a trilogy in the middle of an entire series. Even so, I can see why it appeals to fantasy fans. It has elves and magic and dragons and evil lords and people who aren’t what they first appear. It is still not my favorite thing to read, but I have a line of students waiting for it.
Simpsons Comics: Get Some Fancy Book Learnin’ by Matt Groening and others (Harper 2001)
I picked this one up for me. Yes, I like the Simpsons even though I don’t watch regularly. I was just too tempted to see how the Simpsons would skewer the great stories from the past, and I wasn’t disappointed. The Simpsons start with the ancient Greeks, from the gods to Aesop. Moving across the continent, they give a hilarious twist to fairy tales and nursery rhymes. Aladdin washes his hands of the genie in “Arabian Nuts.” Old Bill Shakespeare may be rolling in his grave by the end of his plays in comic form. Finally, Bart goes to Sunday School, where somehow, the Prodigal Son ends up at the Tower of Babel. I laughed my way through this collection, but the jokes are much funnier if you already know the stories.
Zeus: King of the Gods by George O’Connor ( First Second 2010)
I’ve been hearing such good things about this series, and now I understand why. This is an excellent introduction to Greek mythology, starting at the very beginning and ending with the reign of Zeus. I love the “superhero” portrayal of the gods. After all, they were among the first superheros, and in the back O’Connor shares the modern legacies of gods introduced in this series, including their influence on modern comic book superheroes. How cool is that? I will definitely be recommending this one to all the fans of Rick Riordan in my classes. I can’t wait to get the rest of the series.
I have more graphic novels waiting for me to read, but I want to share theses now. It’s funny. As soon as I put each out on my bookshelves, it was snatched up by a reader.
I was struck with wonder reading Brian Selznick’s latest offering, Wonderstruck. I can’t wait to take this book back to school and let my students read it. Those who enjoyed The Invention of Hugo Cabret will love it.
Ben and Rose lived fifty years apart, but their stories mirror and intersect as they are both drawn to New York City in search of someone. Both children miss their mothers. Both children are deaf. Both children get caught in a storm and take shelter in the New York Museum of Natural History. And the museum is where they ultimately find the answers to their quests.
I loved how the two stories (Ben’s in words and Rose’s in pictures) flowed seamlessly. I found myself guessing as to how their stories would come together. I figured some of it out, but was pleasantly surprised by some of the details. I just wish I had read the author’s notes in the back first. Selznic pays tribute through this book to one of my favorite books from my childhood: From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by EL Konigsburg. I caught the big references, but I’m sure there are more I would have caught if I had looked for them. Since I’m probably too old to run away to a museum, I guess I’ll just have to read it again and look for more! Which were your favorite tributes?
Here’s a video of Selznick giving a tour of the museum where much of the story takes place:
I’ve added another graphic novel to my classroom, and I think this one will be hugely popular. I’ve not been a big fan of graphic novels, but slowly I’m discovering titles that I really enjoy, like Smile by Raina Telgemeier. Next I’m going to have to check out the ones that won the first ever Nerdies awards.
Raina is in sixth grade and about to get braces when she trips and falls, knocking out her two front teeth. Thus begins years of braces coming on and off and multiple surgeries to repair or replace her teeth. You know it’s not a good sign when the doctor takes off the tooth bandages and says, “Uh-oh.”
Through it all, Raina is making the transition from middle school to high school. She worries about what her friends will say about her metallic appearance. Who wants to wear headgear and be known as metal-mouth? Her friends aren’t the friendliest she finally realizes as she reaches high school.
I loved everything in this book from the gleaming smiley face on the cover to the bright illustrations within the pages. Raina’s story is one my students can relate to, especially the friendship troubles. I can’t wait to hear what my students think of this one.
I’m not a big graphic novel fan, but I’ve started reading them because some of my students love them. Bad Island by Doug TenNapel caught my eye in the last book order as well as those of many students. I have a long list of readers waiting for me to release this title into my classroom. They won’t be disappointed.
Reese can think of nothing worse than being stuck on a sailboat with his family for vacation, but his parents insist that he go even if he is old enough to stay by himself. Younger sister Janie goes nowhere without Pickles, her pet green snake, even after he dies. Mom and Dad just want time to relax.
But a violent storm and shipwreck leave little time of relaxing. The island they crash on is filled with strange plant life and hostile creatures. The island holds a secret that stretches to another world. Can Reese and his family figure out who can be trusted before it’s too late?
I’m not a big fan of graphic novels, but sometimes I will read one that I can’t put down. That was the case with the very first graphic novel I ever read, Maus by Art Spiegelman. The same is true of its sequel Maus II. My thoughts are still haunted by the words and images Spiegelman uses to portray the horror of the Holocaust experienced by his father Vladek.
Maus II picks up Vladek’s story when he enters Auschwitz. By a combination of luck and wits, Vladek survives the horror of Auschwitz and is even able to help his wife Anja, but the horrors never leave him. The horrors continue to haunt him even until the present day.
Spiegelman alternates Vladek’s survival of Auschwitz with scenes from the present. Vladek’s second wife has left him (his first wife, Spiegelman’s mother, commited suicide). Now Art and his wife must help Vladek through this crisis and failing health. Art is torn with guilt. He loves his father, but his father drives him crazy.
Maus and Maus II are powerful introductions to the Holocaust. If you have never tried a graphic novel, these will convince you that the form is not just for comics.
I have a line of students who are waiting to read Ghostopolis (Scholastic Graphix 2010). Many of them have already read and enjoyed Bad Island, the other graphic novel by Doug TenNapel that I have in my classroom library. They are not going to be disappointed. I liked Ghostopolis even better. I frequently chortled out loud while reading this one!
