MCKISSACK, Patricia C. & Frederick L. McKissack. Best Shot in the West: The Adventures of Nat Love. illus. by Randy DuBurke. 136p. CIP. Chronicle. 2012. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-0-8118-5749-9. LC 2007021419.
Gr 3 Up–Born into slavery in Tennessee, Love left home to seek work and eventually became an expert roper and marksman in the Old West, an acquaintance of legends such as Bat Masterson and Billy the Kid. This fictionalized biography is based on his memoir, published in 1907. Exciting episodes include bucking broncos, runaway horses, and Apache raids, as well as Love’s capture by hostile Native Americans, the drunken theft of a cannon from a U.S. Army fort, and the cowboy competition that gives the authors the right to call Love “The Best Shot in the West.” DuBurke’s muscular art features flying bullets, billowing dust, and driving rain. Panels tend to be large, the better to depict the wide open spaces of the Great Plains and the cattle, horses, and buffalo that Love lived and worked among. Exciting and picturesque, Nat Love’s life makes for a great graphic novel.–Paula Willey, Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, MD
AGUIRRE, Jorge. Giants Beware! illus. by Rafael Rosado. 202p. First Second. 2012. pap $14.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-582-7.
Gr 3-6–A blacksmith’s daughter is unsatisfied with her peaceful life within the fortress of Mont Petit Pierre. Rambunctious and loudmouthed, Claudette yearns for action, like killing the giant that lives on the mountain outside of town. With her timid brother, Gaston, and her ladylike friend, Marie, she blusters her way through the fortress gate and into the Forest of Death, beyond which lies the Mad River, and then Giant’s Peak. Can these three kids, armed with a wooden sword, Marie’s intelligence, Gaston’s fortitude, Claudette’s stinky feet, and a pug named Valiant, survive in the wilderness and defeat the giant? Of course they can, but not in the ways they might have expected. The adults in the story are distinguished by exaggerated characteristics, but their actions are driven by realistic, largely generous motives. The story strikes a fine balance between being action-and friendship-driven. The art is similarly well-balanced: Rosado’s ink drawings are strong and lively, with expressive characters and well-drawn landscapes. Digitally applied color is natural, bright, and nonintrusive. Fans of Jimmy Gownley’s “Amelia Rules” (S &S) and Jeff Smith’s “Bone” series (Scholastic) will snap this title up.–Paula Willey , Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, MD
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The following titles are reviewed in the May 1 print issue. Visit our Reviews Center (Beta) for the full reviews.
Elementary and Middle School
BEAUREGARD, Lynda. In Search of the Fog Zombie: A Mystery About Matter. Bk. 1. ISBN 978-0-7613-5689-9; ISBN 978-0-7613-8544-8; ISBN 978-0-7613-8744-2. LC 2011022374.
––––. The Nighttime Cabin Thief: A Mystery About Light. Bk. 2. ISBN 978-0-7613-5692-9; ISBN 978-0-7613-8543-1; ISBN 978-0-7613-8747-3. LC 2011016593.
ea vol: illus. by Der-shing Helmer. 48p. (Summer Camp Science Mysteries). glossary. CIP. Lerner/Graphic Universe. 2012. PLB $29.27; pap. $6.95; ebook $21.95.
DICKENS, Charles. David Copperfield. ISBN 978-0-7641-6304-3; ISBN 978-0-7641-4452-3. LC 2011920871
____. Great Expectations. ISBN 978-0-7641-6305-0; ISBN 978-0-7641-4453-0. LC 2010939397.
ea vol: retold by Jacqueline Morley. illus. by Penko Gelev. 48p. (Graphic Classics Series). map. reprods. index. Barron’s. 2011. PLB $15.99; pap. $8.99.
FARSHTEY, Greg. Mask of the Sensei. Bk. 2. illus. by Paulo Henrique. 64p. (LEGO® Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitsu Series). Papercutz. 2012. Tr $10.99. ISBN 978-1-59707-311-0; pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-59707-310-3.
FOLEY, Ryan. Perseus: Destiny’s Call. illus. by Naresh Kumar. 86p. pap. $11.99. ISBN 978-93-80741-08-6.
WHITEHEAD, Dan. Jason and the Argonauts. illus. by Sankha Banerjee. 98p. pap. $12.99. ISBN 978-81-907515-2-0.
ea vol: (Campfire Mythology Series). Campfire. 2012.
FORD, Christopher. The Wrath of Zozimos. Bk. 2.illus. by author. 224p. (Stickman Odyssey Series). Philomel. May 2012. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-399-25427-7.
JOHNSON, R. Kikuo, retel. The Shark King.illus. by author. 40p. CIP. Toon Bks. 2012. Tr $12.95. ISBN 978-1-935179-16-0. LC 2011026592.
LE GALL, Frank. Freedom! Bk. 1. ISBN 978-0-7613-7884-6; ISBN 978-0-7613-8546-2; ISBN 978-1-4677-0161-7. LC 2011021726.
––––. Rooftop Cat. Bk. 2. ISBN 978-0-7613-7885-3; ISBN 978-0-7613-8547-9; ISBN 978-1-4677-0162-4. LC 2011025646.
ea vol: illus. by Flore Balthazar. 48p. (Miss Annie Series). CIP. Lerner/Graphic Universe. 2012. PLB $29.27; pap. $6.95; ebook $21.95.
LAMBERT, Joseph. Annie Sullivan and the Trials of Helen Keller.illus. by Joseph Lambert. 96p. (The Center for Cartoon Studies Series). Hyperion/Disney. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-1336-2. LC 2011036324.
PETRUCHA, Stefan. The Hunger Pains. Bk. 4. illus. by Rick Parker. 54p. Papercutz. (Papercutz Slices Series). 2012. Tr $10.99. ISBN 978-1-59707-313-4; pap $6.99. ISBN 978-1-59707-312-7.
SPIEGELMAN, Nadja. Zig and Wikki in the Cow.illus. byTrade Loeffler. 40p. CIP. Toon Bks. 2012. Tr $12.95. ISBN 978-1-935179-15-3. LC 2011026676.
High School
GRANT, Pat. Blue. illus. by author. 96p. Top Shelf Productions. 2012. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-1-60309-153-4.
RYUMON, Ryou. Bloody Monday. Vol. 1. tr. from Japanese by Mari Morimoto. illus. by Kouji Megumi. 208p. glossary. Kodansha. 2011. pap. $10.99. ISBN 978-1-935429-22-7. LC number unavailable.
