LEWIS, John & Andrew Aydin. March. Bk. 1. illus. by Nate Powell. 128p. (March Series). Top Shelf. 2013. pap. $14.95. ISBN 978-1-60309-300-2.

Gr 8 Up–Beginning with a dream sequence that depicts the police crackdown on the 1965 Selma-Montgomery March, this memoir then cuts to Congressman John Lewis’s preparations on the day of President Obama’s inauguration. Lewis provides perspective on the occasion, explaining and describing his own religious and desegregationalist origins in Alabama, his early meeting with Dr. King, and his training as a nonviolent protester. The bulk of the narrative centers around the lunch counter sit-ins in 1959 and 1960 and ends on the hopeful note of a public statement by Nashville Mayor West. The narration feels very much like a fascinating firsthand anecdote and, despite a plethora of personal details and unfamiliar names, it never drags. Even with the contemporary perspective, the events never feel like a foregone conclusion, making the stakes significant and the work important. The narration particularly emphasizes the nonviolent aspect of the movement and the labor involved in maintaining that ideal. The artwork is full of lush blacks and liquid brushstrokes and features both small period details and vast, sweeping vistas that evoke both the reality of the setting and the importance of the events. This is superb visual storytelling that establishes a convincing, definitive record of a key eyewitness to significant social change, and that leaves readers demanding the second volume.–Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, NH

For all the latest reviews in this subject area and more, check out our new Book Verdict site! Book Verdict is fully accessible to all users, though certain content and functionality are only available to subscribers.To log in to your account, click here. To view the new subscription options, Get Started With Book Verdict Pro Today.

Don’t know if you have an account with us? It’s easy to check and verify your email, or create a new account.

The following titles are reviewed in the September 2013 print issue. Visit Book Verdict for the full reviews.

Elementary and Middle School

ALLISON, John. The Case of the Team Spirit. vol. 1. illus. by author. 136p. (Bad Machinery Series). glossary. Oni Press. 2013. pap. $19.99. ISBN 978-1-62010-084-4. LC 2012953355.

BARKS, Carl. Walt Disney’s Donald Duck: The Old Castle’s Secret. illus. by author. 232p. Fantagraphics. 2013. Tr $28.99. ISBN 978-1-60699-653-9.

BOLTON, Chris A. SMASH: Trial by Fire. Bk. 1. illus. by Kyle Bolton. 160p. Candlewick. Sept. 2013. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5596-9. LC 2012947720.

BROWN, Don. The Great American Dust Bowl. illus. by author. 80p. bibliog. notes. photos. Houghton Harcourt. Oct. 2013. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-0-547-81550-3.

DUFFY, Chris, ed. Fairy Tale Comics. illus. by Bobby London, Emily Carroll, Gilbert Hernandez, et al. 128p. First Second. Sept. 2013. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-823-1.

GIARRUSSO, Chris. Coming Home. Vol. 3. illus. by author. 128p. (G-Man Series). Image. 2013. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-60706-571-5.

GOULD, Jane. Henry Hudson. ISBN 978-1-4777-0071-6; ISBN 978-1-4777-0127-0. LC 2012018693.

PELLESCHI, Andrea. Juan Ponce de Léon. ISBN 978-1-4777-0073-0; ISBN 978-1-4777-0131-7. LC 2012019804.

ROBERTS, Steven. Francisco Vásquez de Coronado. ISBN 978-1-4777-0070-9; ISBN 978-1-4777-0125-6. LC 2012018692.

ea vol: 24p. (Jr. Graphic Famous Explorers Series). chron. glossary. illus. index. map. websites. Rosen/PowerKids Pr. 2013. lib. ed. $25.25; pap. $10.60.

HARPER, Charise Mericle. The Cookie. illus. by author. 48p. (Bean Dog and Nugget Series). Knopf. 2013. lib. ed. $12.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97711-3; pap. $4.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97710-6; ebook $4.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97712-0. LC 2012029374.

HAYES, Geoffrey. Patrick Eats His Peas and Other Stories. 00-2013. ISBN 978-1-9351-7934-4. LC 2013931436.

LINIERS, Ricardo. The Big Wet Balloon. Sept. 2013. ISBN 978-1-9351-7932-0. LC 2012047662.

ea vol: illus by author. 32p. Toon Bks. RTE $12.95.

JOFFO, Joseph. A Bag of Marbles: The Graphic Novel. tr. from French by Edward Gauvin. illus. by Vincent Bailly. 128p. Lerner/Graphic Universe. Oct. 2013. lib. ed. $29.27. ISBN 978-1-4677-0700-8; pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-4677-1516-4; ebook $21.95. ISBN 978-1-4677-1651-2. LC 2013002284.

JOHNSON, Crockett. Barnaby. Vol. 1. illus. by author. 320p. notes. Fantagraphics. 2013. Tr $35. ISBN 978-1-60699-522-8.

LIEBERMAN, AJ. The Silver Six. illus. by Darren Rawlings. 192p. Scholastic/Graphix. 2013. Tr $22.99. ISBN 978-0-545-37097-4; pap. $10.99. ISBN 978-0-545-37098-1. LC 2012945144.

MERCADO, Yehudi. Pantalones, TX: Don’t Chicken Out. illus. by author. 120p. Archaia. 2013. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-1-936393-90-9.

NORDLING, Lee. The Bramble. illus. by Bruce Zick. 32p. Carolrhoda. Sept. 2013. RTE $16.95. ISBN 978-0-7613-5856-5; ebook $12.95. ISBN 978-1-4677-0952-1.

PASTIS, Stephan T. Beginning Pearls. illus. by author. 224p. (Amp! Comics for Kids). Andrews McMeel. 2013. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4494-2303-2. LC 2012954161.

THOMPSON, Richard. Mighty Alice Goes Round and Round: A Cul de Sac Book. illus. by author. 224p. (Amp! Comics for Kids). Andrews McMeel. 2013. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4494-3721-3. LC 2012954162.

High School

FINK, Jess. We Can Fix It!: A Time Travel Memoir. illus. by author. 112p. Top Shelf. 2013. pap. $14.95. ISBN 978-1-60309-065-0.

POPE, Paul. Battling Boy. illus. by author. 208p. First Second. Oct. 2013. Tr $24.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-805-7; pap. $15.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-145-4.

PYLE, Kevin C. with Scott Cuningham. Bad for You. illus. by author. 164p. chart. chron. further reading. glossary. notes. websites. Holt. Oct. 2013. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-8050-9289-9.

TAKAKO, Shimura. Wandering Son. Vol. 4. tr. from Japanese by Matt Thorn. illus. by author. 224p. Fantagraphics. 2013. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-1-60699-605-8.

Fiction

BĂDESCU, Ramona. Pomelo’s Opposites. tr. from French by Claudia Zoe Bedrick. illus. by Benjamin Chaud. (Pomelo the Garden Elephant Series). Enchanted Lion. p. 112.

BEST, Cari. Beatrice Spells Some Lulus and Learns to Write a Letter. illus. by Giselle Potter. Farrar/Margaret Ferguson. p. 114.

GRAHAM, Bob. The Silver Button. illus. by author. Candlewick. Oct. p. 120.

HOLUB, Joan. Little Red Writing. illus. by Melissa Sweet. Chronicle. Oct. p. 122.

KNOWLES, Jo. Living with Jackie Chan. Candlewick. Sept. p. 160.

LAFLEUR, Suzanne. Listening for Lucca. Random/Wendy Lamb. p. 146.

LAKE, Nick. Hostage Three. Bloomsbury. Oct. p. 160.

LUDWIG, Trudy. The Invisible Boy. illus. by Patrice Barton. Knopf. Oct. p. 125.

MACLACHLAN, Patricia. Snowflakes Fall. illus. by Steven Kellogg. Random. Oct. p. 126.

NAKAWAKI, Hatsue. Wait! Wait! tr. from Japanese by Yuki Kaneko. illus. by Komako Sakai. Enchanted Lion. p. 128.

O’BRIEN, Annemarie. Lara’s Gift. Knopf. p. 147.

RASCHKA, Chris. Daisy Gets Lost. illus. by author. Random/Schwartz & Wade. Oct. p. 129.

SALERNI, Dianne K. The Caged Graves. Clarion. p. 164.

SLOAN, Holly Goldberg. Counting by 7s. Dial. p. 148.

WIESNER, David. Mr. Wuffles! illus. by author. Clarion. Oct. p. 135.

Graphic Novels

LEWIS, John & Andrew Aydin. March. Bk. 1. illus. by Nate Powell. (March Series). Top Shelf. p. 171.

Nonfiction

BUTTERWORTH, Chris. See What a Seal Can Do. illus. by Kate Nelms. Candlewick. p. 174.

FREEDMAN, Russell. Angel Island. Clarion. Oct. p. 182.

GREENBERG, Jan & Sandra Jordan. The Mad Potter: George E. Ohr, Eccentric Genius. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter. Oct. p. 184.

GUIBERSON, Brenda Z. The Greatest Dinosaur Ever. illus. by Gennady Spirin. Holt. Oct. p. 176.

LEWIS, Catherine. Thrice Told Tales: Three Mice Full of Writing Advice. illus. by Joost Swarte. S & S/Atheneum. p. 185.

MARKLE, Sandra. The Case of the Vanishing Honeybees. Millbrook. Oct. p. 186.

MONTGOMERY, Sy. The Tapir Scientist. photos by Nic Bishop. (Scientists in the Field Series). Houghton Harcourt. p. 188.

PINKNEY, Jerry. The Tortoise & the Hare. illus. by author. Little, Brown. Oct. p. 178.

From the Adult Books 4 Teens blog

LBARRY, Max. Lexicon. Penguin. (July 17 post)

FAGAN, Jenni. The Panopticon. Hogarth/Crown. (July 25 post)

ZAMBRANO, Mario Alberto. Lotería. HarperCollins. (July 25 post)

DVD

Constitution USA with Peter Sagal. PBS Dist. p. 63.

Nelson Mandela. Weston Woods. p. 63.

Audio

Hero on a Bicycle. By Shirley Hughes. Brilliance Audio. p. 69.

Oblivion. By Anthony Horowitz. Recorded Books. p. 71.

Out of This Place. By Emma Cameron. Brilliance Audio. p. 71.

Recess. Performed by Justin Roberts. Justinroberts.org. p. 76.

Shadow and Bone. By Leigh Bardugo. Brilliance Audio. p. 72.

Twelve Kinds of Ice. By Ellen Bryan Obed. Recorded Books. p. 74.

SHEN, Prudence & Faith Erin Hicks. Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong. illus. by Faith Erin Hicks. 280p. First Second. 2013. pap. $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-659-6.
Gr 6-9–The next student-body president will decide if the school will fund cheerleader uniforms or a robotics competition, and the cheerleaders are forcing the basketball captain to run against his friend Nate, the robotics club president. The line between jocks and nerds begins to waver, however, when the two warring factions enter a robot rumble for the prize money. The robot death matches are suspenseful and, like much of this novel, effectively illustrated with cinematic paneling and few words. Hicks’s angular illustrations nod to manga and are wonderfully expressive: the haughty cheerleaders are truly chilling. Tweens, teens, and all robot fans should enjoy this good-humored play on the ongoing battle between jocks and geeks.–Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn Public Library, NY

YANG, Gene Luen. Boxers. 336p. ISBN 978-1-59643-359-5. pap. $18.99.
––––.Saints. 176p. ISBN 978-1-59643-689-3. pap. $15.99.
ea vol: illus. by author. (Boxers & Saints Series). further reading. First Second. Oct. 2013.
Gr 9 Up–Acclaimed graphic novelist Yang brings his talents to historical fiction in these paired novels set during China’s Boxer Rebellion (1899-1900). In Boxers, life in Little Bao’s peaceful rural village is disrupted when “foreign devils”–a priest and his phalanx of soldiers–arrive. The foreigners behave with astonishing arrogance, smashing the village god, appropriating property, and administering vicious beatings for no reason. Little Bao and his older brothers train in kung fu and swordplay in order to defend against them, and when Little Bao learns how to tap into the power of the Chinese gods, he becomes the leader of a peasant army, eventually marching to Beijing. Saints follows a lonely girl from a neighboring village. Unwanted by her family, Four-Girl isn’t even given a proper name until she converts to Catholicism and is baptized–by the very same priest who bullies Little Bao’s village. Four-Girl, now known as Vibiana, leaves home and finds fulfillment in service to the Church, while Little Bao roams the countryside committing acts of increasing violence as his army grows. Mysticism plays a part in both stories, and Yang’s spare, clean drawing style makes it clear that Vibiana’s visits from Joan of Arc and Bao’s invocation of the powerful Chinese gods are very real to these characters. The juxtaposition of these opposing points of view, both of them sympathetic, makes for powerful, thought-provoking storytelling about a historical period that is not well known in the West.–Paula Willey, Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, MD

For all the latest reviews in this subject area and more, check out our new Book Verdict site! Book Verdict is fully accessible to all users, though certain content and functionality are only available to subscribers.To log in to your account, click here. To view the new subscription options, Get Started With Book Verdict ProToday.Don’t know if you have an account with us? It’s easy to check and verify your email, or create a new account.

The following titles are reviewed in the July print issue. Visit Book Verdict for the full reviews.

Elementary and Middle School

CLIFF, Tony. Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant. illus. by author. 170p. First Second. Aug. 2013. pap. $15.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-813-2.

EATON, Maxwell, III. The Flying Beaver Brothers and the Mud-Slinging Moles. Bk. 3. ISBN 978-0-449-81020-0; ISBN 978-0-449-81019-4. LC 2012034046.
––––. The Flying Beaver Brothers: Birds vs. Bunnies. Bk. 4. ISBN 978-0-449-81023-1; ISBN 978-0-449-81022-4.
ea vol: illus. by author. 96p. Knopf. July 2013. PLB $12.99; pap. $7.99.

EMERSON, Sharon. SPF 40. illus. by Renée Kurilla. 128p. (Zebrafish Series). S & S/Atheneum. 2013. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-9708-5; pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-9709-2; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5034-9. LC 2012014883.

GUIBERT, Emmanuel. Just a Donkey Like You and Me. Bk. 1. tr. from French by Joe Johnson. illus. by Marc Boutavant. 124p. (Ariol Series). Papercutz. 2013. pap. $12.99. ISBN 978-1-59707-399-8.

HARDMAN, John. Little Miss Daredevil: The Incredible Race! illus. by Bryan Beach. ISBN 978-1-4215-4072-6.

KENNY, Michael Daedalus. Mr. Strong: Good Thing I Came Along! illus. by Gabriel Corbera. ISBN 978-1-4215-4073-3.
ea vol: 80p. (Mr. Men Little Miss Series). Viz Media. 2013. pap. $6.99.

KREDENSOR, Diane. Ollie & Moon: Aloha! illus. by author. 48p. (Step Into Reading Comic Readers Series). Random. 2013. PLB $12.99. ISBN 978-0-375-97131-0; pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97950-6; ebook ISBN 978-0-375-98129-6. LC 2012019152.

LEMKE, Donald. The Invincible Boy-Bot. illus. by Douglas Holgate. 128p. (Zinc Alloy Series). Capstone. 2013. pap. $8.95. ISBN 978-1-4342-4597-7.

ROMAN, Dave. Re-Entry. illus. by author. 192p. (Astronaut Academy Series). First Second. 2013. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-621-3.

SCHWARZ, Viviane. The Sleepwalkers. illus. by author. 96p. Candlewick. 2013. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6230-1. LC 2012947253.

SHELLEY, Mary. Gris Grimly’s Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus: Assembled From the Original Text by Mary Shelley in Three Volumes. adapt. by Gris Grimly. illus. by adapter. 208p. HarperCollins/Balzer & Bray. Aug. 2013. Tr $24.99. ISBN 978-0-06-186297-7; ebook $11.99. ISBN 978-0-06-223922-8. LC 2010046237.

TATULLI, Mark. Liō: Making Friends. illus. by author. 224p. Andrews McMeel/Amp! Comics for Kids Series. 2013. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4494-2558-6. LC 2012952343.

TENNAPEL, Doug. Tommysaurus Rex. illus. by author. 144p. Scholastic Graphix. 2013. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-0-545-48382-7; pap. $10.99. ISBN 978-0-545-48383-4. LC 2012945113.

VANSANT, Wayne. The Graphic History of Gettysburg: America’s Most Famous Battle and the Turning Point of the Civil War. illus. by author. 96p. charts. diags. maps. Zenith. 2013. pap. $19.99. ISBN 978-0-7603-4406-4.

High School

CHEN, Wei Dong. The Family Plot. Vol. 2. ISBN 978-8-9942-0891-6.
––––.Revenge and Betrayal. Vol. 4. ISBN 978-8-9942-0895-4.
––––.To Pledge Allegiance. Vol. 3. ISBN 978-8-9942-0893-0.
ea. vol: illus. by Xiao Long Liang. 172p. (Three Kingdoms Series). maps. JR*Comics. 2013. pap. $9.99.

DURIEUX, Christian. An Enchantment. tr. from French by Joe Johnson.illus. by author. 72p. notes. NBM/ComicsLit. 2013. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-1-56163-705-8. LC 2012950214.

LARSON, Hope. Who Is AC? illus. by Tintin Pantoja. 176p. S & S/Atheneum.2013. Tr $21.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-6540-4; pap. $14.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-2650-4. LC 2011052616.

Fiction

APPELT, Kathi. The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp. illus. by Jennifer Bricking. S & S/Atheneum. July 2013. p. 76.

BECKER, Aaron. Journey. illus. by author. Candlewick. July 2013. p. 55.

CLEMENT-MOORE, Rosemary. Spirit and Dust. Delacorte. p. 90.

DAYWALT, Drew. The Day the Crayons Quit. illus. by Oliver Jeffers. Philomel. July 2013. p. 59.

HENKES, Kevin. The Year of Billy Miller. illus. by author. HarperCollins/Greenwillow. Sept. 2013. p. 63.

HERRICK, Amy. The Time Fetch. Algonquin. Aug. 2013. p. 82.

KELLER, Laurie. Bowling Alley Bandit. illus. by author. (The Adventures of Arnie the Doughnut). Holt/Christy Ottaviano. p. 64.

LAFEVERS, Robin. Dark Triumph. Bk. 2. (His Fair Assassin Series). Houghton Harcourt. p. 95.

MADISON, Bennett.September Girls. HarperCollins/HarperTeen. p. 96.

MILLER, Pat Zietlow. Sophie’s Squash. illus. by Anne Wilsdorf. Random/Schwartz & Wade. Aug. 2013. p. 67.

PECK, Richard. The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail. illus. by Kelly Murphy. Dial. July 2013. p. 84.

SEEGER, Laura Vaccaro. Bully. illus. by author. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter. Aug. 2013. p. 70.

SULLIVAN, Tara. Golden Boy. Putnam. p. 102.

TUCHOLKE, April Genevieve. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. Dial. Aug. 2013. p. 102.

WASSERMAN, Robin. The Waking Dark. Knopf. Sept. 2013. p. 102.

WISSINGER, Tamera Will. Gone Fishing. illus. by Matthew Cordell. Houghton Harcourt. p. 74.

WOODSON,Jacqueline. This Is the Rope: A Story from the Great Migration. illus. by James Ransome. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Bks. Aug. 2013. p. 75.

Graphic Novels

PHELAN,Matt. Bluffton. illus. by author. Candlewick. July 2013. p. 104.

SHEN, Prudence & Faith Erin Hicks. Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong. illus. by Faith Erin Hicks. First Second. p. 105.

YANG, Gene Luen. Boxers.pap. $18.99.
––––.Saints. pap. $15.99.
ea vol: illus. by author. (Boxers & Saints Series). First Second. Oct. 2013.

Nonfiction

FLOCA,Brian.Locomotive. illus. by author. S & S/Atheneum/Richard Jackson Bks. Sept. 2013. p. 108.

HOYT, Erich. Weird Sea Creatures. Firefly. July 2013. p. 116.

PINKNEY, Andrea Davis. Martin & Mahalia. illus. by Brian Pinkney. Little, Brown. Aug. 2013. p. 110.

VESTERGAARD, Hope. Digger, Dozer, Dumper. illus. by David Slonim. Candlewick. Aug. 2013. p. 112.

From the Adult Books 4 Teens blog

WOLITZER, Meg. The Interestings. Penguin Group. (May 13 post)

CORVINO, John. What’s Wrong with Homosexuality?. Oxford Univ. (May 29 post)

MILLAY,Katja. The Sea of Tranquility. Atria. (June 5 post)

DVD

Amazing Science! Volume 1. AV Café.p. 43.

Central Park Five. PBS Dist. p. 45.

Fun Foundations for Handwriting. The TV Teacher. p. 41.

Les Misérables. Entertainment One Home Video. p. 43.

YERT: Your Environmental Road Trip. First Run Features.p. 44.

Audio

Bomb. By Steven Sheinkin. Listening Library. p. 52.

Code Name Verity.By Elizabeth Wein. Brilliance Audio. p. 48.

Fox Forever. By Mary E. Pearson. Macmillan Audio. p. 48.

Mojo. By Tim Tharp. Listening Library. p. 49.

Mountains Beyond Mountains. By Tracy Kidder and Michael French. Listening Library. p. 52.

Requiem: Delirium, Book 3. By Lauren Oliver. Listening Library. p. 50.

Scowler. By Daniel Draus. Listening Library. p. 50.

Sha Doo Be Doop.Performed by Miss Nina. Little Monster Records. p. 52.

CUNNINGHAM, Darryl. How to Fake a Moon Landing: Exposing the Myths of Science Denial. Abrams ComicArts. April 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 9781419706899.

Gr 7 Up—A great choice for skeptics and the science-minded, this book examines the myths behind seven different cases of bad science, from chiropractic to global warming denial, and ties it all up with a thoughtful essay on the scientific method.

LARSON, Hope. Who Is AC? illus. by Tintin Pantoja. S & S/Atheneum. April 2013. pap. $14.99. ISBN 9781442426504.

Gr 7 Up—An ordinary girl in a small town suddenly becomes a Sailor Moon-style superhero—but her new role has plenty of complications. This graphic novel feels like the beginning of a series: the characters are solid, and the book has an intriguing premise, with the characters’ online lives taking on physical form, but many plot points, including the shadowy deus ex machina, are left unexplained.

JOHNSON, Mike. Star Trek: Countdown to Darkness. illus. by David Messina. IDW Publishing. April 2013. pap. $17.99. ISBN 9781613776230.

Gr 7 Up—Kirk, Spock, and the rest of the Enterprise crew face off against a former Enterprise captain who is involved in a civil war in this prequel to the recently released movie Star Trek: Into Darkness. Like the movie, this graphic novel (which was originally released as a four-comic miniseries) features the young versions of the original cast. The plot is classic Star Trek, mixing moral dilemmas with clever twists, and the clear-lined, colorful art is easy to follow.

OTTAVIANI, Jim. Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Biruté Galdikas. illus. by Maris Wicks. First Second. June 2013. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9781596438651.

Gr 7 Up—Ottaviani, who is well known for his non-fiction graphic novels about the history of science, tells the story of the three well-known women, all students of Louis Leakey, who went into the wild to study primates in their natural habitat. The story focuses on the women and their lives as scientists, living in their subjects’ natural habitat but also dealing with human obstacles, such as poachers and, occasionally, the unwanted attentions of Leakey himself.

SHEN, Prudence. Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong. illus. by Faith Erin Hicks. First Second. May 2013. pap. $16.99. ISBN 9781596436596.

Gr 7 Up—It’s the robotics team versus the cheerleaders in a battle for funding—until they team up against the grownups and set out to win the money they need in a battle-robot contest. Like the TV show Glee, this book explores the different tribes in a high school and the ways they interact, with plenty of comedy and a few poignant moments as well.

AMANO, Shiro. Kingdom Hearts, Final Mix, Vols. 1 and 2. Yen Press. May 2013. pap. $12.00 each. ISBN 9780316254205 (vol. 1), 9780316254212 (vol. 2).

Gr 8 Up—This manga is one of several series set in the world of the Square Enix/Disney game Kingdom Hearts; it was originally released (in a different format) by TokyoPop. The story, which is complete in these two volumes, revolves around a young boy, Sora, who is searching for his missing friends. In a parallel story, Goofy and Donald Duck search for their king, Mickey Mouse, who has disappeared from the Disney Castle.

NISHIDA, Masafumi. Tiger & Bunny. illus. by Mizuki Sakakibara. Viz. April 2013. pap. $9.99. ISBN 9781421555614.

Gr 8 Up—Superheroes compete against one another not only to fight the bad guy, but also to score points in a reality show in this manga, which is based on the anime of the same name. The title characters are an aging superhero and a newcomer who are tossed together as a team by their bosses, despite the fact that they can’t stand each other.

MEYER, Stephenie. New Moon, Vol. 1. illus. by Young Kim. Yen Press. April 2013. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9780316217187.

Gr 11 Up—The Twilight saga continues as Bella and Edward face new obstacles in this graphic adaptation of the second novel in the series. This is the first of a two-volume set, with the second volume due out in July 2014.

SOULE, Charles. Strange Attractors. illus.by Greg Scott. Archaia. Tr $19.95. May 2013. ISBN 9781936393626.

Gr 11 Up—A graduate student becomes the disciple of an aging mathematician who is convinced he is keeping New York City from descending into chaos by making small changes, basically manipulating the Butterfly Effect. The authors come up with some imaginative scenarios that will ring true to any New Yorker, and it all comes together in an exciting climax. It’s a good choice for readers who appreciate the “aw, cool!” aspects of science, and the real-world setting makes it accessible to those who might otherwise shy away from science fiction.

Odd Duck (Castellucci). ©2013 by Sara Varon

Preschool to Grade 4

ARNOSKY, Jim. Shimmer & Splash. illus. by author. Sterling. p. 90.

CASTELLUCCI, Cecil. Odd Duck. illus. by Sara Varon. First Second. May 2013. p. 68.

COUDRAY, Philippe. Benjamin Bear in Bright Ideas! illus. by author. Toon Bks. p. 138.

FLEMING, Candace. Papa’s Mechanical Fish. illus. byBoris Kulikov. Farrar/Margaret Ferguson. June 2013. p. 72.

LOOK, Lenore. Brush of the Gods. illus. by Meilo So. Random/Schwartz & Wade. June 2013. p. 80.

MCGINTY, Alice B. Gandhi. illus. by Thomas Gonzalez. Amazon. p. 92.

MORSTAD, Julie. How To. illus. by author. Simply Read Books. May 2013. p. 83.

PIZZOLI, Greg. The Watermelon Seed. illus. by author. Hyperion/Disney. May 2013. p. 84.

STRINGER, Lauren. When Stravinsky Met Nijinsky. illus. by author. Houghton Harcourt. p. 96.

GRADES 5 & UP

ANGUS, Sam. Soldier Dog. Feiwel & Friends. p. 100.

CHARLTON-TRUJILLO, e.E. Fat Angie. Candlewick. p. 104.

CRUMP, Marty. The Mystery of Darwin’s Frog. illus. by Steve Jenkins. Boyds Mills. p. 133.

FREEDMAN, Russell.Becoming Ben Franklin.Holiday House. p. 133.

GEWIRTZ, Adina Rishe. Zebra Forest. Candlewick. p. 110.

LA VALLEY, Josanne. The Vine Basket. Clarion. p. 115.

LYNCH, Chris. Pieces. S & S. p. 118.

MARINO, Nan. Hiding Out at the Pancake Palace. Roaring Brook. p. 120.

MORIARTY, Jaclyn. A Corner of White. Bk. 1. (The Colors of Madeleine Series). Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine. p. 120.

PAXMANN, Christine. From Mud Huts to Skyscrapers. tr. from German by Cynthia Hall. illus. by Anne Ibelings. Prestel. p. 136.

RUBIN, Susan Goldman. Diego Rivera. Abrams. p. 137.

TREVAYNE, Emma. Coda. Running Pr. Teens. May 2013. p. 129.

ADULT BOOKS 4 TEENS BLOG

MODAN, Rutu. The Property. tr. from Hebrew by Jessica Chen. Drawn & Quarterly. June 2013. (Mar. 20, 2013, post)

KRUEGER, William Kent. Ordinary Grace. S & S/Atria. (Mar. 21, 2013, post)

OZEKI, Ruth. A Tale for the Time Being. Viking. (Apr. 8, 2013, post)

Multimedia

DVD

Julian Bond: Reflections from the Frontlines of the Civil Rights Movement. Filmakers Library. p. 51.

An Original DUCKumentary (Nature Series). PBS Dist. p.50.

AUDIO

Last Dragonslayer: The Chronicles of Kazam, Book 1. By Jasper Fforde. Brilliance Audio. p.53.

Maggot Moon. By Sally Gardner. Brilliance Audio. p. 54.

Shadow on the Mountain. By Margi Preus. Recorded Books. p. 56.

What Came from the Stars. By Gary Schmidt. Recorded Books. p. 58.

Yellow Star. By Jennifer Roy. Brilliance Audio. p. 58.

Elementary and Middle School

BALDACCI, David. Day of Doom. Bk. 6. 270p. (The 39 Clues: Cahills vs. Vespers). Scholastic. 2013. PLB $12.99. ISBN 978-0-545-29844-5. LC 2012948468. Gr 3-6

BRANFORD, Anna. Violet Mackerel’s Personal Space . illus. by Elanna Allen. 116p. S & S/Atheneum. Sept. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-3591-9; pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-3592-6; ebook $5.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-3593-3. LC 2012025783. Gr 1-3

BRUEL, Nick. Bad Kitty School Daze. illus. by author. 160p. Roaring Brook/A Neal Porter Bk. 2013. PLB $13.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-670-1. LC 2012015359. Gr 3-5

COTLER, Steve. Cheesie Mack Is Ru–nning Like Crazy . Bk. 3. illus. by Douglas Holgate. 240p. Random.June 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97713-7; PLB $18.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97714-4; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97715-1. LC 2012017978. Gr 3-6

DELANEY, Joseph. Slither. Bk. 11. illus. by Patrick Arrasmith. 398p. (The Last Apprentice Series). HarperCollins/Greenwillow. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-219234-9. LC 2012042032. Gr 5-8

HOLUB, Joan & Suzanne Williams. Hades and the Helm of Darkness . Bk. 3. illus. by Craig Phillips. 128p. (Heroes in Training Series). S & S/Aladdin. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5725-6; pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5267-1; ebook $5.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5268-8. LC 2012942890. Gr 2-4

HOLUB, Joan & Suzanne Williams. Pheme the Gossip . 272p. (Goddess Girls Series). S & S/Aladdin. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-6138-3; pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-4937-4; ebook $5.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-4938-1. LC 2013930969. Gr 3-6

HUNTER, Erin. The Sun Trail. Bk. 1. illus. by Wayne McLoughlin. 312p. (Warriors: Dawn of the Clans Series).HarperCollins/Harper. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-206346-5; PLB $17.89. ISBN 978-0-06-206347-2. Gr 4 Up

JOBLING, Curtis. Storm of Sharks. Bk. 5. 454p. (Wereworld Series). Viking. May 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-670-78558-2. Gr 6-8

KENYON, Sherrilyn. Inferno. Bk. 4. 464p. (Chronicles of Nick Series). St. Martin’s/Griffin. 2013. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-1-250-00283-9; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-250-02340-7. Gr 7-10

KIRBY, Stan. Captain Awesome and the Ultimate Spelling Bee. Bk. 7. illus. by George O’Connor. 128p. S & S/Little Simon. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5156-8; pap. $4.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5156-8. LC 2011046177. Gr 1-3

KOWITT, H. N. Jinx of the Loser . Bk. 3. illus. by author. 224p. (The Loser List Series). Scholastic. May 2013.Tr $9.99. ISBN 978-0-545-50794-3; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-545-53955-5. Gr 4-7

MULL, Brandon. Chasing the Prophecy. Bk. 3. 512p. (Beyonders Series). S & S/Aladdin. 2013. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-9796-2; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-9800-6. LC 2012035223. Gr 5-8

SMITH, Clete Barrett. Aliens in Disguise . illus. by Christian Slade. 240p. (The Intergalactic Bed and Breakfast Series). Hyperion/Disney. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-6598-9. LC 2012019758. Gr 3-6

STINE, R.L. How I Met My Monster. Bk. 3. 140p. (Goosebumps Most Wanted Series). Scholastic. 2013. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-545-41800-3; ebook $6.99. ISBN 978-0-545-51017-2. Gr 3-5

TASHJIAN, Janet. My Life as a Cartoonist . illus. by Jake Tashjian. 288p. Holt. May 2013. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-8050-9609-5. Gr 4-7

PEIRCE, Lincoln. Big Nate: Game On! illus. by author. 224p. Andrews McMeel. 2013. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4494-2777-1. LC 2012952339. Gr 2-4

PENNYPACKER, Sara. Clementine and the Spring Trip. Bk. 6. illus. by Marla Frazee. 160p. Hyperion/Disney.2013. RTE $14.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-2357-6. LC 2011052991. Gr 2-4

WARNER, Gertrude Chandler. The Boardwalk Mystery . Bk. 131. 128p. (The Boxcar Children Series). Albert Whitman. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-8075-0802-2; pap. $5.99. 978-0-8075-0803-9. LC 2012020161. Gr 2- 5

WEST, Jacqueline. The Strangers. Bk. 4. illus. by Poly Bernatene. 320p. (The Books of Elsewhere Series).Dial. July 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8037-3690-0. LC 2012040004. Gr 4-6

High School

BERRY, Kit. Shaman of Stonewylde. Bk. 5. 550p. (The Stonewylde Series). Gollancz. June 2013. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-575-09894-7. Gr 9 Up

BURCH, Heather. Avenger. Bk. 3. 304p. (A Halflings Novel). Zondervan. 2013. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-0-310-72824-5. Gr 7-10

CALONITA, Jen. The Grass Is Always Greener . Bk. 3. 304p. (A Belles Novel). Little, Brown/Poppy. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-316-09110-7. LC 2012032534. Gr 8-11

CAREY, Anna. Rise. 320p. (An Eve Novel). HarperCollins/Harper. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-204857-8.LC 2012025327. Gr 9 Up

CARTER, Ally. Perfect Scoundrels. 336p. (A Heist Society Novel). Hyperion/Disney. 2013. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-6600-9. LC 2012032405. Gr 7-10

CARTER, Nikki. Get Over It. 248p. (A Fab Life Novel). Kensington/KTeen. June 2013. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-0-7582-7271-3; ebook $8.99. ISBN 978-0-7582-8917-9. Gr 7 Up

CHANDLER, Elizabeth. Everafter. 272p. (A Kissed by an Angel Novel). S & S/Simon Pulse. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-0918-7; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-0922-4. Gr 8 Up

CLARE, Cassandra. Clockwork Princess . Bk. 3. 570p. (The Infernal Devices Series). S & S/McElderry. 2013. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-7590-8; ebook $11.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-3135-5. Gr 9 Up

DUFF, Hilary with Elise Allen. True. 290p. (An Elixir Novel). S & S. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-0857-9; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-0861-6. LC 2012034274. Gr 9 Up

HOCKING, Amanda. Tidal. 352p. (A Watersong Novel). St. Martin’s/Griffin. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-250-00811-4; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4299-5656-7. Gr 7-10

HOROWITZ, Anthony. Oblivion . Bk. 5. 590p. (The Gatekeepers Series). Scholastic. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-439-68004-2. Gr 9 Up

KEMMERER, Brigid. Spirit. 368p. (The Elemental Series). Kensington/KTeen. June 2013. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-0-7582-7283-6. Gr 9 Up

MEAD, Richelle. The Indigo Spell . 402p. (A Bloodlines Novel). Penguin/Razorbill. 2013. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-1-59514-319-8. Gr 9 Up

NOËL, Alyson. Mystic. Bk. 3. 320p. (The Soul Seekers Series). St. Martin’s/Griffin. May 2013. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-0-312-66488-6; pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-312-57567-0; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-250-02078-9. Gr 8 Up

PORTER, Sarah. The Twice Lost. 480p. (The Lost Voices Trilogy). Houghton Harcourt. July 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-547-48252-1. Gr 6-9

SHAN, Darren. Zomb-B City . Bk. 3. illus. by Warren Pleece. 176p. (Zom-B Series). Little, Brown. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-316-21436-0. LC 2012040156. Gr 7-10

SIMONE, Ni-Ni & Amir Abrams. Get Ready for War . Bk. 2. 423p. (Hollywood High Series). Kensington/KTeen.2013. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-0-7582-7355-0. Gr 9 Up

SMITH, L.J. & Aubrey Clark. The Temptation. 288p. (The Secret Circle Series). HarperCollins/HarperTeen.2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-213047-1. LC 2012955883. Gr 9 Up

WHITLEY, David. The Canticle of Whispers. Bk. 3. 400p. (The Agora Trilogy). Roaring Brook. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-615-2; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-845-3. LC 2012013789. Gr 7-10

The Highway Rat (Donaldson) ©2013 by Axel Scheffler.

Preschool to Grade 4

BUNTING , Eve. Have You Seen My New Blue Socks? illus. by Sergio Ruzzier. Clarion. Mar. 2013. p. 108.

CATE , Annette Leblanc. Look Up! illus. by author. Candlewick. Mar. 2013. p. 134.

DE SÈVE , Randall. Peanut and Fifi Have a Ball. illus. by Paul Schmid. Dial. Apr. 2013. p. 110.

Donaldson, Julia. The Highway Rat. illus. by Axel Scheffler. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine. Apr. 2013. p. 134.

FLEISCHMAN , Paul. The Matchbox Diary . illus. by Bagram Ibatoulline. Candlewick. Mar. 2013. p. 111.

GUIBERSON , Brenda Z. Frog Song. illus. by Gennady Spirin. Holt. p. 138.

LAGERCRANTZ , Rose. My Happy Life. tr. from Swedish by Julia Marshall. illus. by Eva Eriksson. Gecko. Mar. 2013. p. 116.

MCKAY , Hilary. Lulu and the Dog from the Sea. Bk. 2. illus. by Priscilla Lamont. (Lulu Series). Albert Whitman. Mar. 2013. p. 120.

MARKLE , Sandra. The Long, Long Journey. illus. by Mia Posada. Millbrook. Apr. 2013. p. 142.

PANZIERI , Lucia. The Kindhearted Crocodile. tr. from Italian by Grace Maccarone. illus. by AntonGionata Ferrari. Holiday House. Apr. 2013. p. 122.

RASCHKA , Chris. Everyone Can Learn to Ride a Bicycle. illus. by author. Random/Schwartz and Wade. Apr. 2013. p. 124.

SPINELLI , Eileen. When No One Is Watching. illus. by David A. Johnson. Eerdmans. p. 128.

WORTH , Valerie. Pug and Other Animal Poems. illus. by Steve Jenkins. Farrar/Margaret Ferguson. Mar. 2013. p. 144.

GRADES 5 & UP

CARRIGER , Gail. Etiquette & Espionage. Bk. 1. (Finishing School Series). Little, Brown. p. 150.

FLOWERS , Arthur. I See the Promised Land. illus. by Manu Chitrakar. Groundwood/House of Anansi. p. 184.

GOULD , Steven. Impulse. Bk. 3. (Juniper Series). Tor. p. 158.

MACCOLL , Michaela. Nobody’s Secret. Chronicle. Apr. 2013. p. 167.

MCKAY , Sharon E. War Brothers. illus. by Daniel Lafrance. Annick. p. 186.

O’CONNOR , George. Poseidon. Bk. 5. illus. by author. (Olympians Series). First Second. Mar. 2013. p. 185.

PADIAN , Maria. Out of Nowhere. Knopf. 2013. p. 170.

SEPETYS , Ruta. Out of the Easy. Philomel. 2013. p. 174.

VANDERPOOL , Clare. Navigating Early. Delacorte. 2013. p. 176.

Adult Books 4 Teens

EISENSTOCK , Alan with Eric Zala & Chris Strompolos. Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made. Thomas Dunne. (Jan. 23, 2013, post)

VALENTE , Catherynne M. Six-Gun Snow White. Subterranean. (Feb. 4, 2013, post)

DVD

Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site. Weston Woods. p. 61.

Man Who Saved the World. PBS Dist. p. 64.

Merry Christmas, Splat. Weston Woods. p. 61.

Sky Color. Weston Woods. p. 60.

Wapos Bay, Season 3. National Film Board of Canada. p. 64.

AUDIO

Action! Fun! Dance! For Kids. Learning Station. p. 73.

Carnival of the Animals. Maestro Classics. p. 73.

Come August, Come Freedom. By Gigi Amateau. Brilliance Audio. p. 66.

Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There. By Catherynne M.Valente. Brilliance Audio. p. 67.

Hootenanny. CDBaby.com. p. 74.

Lullaby. Justin Roberts Music. p. 74.

Sir Charlie. AudioGO. p. 75.

Torn. Brilliance Audio. p. 72.

FLOWERS , Arthur. I See the Promised Land: A Life of Martin Luther King Jr. illus. by Manu Chitrakar. 156p. notes. Groundwood/House of Anansi. 2012. Tr $18.95. ISBN 978-1-55498-328-5.
Gr 7 Up–Who better to give Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life story the full mythopoeic treatment than the renowned African American novelist and performance poet. Flowers’s hyper-vernacular language, swinging rhythms, and conspiratorial first-person tone lend his words a vivacity that is nearly audible. He weaves the entire history of the enslavement of black Americans into King’s story, refers to unspecified gods taking an interest in affairs, and comments on King’s speeches with impressive insight. Brilliant and engaging, Flowers’s composition should be added to the MLK canon. The art is by a scroll painter from a small village in Bengal, India, who had never heard of Dr. King prior to this project. In some ways, this is a successful pairing. The vivid colors and bold forms of Patua are appropriately emphatic, and the naive style matches Flowers’s references to “hoodoo” and his chosen narrative persona, Rickydoc Trickmaster. However, the images are repetitive, and it can be difficult to distinguish individuals. People often appear to be wearing inappropriately peaceful expressions; this, readers are informed in the back matter, is a characteristic of Patua style but might be puzzling for young people. Design also plays an important role. Images are cut into pieces for emphasis, text is artfully placed in blocks that not only enhance readability but also reinforce the counterpoint between narrative and commentary. A colorful and passionate addition to the Martin Luther King, Jr., bookshelf, perhaps best suited to classroom use.–Paula Willey, Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, MD

O’CONNOR , George. Poseidon: Earth Shaker. Bk. 5. illus. by author. 76p. (Olympians Series). bibliog. charts. further reading. notes. websites. First Second. Mar. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-828-6; pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-738-8.
Gr 6 Up–O’Connor’s dramatic first-person interpretation of Poseidon’s story will both fascinate readers and generate some empathy for this god who was more feared than loved. The illustrations are colorful, eye-catching, and filled with life. The artist’s visual and stylistic choices in breaking up the panels to illustrate Theseus and the Minotaur inside the labyrinth are especially delightful. Poseidon’s tale is the story of a dysfunctional family with a large number of monstrous children, and this book will send readers scrambling for the closest copy of Edith Hamilton’s Mythology to read more about the other characters mentioned. Luckily, O’Connor includes an Olympian family tree and lists of recommended books and websites to help readers delve further into their stories. This is a compelling page-turner for readers unfamiliar with the myths as well as for kids who love mythology but would like to see it brought to life in a new way.–Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library

MCKAY , Sharon E. War Brothers: The Graphic Novel. illus. by Daniel Lafrance. 176p. Annick. 2013. PLB $27.95. ISBN 978-1-55451-489-2; pap. $18.95. ISBN 978-1-55451-488-5.
Gr 9 Up–In this devastatingly realistic graphic novel, 14-year-old Jacob and his friends are just starting school at George Jones Seminary for Boys. The story tells of their subsequent kidnapping and near induction into the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Complete innocents at first, the boys endure near starvation, grueling conditions, and physical violence as they travel out of northern Uganda and into Sudan. Many of their experiences are difficult to read, including an incident involving Tony, Jacob’s best friend from his village, who is forced to kill an injured boy or face mutilation. Still, what went on in this part of this world in the early 2000s is an important global issue for people of all ages to be aware of, and these boys prove to be a good entry point into a difficult subject. Although War Brothers, adapted from the author’s prose novel Puffin, 2008), is fiction, it is based on interviews with survivors; “everything that happened in this book has happening, and is happening still.” With his first graphic novel, Lafrance’s watercolor artwork truly shines, depicting many close-ups that convey the deep emotions that the characters are going through, whether it be the naïve innocence of Jacob, the confliction of Tony, or the psychotic aggression of their LRA kidnappers. A truly important work that is well worth the read.–Ryan P. Donovan, New York Public Library

For all the latest reviews in this subject area and more, check out our new Book Verdict site! Book Verdict is fully accessible to all users, though certain content and functionality are only available to subscribers.To log in to your account, click here. To view the new subscription options, Get Started With Book Verdict ProToday.Don’t know if you have an account with us? It’s easy to check and verify your email, or create a new account.

The following titles are reviewed in the March print issue. Visit Book Verdict for the full reviews.

Elementary and Middle School

BYRNE , Eugene. Darwin. illus. by Simon Gurr. 104p. bibliog. websites. Smithsonian. 2013. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-58834-352-9.

COSBY, Nate . Cow Boy: A Boy and His Horse . illus. by Chris Eliopoulos. 96p. Archaia Entertainment. 2012. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-1-9363-9367-1.

GRINE , Chris. ChickenHare. illus. by author. 160p. Scholastic/Graphix. 2013. pap. $10.99. ISBN 978-0-545-48508-1. LC 2012936214.

HELFAND , Lewis. Abraham Lincoln. illus. by Manikandan. 108p. Campfire. 2013. pap. $12.99. ISBN 978-93-80741-21-5.

KINNEY , Sarah & Stefan Petrucha. Small Volcanoes. Bk. 1. illus. by Stan Goldberg. 64p. (Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew Series). Papercutz. 2012. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-1-59707-354-7; Tr $10.99. ISBN 978-1-59707-355-4.

LINDGREN , Astrid. Pippi Moves In! tr. from Swedish by Tiina Nunnally. illus. by Ingrid Vang Nyman. 56p. Drawn & Quarterly. 2012. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-1-77046-099-7.

MCCRANIE , Stephen. Belly Flop! Bk. 3. illus. by author. 224p. (Mal and Chad Series). Philomel. 2012. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-399-25658-5.

MUCHAMORE , Robert. The Recruit: The Graphic Novel. illus. by John Aggs. 176p. (CHERUB Series). Hodder, dist. by Trafalgar Square. Apr. 2013. pap. $12.99. ISBN 978-1-4449-0318-8.

SMILEY , Jess Smart. Upside Down: A Vampire Tale. Bk. 1. illus. by author. 144p. Top Shelf. 2012. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-60309-088-9.

TANEJA , Shweta. Krishna: Defender of Dharma. illus. by Rajesh Nagulakonda. 152p. Campfire. 2013. pap. $14.99. ISBN 978-93-80741-12-3.

High School

SAKISAKA , Io. Strobe Edge. Bk. 1. illus. by author. 200p. Shojo Beat. 2012. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4215-5068-8.

SHAPIRO , Howard. The Stereotypical Freaks. illus. by Joe Pekar. 140p. Animal Media. 2012. pap. $11.95. ISBN 978-0-578-11217-6; ebook $4.95. ISBN 978-0-578-11218-3.

THUNG , Diana. August Moon. illus. by author. 320p. Top Shelf. 2012. pap. $14.95. ISBN 978-1-60309-069-8.

DEUTSCH

DUPRAU, Jeanne. The City of Ember: The Graphic Novel. adapted by Dallas Middaugh. illus. by Niklas Asker. 144p. CIP. Random. 2012. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-0-375-86821-4; PLB $21.99. ISBN 978-0-375-96821-1; pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-375-86793-4; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97910-0. LC 2011051619.
Gr 5-8–Lina and Doon have spent their entire lives surrounded by darkness. Lina is an optimist and a dreamer who just knows there is something beyond the city of her birth. Doon is much more practical. He knows that if he can just get a good look underground, he can fix the city’s constant blackout problem. A chance encounter on Assignment Day allows the two children to meet and exchange jobs, essentially giving the other what they’ve always wanted. They start to unearth an evil plot by the city’s obese and greedy mayor to steal away precious resources from the people who live there. Using clues left behind by Lina’s late grandmother, they travel beneath Ember’s tunnels in a desperate attempt to find a way out. Based on DuPrau’s novel (Random, 2003), the story brings the city of Ember to life using many muted yellows and earth tones. While the interior vantage points from Lina’s and Doon’s perspectives make Ember’s public buildings and homes seem large, advanced exterior shots surrounded entirely in black give readers a sense of just how isolated Ember is. Lina’s wonder and Doon’s frustration are easily visible through Asker’s skill in detailing facial expressions, helping to visually elevate a story literally besieged by shadows. Dystopian stories can be dark, and this one is literally so, but its ultimately hopeful message will resonate.–Ryan P. Donovan, New York Public Library

TELGEMEIER, Raina. Drama. illus. by author. 238p. bibliog. CIP. Scholastic Graphix. 2012. Tr $23.99. ISBN 978-0-545-32698-8; pap. $10.99. ISBN 978-0-545-32699-5. LC 2011040748.
Gr 5-8–Callie has ambitious plans for her school’s production of Moon Over Mississippi. She has more to contend with than the logistics of building a working stage cannon, though, including the tension between stage crew and actors and her confusion about her new friend, Jesse. Does he like her, or is he gay like his twin brother? Telgemeier deftly portrays the ambiguity of sexual identity in the middle-school years in a story that simultaneously appeals to that audience. Callie is a strong character, confident in her ability as an artist and warm and friendly to her peers. She and her fellow students grin frequently, to the point of seeming unrealistically well adjusted. More often, however, Telgemeier is just showing the best side of teens. “Keep it professional,” the stage crew head tells the group, and they do. The full-color cartoon-style illustrations are graceful, assured, and, along with the twists and turns of the plot, guarantee an entertaining and enlightening read.–Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn Public Library, NY

For all the latest reviews in this subject area and more, check out our new Book Verdict site! Book Verdict is fully accessible to all users, though certain content and functionality are only available to subscribers.To log in to your account, click here. To view the new subscription options, Get Started With Book Verdict Pro Today.

Don’t know if you have an account with us? It’s easy to check and verify your email, or create a new account.

The following titles are reviewed in the November 1 print issue. Visit Book Verdict for the full reviews.

Elementary and Middle School

COLFER, Eoin. The Supernaturalist: The Graphic Novel. illus. by Giovanni Rigano. 128p. CIP. Hyperion/Disney. 2012. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-0-7868-4879-9; pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-7868-4880-5. LC 2012003835.

GIALLONGO, Zack. Broxo. illus. by author. 240p. First Second. 2012. pap. $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-551-3.

L’ENGLE, Madeline. A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel. adapted by Hope Larson. illus. by adapter. 392p. CIP. Farrar/Margaret Ferguson. 2012. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-0-374-38615-3. LC 2010044120.

MODAN, Rutu. Maya Makes a Mess. illus. by author. 32p. Toon Bks. 2012. RTE $12.95. ISBN 978-1-935179-17-7.

RIOUX, Jo. The Golden Twine. Bk. 1. illus. by author. 112p. (Cat’s Cradle Series). Kids Can. 2012. RTE $17.95. ISBN 978-1-55453-636-8; pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-55453-637-5.

ROBERTS, Steven. Bigfoot! ISBN 978-1-4488-7901-4; ISBN 978-1-4488-8001-0. LC 2012002150.
–––– . Chupacabras! ISBN 978-1-4488-7902-1; ISBN 978-1-4488-8002-7. LC 2012004337.
–––– . Dragons! ISBN 978-1-4488-7903-8; ISBN 978-1-4488-8003-4. LC 2012001909.
–––– . The Loch Ness Monster! ISBN 978-1-4488-7904-5; ISBN 978-1-4488-8004-1. LC 2012005776.
–––– . Vampires! ISBN 978-1-4488-7906-9; ISBN 978-1-4488-8006-5. LC 2011047508.
–––– . The Yeti! ISBN 978-1-4488-7905-2; ISBN 978-1-4488-8005-8. LC 2012005786 .
ea vol: 24p. (Jr. Graphic Monster Stories Series). glossary. index. websites. CIP. Rosen/PowerKids Pr. 2012. PLB $25.25; pap. $10.60.

TATULLI, Mark. Li o : There’s a Monster in My Socks. Bk. 1. illus. by author. 224p. (Amp! Comics for Kids Series). Andrews McMeel. 2012. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4494-2304-9.

TORRES, J. Into the Woods. Bk. 1. illus. by Faith Erin Hicks. 100p. (Bigfoot Boy Series). Kids Can. 2012. RTE $17.95. ISBN 978-1-55453-711-2.

GIALLONGO, Zack. Broxo. First Second. October 2012. pap. $16.99. ISBN 9781596435513.

Gr 5 Up—Tough-talking Princess Zora arrives in a strange land hoping to negotiate with the local tribe and unite them with her kingdom. But the tribe has been reduced to man-eating zombies, and Zora must team up with the sole survivor, a boy named Broxo, to fight them—and assorted other monsters.

ROSCA, Madeleine. The Clockwork Sky, vol. 1. Tor. September 2012. pap. $10.99. ISBN 9780765329165.

Gr 6 Up—A feisty girl teams up with a robot policeman to solve the mystery of a spate of missing children in a steampunk version of 1890s London. Rosca, the creator of Hollow Fields, has a knack for creating convincing characters—and machines.

YOLEN, Jane. Curses! Foiled Again. Illustrated by Mike Cavallaro. First Second. January 2013. pap. $15.99. ISBN 9781596436190.

Gr 8 Up—In Foiled, fencing student Aliera Carstairs was swept away into a fantasy world when she put on her mask in Grand Central Station. In this sequel, she’s off on more adventures, this time with her wheelchair-using cousin Caroline by her side.

NORDLING, Lee, et al. Once Upon a Time Machine. Dark Horse. October 2012. pap. $24.99. ISBN 9781616550400.

Gr 7 Up—An anthology of traditional stories such as John Henry, Snow White, and The Last Leaf, retold in a sci-fi setting by an array of up-and-coming creators.

MACK, Stan. Taxes, the Tea Party, and Those Revolting Rebels. NBM. September 2012. Hardcover. $14.99. ISBN 9781561636976.

Gr 7 Up—An accurate but irreverent retelling of the American Revolution and the events that led up to it. Mack’s colonists talk like real people—with attitude—which helps bring the facts of history down to earth in a way modern readers can relate to.

POMPLUN, Tom, ed. Halloween Classics. Eureka Productions. October 2012. pap. $17.95. ISBN 9780982563052.

Gr 7 Up—Scary stories from Washington Irving, Mark Twain, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and H. P. Lovecraft, plus a comics adaptation of the silent film The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari, adapted by a variety of creators and tied together by a narrator who’s straight out of EC Comics. This is volume 23 of the Graphic Classics series of anthologies.

RUSSELL, Gary, et al. Doctor Who Omnibus, vol. 1. IDW. January 2013. pap. $29.99. ISBN 9781613773482.

Gr 7 Up—This 420-page omnibus collects several story arcs that have appeared as individual comics and in trades, all featuring the Tenth Doctor: “Agent Provocateur,” “Through Time and Space,” and “The Forgotten.”

SUENOBU, Keiko. The Limit, vol. 1. Vertical. October 2012. pap. $10.95. ISBN 9781935654568.

Gr 8 Up—The Limit has the look of traditional shoujo manga, but the story is closer to Lord of the Flies: A busload of high school children goes over a cliff, killing most of them and upending the social order. It’s a dark book with quite a bit of violence, but it’s also an unsparing look at bullying and cliques. Suenobu is the author of Life, a manga that dealt with cutting and was published by Tokyopop.

YAZAWA, Ai. Paradise Kiss, vol. 1. Vertical. September 2012. pap. $19.95. ISBN 9781935654711.

Gr 11 Up—A group of fashion students recruit a dutiful, overworked high school student to be their model, and she begins to question her choices in life. Tokyopop released this as a five-volume series in the mid-2000s; Vertical’s three-volume edition has a larger format and a new translation. Sexual situations and innuendo make this a better choice for older teens.

RICE, Anne. Interview with the Vampire: Claudia’s Story. Ill. by Ashley Witter. Yen Press. November 2012. $19.99. pap. ISBN 9780316176361.

Gr 11 Up—A retelling of Rice’s classic vampire novel Interview with the Vampire through the eyes of Claudia, one of the characters in the original, who has an adult personality but is trapped in a child’s body.

HATKE , Ben. Legends of Zita the Spacegirl. illus. by author. 224p. First Second. Sept. 2012. pap. $12.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-447-9; Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-806-4.
Gr 3-6–Hatke has again conjured up a rich and satisfying story with enchanting characters and delightful humor. Lumponians are seeking Zita’s help to save their planet from the dangerous invasion of star hearts that will strip a planet to its bedrock. Convinced that she is their only hope, they offer as payment the remaining jump crystal that will allow her to return home. They happen upon a robot masquerading as Zita and employ this counterfeit hero to save them. While Zita does save the Lumponians and her rivalry with robot Zita is nicely resolved, the story is obviously a setup for further adventures as she must rescue her companion mouse. Hatke’s humor is in top form, including the creation of dialects with unique spellings and language that perfectly capture the each character’s personality. Even robots have a language. Wordplay is omnipresent, such as names based on musical terms, and the star-hearts invasion being described as a “heart attack.” Inventive sound effects such as “scootch” and “snuffle” and the gift of a “slap in a box” are among the many bon mots youngsters will savor. The characters’ expressive faces are given a charm and attention to detail that will captivate readers of all ages, and the beautifully illuminated images of space inspire awe. Legends offers a parody of celebrity status and gently explores the question of notoriety versus heroism. Fans of Zita’s adventures will relish this installment.–Babara M. Moon, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, NY

MARTÍNEZ , Andrés Vera & Na Liu . Little White Duck: A Childhood in China. illus. by Andrés Vera Martínez. 108p. chron. glossary. CIP. Lerner/Graphic Universe. Oct. 2012. RTE $29.27. ISBN 978-0-7613-6587-7; pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-0-7613-8115-0; ebook $21.95. ISBN 978-0-7613-7963-8. LC 2011005347.
Gr 4 Up–Based on her childhood experiences, Na Liu and her husband have created a rich, multilayered memoir, incorporating history, geography, language, culture, and mythology into eight short stories; then weaving them together to create an exquisite tapestry of life in China during the 1970s. The work follows a logical progression, capturing youthful experiences against a broad Chinese landscape. Background information establishes each story and seamlessly segues into personal reminiscence, with excellent interweaving of each section. For example, the introductory dream sequence features Na Liu and her sister flying on a crane’s back over panoramic China. The first narrative panel depicts the girls’ awakening, with a painting of a white crane visible behind their bed. Mythological origins of New Year transition into an account of the family’s celebration, with red banners and a dragon puppet echoing the colors and patterns from the previous holiday description. Scenes of daily life are juxtapostioned against the political climate, retelling simple stories through comic panels that can be enjoyed by young readers, but also delivering interesting perspectives and biting commentary on social issues. The grim realities of government propaganda, social class, and family dynamics make the memoir even more poignant. Humor, as well as the plays on words, enlivens many of the sections. The children’s expressive faces provide a personal reaction to these contrasting points of view. This picturesque treasure introduces Chinese culture through a personal perspective that is both delightful and thought-provoking.–Babara M. Moon, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, NY

TENNAPEL , Doug. Cardboard. illus. by author. 288p. Scholastic/Graphix. 2012. Tr $24.99. ISBN 978-0-545-41872-0; pap. $12.99. ISBN 978-0-545-41873-7. LC 2011934533.
Gr 4-6–Cam’s unemployed father can only afford a cardboard box for his son’s birthday present. However, this cardboard is special: it animates itself. A cardboard boxer becomes a man called Bill, a magic cardboard machine actually spits out new pieces of magic cardboard, and a figure of Cam’s dead mother chastises his father for not moving on. This cardboard powerfully projects the thoughts and desires of its users and becomes dangerous when Cam’s wealthy, spoiled neighbor, Marcus, uses it to create an army of monsters. Rich colors printed on glossy pages, along with dramatic cuts between panels, give the comic a cinematic feel, and the illustrations’ sharp angles and sinewy lines are striking. This action-filled adventure is not only highly entertaining, but also contains provocative points about the power of imagination. The ending, in which a reformed Marcus has shed his goth stylings and Cam’s father has found a job and a girlfriend, is a little too tidy, but this is a thoughtful and gripping read.–Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn Public Library, NY

For all the latest reviews in this subject area and more, check out our new Book Verdict site! Book Verdict is fully accessible to all users, though certain content and functionality are only available to subscribers.To log in to your account, click here. To view the new subscription options, Get Started With Book Verdict ProToday.Don’t know if you have an account with us? It’s easy to check and verify your email, or create a new account.

Elementary and Middle School

ADLER, David A. Cam Jansen and the Millionaire Mystery. illus. by Joy Allen. 64p. (Cam Jansen Series). Viking. 2012. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-0-670-01258-9.
Gr 2-4

ARNOLD, Tedd. There’s a Fly Guy in My Soup. Bk. 12. illus. by author. 32p. (Fly Guy Series). Scholastic/Cartwheel. 2012. Tr $6.99. ISBN 978-0-545-31284-4. LC 201200801. K-Gr 2

BACCALARIO, P. D. Dragon of Seas. Bk. 4. tr. from Italian by Leah D. Janeczko. 302p. (Century Quartet Series). Random. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-375-85898-7; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-375-95898-4; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89229-5. LC 2011031018. Gr 5-9

BEIL, Michael D. The Secret Cellar. 274p. (The Red Blazer Girls Series). Knopf. Oct. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-375-86741-5; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-375-96741-2; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89790-0. Gr 5-8

BLACK, Kat. A Templar’s Destiny. Bk. 3. 256p. (The Book of Tormod Series). Scholastic. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-545-05677-9. Gr 6-9

COVEN, Wanda. Heidi Heckelbeck in Disguise. Bk. 4. illus. by Priscilla Burris. 128p. (Heidi Heckelbeck Series). S & S/Little Simon. 2012. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-4169-9. LC 201102032. Gr 1-3

COWELL, Cressida. How to Steal a Dragon’s Sword. Bk. 9. 342p. (How to Train Your Dragon Series). Little, Brown. 2012. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-316-20571-9. Gr 3-5

DELANEY, Joseph. Lure of the Dead. Bk. 10. illus. by Patrick Arrasmith. 432p. (The Last Apprentice Series). HarperCollins/Greenwillow. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-202760-3. LC 2012017728. Gr 5-8

GIFF, Patricia Reilly. Super Surprise. Bk. 6. illus. by Alasdair Bright. 80p. (Zigzag Kids Series). Random/Wendy Lamb Bks. 2012. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-385-73890-3. LC 2011034342. Gr 2-4

GRANT, Michael. The Key. Bk. 3. 288p. (The Magnificent 12 Series). HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Bks. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-183370-1. LC 2012012715. Gr 4-7

HARRIS, M.G. Zero Moment. 368p. (The Joshua Files Series). Walker. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-8027-2835-7. LC 2011038058. Gr 5-8

KIBUISHI, Kazu. Prince of the Elves. Bk. 5. illus. by author. 208p. (Amulet Series). Scholastic/Graphix. 2012. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-545-20889-5. LC 2012935527. Gr 4 Up

LEWMAN, David. The Case of the Disappearing Dogs. Bk. 3. 160p. (Club CSI Series). S & S/Simon Spotlight. 2012. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-4671-7; pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-3396-0; ebook $5.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-6689-0. LC 2012931484. Gr 4-7

MCNAMEE, Eoin. The Ghost Roads. 336p. (The Ring of Five Series). Random/Wendy Lamb Bks. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-385-73821-7. LC 2012001197. Gr 5-9

MYKLUSCH, Matt. The End of Infinity. Bk. 3. 416p. (A Jack Blank Adventure). S & S/Aladdin. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-9567-8. LC 2012000861. Gr 5-8

OSBORNE, Mary Pope. A Perfect Time for Pandas. Bk. 48. illus. by Sal Murdocca. 128p. (Magic Tree House Series). Random. 2012. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-375-8626-9. Gr 2-4

PARISH, Herman. Amelia Bedelia Sleeps Over. illus. by Lynne Avril. 32p. (Amelia Bedelia Series). HarperCollins/Greenwillow. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-209524-4; pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-0-06-209523-7. LC 2012006186. Gr 1-3

RIORDAN, Rick. The Serpent’s Shadow. Bk. 3. 416p. (The Kane Chronicles). Hyperion/Disney. 2012. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-4057-3. Gr 4-9

SALISBURY, Graham. Calvin Coconut: Rocket Ride. illus. by Jacqueline Rogers. 150p. Random/Wendy Lamb Bks. 2012. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-385-73965-8; PLB $15.99. ISBN 978-0-385-90799-6; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89798-6. Gr 3-4

SOBOL, Donald J. Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Soccer Scheme. illus. by James Bernardin. 128p. (Encyclopedia Brown Series). Dutton. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-525-42582-3. LC 2011049551. Gr 3-5

SOUP, Cuthbert. No Other Story. Bk. 3. illus. by Jeffrey Stewart Timmins. 304p. Bloomsbury. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59990-824-3. Gr 4-7

TANNER, Lian. Path of Beasts. Bk. 3. 288p. (The Keepers Trilogy). Delacorte. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-385-73907-8; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-385-90770-5. Gr 4-8

High School

CRAWFORD, Brent. Carter’s Unfocused, One-Track Mind. 304p. Hyperion/Disney. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-14231445-8. LC 2012001231. Gr 7-10

DELSOL, Wendy. Flock. 400p. Candlewick. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6010-9.
Gr 7 Up

HENDERSON, Jason. The Triumph of Death. Bk. 3. 320p. (The Alex Van Helsing Series). HarperTeen. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-195103-9. Gr 7 Up

HIGSON, Charlie. The Fear. Bk. 3. 496p. (The Enemy Series). Hyperion/Disney. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781423134237. Gr 7 Up

JOBLING, Curtis. Shadow of the Hawk. Bk. 3. 496p. (Wereworld Series). Viking. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-670-78455-4. Gr 6-8

JORDAN, Sophie. Hidden. Bk. 3. 272p. (A Firelight Novel). HarperCollins/Harper. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-193512-1; ebook $9.99. ISBN 9780-0-62-19016-1.
Gr 7 Up

MEYER, L. A. Viva Jacquelina! 360p. (Bloody Jack Adventure Series). Houghton Harcourt. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-547-76350-7. Gr 7-9

NORTH, Pearl. The Book of the Night. Bk. 3. 304p. (Libyrinth Trilogy). Tor. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-7653-2098-8. Gr 9 Up

SLADE, Arthur. Island of Doom. Bk. 4. 308p. (The Hunchback Assignments Series). Random/Wendy Lamb Bks. 2012. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-385-73787-6; PLB $18.99. ISBN 978-0-385-90697-5; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-385-90697-5. Gr 7-10

SHEPARD, Sara. Hide and Seek. Bk. 4. 390p. (The Lying Game Series). HarperTeen. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-186976-1; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-208415-6. Gr 9 Up

TIERNAN, Cate. Eternally Yours. 455p. (Immortal Beloved Series). Little, Brown/Poppy. Nov. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-316-03596-5. Gr 10 Up

Graphic Novels

KROSOCZKA, Jarrett J. Lunch Lady and the Picture Day Peril. Bk. 8. illus. by author. 96p. (Lunch Lady Series). Knopf. 2012. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-375-87035-4. LC 2011047994. Gr 3-5

PEIRCE, Lincoln. Big Nate: Here Goes Nothing. illus. by author. 224p. (Big Nate Series). HarperCollins/Harper. 2012. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-20869-9. LC 2012934240. Gr 3-6

SPIRES, Ashley. Binky Takes Charge. Bk. 4. illus. by author. 64p. (A Binky Adventure). Kids Can. 2012. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-55453-703-7; pap. $8.95. ISBN 978-1-55453-768-6. Gr 1-4

STILTON, Geronimo. Return of the Vampire. Bk. 4. illus. by Ivan Bigarella and Daria Cerchi. 128p. (Creepella von Cacklefur Series). Scholastic. 2012. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-545-39348-5. Gr 2-4

VENABLE, Colleen AF. Raining Cats and Detectives. Bk. 5. illus. by Stephanie Yue. 48p. (Guinea PIG, Pet Shop Private Eye Series). Lerner/Graphic Universe. 2012. PLB $27.93. ISBN 978-0-7613-6008-7; pap. $6.95. ISBN 978-0-7613-8541-7. LC 2011021626. Gr 2-4

Movie Novelization

Greg Cox’s The Dark Knight Rises (Titan, 2012; Gr 9 Up) provides a gripping recounting of the movie’s plot. The story unfolds on a scale both epic and intimate, as the citizens of Gotham are threatened by a ruthless terrorist named Bane and his army of followers, and Bruce Wayne struggles for balance between his own existence and that of his alter ego. Written with a sense of gritty realism, the accessible narrative has a pared-down quality that keeps the pages turning quickly. Action scenes, large-scale skirmishes, and fist-to-fist confrontations are described with suspenseful rat-a-tat pacing, while dialogue exchanges and moments of introspection reveal the characters’ back stories and personal motivations.

Though violence is an integral part of the telling (and there is some strong language), it is not gratuitous, and malicious schemes are countered by the actions of altruistic individuals and the emergence of unexpected heroes. The point of view shifts among the players, providing readers with a broad IMAX-style perspective as the various story lines develop and intersect; plot twists are foreshadowed but kept tightly shrouded until the appropriate time, building toward a thrilling conclusion. Teens will be drawn in by the movie-poster cover—the enigmatic Caped Crusader silhouetted against the fiery profile of a bat emblazoned in the Gotham sky—and satisfied by the book’s explosive action and solid storytelling.

Tools of the Trade

The Dark Knight Manual (Insight Editions, 2012; Gr 6 Up) reveals the inner workings of Batman’s clandestine world with full-color photos from the film trilogy, plentiful illustrations and diagrams, and a vault-load of “classified” documents. Purportedly compiled by Bruce Wayne, this scrapbook-style volume fittingly opens with the police case file on his parents’ murder, followed by a Gotham Post front page featuring a “Chaos Sweeps Gotham” headline and photo of a triumphant Bane. In subsequent sections, Batman describes his training in various fighting techniques (under the tutelage of the nefarious Rā’s al Ghul), the secrets of his subterranean base (including detailed blueprints and a removable map), his suit (illustrated with design sketches and a flip-through progression of its multiple layers), weaponry (there’s even an inset manual for his trademark grappling gun), and state-of-the-art vehicles (plans, diagrams, schematics, and cock-pit views).

The book ends with dossiers about Harvey Dent, the Scarecrow, and the Joker, and brief bios of other villains and allies. Hand-written Post-it notes are scattered throughout, and a large fold-out map of Gotham City completes the package. Movie plot elements, character relationships, and plenty of Batman background are woven into the first-person text, and the “official” materials are carefully detailed and believably designed. Though keeping track of the removable items might be a challenge for libraries, this is great browser for movie fans.

A Look Behind the Scenes

Jody Duncan Jesser and Janine Pourroy provide an opulently illustrated and insightfully written overview of The Art and Making of the Dark Knight Trilogy (Abrams, 2012; Gr 8 Up). This handsome oversize volume details the creative process for all three movies-Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), and The Dark Knight Rises (2012)-focusing on the challenges unique to each film, making contrasts and comparisons, and tracing the evolution of both the story and the behind-the-camera artistry. A prologue sets the scene, delineating the inspirations for a film franchise envisioned to be “more classical drama than super hero fluff” and a Batman who is not “a one-dimensional comic book hero in black tights, cape, and bat ears, but rather a complex, multidimensional human being, a real man struggling to overcome life’s tragedies and his own inner demons.”

Filled with commentary from movie creators, the well-organized chapters provide an insider’s view of the complete creative process from screenplay, casting, and production design to on-set filming and the final touches of post-production. Readers get the skinny on all manner of movie marvels, including the creation of the villainous Two-Face’s half-burned visage, the shooting of an action sequence showing an 18-wheeler truck flipping over (end to end) on a city street, and the filming of the final movie’s football stadium sequence on location at Heinz Field with nearly 12,000 extras and the Pittsburgh Steelers. They also get a clear idea of Christopher Nolan’s vision for the trilogy (every element, from the smallest detail of costume to major plot points, was required to fit into the realistic world that he has conceptualized), his hands-on style of directing, and his determination to push beyond the traditional limits of filmmaking.

The spectacular large-size photos include dramatic movie stills, on-set images of cast and crew, close-ups of costumes and props, and more. Concept artwork, storyboards, costume designs, set plans, and reproductions of referenced comic book illustrations also adorn the pages. Whether thumbed through or consumed cover to cover, this volume is a must-read for Dark Knight devotees and also deserves a place in collections focused on the history of film and filmmaking.

Batman’s Wheels

Mark Cotta Vaz shines the spotlight on one of the Caped Crusader’s most defining aspects, the Batmobile (Insight Editions, 2012; Gr 8 Up). From its first appearance as a cherry-red sedan in the 1940s comics, through its numerous incarnations on comic-book pages and in media formats (TV and movies), to the tough-looking Tumbler of Nolan’s film trilogy, the evolution of Batman’s crime-fighting vehicle is clearly recounted, revealing how the “Batmobile has changed with the times and reflects the times, like the Dark Knight himself.” The well-written text places this icon in the broader context of the Batman universe and in popular culture, while also zooming in on the specifics of the design concepts and challenges behind creating particular incarnations, such as the familiar convertible with the double-bubble windshield from the 1960s TV show, or the elegantly streamlined yet menacing-looking machine for Tim Burton’s Batman. Commentary from comics creators, movie directors and producers, and even stuntman drivers add interest and behind-the-wheel insights. Abundant and stunning, illustrations include reproductions from comic books, film photos, blue prints, concept artwork, and even a fold-out image of the Tumbler. A fascinating read.

See also round up of Batman graphic novels sure to entice teen movie viewers.

Publication Information

COX, Greg. The Dark Knight Rises: The Official Movie Novelization. Based on the screenplay by Jonathan Nolan & Christopher Nolan. Titan. 2012. pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-1781161067.

The Dark Knight Manual: Tools, Weapons, Vehicles & Documents from the Batcave. Text by Brandon T. Snider. Insight Editions. 2012. Tr $40. ISBN 978-1-60887-104-9.

JESSER, Jody Duncan & Janine Pourroy. The Art and Making of The Dark Knight Trilogy. Abrams. 2012. Tr $40. ISBN 978-1-4197-0369-0.

COTTA VAZ, Mark. Batmobile: The Complete History. Insight Editions. 2012. Tr $35. ISBN 978-1-60887-103-2.