Spring Graphic Novels - Imagination Runs Riot!
RSSBrigid Alverson -- School Library Journal, 04/07/2010
Originality is the key to this spring’s graphic novels, which feature high school witches, a would-be astronaut with a ghostly companion, and a surprising look at Lincoln’s assassin. Even the Easter bunny gets a turn in the spotlight. Here’s a look at some of the highlights:
YOLEN, Jane. Foiled. illus. by Mike Cavallaro. First Second. April 2010. Unpaged. $15.99. ISBN:978-1-59643-279-8.
Gr. 6 up. Aliera Carstairs is shy and awkward at school but skilled and confident when she’s fencing. She even thinks of her budding romance with a classmate in terms of fencing maneuvers. But when they go on their first date, she’s suddenly thrust into a fantasy world where she must use her skills and her weapon in a real battle.
ALLEN, Brooke A. A Home for Mr. Easter. illus. by author. 208 p. NBM Publishing. April 2010. $13.99. ISBN 978-1-56163-580-1.
Gr. 7 up. Tesana is overweight but strong, and when the other kids make fun of her she gets into fights. When Tesana finds a real Easter bunny, she decides she must bring him home, starting a chase that results in all sorts of mayhem. Funny, original, and crammed with quirky but believable characters.
JABLONSKI, Carla. Resistance, Book 1. illus. by Leland Purvis. 128 p. First Second. April 2010. $16.99. ISBN: 978-1-59643-291-8.
Gr. 7 up. A brother and sister in occupied France team up with the Resistance to reunite their Jewish friend with his parents. What starts as an adventure becomes more and more serious as they see the brutality of the Nazis along their journey in this nuanced and insightful story.
CLAMP. Kobato, vols. 1 and 2. illus. by authors. 192 p. Yen Press. May 2010. $10.99. ISBN 978-0-316-08536-6 (vol. 1), 978-0-316-08540-3 (vol. 2).
Gr. 8 up. Super-cute Kobato heals broken hearts with the help of her sidekick, a plush dog with a serious attitude problem. This is the most recent series by manga collaborative CLAMP, the creators of Cardcaptor Sakura, xxxHoLiC, and Tsubasa.
MEYER, Stephenie. Twilight the Graphic Novel, vol. 1. illus. by Young Kim. 224 p. Yen Press. March 2010. $19.99. ISBN: 978-0-7595-2943-4.
Gr. 8 up. The graphic novel adaptation of Meyer’s best-selling tale of teenage longing and vampire romance. Although this book has its flaws, it conveys the essence of Meyer’s novel without the long descriptive passages that are stumbling blocks to some readers. Kim’s polished art has a fashion-magazine look that’s attractive, if a bit cold.
YAGINUMA, Kou. Twin Spica, vol. 1. illus. by author. 192 p. Vertical. May 2010. $10.95. ISBN: 978-1-934287-84-2.
Gr. 8 up. Thirteen-year-old Asumi dreams of being an astronaut, and she begins her training with a rigorous test of temperament as much as skill. Her love of space and her strong personality shine through in loosely related stories about her training, the death of her mother, and the origin of a companion that only she can see.
RICH, Jamie S. Spell Checkers, vol. 1. illus. by Nicholas Hitori de and Joelle Jones. 144 p. Oni Press. April 2010. $11.99. ISBN: 978-1-934964-32-3.
Gr. 8 up. Three bad-girl witches totally dominate high school through unscrupulous use of their magic powers, using spells to cheat on tests, get out of gym, and keep their enemies in check. When a rival starts causing trouble, though, their three-way friendship starts to splinter. References to drugs and sex make this book more appropriate for older teens.
ROMAN, Dave, and Alison Wilgus. The Last Airbender: Prequel: Zuko’s Story. illus. by Nina Matsumoto. 144 p. Del Rey. May 2010. $10.99. ISBN 978-0-345-51854-5.
Gr. 8 up. Former Nick Magazine editor Dave Roman (whose writing credits include X-Men: Misfits), and Eisner-winning artist Nina Matsumoto, creator of the global manga Yokaiden, team up on this tie-in to M. Night Shyamalan’s movie The Last Airbender, which will be released in July. This prequel focuses on Zuko, a Firebender who’s on a quest to find the Avatar after being cast out from his home, the Fire Nation.
KATAOKA, Jinsei. Deadman Wonderland, vol. 1. illus. by Kazuma Kondou. 248 p. Tokyopop. March 2010. $10.99. ISBN 978-1-4278-1741-9
Gr. 11 up. Kafka meets Orwell in this grim fantasy tale of Ganta Igarashi, an innocent boy trapped in a prison-cum-theme park, where the prisoners perform in deadly games to entertain the masses. In this brutal setting, Ganta tries to keep his own humanity while searching for a mysterious “Red Man”—and getting help from a quirky girl who always shows up at just the right time.
YUMI, Kiiro. Library Wars: Love and War, vol. 1. illus. by author. 200 p. Viz. June 2010. $9.99. ISBN: 978-1-4215-3488-6.
Gr. 11 up. In a future Japan, government censors barge into bookstores and confiscate books they disapprove of. The Library Defense Force (LDF) fights back with fists, high kicks, and machine guns. Iku Kasahara is a trainee in the LDF, but a harsh tutor may stand between her and her dream of someday fighting for the freedom of speech. Plenty of action, an engaging heroine, and an interesting premise make this book a good bet for both nerds and rebels.
COLBERT, C. C. Booth. First Second. illus. by Tanitoc. 176 p. First Second. March 2010. $19.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-125-6
