Atwood, Margaret. Angel Catbird, Vol. 2: To Castle Catula. illus. by Johnnie Christmas & Tamra Bonvillain. 80p. Dark Horse. Feb. 2017. Tr $14.99. ISBN 9781506701271.

Gr 7 Up –This volume continues the bizarre tale of Strig, a man who accidentally turned into an owl/cat/man hybrid. His allies, cats and birds—who don’t usually get along—are forced to support one another to defeat a mad scientist who wants rats to take over the world. The narrative is injected with comedy, with various characters making sarcastic asides and the mad scientist frequently making exclamations such as “SQUEE-HEE-HEE!!!” The narrative is reminiscent of a classic superhero comic, with a mix of action, humor, and a ridiculous world domination plot. As in the previous volume, the artwork is filled with color and life and will attract plenty of readers. However, the inclusion of information and website links related to topics such as cat declawing and bird extinctions, usually connected to a relevant plot point, is distracting and tends to interrupt the narrative, making the book feel less like a story and more like a lesson. VERDICT An educational offering about a unique superhero; for larger graphic novel collections or those with fans of the first installment.–Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library

Fajardo, Alexis E. Kid Beowulf: The Song of Roland. illus. by Alexis E. Fajardo. 280p. glossary. (Kid Beowulf: Bk. 2). Andrews McMeel. Feb. 2017. pap. $12.99. ISBN 9781449475901.

Gr 3-6 –Making The Song of Roland into a kid-friendly package is a difficult job, but luckily Beowulf and his twin brother, Grendel, are here to make it easier. The book starts with a quick summary of the epic poem, retold through impressive artwork, then quickly moves to Beowulf and Grendel lost in the forest looking for their Uncle Holger. Those new to the series will have some difficulty here; though there is a much-needed character glossary in the back, there is no introduction to recap the previous volume. Beowulf and Grendel eventually find their uncle and help Roland complete his epic quest to defeat King Marsilion. The plot, much like the source material, is dense and slow paced, but Fajardo injects some humor to keep readers interested. And his reworking of the narrative—for instance, adding a theme park called “Ro-Land”—makes the tale approachable while still staying true to the overall story and characters. The artwork is serviceable, depicting goofy characters with blinding color, but doesn’t match the expert skill shown in the first few panels of the prologue. VERDICT An age-appropriate version of a difficult text. Purchase where the first volume is popular.–Peter Blenski, Greenfield Public Library, WI

Levins, Sandra. Either Way: Story of a Gay Kid. illus. by Euan Cook. 80p. further reading. websites. Magination. Sept. 2016. pap. $14.95. ISBN 9781433823145.

Gr 8 Up –Three story lines converge as Cael comes to understand that he is gay. He has always felt different and been subjected to repeated taunts of “Are you gay?” from his peers. Readers see snippets of the boy’s life from elementary school through what appears to be high school. When Cael reads a book about a gay soldier, he finally feels less alone and eventually comes out. Readers also follow along as Cael and his classmates deliver speeches on the Iowa Supreme Court’s ruling on same-sex marriage; “don’t ask, don’t tell”; the Defense of Marriage Act; states’ rights vs. equal rights; and nationwide marriage equality. These reports are information-heavy, presented in dense, unappealing blocks of text. Excerpts from the book about the gay soldier make up the other third of the narrative. Though overused, the refrain “It’s okay to be gay. Or not. Either way, it’s okay” is affirming and helps offset the ignorant and hateful remarks Cael’s peers make. Cook’s illustrations add much-needed liveliness to the tale and supplement the tale. The ending ties the three pieces of the plot together in an unexpected (though unbelievable) way. VERDICT Although well intentioned, this isn’t so much a story as it is a rudimentary and disjointed look at gay rights; an additional purchase.–Amanda MacGregor, formerly at Great River Regional Library, Saint Cloud, MN

Quinn, Jason. The Beatles: All Our Yesterdays. illus. by Lalit Kumar Sharma. 150p. Campfire. Feb. 2017. pap. $16.99. ISBN 9789381182222.

Gr 8 Up –Echoing the words that Ringo Starr would later make famous (“Got to pay your dues if you wanna sing the blues/And you know it don’t come easy”), this biography that focuses on the Beatles’ early years demonstrates how the band’s eventual success was the result of exhausting hard work and effort in the face of frequent rejection. Though lacking citations or a bibliography, the book is thorough and accurate in its portrayal of the Fab Four’s rise, from childhood and adolescence to their days performing in Hamburg’s debauched Reeperbahn district to their decision to swap out drummer Pete Best for Ringo Starr to their being signed by EMI. Well-known quotations (for instance, the infamous words with which Decca Records rejected the quartet: “Guitar groups are on their way out”) are incorporated, adding to the authenticity. However, readers get only a hazy sense of the individual group members, with the exception of John Lennon, who is portrayed as flip and often boorish but genuinely vulnerable below the surface. Rendered in a typical comic book style, with motion lines and action words (“BANG!” “BOOM-CHA-BOOM!”), the illustrations, while static at times, have an appealing pop art quality, with dramatic close-ups or panels of characters striking exaggerated poses. Profanity is included (but “bleeped out” through the use of symbols), and there is a bit of sexual content (for example, at one point, the boys perform as back-up musicians for strippers), but the nudity is artfully concealed. VERDICT A solid overview of the Beatles’ roots that will entice readers with an interest in music, especially classic rock.–Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal