Graphic-Novel-Loving Librarian Blog

Summary: A man fighting evil in armored suit made of metal. Sounds familiar, right? Except that this one is not as technologically advanced as you might think. As a matter of fact, this one was built during World War II to help fight Nazis. This is the setting where the graphic novel begins. A man in a metal suit shows up on the battlegrounds of Europe to the delight and gratitude of the American troops. We soon learn what the suit can do and why it's an asset. The suit is a powerful weapon and immediately gives the power advantage to the Allied Forces. However, we also discover that the suit is only as good as the man inside. When the suit's operator is harmed and is unable to function, the suit then becomes a liability. It's too heavy and too cumbersome for the soldiers to carry and they can't leave it behind for the Nazis to find, so what do they do? Well, as would be expected, one of the other soldiers, Redding, takes over, but it's not in the manner tha

Summary: We are thrust back in time to the late 1960's in Houston, Texas, where racism still has a strong hold on many of its citizens. Our two main characters have an inter-racial friendship, a friendship that many on both sides of the community do not approve of. Jack is one of the local TV station's news reporters, while Larry is a college instructor, as well as an equal-rights activists. In the beginning the characters are acquaintances, but they soon realize the importance of developing a friendship between each other. Jack sees Larry as someone who can help him do his work as a reporter covering the racial issues of the city, and Larry sees Jack as someone who can bring media attention to their cause. Besides those reasons, both Jack and Larry see their friendship as an example of racial harmony, of co-existence between the races. They both are equal rights advocates, so their friendship would help further their cause. Unfortunately, the occurrences at one of the stag

Summary: The phrase "coming of age" often times means becoming aware of the world around you.  No longer does our attention focus in on our selves and our immediate friends, but to the lives of others who we normally may not have noticed. This is a common experience and many stories are based on them. This One Summer is a perfect example. The main character, Rosie, is a young pre-teen girl who heads to her family summer home, which allows for them to get away, to relax, to slow down. From the beginning though, it's obvious this family get-away is loaded with emotional issues. Naturally, the issues aren't clear, but as the story progresses we gain a little more insight. To add to the already existing emotional drama, Rosie begins to notice a older boy who works at the local convenience store, but as would be expected, he knows very little of Rosie's existence. The young man also has teenage relationship issues, along with his friends, that soon become the lates

Summary: Harry Haft is a survivor. This story talks of how Harry was brought up and how that upbringing helped him to survive not only in the concentration camps but also as a professional boxer in the United States. Harry was a tough man with a tough exterior, who did what he needed to do whenever necessary but even he had a breaking point, even he could only take so much. The story reveals how horrific the conditions were for the Jewish prisoners and how brutally inhumane their treatment was. Harry fought in concentration camp boxing matches for the amusement of the Nazis, who would often kill the loser of those matches. Little did Harry know that this "sport" would keep him alive for a length of period as well as provide a living for him later on in the U.S. But what the reader soon realizes is that there is a cost to his survival and it isn't for the better.  Be forewarned though, in the graphic novel, there are intense, disturbing moments that may make

Summary: This is the origin of The Green Turtle, a 1940s comic book hero, who was initially created by Chu Hing. The Blazing Comics series only lasted 5 issues and his origin was never revealed until now. Gene Luen Yang and Sonny Liew come together in this graphic novel to create his story and to further explain the character.  Chu Hing was an Asian American cartoonist who invented the Green Turtle for Rewl (Rural Home) Publications Inc. The rumor was that he created the Green Turtle to be a Chinese superhero, but his publishers disapproved of that notion. As a way to get back at his publisher, Chu never draws the Green Turtle's face and is always hidden from the readers. Was this because the Green Turtle was Chinese and if so why does he have pink skin? With a little bit of research and a hint of their own imagination, Gene and Sonny pay homage to the Green Turtle by helping to answer some of these questions and to bring Chu Hing's Shadow Hero back to life. The title itsel

Summary: The story of the Halaby family is a remarkable, yet sad one. What is mostly told is the relationship between the family's two brother: Yakov and Isak. From the early days of their childhood, the two brothers have had an estranged relationship and despite the horror, the violence, the frustration, and abuse that surrounds them and their immediate families, the two men obstinately stick to their clashing opinions. The two men are trying their best to raise their families during the 1940s in Jerusalem. This is a time when the conflict between Arabs and Jews was intense and bloody. Members of the families are drawn to the conflict and want to help what they believe to be just causes. However, the two youngest boys on both sides of the family are friends and despite their fathers' quarrel they promise to be friends forever. As the two grow up, Jonathan and Motti discover that that promise becomes difficult to maintain. Reference: Yakin, Boaz; Nick Bertozzi (2013).

Summary: "So you like scary things? Do you want to see something really scary?" That was a line from the movie The Twilight Zone Movie . If you liked that movie, or Goosebumps, then you'll enjoy this book. These stories are meant to scare you and you read it because you like to be scared. Scary Stories scares as you read it and allows you to use their stories to scare your friends. Whether it's a visitor coming down a chimney or the ever-popular man-with-a-hook. But, if you don't like scary things then you should probably skip this book, but if you do like those things then...did you hear that noise? I think it came from the book. I dare you to look inside. Reference: Schwartz, A. (2010). Scary stories to tell in the dark . New York, NY. HarperCollins Children's Books. Impressions: Reading these stories reminded of the The Twilight Zone and the Kolchak: The Night Stalker television series.  These tales were made to frighten you, but they weren't r

Summary: Have you laughed at a good poem lately? Can poems be deliberately funny? Of course they can. Poems can be of love, of sadness, and, in case you weren't expecting it, they can be of humor, too. Rolling in the Aisles is a book of poems that, as the title suggests, leaves you intentionally laughing. The poems cover a variety of topics that may be aimed for kids, but these are poems that many people would find funny. From family, school, hygiene, and even pets, no topic is off base and each poem is heart-warming and funny. This book is a pleasure to read from page to page, giving credence to the notion that poems can be light-hearted and unpredictable.     Reference: Lansky, B. (2011). Rolling in the aisles: A collection of laugh-out-loud poems. New York, NY. Meadowbrook Press. Impressions: I wasn't always a fan of poetry from my school experiences and it wasn't until later when I became a high school teacher that I learned that poetry can be fun.  This book

Summary: Second and third generation minorities are often caught in a dilemma, especially if they are far from their parents' native country. It's a dilemma because they have no connection to their parents' country, but at the same time because of the way they look, they're often considered to be a hyphenated Americans, second class citizens. American Born Chinese tells three different story lines that all wrap up into one. A young boy, Jin, dreams of being a Transformer so that he can become a pale-skinned American, teenager Danny transfers to other schools to hide his true ethnicity, and the Monkey King learns what it takes to be a god. All three tell of individuals just want to fit in, but they all must first learn where acceptance truly begins. Reference: Yang, G. L. (2006). American born Chinese. New York, NY. :01 First Second. Impressions: I was completely mesmerized by this book. I could easily identify with the characters in the book and I'm Mexi

Summary: Where do artist get there ideas; where do their muses come from? Anyone who has dabbled in the arts often times looks to those who came before them and searches for inspiration, hoping to find a spark that pushed others to somehow push them. Every artist has something that helped them pursue their dream and many a budding artist looks to the biographies of others to find a connection to their own lives. Fabulous! does a good job of presenting the life of Andy Warhol to young readers, depicting Andy as a weakling who overcame difficult obstacles to follow his gift. Then with strong explanation of his artistic style and technique, Christensen does well in explaining Andy's artistic expression and influence on others. From soup cans to celebrities, Andy's work is unmistakable. Yes, there are sordid details of his life omitted, but Christensen does an admirable job in simplifying his life. Reference: Christensen, B. (2011). Fabulous! A portrait of Andy Warhol. New Yo

Summary: "The number one book on number two." It's a great phrase to summarize a surprisingly great book about the history of the world and the way it's dealt with its...well, poop. Albee tells how earlier civilizations got rid of their feces and how their ignorance of the diseases brought illnesses and death.  So many cultures handled their waste by dumping it in the nearest river and then gathering that same water to drink from. It's unfortunate that this cycle repeats itself throughout history with the same fatal results.  Albee combines history and trivial facts with humor. Reading about Egyptian, Roman, Greek, and English history in this light was very enlightening and makes the reader appreciative of the current plumbing that we have today. What Albee also points out is that many contemporary third world societies live under the same conditions of the past, suffering from the same diseases and deaths of long ago. Albee hopes that by writing this book she&

Summary : Families always enjoy playing games and sports with each other, because they bring family members closer together. But being able to play for fun is one thing but to do it at the professional level is a remarkable feat. There have been many siblings who have played various professional sports together, whether it was the Ripkens and Griffeys in the MLB or the Wilkens and Grants in the NBA.  But no family has ever been able to field an entire team, that is until the Acerra family.  We learn about the brothers love for the game of baseball, their various individual accomplishments, and more amazingly the numerous family   achievements. Vernick gives us an amusing true account of the family being able to field a professional baseball playing in many leagues for a number of years bringing joy to many baseball fans and families alike.   Reference: Vernick, A. (2012). Brothers at bat: The true story of an amazing all-brother baseball team. New York, NY. Haughton Mifflin Harc

Summary: Have you ever wondered if your parents really are your parents? What if you found out that some people, who have been looking for you for years, say that they're your parents? What would you do? For Janie, this is exactly what happens.  She discovers that the missing person picture on the back of a milk carton is a picture of her when she was young. She even remembers the dress that she's wearing in the missing person picture. Janie is beside herself, not knowing how to react or if to even believe it. At one point she's a regular teenager trying to convince her parents to get her driver's permit the next she's wondering if Janie is her real name. When Janie discovers her true identity and her parents true identity, her questions and problems only grow. If what her parents, now grandparents, say is true that she was for removed from her location for her own safety then why is someone publicly looking for her. When Janie does a little investigating on her

Summary: Were all nursery rhymes fabricated or were they simply unsolved crime mysteries? The only way we can find out is by following Binky. Who's Binky? Well, he's a cop, robbery detail in the Pinecone Division. We get to tag along with Binky as he investigates a break in at the Bears house, a missing person case of a witch who lived in a candy house, and property damage from a giant falling from the sky. See all the popular nursery tale mysteries get solved, where justice is served, and the crime rate in Pinecone drops. Reference: Levinthal, D. & Nickle, J. (2012). Who pushed Humpty Dumpty? And other notorious nursery tale mysteries .  New York, NY. Schwartz & Wade Books. Impressions: This book had me from, "My name's Binky. I'm a cop." I found the stories to be amusing and creative. To re-visit old nursery rhymes as crime mysteries greatly impressed me. I think that this book could be enjoyed by many age groups and not just younger kids.

Summary:  Who wouldn't want to be a half-god?  To be the child of an Olympic god would be awesome with a capital A, right?  Well, as we discover, it isn't as great as we might believe.  If you don't believe me just ask young Percy Jackson.  Percy, or Perseus, is an at-risk student who has a proclivity for trouble, not only at home but also at school.  While he is at school strange instances occur, like a bully who is picking on Percy gets pummeled by a flood of water from a water fountain and while on a field trip to the museum he gets attacked by a Fury. What? A Fury? You read correctly, a Fury; a Greek mythological monster. Though he is able to defeat the Fury, who for some reason tries to kill him, Percy is told by his favorite teacher, Mr. Brunner, that he must leave the city and head to a place called Camp Half-Blood.  It is there that Percy will find the answers to many of his questions, or so he is told.  Ironically, Percy's best friend, Grover, turns out to

Summary: We're all different in our little ways, and we do our best to hide our differences. For some people their differences aren't so easily hidden, which makes some people think that their differences gives them carte blanche to mock them.  In this book by Ellen Potter, 12-year-old Owen is a chubby kid who gets picked on by his classmates and his gym teacher, which often times leaves him feeling dejected and alone. Owen does has a few friends but they aren't the most popular kids in the school either.  To top it all off, his sister, Caitlin has joined a group of girls who are tired of the unequal treatment of girls in the school, and in society, so they decide to give themselves boy's names.  Caitlin insists, then, on being called Jeremy. As if Owen needed more fuel for his tormentors to ignite. However, the most troubling aspect to all of this, is that someone keeps stealing Owen's Oreo cookies from his lunch bag. You can call some people every name in the b

Summary: There's most likely one student in your class who is always trying to make a buck or to try and sell you something.  Well, in this story that's exactly what 12-year-old Greg tries to do, except what he's selling is popular and everybody wants it: comic books.  Greg isn't just selling any comic book, on the contrary, he's selling Chunky Comics.  Greg writes, illustrates, and publishes Chunky Comics all by himself which bring in a good profit, that is until his ultra-competitive neighbor Maura starts to produce her own comics, hording in on Greg's business. Unfortunately, just as Greg and Maura bury the hatchet, another problem arises: their comic books become banned from school.  With the help of a teacher, the two entrepreneurs face the school board and fight against the censorship placed upon them.  In the end, Greg and Maura are victorious and agree to make Chunky Comics together and share the profits with the school. Reference: Clements, A. (2

Summary: I'm sure that at some point in your life you've tried to recall everything you did in one day as you laid down in your bed.  Or you've tried to trace your steps backwards to remember where you place some keys or other important things.  Well, this story does both of those things.  In this tale, as the young bear goes to sleep, the mother bear asks her cub to tell her everything that the cub did that day, but to tell it backwards. The cub starts at the most recent event then traces his steps throughout, all the way to the morning when he had woken up from hibernation.  This most likely tires out the cub and gets him wound down to help him fall asleep. Reference: Lamb, A. (2011). Tell me the day backwards.  Somerville, MA. Candlewick Press. Impressions:  I was touched by this story because I'm a parent of a 4-year-old and I enjoy sharing her discoveries of the world around her, through all the things she sees and experiences.  I could then easily imagine

Summary: In the early years of the 20th Century, Elizabeth Coleman, Bessie, becomes the first African-American female pilot.  The book tells of her story through the narration of different characters in Bessie's life.  From friends, family, and acquaintances, we learn about Bessie as she grew up, her character, and her struggles.  Bessie not only battled sexism from those who believed that women couldn't fly to racism that kept her from being a pilot to non-minorities.  We learn that Bessie had to travel overseas in order to get her pilot license and even after earning it, many wouldn't allow her to fly planes in the U.S.  Unfortunately, after previous close calls, Bessie dies in a plane crash at the young age of 34, never fulfilling her dream of opening a flight school for African Americans. Reference: Grimes, N. (2001) Talkin' about Bessie: The story of aviator Elizabeth Coleman.  New York, NY. Orchard Books Impressions: I was impressed by the way Nikki Grimes

Summary:  The stories of saints are always inspiring and the story of Martin de Porres is no different. As a child born from a nobleman father and a slave mother, Martin is handed over by his mother to the Dominican priests in Lima, Peru.  After a  number of years, young Martin could no longer be raised by either of his parents.  Begrudgingly the priests accept Martin but only as a slave.  Because of his mixed heritage, many look down upon Martin but Martin pays no attention to his position.  Instead he willingly and gleefully gives of himself to his assigned duties. Amazingly, Martin finds that he has the ability to heal those who are sick, but because of his status the only ones who know of his healing abilities are his fellow downtrodden.  When the priests finally become aware of his gifts, they realize that Martin is someone with a strong grace from God.  From here, Martin is invited into the priestly order and continued to perform many miracles and helped to heal those in need

Summary: How many times do pre-teens beg their parents to let them stay home by themselves, assuring their parents that they are more then capable of taking care of themselves?   If you're of those that questions the resiliency of the younger generation, then read this book and discover just what they're capable of.  A 12-year-old girl's tribe needs to be shipped off their island and onto safer and more contemporary conditions after almost being annihilated by intruding hunters.  Unfortunately as the ship is sailing off, Karana sees her younger brother still on the island, so she decides to jump off the ship to be with him with the hope that another ship will soon return for them.  No ship returns that day and on the next day the younger brother is killed by a pack of wild dogs.  Karana discovers that she is left all alone on the island.  She learns how to survive by building her own shelter, hunt her own food, make her own clothes, and, more importantly, masters the wi