Format: Graphic Novel

Stargazing

StargazingStargazing by Jen Wang
Published by First Second on September 10th 2019
ISBN: 125018388X
Pages: 224
Goodreads
five-stars

This graphic novel about friendship is based on an experience in Wang’s childhood. The main character, Christine, is struggling with living up to the expectations of her parents and many of these include stereotypical behavior in the Chinese American community: do well at math, play violin, always obey your parents and strive to be the best. But Christine is not great at math and she is just okay at violin. When she meets Moon, another Chinese American girl, she realizes that not all Chinese Americans are the same, nor do they have to be. Moon is relaxed and fun, she is a Buddhist, and she loves to draw and dance to K-pop music. Christine really likes Moon, but she is also jealous at the ease in which Moon seems to move through life. When her jealousy leads her to do something unkind, she must come to terms with her behavior. Adding to this is the fact that Moon is sick. Did Christine contribute to the illness with her unkindness? Will there be time to make it up to Moon? Wang layers in her message about the difficulty of being a good friend and the consequences of decisions we make with a gentle touch. Gorgeously drawn and colored, this graphic novel will be a hit with fans of Jenny Holms, Raina Telgemeier, and Shannon Hale.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth

five-stars

Smell My Foot

Smell My FootChick and Brain: Smell My Foot! by Cece Bell
Series: Chick and Brain #1
Published by Candlewick Press on September 3rd 2019
ISBN: 0763679364
Pages: 72
Goodreads
five-stars

Riffing on the Dick & Jane books, Cece Bell has created a new early reader, graphic series introducing Chick & Brain and their hilarious dynamic. Despite having a large brain, Brain is a simple guy. He wants Chick to smell his foot, but Chick will do no such thing until Brain says, “Please.” In a series of Abbot-and-Costello-esque exchanges, the two go round and round. Enter Spot the dog. He gets caught up in the sniff-fest but turns it to his advantage, happily inviting Chick “to lunch.” Then the reader learns that Brain is not as clueless as he seems. Kids will laugh out loud and won’t care that this is a book slyly teaching them about manners. Bell’s illustrations are large and clear and limited to two or three panels per page. Recommend for classrooms and public library collections.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth

five-stars

The American Dream?

The American Dream?The American Dream?: A Journey on Route 66 Discovering Dinosaur Statues, Muffler Men, and the Perfect Breakfast Burrito by Shing Yin Khor
Published by Zest Books (Tm) on August 6th 2019
ISBN: 154157852X
Pages: 160
Goodreads
five-stars

The title of this book includes a question mark which clues readers into the fact that it will challenge traditional notions of the “American Dream.” The author of this graphic memoir, Shing Yin Khor, is an immigrant and artist from Malaysia who after living in Los Angeles for ten years sets out in 2016 to learn about the rest of America. She sets out on Route 66, the “Mother Road” she read about in Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. This memoir is just as much about the roadside attractions and the search for the “American Dream”, as it is about the author becoming comfortable in her own skin as an immigrant and an American. The eye-catching artwork in ink and watercolor formatted in a variety of sizes often taking up whole pages. This book will have wide appeal for readers who have just left high school and are looking to set their own path and begin their own journeys. 

Elizabeth Andersen, Librarian, Westbrook High School

five-stars

The 117-Story Treehouse

The 117-Story TreehouseThe 117-Story Treehouse: Dots, Plots & Daring Escapes! by Andy Griffiths, Terry Denton
Published by Feiwel & Friends on September 24th 2019
ISBN: 1250317207
Pages: 384
Goodreads
four-stars

Fans of the 13-Story Treehouse illustrated chapter book series will be clamoring to see what the next thirteen stories of the treehouse hold in store for young Andy and Terry in this ninth installment of the super-silly series, while those new to the series can still delight in the absurdity of this story as a stand-alone tale. The book follows their tried-and-true formula, which involves treehouse-dwelling Andy and Terry, accompanied by their animal-loving friend Jill, running around in ridiculous hi-jinks while trying to finish their next book assignment. Illustrator Terry decides to take a crack at authoring this time, and they end up in hot pursuit of the Story Police for “crimes against storytelling”. Similar to Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man series, there is also plenty of parody of actual literature within the story as the kids try to outrun the Story Police and find themselves within the pages of other stories, such as “Where the Filed Things Are”, Dr. Moose, and…The Tales of Beatrix Potty.

Adults may find themselves sighing at the absurdity but the kids will be laughing all the way to the end, and they’ll likely want to find out what happens when the treehouse adds its 130th floor. The illustrations are doodle-like and a bit frenzied, but the style lends itself well to the wackiness and breakneck pacing of the story. Be sure to pick this new one up for collections already containing the series. For those that haven’t, consider this one to recommend alongside Dav Pilkey and Jeff Kinney for ages 7-11.

Reviewed by Kat Luedke, Long Island Community Library

four-stars

Super Potato’s Galactic Breakout

Super Potato’s Galactic BreakoutSuper Potato's Galactic Breakout by Artur Laperla
Series: Super Potato #2
Published by Graphic Universe (TM) on January 1st 2019
ISBN: 1512440221
Pages: 56
Goodreads
three-stars

In the second book of this comedic graphic novel series aimed at readers in grades 2-4, Super Potato is minding his business, flying along, when he is captured by Zort the Third, the Slug King, an alien who is collecting one specimen per planet. Unfortunately for Zort, he picked the wrong Earthling! Once aboard Zort’s ship, Super Potato hatches a plan to free himself and all of the other captive aliens. Using the programming of Zort’s dutiful Robot against itself, Super Potato soon has command of the situation though he didn’t take into consideration that not all aliens get along peacefully. In the end Super Potato is returned to Earth with the promise of future adventures. With humor, wham-bam action and appealing colorful, cartoonish illustrations, Laperla should continue to get fans for his superhero spud extraordinaire.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth

three-stars

Joe Quinn’s Poltergeist

Joe Quinn’s PoltergeistJoe Quinn's Poltergeist by David Almond
Published by Candlewick Press (MA) on September 10th 2019
ISBN: 153620160X
Pages: 80
Goodreads
four-stars

A strange, dark book that will take a few reads to truly appreciate. The title and cover suggest that this is a horror story, and it does have a few ghosts in the plot, but one of the most important “ghosts” is the memory of the narrator’s sister,  Barbara, who died when she was a little girl. The poltergeist in Joe Quinn’s house is the plot device that allows Davie, the narrator, to process Barbara’s death and to question the point of being alive. A rumination of death, loss, religion, and purpose, this highly illustrated novella packs a lot into 80 pages. McLean’s mixed media illustrations have a surreal quality and are haunting and evocative; they make Almond’s story that much more nuanced and gripping. Upper middle grade and high school readers who are fans of dark graphic novels like Gaiman and (Gareth) Hinds as well as fans of other collaborations by Almond & McKean will want to sit with this one and savor it and “the world and all that’s in it will continue to hum and sing, to shake and shine, to hold us in its darkness and its light.”

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth

four-stars

Estranged: The Changeling King

Estranged: The Changeling KingThe Changeling King (Estranged, #2) by Ethan M. Aldridge
Published by HarperCollins on October 1st 2019
ISBN: 0062653903
Pages: 256
Goodreads
five-stars

The second book in the Estranged series is as beautifully illustrated, engaging, and action-packed as the first. The boy changeling Edmund Carter has been returned to his human family and the Fay Cinder has been returned to the World Below to rule as king. When there is a threat to all magic in the World Below, Cinder must call upon his family and his friends to help him solve the problem. Plot twists, battles, magic, and family allegiances are part of this sweeping, dense, engaging graphic novel.  The ending hints at a third volume to tie up a loose end from this book and it would be very welcome. Give to readers of the Amulet series or Gregor the Overlander series. Recommended for more sophisticated upper elementary readers and then middle school and up.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth

five-stars

Open Borders: The Science and Ethics of Immigration

Open Borders: The Science and Ethics of ImmigrationOpen Borders: The Science and Ethics of Immigration by Bryan Caplan, Zach Weinersmith
Published by First Second on October 29th 2019
ISBN: 1250316960
Pages: 256
Goodreads
five-stars

In this graphic non-fiction book, economics professor Bryan Caplan teams up with cartoonist Zach Weinersmith to demonstrate why open borders are the best way to handle immigration, both scientifically and ethically.  With a clear cartoon style and a wealth of graphs, Caplan walks the reader through objections to immigration, ultimately showing how open borders benefit the United States specifically and the world as a whole, while walking the line between political sides that can often be highly contentious.

Fantastic for middle school, high school, and even adult patrons, Open Borders will be in high demand wherever graphic non-fiction is popular.

Reviewed by Sarah Cropley, Scarborough Public Library.

five-stars

Are You Listening?

Are You Listening?Are You Listening? by Tillie Walden
Published by First Second on September 10th 2019
ISBN: 1250207568
Pages: 320
Goodreads
five-stars

Bea is a runaway and happens to run into Lou, a friend of her mother’s, at a gas station in Texas. Both are running from truths in their lives that seem to be haunting them — grief and abuse. In their travels, Bea and Lou find a lost cat and  set intentions of returning it to its rightful home in a town that doesn’t seem to exist.

Detailed illustrations depict subtleties in the story along with adding an air of paranoia, friendship and healing. Colors are in dark hues and tones that change with the scenes. Well developed characters and plot with LGBTQIA diversity in the story line. Fans of Tillie Walden will thoroughly enjoy this latest edition.

Recommended for grades 9 and up.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

five-stars

Wolfe Monster and the Big Bad Pizza Battle

Wolfe Monster and the Big Bad Pizza BattleWolfie Monster and the Big Bad Pizza Battle by Joey Ellis
Published by Graphix on June 25th 2019
ISBN: 1338186035
Pages: 144
Goodreads
three-stars

Monster brothers Wolfie, Jackson, and Roy run the local pizza joint, though it’s pizza isn’t very good and they are barely keeping the doors open.Then a large corporate pizza company, Happy Leaf, comes to town. The boys are ready sell out, that is until Wolfie discovers that the CEO, Lord Mudpant, of Happy Leaf has a plan to turn the people of Oak Hollow into zombies and robots through their good tasting pizza. Can the boys thwart Mudpant’s nefarious plans?

Reviewed by Melissa Madigan

three-stars