Format: Graphic Novel

Secret Coders Saga

Secret Coders SagaSecret Coders (Secret Coders, #1) by Gene Luen Yang, Mike Holmes
Published by First Second on September 29th 2015
ISBN: 1626720754
Pages: 96
Goodreads
four-stars

The Stately Academy, is a high school that has many mysteries, and whose founder left many clues and puzzles to challenge the students.

New student, Hopper, meets student Eni,  and after a rough introduction, together they discover that many of the mysteries at the academy are based on computer codes. Using binary  and their growing skill with other coding, Hopper and her friend Eni work to solve the mystery of Stately Academy .

When the reader has completed this series (6 books in all), they will have been introduced to computer fundamentals such as binary code, Logo, and the three major ways that code is organized.

A great graphic novel series for the reader looking for adventure in the story and the adventure of learning computer coding.

Reviewed by Melissa Madigan retired Youth Services Librarian.

four-stars

Kiss Number 8

Kiss Number 8Kiss Number 8 by Colleen A.F. Venable, Ellen T. Crenshaw
Published by First Second on March 12th 2019
ISBN: 1250196930
Pages: 320
Goodreads
five-stars

Mads feels pretty good about her life at the moment. Between church with her family, baseball games with her dad, and school with her best friend Cat, high school is going pretty well. Plus, Mads has kissed seven different people. They’ve all been okay so far, but she doesn’t really get the fuss until she realizes that she doesn’t want her eighth kiss to be Adam, her neighbor with an obvious crush on her. She wants it to be Cat. Add to that a family secret that her dad has been hiding, and Mads’ good life has just become seriously messy.

Venable crafts an emotional, realistic story of a girl discovering who she is, how to deal with changing relationships, and finding her place in the world through both familial relationships and new friendships. Chenshaw’s pen-and-ink style illustrations bring to life the emotions of each character, drawing the reader along. Together, they explore themes of sexuality, identity, trust, and belonging. A fantastic choice for all middle and high school collections.

The epilogue strikes a particularly poignant, hopeful, and resonant note that will stay with certain readers for a very long time.

Reviewed by Sarah Cropley, Scarborough Public Library.

five-stars

BIG WORDS small stories: The Traveling Dustball

BIG WORDS small stories: The Traveling DustballThe Traveling Dustball by Judith Henderson, T.L. McBeth
Published by Kids Can Press on April 2nd 2019
ISBN: 1771387890
Pages: 56
Goodreads
four-stars

“The Traveling Dustball” is the second book in the “BIG WORDS small stories” series written by Judith Henderson and illustrated by T. L. McBeth. It is a graphic novel series of very short stories/chapters with one BIG WORD sprinkled in each tale. The Sprinkle Fairy likes to sprinkle big words around the book for kids to learn, so readers get introduced to words like “brouhaha,” “lollygagging,” and “phenomenon.” Each word is sounded out on the page and defined at the end of each story.

The drawings in this graphic novel are simple and silly, reminiscent of Captain Underpants or Dog Man’s stick figure illustrations. Each story is short and very silly. The main characters, Davey (a boy) and Abigail (a dog) get into a bunch of funny situations, starting with the discovery of a giant dustball that can take them wherever they want! Written for kids aged 5 through 8, kids will enjoy the funny stories and drawings and might pick up a few BIG WORDS along the way.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook.

four-stars

Kid Gloves: Nine Months of Careful Chaos

Kid Gloves: Nine Months of Careful ChaosKid Gloves: Nine Months of Careful Chaos by Lucy Knisley
Published by First Second on February 26th 2019
ISBN: 1626728089
Pages: 256
Goodreads
four-stars

Lucy Knisley, author of Relish, shares with the reader her experience of getting pregnant, miscarriage and the eventual full term pregnancy that almost led to her death due to Eclampsia that was misdiagnosed. Funny, thoughtful and filled with information on the history of obstetrics, disproving many myths that have evolved around pregnancy and exploring the treatment the pregnant women have endured over the years.

Illustrations are colorful and cheerful complimenting the text of the graphic novel. This would be considered an adult book for young adults and recommended for grades 11 up.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford, ME.

four-stars

Snazzy Cat Capers

Snazzy Cat CapersSnazzy Cat Capers by Deanna Kent, Neil Hooson
Published by Imprint on September 18th 2018
ISBN: 1250143438
Pages: 224
Goodreads
four-stars

Ophelia von Hairball V takes pride in being the best cat burglar in the world. She fancies herself a feline James Bond. She works for the Furry Feline Burglary Institute (FFBI) and keeps sending back the inventors they send to work with her. When Oscar Fishgerald Gold (a goldfish of course) shows up and claims to be her partner, she has to try to ditch Oscar, avoid the Central Canine Intelligence Agency (CCIA), win the FFBI’s 5th annual “Purr-fect Heist Competition,” and avoid the sabotage attempts of her cousin Pierre von Rascal of Thievesylvania. Filled with fun illustrations and Ophelia’s aphorisms (“There will be times in life that aren’t fun. Try not to have too many of those.”), this will be a fun book for fans of humorous adventures and perhaps a next step for graphic novel readers.

Reviewed by Karen Sandlin Silverman, Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham

four-stars

The Illiad

The IlliadThe Iliad by Gareth Hinds
Published by Candlewick Press on March 12th 2019
ISBN: 076368113X
Pages: 272
Goodreads
five-stars

In this exceptional graphic novel, Gareth Hinds showcases Homer’s epic story.  The book starts with an illustrated cast of characters on both sides and a prologue to set the stage for the last year of the Trojan War.  Hinds’s artwork shows the anguish and emotion of the mortals and gods throughout the battles, and his footnotes support the breadth and the reach of the story while also showing the extent to which he researched.  Each page artfully combines images and text to tell the story of the Trojan War. This book would be an excellent companion read with The Odyssey in high school classrooms.  Recommended for grades 7-12.

Review by Noelle Gallant, Saco Middle School

five-stars

Click

ClickClick by Kayla Miller
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on January 8th 2019
ISBN: 1328911128
Pages: 192
Goodreads
five-stars

Olive has lots of groups of friends in her 5th grade class and she likes to do things with all of them. But when the class variety show is announced, all of Olive’s friends find an act to perform and no one asks her to join them or be in their group. Poor Olive, she is really bummed and hurt and isn’t sure what to do. This is a such a good story and the problem Olive faces is one many children will relate to- feeling left out and wanting to be included but not wanting to ask to be included. Olive is a good character that needs the help of family and friends to figure things out. This will be the 1st graphic novel in the series.

Ages: 7 and up. Cream. Mary Lehmer, Librarian, Freeport Community Library

five-stars

My Beijing: Four Stories of Everyday Wonder

My Beijing: Four Stories of Everyday WonderMy Beijing: Four Stories of Everyday Wonder by Nie Jun
Published by Graphic Universe (TM) on August 1st 2018
ISBN: 1512445908
Pages: 128
Goodreads
five-stars

This graphic novel filled with little vignettes of Yu’er and her grandpa illustrates the magic of daily life and is beautiful, both in content and in presentation. Just flipping through the pages, one feels the warmth of the watercolor illustrations and the devotion of Grandpa to his little granddaughter. Set in a hutong neighborhood in Beijing, Yu’er has a disability that prevents her from walking and Grandfather cares for her, showing her that she should not be limited by her disability and telling her stories that connect her to her family and her culture. With touches of magical realism, this GN offers a window into another place that will delight elementary and middle grade readers.

Note about publication: First published in China in 2016,  this book has been translated by Edward Gauvin and brought to American audiences by Graphic Universe, a division of Lerner Publishing.  Lerner offers a library binding and a paperback version, which is much less money.  If you have the funds, purchase the library binding as the book paper is thick and the book heavy; a paperback binding will not last for many circulations.

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

five-stars

New Kid

New KidNew Kid by Jerry Craft
Published by HarperCollins on February 5th 2019
ISBN: 0062691201
Pages: 256
Goodreads
five-stars

Jordan’s parents send him to a new middle school that they feel will be terrific for him academically and socially. But Jordan doesn’t want to go, he’d rather go to art school. Once Jordan gets there he finds that because he is Black , teachers mix him up with other black students not seeing him for who he is. And that’s just one of the problems he has. There is actually quite a bit of humor in here (like the black and white sketches of Jordan going to and from school that showed the changes he made in his persona to fit into the different settings). I agree with a Goodreads review I read that it is great to have a book that exposes racism but still manages to have humor. Also, I liked Jordan. Is his character realistic? Maybe not, but he’s the kind of kid that you hope is out there. Humor can be such a good way to see things when done in the right way, and I think this novel does get it right.

Cream

Ages 9 and up. Mary Lehmer, Youth Services Librarian, Freeport Community Library, Freeport,ME

five-stars

Noodleheads Find Something Fishy

Noodleheads Find Something FishyNoodleheads Find Something Fishy by Tedd Arnold, Martha Hamilton, Mitch Weiss
Published by Holiday House on September 4th 2018
ISBN: 0823439372
Pages: 48
Goodreads
four-stars

The Noodleheads, Mac and Mac, are back in this third graphic novel for readers in grades k-3.  Fishing is the topic throughout the three chapter story with a beginning preface.  This comical, easy reader in graphic novel form integrates the slap stick young readers enjoy with clear, colorful action frames with a readable text.  The story weave jokes, reminiscent of Amelia Bedelia, in a plot line about learning three things as only two Noodleheads can appreciate.  In the first chapter, Mac and Mac get taken advantage of by Meathead who steals their snacks and money, but Noodleheads always figure things out.  In chapter 2, the Noodleheads experience how a boat works and chapter three they learn that the biggest fish always get away.  Recommended fun reading for children’s graphic novel collections.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

four-stars