Mechaboys Writer/artist: James Kochalka Top Shelf Productions; $19.99 The unbelievably prolific cartoonist James Kochalka has a new original graphic novel, this one leaning more in the direction of his adult work, like SuperF*ckers and American Elf, than his kids comics, like SpongeBob Comics, Johnny Boo, and Dragon Puncher. The premise is a solid, grabby and […]
The Prince and The Dressmaker Writer/artist: Jen Wang First Second; $16.99 Ages 12-18 There is a point late in Jen Wang’s The Prince and The Dressmaker in which Prince Sebastian is at his absolute lowest, his worst fears having been realized, and it genuinely seems like his life as he knew it is over, like […]
Blue Bottle Mystery: An Asperger Adventure Written by Kathy Hoopmann Illustrated by Rachael Smith Adapted by Mike Medaglia Jessica Kingsley Publishers If I were Ben, the protagonist of this story, I’d point out that there really is no mystery, in the sense of a problem to be solved. That’s Ben—very literal-minded, careful about details, wary […]
The King of Kazoo By Norm Feuti Scholastic Graphix, 2016 Grades 3-6 Cornelius, the King of Kazoo, wants to be famous—like his distinguished predecessors—but he’s not sure what he will be famous for. Cluelessness seems his most notable attribute: When his daughter Bing runs in to tell him that a tunnel has mysteriously appeared in […]
I recently wrote an article on graphic novels and mental health for School Library Journal, and one of the people I spoke to while researching it was Dr. Jennifer Jenks, MD, a psychiatrist who treats teenagers as well as children and adults. She had many interesting things to say about the broader issues of teens, […]
If you saw Black Panther in theaters last month—and, based on the film’s box office haul to date, there’s a pretty good chance you did—then you may find yourself wondering how closely the Marvel comics that the film is adapted from reflect that experience and, more importantly for our purposes here, which of those comics […]
Out this week from Oni Press, Archival Quality is a YA graphic novel about librarians, ghosts, and mental illness, as well as about seeking justice. It looks interesting, and it got a nice review in Kirkus, so we thought we’d share a sample. Enjoy!
As March begins, teachers and librarians may start thinking about celebrating Women’s History Month. And while a graphic novel about a feisty fictional heroine may not exactly fit the bill, it does celebrate strong women. Monsters Beware! By Rafael Rosado. Jorge Aguirre First Second. 2018. ISBN 9781626721807 PBK, $14.99. 170pp. Grades 3 and up Readers […]
Here’s a look at a book that came out last week: Jay Fosgitt’s Bodie Troll, an all-ages story about a not-very-scary troll: Written and illustrated by Jay Fosgitt (Rocket Raccoon & Groot), Bodie Troll is a rollicking fantasy adventure celebrating the importance of stalwart friendships and being true to oneself. Bodie Troll wants to be […]
If you’re a New Yorker, the Brooklyn Bridge is a majestic sight that regularly comes into view. It has made its appearance in fiction (for instance, in The Alienist by Caleb Carr, which was recently adapted for TV). For me, as a New Yorker, the bridge carries lots of good memories, like the huge fireworks […]
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