Review: Beasts of Burden: Animal Rites

Beasts of Burden: Animal Rites by Evan Dorkin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Dorkin presents an intense and compelling mashup of Lady and the Tramp and Dawn of the Dead. These dogs and cats are not always cute and cuddly; the good ones have joined forces to fight supernatural crime, and the bad ones are as bad as any bad guys can be. There is plenty of blood and gore to be found here, but also strength, loyalty and bravery. Fans of Jill Thompson's watercolors (Scary Godmother) will appreciate this more mature offering.



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Review: Copper

Copper by Kazu Kibuishi

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Calvin and Hobbes for existentialists. Really, no, I'm not kidding. It's that cool. Go read it.



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Review: Gunnerkrigg Court, Volume 2: Research

Gunnerkrigg Court, Volume 2: Research by Tom Siddell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Quirky, creepy and absolutely addicting, this second volume of Tom Siddell's excellent webcomic continues to reveal the layers of secrets at the magical boarding school, Gunnerkrigg Court. From Antimony, to her mother, to the tricky Reynardine, to the ghosts, robots and other creatures who haunt the halls of the Court, nothing is quite as it seems. Siddell never takes himself too seriously, and we find ourself falling hard for his characters. A worthy heir to Buffy.



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Review: The Popularity Papers: Research for the Social Improvement and General Betterment of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang

The Popularity Papers: Research for the Social Improvement and General Betterment of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang by Amy Ignatow




This hybrid middle-grade novel tells the story of two friends who make a project of understanding popularity. I appreciated Julie's two dads, who were present in the story but didn't cause much of a stir. I thought all the characters were realistic and multi-dimensional, even the popular ones. The discussion of what's actually important about friendship and popularity seemed very true-to-life. Light and engaging.



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Review: Zeus

Zeus by George O'Connor

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Fans of Percy Jackson will welcome this intense, satisfying tale of the battle between Zeus and the Titans. Muddy, brooding inks perfectly complement crisp outlines in O'Connor's drawings. He presents a nice combination of contemporary storyplot and original mythological source material. I read this out of order with Athena, the second in the series, but it didn't matter at all. Highly recommended, ages 10+.



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Review: The Drained Brains Caper

The Drained Brains Caper by Trina Robbins

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This brief mystery graphic novel reminded me of a tamer, sillier version of Brain Camp. The faces are oddly Muppet-like and have the same expression on each panel. The dog is a high point - I look forward to seeing more of him in future volumes.



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Review: Mercury

Mercury by Hope Larson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


It's hard to talk about this novel without giving things away. Suffice it to say Larson brings together aspects from multiple genre -- historical fiction, realistic fiction and fantasy -- to create a remarkable graphic novel. Not to be missed.



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Review: Athena: Grey-Eyed Goddess

Athena: Grey-Eyed Goddess by George O'Connor

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Richly detailed and creatively structured, this compilation of tales about the goddess Pallas Athena evokes the grim violence and majesty of ancient Greece. George O'Connor's magnificent prose and dynamic illustrations are a winning combination. This is a shining star among dull third-person retellings of Greek myths. Ages 10+.



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Review: Zebrafish

Zebrafish by FableVision

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Vita wants to start a band, but she needs some friends to make it happen. This light friendship story deals with some serious issues, and manages to introduce some biochemistry along the way. Unfortunately, it feels disjointed and the characters lack depth, and they look a little too much alike for the reader to easily follow their relationships. Still, the art is pleasing and the dialogue is snappy. Worth a look.



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Review: City of Spies

City of Spies by Susan Kim

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Every kid wants to have superpowers, but Evelyn needs them more than most. Her father has dumped her on an aunt she barely knows while he goes honeymooning with his latest trophy wife. Evelyn draws superhero comics, portraying herself as Scooter, the sidekick of Zirconium Man, battling Nazi spies and diabolical baddies. But when it appears a real spy is in her midst, it's up to Evelyn and her friend Tony to muster some real courage and save the day. Funny and fast-paced, this mystery-thriller will appeal to a wide range of readers.



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Review: The Adventures of Ook and Gluk, Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future

The Adventures of Ook and Gluk, Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future by Dav Pilkey

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Punching, kicking, name-calling, misspellings, jokes at other's expense, and puking. Lots of puking. All await you in this, the first adventure of best friends Ook and Gluk from a fictional caveman past. Lest you think this story is bereft of any redeeming qualities, I will say there is a whole section of rhyming and one chapter about the spiritual benefits of kung-fu. I can't imagine a kid who would not find something funny in this book. At the same time, there is plenty to offend, and parents who object to the grammatical incorrectness of Junie B. Jones will want to steer clear. Everyone else: enjoy!



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Review: The Cloud Searchers

The Cloud Searchers by Kazu Kibuishi

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Kibuishi includes adventure, multidimensional characters and sweeping themes in this all-ages adventure-fantasy comic. This volume (#3) may stand on its own, but it is stronger if you have read the other two Amulet books. An excellent addition to a series with a lot going for it. I can't wait for the next one!



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Review: Brain Camp

Brain Camp by Susan Kim

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book is both scary and gross. That means it's exactly right for its genre. It is unpredictable enough to keep the reader guessing, but also includes a predictably satisfying coming-of-age subplot. If you can stomach it, this one is a winner.



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Review: Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty

Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by G. Neri

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Intense and brutally honest, this portrayal of an inner-city kid's involvement in a gang and subsequent run from the police is based on a true story. It may be a book every teen needs to read: kids in the suburbs because they won't likely have experienced it themselves, and kids in the city because they should see the real-life results of getting involved in a gang.



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Review: Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown

Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Spare and full of gadgets, this recent volume of the Lunch Lady superhero graphic novels started slow and dragged through the opening pages. Our child heroes were relegated to bland supporting roles as the camp counselors presented forced clue after clue about the true identity of the swamp monster. Still, the gadgets carried the day, including winners like the Underwater Bendy-Straw Breathing Apparatus (UBSBA?). One talk bubble per panel might seem ponderous to me, but could be just what a transitional reader needs.



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Review: Foiled

Foiled by Jane Yolen

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Pros: fantastic art, interesting character. Cons: confusing at times, no clear resolution nor continuation to a sequel. I'd read the next one, if there were one.



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Review: Binky to the Rescue

Binky to the Rescue by Ashley Spires

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The second Binky graphic novel takes Binky into new territory -- literally! Clever and full of farts, this adventuresome story is sure to please animal lovers of all ages.



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