'Great Graphic Wednesday' is a weekly blog posting. Check here every Wednesday for reviews of recommended graphic novels, by members of the Tinlids Graphic Novel Book Club.

Cirque Du Freak Volume 1 Written By Darren Shan, Illustrated by Takahiro Arai

DETAILS: Reads left to right. Paperback ISBN 9780759530416 $13.50

SUMMARY (from book cover): Darren Shan was an average kid until destiny brought him to the Cirque Du Freak. Now Darren’s been immersed into a shadowy world inhabited by vampires, werewolves and strange creatures the likes of which he’s never imagined, and his life will be changed forever!

Illustrated by Takahiro Arai, the manga adaptation has already been a bestseller in Japan and is faithfully reproduced in this first-ever English language edition.

REVIEW: As a reader of manga, I’m usually unimpressed when a novel has been adapted into this format. I feel as if the novel should never have been given the manga treatment and doesn’t respect the “original” words of the author. That all changed with this adaptation of Darren Shan’s popular Cirque Du Freak series- it seems to have enhanced the story. The illustrations allow the reader to see how wild and weird the world Shan has created in his stories. Darren Shan’s stories were almost made for manga interpretations.

The books are rated “T” for Teen; however, any children who are reading the books, could easily read the manga editions. The novels don’t sugarcoat the horror of the characters’ lives and the weird world they live in. There are constant threats of violence but it is vampires, werewolves and strange creatures (who are all part of the traveling circus) that the reader is dealing with in the story. This isn’t real life.

And not to take away from the manga, there are a few pages dedicated to the prose version of the story. This allows the reader to choose what format they prefer to read. Whenever students come to the library and ask for a “scary” book, I recommend both the prose and manga version of the story. Many students choose the prose novel, but then, they go and read the manga version. As for students who read manga (and graphic novels) as their choice of reading materials, this is highly recommended. Weird, wild and freaky- no wonder this series has been an enduring hit for adolescent readers for over ten years (prose) and three years (manga)?

There are 12 books in the Cirque Du Freak series. Book 11 in the manga series will be out this October (2011) and the final book will be available in February 2012.

Fatma Faraj is a teacher-librarian at Royal Orchard Middle School in Brampton. 

Order titles from the Cirque du Freak Manga Series from www.tinlids.ca today!

'Great Graphic Wednesday' is a weekly blog posting. Check here every Wednesday for reviews of recommended graphic novels, by members of the Tinlids Graphic Novel Book Club.

Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty Written By G. Neri, Illustrated by Randy DuBurke

DETAILS: Reads left to right. Paperback ISBN 9781584302674 $19.95

SUMMARY (from book flap): Eleven-year-old Roger is trying to make sense of his classmate Robert “Yummy” Sandifer’s death, but first he has to make sense of Yummy’s life. Yummy could be as tough as a pit bull sometimes. Other times he as sweet as the sugary treats he loved to eat. Was Yummy some sort of monster, or just another kid?

As Roger searches for the truth, he finds more and more questions. How did Yummy end up in so much trouble? Did he really kill someone? And why do all the answers seem to lead back to a gang- the same gang Roger’s older brother belongs to?

Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty is a compelling dramatization based on the events that occurred in Chicago in 1994. This gritty exploration of youth gang life will force readers to question their own understandings of good and bad, right and wrong.

REVIEW: There’s not much more to add to the book’s own summary of the events of the story. This is one graphic novel that sends chills down the reader’s back as they learn about the events that lead to the tragic end of Yummy. The illustrator chose to use only black ink- almost as a way for the reader to discover that even though it’s in black and white, which this story is far from black and white. Every page makes the reader question Yummy’s motives and intentions- sometimes your heart breaking and sometimes, your heart singing, at the realization that Yummy is like every other kid in the world- sweet and with a sweet tooth. But, your heart will ache more than sing, and the story is powerful. So powerful, that this is a graphic novel that children will want to talk about the issues at hand. With peers and adults. The hardest part of it all is the fact that this is based on a true story. Maybe this will be the book that will inspire adults and children, to create a better world for our youth.

Some readers may question the American content, as the story takes place in Chicago but I think the messages and questions that arise from this reading will encourage conversations that are universal: gangs, urban environments, society, and culture. These are topics that most middle school and high school students want and need to talk about. This graphic novel could be the right book to get the conversation started.

Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty is recommended for middle school readers and older. The content is based on some violent and destructive events (shootings, torching of cars). However, as a reader, I didn’t feel as if it glamorized the gang life. If anything, it makes the reader question why that type of life is glamorized in movies, television, books, and music.

Fatma Faraj is a teacher-librarian at Royal Orchard Middle School in Brampton. 

Order Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty from www.tinlids.ca today!

'Great Graphic Wednesday' is a weekly blog posting. Check here every Wednesday for reviews of recommended graphic novels, by members of the Tinlids Graphic Novel Book Club.

The Loser List - Written and Illustrated by Holly N Kowitt

Details: Black and white comic reads left to right. Hardcover ISBN 9780545240048

Grade 5-8

Summary: When Danny Shine (rhymes with "whine") finds out he's on the infamous Loser List in the girls' bathroom, his mission to erase it lands him in detention. That fateful afternoon, the school's bullies (who live in detention) discover that Danny can draw. Suddenly he's not a target anymore-he's a "bad boy"! Supplying tattoos and graffiti for the bullies is great, until Danny is unwittingly drawn into a crime. His new friends took a comic from Danny's favorite store, and now Danny has to steal it back, return it, and break off with the bullies-before he goes from dork to delinquent. Fans of Jeff Kinney, Jim Benton, and things that are absurd and also very, very funny will love this new, fully illustrated tale of middle-school torture.

Review: Right from the first “Me at-a-glance” page, you know enough about Danny to understand that he’s going to have a few social problems in school. He likes to draw stuff (like rusty cans and smelly socks, with his favourite pen (the T360), he’s still looking for a sport he’s good at, and his biggest fear is Chantal Davis. The illustrations are hilarious, and I love the “at-a-glance” introductions for the main characters. This is an obvious must-have choice for all libraries.

  To order The Loser List www.tinlids.ca

'Great Graphic Wednesday' is a weekly blog posting. Check here every Wednesday for reviews of recommended graphic novels, by members of the Tinlids Graphic Novel Book Club.

Skateboard Breakdown Written by Eric Fein, Illustrated by Gerardo Sandoval

Details: Paperback, colour illustrations, read left-to-right. ISBN 9781434227850

Grade: 4 and up

Summary (from back of book): Ty Taggart, extreme sports, skateboarding. Does Ty Taggart have what it takes to win the state skating tournament? Expert analysis: Ty has the talent to take first place, but lately he’s been skating angry. His temper is getting him into trouble and making him miss easy tricks. If Ty wants to win, he’ll have to keep his cool, or his red-hot temper will put his first place hopes on ice.

Review: When I saw that there was a reading level (1.9 with a guided reading level of K) printed on the back cover, I inwardly groaned. Not another comic geared just at improving reluctant readers! However, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the story and the art. The extra features are styled as website reports, explaining at the beginning who the main characters are, providing a skateboard glossary and discussion questions at the end. Bold colors and lines make the drawings sizzle and capture the action. The storyline, in which the young Ty is grappling with the death of his older brother and Edwin, his brother’s best friend and a fellow soldier, helps him deal with his feelings on and off the board, was interesting. It’s a short book (49 pages) but one that older kids, especially boys, will not be ashamed to borrow and one that doesn’t talk down to the reader. Although the “reading level” is for grade 2, the target audience is more like grade 4 and up. There’s no objectionable content to prevent a grade 2 student from reading it, but just remember not to alienate the focus group by marketing it too young.

Diana Maliszweski is a teacher-librarian at Agnes MacPhail Public School, and editor of The Teaching Librarian Magazine.

Order from www.tinlids.ca today!

'Great Graphic Wednesday' is a weekly blog posting. Check here every Wednesday for reviews of recommended graphic novels, by members of the Tinlids Graphic Novel Book Club.

Lost and Found Written and Illustrated by Shaun Tan

Details: Hardcover, colour illustrations. ISBN 9780545229241

Grade 6-adult

Summary (from the inside cover): A girl finds a bright spot in a dark world. A boy leads a strange, lost creature home. And a group of peaceful creatures cedes their home to cruel invaders. Shaun Tan, with his understated voice and brilliant draftsmanship, has proved that he has a unique imaginative window to our souls, and an unparalleled ability to share that opening with pictures and narratives that are as unexpected as they are deeply true. Originally published in Australia, these three beloved and acclaimed tales were never widely available in the U.S. Now for the first time, The Red Tree, The Lost Thing, and the John Marsden classic The Rabbits are presented in their entirety with additional new artwork and authors' notes. Together they tell a tale that will leave no reader unmoved, about how we lose and find what matters most to us.

Review: As soon as I picked this book up, my hand started moving up and down the exquisitely designed cover. The title is perfectly placed and the embossed words and illustration just beg to be touched. The image on the cover is the “thing” from The Lost Thing, one of the three stories in this collection. This is the story that Shaun Tan won an Oscar for last week (for Best Short Film Animated). Open the book and you’ll find gorgeous little pencil drawings on the end pages. And of course that’s just the beginning. Shaun Tan is such a genius with words and images. His first sentence “sometimes the day begins with nothing to look forward to” is accompanied by an illustration of a girl sitting up in bed staring at her bedspread. It’s like looking through a window at first, but then as the illustrations change, you feel like you’re right there with her. This story is about depression and hope, and unexpected things that sometimes seem to happen or appear out of nowhere.

The second story “The Lost Thing” is about this guy who finds this huge thing that seems to be lost. He feels sorry for it, so he takes it home, but eventually he has to take it somewhere else, because his parents don’t want it in their home. I was struck by how much compassion I actually felt for this object – like it was human. More proof of the author’s incredible talent.

The final story “The Rabbits” is about the conflict between two cultures and what happens when one culture takes over. Again the sparse text and powerful illustrations really capture the emotions and allow the reader to make their own connections and conclusions. These three stories contain so many timeless themes: depression, alienation, belonging, peace, culture, political issues, justice, environment and hope. I highly recommend this for grades 6 to adult.

I can’t wait to see what Shaun Tan does next!

Maria Martella is the owner of Tinlids Inc

To order www.tinlids.ca

Lost and Found ISBN 9780545229241

The Arrival ISBN 9780439895293

Tales from Outer Suburbia ISBN 9780771084027

'Great Graphic Wednesday' is a weekly blog posting. Check here every Wednesday for reviews of recommended graphic novels, by members of the Tinlids Graphic Novel Book Club.

The Odyssey

Written and Illustrated by Gareth Hinds

DETAILS:  Colour comic reads left to right.  Paperback ISBN 9780763642686

GRADE: 5 to 9

SUMMARY (from book flap):  Fresh from his triumphs in the Trojan War, Odysseus, king of Ithaca, wants nothing more than to return home to his family.  Instead, he offends the sea god Poseidon, who dooms him to long years of shipwreck and wandering.  In his efforts to get home, Odysseus must battle man-eating monsters, violent storms, and the supernatural seductions of sirens and sorceresses.  He will need all  his strength and cunning- and a little help from Mount Olympus- to return to Ithaca and seize back his kingdom from the scheming suitors who seek to wed his queen and usurp his throne.

REVIEW:  Homer’s epic poem the Odyssey is always referenced to as a must-read in the literary world.  It has always been something on my “want to read” list; however, the text always seemed quite daunting.  Gareth Hinds’ interpretation in graphic novel is the best way to alleviate the density of the text and to appreciate the story.  Hinds refers to many translations to the text, sometimes copying the text from the translations, however; since this is a graphic novel, he lets the illustrations do part of the storytelling.  His illustrations remind the reader of the Greek sculptures and paintings they would see in the museums. There are also times that the reader will stay on a page, going back and forth between the pictures and the text to integrate the experience, even more so.  There are a few moments, at the end of the story, where it’s sometimes hard to differentiate between the men, as they have some of the same physical traits and it takes a moment to remember who is who. 

Hinds stays true to the historical value of the story, and writes it in a way that makes it easy to understand and exciting to see Odysseus’ journey back home.  This is storytelling at its best.

Recommended for… This is a hard one to recommend. I would recommend it to more mature grade 5 students (since they study Ancient Civilizations); however, there are scenes in the book that depict sex (man and woman lying together) and violence (blood and spears in heads, etc…).  Other than that, I would recommend it to readers 12 and up.  

Fatma Faraj is a teacher-librarian at Royal Orchard Middle School in Brampton. 

Order The Odyssey from www.tinlids.ca today!

Great Graphic Wednesday is a weekly blog posting. Check here every Wednesday for reviews of recommended graphic novels, by members of the Tinlids Graphic Novel Book Club.

Frankie Pickle and the Pine Run 3000

Written and Illustrated by Eric Wight

Details: Black and white comic reads left to right. Hardcover ISBN 9781416964858

Grade 1-3

Summary (from back cover): Meet Frankie Pickle…the kid with the world’s most amazing imagination! It takes him on adventures. It helps him save the day. And sometimes… it gets him into trouble. If he wants to move up in rank with the other Possum Scouts, Frankie must win the model car derby known as Pine Run 3000. He dreams up the slickest speedster ever, but when he tries to build it on his own, his creation crashes and burns! Will Frankie get left in the dust before he even gets to the starting line?

Review: I think Eric Wight really understands this age group. I like how he alternates between what’s happening in Frankie’s real life, and what’s happening in his imagination. This is a hybrid novel; when Frankie is in his imaginary world, the author provides us with a comic illustrations and speech bubbles. This is perfect for young readers.

Maria Martella is the owner of Tinlids Inc.

Order Frankie Pickle and the Pine Run 3000 from www.tinlids.ca today!

Great Graphic Wednesdays is a weekly blog posting. Check here every Wednesday for reviews of recommended graphic novels, by members of the Tinlids Graphic Novel Book Club.

Amelia Rules True Things (Adults Don’t Want Kids to Know)

Written and Illustrated by Jimmy Gownley

Details: Colour comic reads left to right. Paperback ISBN 9781416986096 Hardcover ISBN 9781416986119

Grade 4-6

Description (from publisher): Meet Amelia Louise McBride. She was forced to move out of Manhattan after her parents decided to get divorced, and is now living in a small town. She's survived being the new kid, multiple trips to the principal's office, and even her first kiss. But it remains to be seen if she'll survive turning eleven! The sixth volume starts with a bang: a huge birthday party featuring surprise guests and a special song from Aunt Tanner! It all seems too good to be true, until it turns out . . . it is. Suddenly, Amelia's friends are fighting all the time. She gets the worst report card of her life. And when she finally musters the guts to tell a certain boy how she feels about him, she brutally learns why it's called a "crush." Aunt Tanner would know just what to do—if she were around. But with her new album and maybe a new boyfriend, she doesn't seem to have time for Amelia anymore.

Review : Oh the memory of ‘tween drama! It’s so funny when you look back on it, but when you’re 11 and just starting to experience all of those confusing and unexpected feelings about your family, it sometimes gets blown out of proportion. I love all of the Amelia books but this one is my favourite so far. I really enjoyed getting to know Amelia’s parents and her aunt Tanner a bit better. Amelia is starting to understand them better too. She’s starting to understand that adults actually had a life and their own drama when they were younger. And they still do!

Jim Gownley’s illustrations are brilliant; the facial expressions deliver that extra bit of information that tells you so much more about the character. Funny gestures and lots of action shots that make you feel like you’re right there in Amelia’s house. I also love Aunt Tanner’s quotes which pop up now and then… like “I’m still waiting to use algebra.”

Maria Martella is the owner of Tinlids Inc.

Other Amelia Books:

Amelia Rules: The Whole World's Crazy

Amelia Rules: What Makes you Happy

Amelia Rules: Superheroes

Amelia Rules: When the Past is Present

Amelia Rules: Tweenage Guide to Not Being Unpopular

'Great Graphic Wednesday' is a weekly blog posting. Check here every Wednesday for reviews of recommended graphic novels, by members of the Tinlids Graphic Novel Book Club.

Big Nate from the Top

Written and Illustrated by Lincoln Peirce

Details: Black and white comic reads left to right. Paperback ISBN 9781449402327

Grade 3-7

Summary (from back of book) Big Nate, a.k.a. middle schooler Nate Wright, is eleven years old, four-and-a-half feet tall, and the wunderkind creation of cartoonist Lincoln Peirce. Nate is also the star of six novelized books to be published by HarperCollins, the first of which debuted on the New York Times children's best-seller list. This Big Nate Collection collects Peirce's Big Nate strips, originally published only in newspapers.

For those not familiar with Big Nate, think Diary of a Wimpy Kid meets Calvin and Hobbes. Nate is a self-described genius and a sixth-grade Renaissance man equipped with only a #2 pencil and the unshakable belief that he is destined for greatness (a fortune cookie told him so). He fights a daily battle against overzealous teachers, undercooked cafeteria food, and all-around conventionality. He's the original rebel without a clue, alternately abrasive and endearing to classmates and teachers alike. Throughout Peirce's Big Nate Collection, Nate blazes an unforgettable trail through the sixth grade at P.S. 38, earning straight A’s in laughs (and numerous detentions) along the way.

Review: If you liked Diary of a Wimpy Kid, you’ll love the Big Nate books; the format is exactly the same, except this one is a collection of the Big Nate comic strips, and not written in chapters like the others. The illustrations provide just as much humour as the text, in the details of facial expressions and body language; both work together to enhance our understanding of the hilarious daily situations Nate finds himself in.

I love how confident Nate is, even though he has so many “unlucky days”. I think he’s much more loveable than Greg Heffly from Diary of a Wimpy Kid (which I also like). Nate is good-hearted even when he’s getting into trouble at school or at home, and there’s a real sense of hope in his attitude. Somehow you just know he’s going to be okay, no matter what disaster strikes. I actually laughed out loud – more than once.

Other Big Nate Titles:

In a Class by Himself hardcover ISBN 9780061944369

Big Nate Strikes Again paperback ISBN 978-0007355174 Hardcover ISBN 9780061944369

Maria Martella is the owner of Tinlids Inc.

'Great Graphic Wednesday' is a weekly blog posting. Check here every Wednesday for reviews of recommended graphic novels, by members of the Tinlids Graphic Novel Book Club.

The Unsinkable Walker Bean

Written and Illustrated by Aaron Renier

DETAILS:  Colour comic reads left to right.  Paperback ISBN 9781596434530

GRADE: Grade 4 and UP

SUMMARY: (from back of book):  Adventure on the high seas!  A cursed skull!  Fearsome pirates!  Wicked sea-witches!  And almost certain peril!  Boy inventor Walker Bean and his scruffy new friends must summon their courage to face the direst scourges of the sea!

REVIEW:  If you are a fan of the film series Pirates of the Caribbean and the excitement of an adventure at sea, this is the graphic novel for you.  The reader is introduced to Walker Bean as he listens to his grandfather’s bedtime tale of his next adventure, which could include the search for El Dorado, Atlantis or any other adventurer’s dream. Next, we see Walker’s grandfather on his death bed, surrounded by his son and members of the Navy crew who scoff at his inventions and stories.  It’s not until Walker gets to his grandfather, that he is encouraged to go to sea to return the magical skull that has caused the illness. 

And so Walker’s adventures begin.  He meets new friends and some strange characters along the way.  You never really know who’s on his side or who’s working against him but just like his grandfather, he creates inventions and ideas that are fantastical. 

The combination of the words and pictures enhance the storytelling and make the reader feel as if they are part of everyone’s journey in this graphic novel.  That also means that the reader will sometimes stay on a page for a while to “read” everything that Aaron Renier has put in the panels.  One problem with this particular graphic adventure is that when you come to the last page, you realize you have to wait a while to find out what happens as, of course, it is to be continued…

Recommended for readers in grade 4 and up

Fatma Faraj is a teacher-librarian at Royal Orchard Middle School in Brampton.