Explorer: The Mystery Boxes: Seven Graphic Stories

Explorer: The Mystery Boxes: Seven Graphic Stories. edited by Kazu Kibuishi. 2012. 128p. New York: Amulet Books. 

Genre: graphic novel

Honors and Awards: none

Review: 
A collection of seven short graphic stories all based on the central idea of a mystery box and its contents. Each artist in the collection presents a unique interpretation of the theme; the stories range from creepy to silly, from fantastical to bittersweet, and everything in between. Readers are exposed to an amazing array of artistic and storytelling styles, and the collection is an excellent representation of the range and breadth of the medium. 

Opinion: 
Graphic novels fans will no doubt adore this book, though I think it's also an excellent introduction to the genre for kids who may not already be fans of the medium. The range of styles and stories, and the fact that they feature main characters of both genders really opens this book up to a huge pool of potential readers. Additionally, the brevity of each individual tale makes the collection not so intimidating for struggling or reluctant readers; kids who don't like a particular story can simply go on to the next one. The Mystery Boxes is the first in a series of graphic story collections for younger readers and tweens, and I eagerly anticipate the rest of the Explorer series.

Ideas: 
An excellent choice for reluctant readers, or a gateway into the genre for those who do not already read graphic novels. I saw one of the stories from the collection performed as readers theater at the ALA conference in Anaheim, which would be fun to do with a group of kids. 

A Single Shard

A Single Shard. by Linda Sue Park. 2001. 152p. New York: Clarion Books. 

Genre: historical fiction

Honors and Awards: Newbery Medal, 2002; ALA Best Book for Young Adults, 2002; ALA Notable Book for Children, 2002; Booklist Editor's Choice, 2001; Capitol Choices Selection, 2001; School Library Journal, Best Books of the Year, 2001; New York Public Library, 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, 2001; Sequoyah Book Award (OK), 2001

Review: 
A moving historical novel set in 12th century Korea. Twelve year old orphan, Tree-ear and his caretaker Crane Man share a hard-scrabble, but honorable, existence together in the potter's village of Ch'ulp'o where they take shelter under a bridge, foraging for what meager food they can find. Tree-ear is enamored with the work of the potters in town, particularly that of an old master named Min. When Tree-ear accidentally breaks a piece of pottery made by Min, the potter agrees to let him work off his debt by laboring for 9 days, though Tree-ear stays on much longer in the hope that one day Min will teach him how to create pots himself. When eventually Min has the opportunity to earn a royal commission but is himself unable to travel to the king's court to show his works, Tree-ear insists on making the trek himself. Disaster befalls Tree-ear, but through his courage and perseverance he reaches the court where his dedication is rewarded.

Opinion: 
This book stands out for being both superbly written and excellent for readers at the younger end of the tween spectrum. The characters are moving and realistic; Park portrays individuals who have each experienced tragedy in their lives, yet who manage to persevere and overcome.

Ideas: 
The strength of A Single Shard is its suitability for younger readers. Many readers are intimidated by historical fiction, since some novels can be long or seemingly "boring" to kids. This book would make an excellent gateway for young readers to into historical fiction.

An American Plague

An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793. by Jim Murphy. 2003. 165p. New York: Clarion Books. 

Genre: non-fiction

Honors and Awards: Newbery Honor, 2004; Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award, 2004; National Book Award Finalist Medal;  Orbis Pictus Award; An ALA Notable Children’s Book; A YALSA Best Book for Young Adults; A SLJ Best Book of the Year; Blue Ribbon, Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books; An Editor’s Choice, Kirkus Reviews

Review: 
Murphy weaves a taut and suspenseful tale of Philadelphia's yellow fever epidemic of 1793, tying in historical, political, religious, social and medical perspectives on how the city dealt with the terrible disease (which was not particularly well, in most cases). Philadelphia, then capital of the nascent country and seat of its government, was devastated by the disease; over 4,000 residents perished and 20,000 fled the city during the months that fever raged within the city. Murphy does a wonderful job of building the setting and pacing the action. The last chapters discuss the medical discoveries concerning yellow fever that were made in the 19th and 20th centuries, and the book ends with a grim warning of the potential for a modern day yellow fever epidemic because there is yet no cure for the disease.

Opinion: 
An excellent addition to curriculum and lessons on the epidemic of 1793, An American Plague, is comprehensive, well-written and intriguing, yet the rather academic writing style may deter some younger or less confident readers.

Ideas: 
Pair this book with Laurie Halse Anderson's historical fiction novel Fever 1973 for an in depth unit of instruction. 

Abel's Island

Abel's Island. written and illustrated by William Steig. 1976. 128p. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 

Genre: survival story

Honors and Awards: Newbery Honor, 1977

Review: The story of a foppish mouse, Abelard Hassam di Chirico Flint (Abel, for short), who, while on a picnic with his wife, is swept away from a life of leisure and into the adventure of a lifetime. Abel ends up being stranded on an uninhabited island, where he must learn to become self-sufficient, eating wild foods and building his own shelter. As the days turn into weeks, and the weeks into months, Abel despairs of ever seeing his wife or family again, yet he goes through a process of immense self-discovery. When, after a year of being stranded, Abel is able to leave the island, he is a new and changed mouse.

Opinion: While I am a huge fan of William Steig's picture books, and enjoyed Abel's Island, I have a somewhat hard time picturing to whom I might recommend this book. As with Steig's other books, the vocabulary is rich and varied, which works well when an adult is reading the book to a child, but independent readers might be stymied by some of the less common words (equinoctial anyone?).

Ideas: I see this book best used as a serial read aloud in a classroom or library.

Redwall: The Graphic Novel

Redwall: The Graphic Novel. by Brian Jacques. adapted by Stuart Moore. illustrated by Bret Blevins. 2007. 143p. New York: Philomel Books. 

Genre: fantasy, graphic novel

Honors and Awards: none

Review: Young Matthias Mouse becomes the unlikely hero of Redwall Abbey in this graphic novel adaptation of Brian Jacques' popular juvenile series. Though Redwall has a history of armed conflict, generations have passed since the inhabitants of the abbey have seen war. That is until an army of rather unsavory rats led by Cluny the Scourge attack the fortified city. Matthias, a young priest, unites the inhabitants of the abbey and the surrounding Mossflower Woods to  defend Redwall and defeat Cluny the Scourge.

Opinion: Personally, I found Moore's black-and-white illustrations a bit lacking. While for the most part, the individual characters were well differentiated, several scenes were hard to follow. I have not read the original novels, but I feel that I may have gotten more out of the story if I already knew the plot.

Ideas: I'd recommend this book to reluctant readers, fans of graphic novels and children who read and enjoyed the Redwall series.

Out of the Dust

Out of the Dust. By Karen Hesse. 1999. P. Newbery Medal, 1998.

Full of dark and evocative imagery, Out of the Dust is the story of Billie Jo, a 12-year-old farmer’s daughter living in Dust Bowl Oklahoma during the Great Depression. Only child Billie Jo lives with her mother and father in a small tight knit rural town where they eke out a hardscrabble existence. While drought and starkness dominate the countryside, Billie Jo’s piano playing and the impending arrival of a new baby are causes for hope in her life. But when a tragic and gut wrenching accident destroys both of these, Billie Jo and her father are thrown into a maelstrom of grief and guilt that rivals the vicious dust storms that rage across the prairies.  

In free verse poems, Hesse relates their stories crafting haunting visuals that stay with the reader long after the book is finished. Through the unrelenting anguish, there are small glimmers of hope that appear in the love and compassion that humans show each other in times of tragedy. An excellent and moving work of historical fiction.   

Inside Out & Back Again

Inside Out and Back Again. by Thanhha Lai. 2011. 260p. New York: HarperCollins. Newbery Honor, 2011.

In a series of free verse poems which act as diary entries, Inside Out and Back Again is the story of a year in the life of a young South Vietnamese girl as she flees her home with her mother and brothers, and struggles to build a new life in America. Though life in Saigon in 1975 is fraught with uncertainties, ten-year-old Há loves the sights, sounds, smells and rhythms of her hometown, which are richly evoked in Lai’s heady descriptions. When North Vietnamese troops take over the city, Há’s family is forced to make the heartbreaking decision to leave behind everything they know, including her father who has been missing in action for several years, in order to seek refuge in a foreign land.

Há and her mother and brothers end up in Alabama where they must each make their own place in an entirely new and sometimes hostile world. Há sees her new town as colorless and lonely; she struggles with learning a new language and faces school bullies who taunt her for her differences, yet she also learns kindness from her sponsor and a neighbor who both defend and support Há through her travails.

This is a sad, beautiful and hopeful book told in simple, yet profound language. Readers both young and old will be deeply moved by Há‘s story.

A Wrinkle in Time

A Wrinkle in Time. by Madeleine L'Engle. 1962. 211p. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Newbery Medal, 1963.

Intellectually precocious, yet socially awkward Meg Murry is the oldest daughter in a family that includes her scientist mother, Kate; her strangely perceptive 5 year old brother, Charles Wallace; her 10 year old twin brothers, Sandy and Dennys; and her father, Dr. Alex Murry, who mysteriously went missing several years prior while involved in a top secret government project. Meg is an outcast at school, where she must deal with the constant gossip about her father’s whereabouts, as well as at home where she struggles to define herself amongst her unique family members. 

When a strange turn of events precipitated by a trio of eccentric old women sends Meg, Charles Wallace and their neighbor, Calvin, on an intergalactic journey to find and rescue their father who they learn has been imprisoned on another planet, Meg must begin to understand and accept her differences and recognize her own personal agency as a young adult.  

This is a sophisticated coming of age story that asks much of young readers as it tackles significant and timeless themes of love, individuality and good versus evil.

When You Reach Me

When You Reach Me. by Rebecca Stead. 2009. 199p. New York: Wendy Lamb Books. Newbery Medal, 2010

Twelve year old latch-key kid Miranda lives in New York City with her single mother. Set in the late 1970s, her New York neighborhood is a lively setting replete with an intriguing cast of characters, including her best friend Sal, a strange but brilliant boy named Marcus, and a ragged and raving homeless man she calls the Laughing Man. When a series of mysterious anonymous notes that seem to predict the future begin showing up amongst her belongings, Miranda attempts to piece together a mystery that hints at time travel and impending danger.

Stead ably weaves together a number of plot lines to create a genre-crossing novel that defies easy categorization- mystery, realistic fiction and coming of age story are all represented, with a special place given to science fiction. Indeed, Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time, plays a prominent role in the story as Miranda’s favorite book as well as the inspiration for several details of Miranda’s life. The issues of race, class, friendships and growing up are realistically tackled as Miranda faces the challenges of adolescence, and Stead presents young readers with subtle life lessons.