Tag: graphic novel

BONUS REVIEW: Beauty and the Beast by Jessica Gunderson

BONUS REVIEW: Beauty and the Beast by Jessica Gunderson

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Picture Window Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Beauty is the youngest of three girls. She loves books and music and flowers and has a sweet disposition, unlike her selfish oldest sister Gritty and the vain middle daughter, Petty. The family has had a run of bad luck. They had to sell their possessions, get rid of their servants, and move into a small cottage.

When Beauty’s father takes a rose at a mysterious castle on his travels, the Beast who lives there says he can leave if Beauty comes and stays instead.

Beauty gets to know the Beast, and likes him. But when her father becomes sick, she leaves and the Beast is lonely and sad.

Review

The art in this is lovely! I enjoyed the familiar basics of the story and the diversity of the cast. Beauty’s sisters have a Cinderella’s step-sisters feel to them. Other than being catty, though, the story doesn’t do much with them, which was disappointing.

The art really made this enjoyable. I was pleased with some of the “extras” in the book as well – a guide to reading graphic novels, writing prompts, discussion questions and a craft. I wish the story had been more full and engaging to go with these terrific extras. The story was mild with no real conflict explored. There was space devoted to Beauty’s family, but they never became a factor in the larger story. Then that left fewer pages to explore the story with the Beast.

Rating: ♥♥♥

BONUS REVIEW: The Lost Carnival by Michael Moreci

BONUS REVIEW: The Lost Carnival by Michael Moreci

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and DC Entertainment in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Dick Grayson is tired of his life with Haly’s Circus. It’s the same thing every day. And the crowds just keep getting smaller.

On an afternoon away with his best friend Willow, Dick meets Luciana. She’s from the Lost Carnival that has set up nearby. The circus folks are angry that the carnival is cutting into their crowds and their profits. And Luciana’s uncle, Caliban, has magic that seems like much more than illusions and cutting people in half. That is drawing crowds away, too. As tensions between the rival attractions heat up, and as Dick develops feelings for Luciana, the two teens are caught in the middle.

But when Willow falls into an unexplained coma, and her uncle, the circus magician, insists it is a spell, Dick pushes Luciana to share her secrets and save his best friend.

Review

Dick Grayson – at least the older version – is one of my favorite DC characters. (I loved the Grayson: Agents of Spyral graphic novel series.) I was eager to check out this story because it starred Dick Grayson. And I’m glad I did.

I feel like the story starts with some typical teen angst and developmental stuff. Dick is pulling away from his parents. He wants to live a life he chooses for himself – something more exciting than his current existence. (There is a foreshadowing panel about his future that was fantastic!) Then he is pushed to choose between the mysterious girl he likes and his circus “family.” And finally there’s a magical showdown and all the secrets are revealed. It was a satisfying arc. I don’t know that there were any big surprises. Frankly, I read this after Superman Smashes the Klan, and this might have suffered in the comparison because that was full of nuance and subtlety and a few surprises. This story is just more straightforward. It’s not really comparing apples to apples.

Fans of DC’s latest foray into graphic novels for kids and teens should be sure to check this one out. We get a glimpse of Dick’s life before Batman and before personal tragedy strikes, which is nice.

DC has been generous and provided some images of some of the interior pages of this book. Check them out here:

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

REVIEW: Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang

REVIEW: Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and DC Entertainment in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen are on the scene when Superman takes down The Atom Man. No one seems to really notice his sickly reaction to the green crystal that powered the villain’s transformation.

Roberta’s family is moving from Chinatown to Metropolis proper. Her dad has a new job which comes with a new house, more money – and hostility from one of his colleagues. Jimmy Olsen lives nearby. On the day they move in, Roberta even gets to see Superman run across the telephone wires above the neighborhood.

Not everyone in the neighborhood is as nice as Jimmy. Roberta and her brother Tommy run into trouble with a bigot on the youth baseball team. But the racist teen is small time compared to the hate rising in Metropolis.

The Lee family is targeted by the Klan of the Fiery Kross. Time and time again they are attacked. The places important to them are in the line of fire. Thankfully Superman is always there to lend a hand.

But while Superman helps the Lees, he has problems of his own. Ever since he encountered that green crystal he’s been hearing a strange language and seeing beings no one else can see. What is happening to Metropolis’ hero?

Review

This was excellent! It’s a meaty story with a TON of things going on. Roberta and Superman tell most of the story. Between the two of them they wrestle with the obvious racism, Roberta tries to fit in with the kids in their new neighborhood, Clark remembers parts of his childhood, and then deals with his new visions. Both Roberta and Clark are dealing with identity issues and questions. I loved that Superman wasn’t just the guy swooping in to save the day – he had a character development arc, too. I definitely got my “money’s worth” out of this book. There’s so much to this story! It’s excellent.

I got to see about 60% of the artwork, and I loved it. The art style is one I enjoy, and the color was beautiful. The story was so easy to follow.

Stories about racism are hard to read – the hate, the duplicity, the name calling. But I think it’s good for readers – kids, teens, and adults – to wrestle with the issues, the language, and the hate. And to try to recognize the fear that runs underneath those other things. It’s subtle, but the feeling of desperately grasping for power and security is definitely there in the bigoted characters. There are even moments of racial tension between minorities, like when the Lee family resists interacting with some African American men who try to help them. Those more subtle pieces in the story add to the richness of the graphic novel. I feel like I could read this again and again and discover more depth each time.

I can’t recommend this highly enough. There’s great historical context in the back matter – for Superman the character as well as for racism in America and also personal stories from the author. The story is enjoyable, but readers who are willing to go deeper will find lots to think about here.

DC has graciously shared some of the interior art from this book. You can check it out here:

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Nat Enough by Maria Scrivan

REVIEW: Nat Enough by Maria Scrivan

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Just before Natalie starts at the local middle school, her best friend Lily moves across town. They’ll still be at  school together, but Lily’s been “busy” since she moved. So Natalie is feeling disconnected when school starts. Natalie’s nervous about starting at the larger school, but she feels secure knowing Lily will be there, too.

But Lily has made a new friend – Alex. Alex is super popular – athletic, talented, and stylish. Nat is desperate to get Lily back as her best friend, but it’s hard to compete with someone like Alex.

Review

This is lovely! Hand this new graphic novel to fans of Smile (♥♥♥♥), Real Friends (♥♥♥♥), or Just Jaime (♥♥♥♥), and I think they will love it! The art style here is great. The story is told through Natalie’s sketchbook. Readers should keep an eye on Nat’s pets because they are usually doing something fun on the pages where they appear.

There are hints in the art work early on for the sort of “friend” Lily is. Careful reading of the pictures will clue kids in that Lily is Nat’s friend because Nat lets Lily do whatever she wants. It’s pretty sad. But through the course of the book, Natalie makes some REAL friends – friends who point out what Nat isn’t ready to see yet.

The message of the story – focus on who you ARE rather than on who you are not – is reinforced in Nat’s contest entry which is presented at the end of the book. I love that the author included it – it’s a fun complement to the story.

Readers will enjoy this middle school friendship story (with a crush thrown in). The characters are endearing, the artwork is captivating, and the ending leaves you wanting to cheer. Don’t miss this one! Book 2, Forget Me Nat, will release in the fall. You can read about more great graphic novels for kids here.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

BONUS REVIEW: Eat, and Love Yourself by Sweeney Boo

BONUS REVIEW: Eat, and Love Yourself by Sweeney Boo

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and BOOM! in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Mindy is 27, single, and works as a barista. Mindy also has an eating disorder.

On a late night run for snacks, she decides to try a candy bar called “Eat, and Love Yourself.”

Every time Mindy eats a square from the chocolate bar, she revisits a moment of her past. While she can’t interact with her past self, watching these moments gives her insight into things that she thinks and experiences in her contemporary life.

Review

I was intrigued by the premise of this. The flashbacks communicate the complexity of Mindy’s experiences and perceptions as well as her eating disorder. It’s described as “body dysmorphia” in the text, but I didn’t see as much evidence of that in the story and the art. The art makes it clear that Mindy also purges after eating, but the portrayal isn’t graphic.

There are no quick, easy answers offered here. There’s no blame assigned for Mindy’s struggles, nor are there miraculous cures. But Mindy does develop some insight and self-compassion from her flashbacks. And those developments help her as she looks at her life in the present moment.

I wanted a bigger emotional punch to this, and I didn’t find it. While other readers have really connected with Mindy and with this story, I was left wanting more. Readers with eating disorders could find the material here triggering, so be cautious. Other readers might find this to be a decent introduction to eating disorders, but may want to dig into other stories for a more in-depth look. [I can’t think of any YA books I have read about eating disorders, but two great middle grade ones are Still a Work in Progress (♥♥♥♥♥) and Everything I Know About You (♥♥♥♥½.).] (TW: Eating disorders, purging)

Rating: ♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Gotham High by Melissa de la Cruz

REVIEW: Gotham High by Melissa de la Cruz

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and DC Entertainment in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Bruce Wayne gets kicked out of his exclusive prep school for defending another student from bullies. So he ends up at Gotham High.

There he reconnects with the literal “girl next door,” Selina Kyle. Since Bruce has been away, Selina’s mom has died leaving her alone to care for her father with Alzheimer’s who needs full time care. Bruce also meets Jack Napier, Selina’s friend and sometimes hook up.

Bruce runs into Harvey Dent – right before Harvey gets kidnapped. The attack happened at school. In fact, Harvey had been trying on Bruce’s long leather coat, making Bruce wonder if he was the actual target. That would make more sense, considering his family’s money, than Harvey. The security footage has been erased, and Bruce was drugged. He can’t remember anything that happened.

While Bruce tries to figure out what happened to Harvey, Selina continues to string both Bruce and Jack along for fun. A distraction from the weight of her life outside of school. When Harvey is returned, but Selina is kidnapped from Bruce’s house during a party, Bruce won’t stop until he finds her and the people responsible.

Review

There are some fascinating twists to the well-known Batman/Bruce Wayne stories here. Alfred is Bruce’s uncle rather than the family butler. He lives in Hong Kong with his husband, but comes to Gotham when Bruce gets kicked out of school. The details of Bruce’s parents’ deaths have been changed up as well. Then there’s the fact that all of these future foes go to high school together.

The usual all-white cast is shaken up as well. Jack Napier (future Joker) is white as is Ivy. Bruce is Asian as his mom was from Hong Kong. Selina presents as Lantix. And Barbara Gordon is Black, and her mom is the principal of the school. I loved this diversity. In fact, Batgirl (Barbara Gordon) is my favorite DC character – I would love to see a story set around this African American version of the character. Maybe there will be future stories from Gotham High. For the story in this particular book, I didn’t love the characters like I did with some of the other DC graphic novels recently. I was most intrigued by Ivy, frankly, and she doesn’t get a lot of page time.

The mystery of what is going on is puzzled out over the course of the book. The reader has more information than the characters in the story, so the final wrap up isn’t a big surprise to the reader.

There’s plenty left at the end with the relationships between the characters for additional stories in the future. Fans of Bruce Wayne story lines as well as fans of the new DC Entertainment graphic novels for teens (Shadow of the Batgirl, Oracle Code, Raven, Mera: Tidebreaker, etc.) should check this one out.

DC Entertainment has graciously shared some pictures of the interior art of the book so readers can see what they will get to enjoy.

Rating: ♥♥♥

REVIEW: Batman Overdrive by Shea Fontana

REVIEW: Batman Overdrive by Shea Fontana

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and DC Entertainment in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Bruce Wayne is a month away from turning 16. A month away from a driver’s license which means freedom from Alfred, his butler, guardian, and overseer. He’s a teen on the edge – a street vigilante looking for a fight, always pushing to be independent. He’s so close to that freedom he is desperate for.

Part of that freedom is driving his dad’s ’66 Crusader. But the car has seen better days. Bruce meets Mateo at the salvage yard and he says he’ll help Bruce track down the parts he needs. But their plans are interrupted by some masked girls who keep stealing from Mateo’s uncle at the scrap yard. One girl, they notice, dresses like a cat.

Catwoman, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy and Lady Shiva are stealing luxury cars and then stealing things from the salvage yard to change up the looks of the cars. Bruce and Mateo are on the case, but they have no idea the girls Bruce knows from karate are the car thieves.

Bruce is also investigating his parents’ murders. Carmine Falcone is his primary suspect. And he’s finding clues that could tie Falcone to the car thefts. But is it possible there are also ties between Falcone… and Alfred?

Review

This was fun! So much of the Batman future is in evidence – the secret entrance to the garage, Alfred, the “Batmobile” name, and the villains. Fans of the franchise will see a lot of familiar pieces in this.

The Alfred storyline was my favorite part of this. If you’re looking for it, you can see his presence, always watching out for Bruce. The panels of moments between Alfred and young Bruce are so precious. And anyone who understands grief and loss can see how Bruce is looking for an outlet for his anger. Alfred is the convenient target. Yet he keeps showing up. Just like a parent.

I’m eager to see if this becomes a series and if any other DC characters join this young hero team. I enjoyed the group that Bruce puts together and would eagerly show up for more adventures for them in the future. In this book, the car theft case gets wrapped up and Bruce gets some closure on the murder of his parents. Don’t miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

BONUS REVIEW: Black Canary: Ignite by Meg Cabot

BONUS REVIEW: Black Canary: Ignite by Meg Cabot

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and DC Zoom in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Thirteen-year-old Dinah Lance has big plans for her life. They start with winning the Battle of the Bands with her best friends Kat and Vee. Then she’s going to join the Gotham City Junior Police Academy and make a difference in her city by stopping bad guys, just like her dad.

But Detective Lance is the first roadblock to her plans. He doesn’t want Dinah anywhere near criminals or danger.

Then there are all these weird accidents at school. Dinah always seems to be around when they happen like when the trophy case broke or the backboard shattered. Her principal is itching to hang the blame on Dinah and kick her out of school. And there’s also a creepy caped figure stalking around and causing trouble for Dinah and her family.

Could Vee be right? Could Dinah have special powers that are causing these accidents? Would powers make her dad trust her to help fight crime? Or would they make him more likely pack her off to her grandmother’s to keep her “safe?”

Review

This was so fun! It’s a pretty simple middle school story. There are background characters like Batgirl and the Joker who anchor this in the Gotham/DC Universe. But the focus here is on Dinah, her family, and a villain named Bonfire who has it out for Dinah’s mom. Most of the story takes place at Dinah’s home and school, which also helps keep the story simple.

The origin story for Dinah is pretty simple, too. Weird things happen, and Dinah learns she’s responsible. She’s eventually told that her powers come from her mother. She gets some training to control them, and then her parents try to send her away for safety. When Bonfire makes a move, Dinah has to decide if she is ready to be the Black Canary and stay and fight for her friends and her family.

Graphic novel fans will love the art in this and will be able to jump into Dinah’s story without any trouble. As superhero stories go, this is pretty light fare as it is setting up whatever DC might choose to do with the character in the future.

This is a great new graphic novel from the folks at DC, and I can’t wait to see what they do next. DC Zoom graciously provided some photos from the interior of the book, and I chose three of my favorite moments – check these out!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Teen Titans: Raven by Kami Garcia

REVIEW: Teen Titans: Raven by Kami Garcia

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and DC Ink in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

One night in Atlanta, a girl and her foster mom are driving on a wet night. One minute they are talking about signing adoption papers and making their family official. The next, they are part of a horrible car accident that leaves the foster mom dead and the teen with no memories of her life before the crash.

After the accident, Raven moves to New Orleans to live with her foster mom’s sister and her daughter, Max. Max is a great friend – and being at a new school, this is a huge help. But having her “cousin” there isn’t enough to offset the weird things that happen – hearing other people’s thoughts, making the resident mean girl trip just by thinking of it.

Since Raven has no memories from before the accident, she has no way to be sure these things are new and a result of the crash. Could she have been doing these things before?

While Raven and Max try to sort out what’s going on with Raven, they are distracted and unaware that danger is lurking in the shadows and trouble they can’t even fathom is around the corner.

Review

Raven has always been my favorite character of the Teen Titans. Her powers and her back story are mysterious and fascinating. This graphic novel introduction to the character is terrific! I thoroughly enjoyed this!

DC Ink has launched three graphic novels so far this year. I enjoyed Mera: Tidebreaker, but Catwoman: Under the Moon was not a good fit for me as a reader (foul, dark and violent). I was a little concerned that the line was all going to be closer to the Catwoman story than the Mera story, but that was not the case here. This was a perfect graphic novel for me – I loved the art and the color scheme for the storytelling. I would have read a whole series of these. I hope there will be more Raven stories. This does include references to voodoo, astral projection, tarot and demons in keeping with the canon of the character. This may not be a good fit for all readers.

This is a solid introduction to the character and it also hints at the larger DC Universe. DC is restructuring and doing away with the DC Ink imprint in favor of age-rated comics and graphic novels. I’m curious to see where that goes.

I would have loved even more of this story! The author and artist will be releasing Beast Boy in 2020. I’m curious to see if Raven’s story will be part of that or if that will stand on it’s own. A fourth DC Ink graphic novel, Harley Quinn Breaking Glass, will release this fall.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Mera: Tidebreaker by Danielle Paige

REVIEW: Mera: Tidebreaker by Danielle Paige

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and DC Ink in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Mera is the princess of Xebel, an underwater kingdom under the rule of Atlantis. Mera calls to mind The Little Mermaid with her red hair (the only “color” in a shades-of-blue graphic novel) and her longing to be independent and understood.

Mera is fierce in her love of Xebel to the point of vandalism in rebellion against Atlantis. In fact, when she hears her father and her betrothed plotting to assassinate the Atlantean prince, Mera decides to do the job herself. Maybe then she can rule Xebel on her own.

Mera has no trouble finding the naïve prince at Amnesty Bay. And she has even less trouble drawing him in close enough to kill him. But while she waits to get her “land legs” and recover her strength, she discovers Arthur is no monster. He is a truly good person. And she can’t bring herself to end him. But other forces are not so reluctant – and they are converging on Amnesty Bay.

Review

I enjoyed this one! I thought the storytelling and character development of this book was done more thoroughly than in Super Sons. It’s still a graphic novel, so the story is not as deep or intricate as it might be with a prose novel. But I felt the motives of the main characters were clear. Sure, the shift from murderer and target to a romantic couple was abrupt as far as time in the story passed, but it fit for the format of the story.

I loved the art work in this!! I thought it did a great job of working with and enhancing the text of the story.

The best friend character was kind of thin in development. And I’m not sure if the relationship with the trainer/mentor in Xebel was supposed to be romantic or maternal. But the main action of the story – Mera, Arthur, their families, etc. – was clear. There could have been more history on the underwater political situation, but again, for a graphic novel it was fine.

Readers who enjoy hero stories or enjoy Aquaman’s world should definitely check this book out – I think they will enjoy it! (Mild language, one panel with two men kissing.)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½