Versi
The Greatest: Muhammad Ali. (2001; New York: Scholastic Press; 172 p; ISBN 9780590543422)
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates
Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates. (2005; Jonah Winter; New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers; ISBN 9780689856433)
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Bone: Out from Boneville
Bone Volume One: Out from Boneville (Smith, Jeff; 2003) ISBN 0963660942
Bone is the first edition in a series of stories about three cousins who are on the run: Phoncible B. Bone (aka Phoney), Smiley Bone, and Fone Bone. The reasons for their plight help to explain some important character traits. Phoney Bone has been run out of town—Boneville—after Phoney shows disrespect for the town’s founder. Phoncible is highly motivated, but not entirely honest and upright. Protagonist Fone Bone is equipped with both courage and the ability to problem solve. Smiley Bone is more likeable than Phoncible, but far less intelligent than Fone.
Phoney and Smiley are separated from Fone, and the story splits into two different paths. While on his own, Fone meets up with Thorn, a young, courageous and talented girl with a secret past. Thorn lives with her hard scrabble grandmother, perhaps the toughest character in the story despite her age. Thorn helps Fone reunite with his cousins, though they encounter great danger and excitement in the form of rat creatures along the way.
Meanwhile, Phoney tries to run another scam with Smiley that may get him into hot water once again. Their storyline is lighter in tone that Fone’s is, and it provides many funny moments.
The Bone cousins’ story is told in black and white line illustrations. As with most graphic novels, it is accessible for a wide range of readers. Author Jeff Smith conveys a slew of emotions and moods among his characters, creating a lively pace for the story.
Bone is the first edition in a series of stories about three cousins who are on the run: Phoncible B. Bone (aka Phoney), Smiley Bone, and Fone Bone. The reasons for their plight help to explain some important character traits. Phoney Bone has been run out of town—Boneville—after Phoney shows disrespect for the town’s founder. Phoncible is highly motivated, but not entirely honest and upright. Protagonist Fone Bone is equipped with both courage and the ability to problem solve. Smiley Bone is more likeable than Phoncible, but far less intelligent than Fone.
Phoney and Smiley are separated from Fone, and the story splits into two different paths. While on his own, Fone meets up with Thorn, a young, courageous and talented girl with a secret past. Thorn lives with her hard scrabble grandmother, perhaps the toughest character in the story despite her age. Thorn helps Fone reunite with his cousins, though they encounter great danger and excitement in the form of rat creatures along the way.
Meanwhile, Phoney tries to run another scam with Smiley that may get him into hot water once again. Their storyline is lighter in tone that Fone’s is, and it provides many funny moments.
The Bone cousins’ story is told in black and white line illustrations. As with most graphic novels, it is accessible for a wide range of readers. Author Jeff Smith conveys a slew of emotions and moods among his characters, creating a lively pace for the story.
Interview with the author here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXwFRZ4nFXA
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Girl Stories
Girl Stories (Weinstein, Lauren R.; 2006) 237 pages; ISBN 9780805078633
An a-typical story about an actual, typical tween, Girl Stories is a series of tales told in graphic novel form by Lauren Weinstein and featuring a 13-year-old narrator named, perhaps autobiographically, Lauren. Weinstein approaches the travails of Lauren in graphic novel form. She does not sugar coat the often difficult, awkward, confusing years of pre- and early teen hood. The vignettes here tell of Lauren’s (embarrassing) hobby of playing with Barbies long after most girls have packed them away, her struggle to be accepted by the cool kids, and her brutally honest account of dropping a friend who might jeopardize her popularity index.
Weinstein explains in her intro that this book represents several years worth of work, and therefore the style of her illustrations changes over time. The straightforward pictures sometimes belie more serious topics and dialogue that address serious tween and teen issues. Angst over wanting a boyfriend or girlfriend and body issues are two such subjects, and though these can quickly evolve into more mature themes, they are also very important issues for young readers. Weinstein’s honesty in depicting one young girl’s struggle with these years is refreshing and comes across as authentic, which many tween readers will appreciate. However, that same honesty makes this titles more appropriate for older tweens than the younger or less mature readers in this group.
The graphic novel format of this book makes it an easy read for some who are put off by longer doses of text, but Weinstein’s language is challenging enough to keep strong readers plenty interested as well.
Recommended for ages 11 and up.
An a-typical story about an actual, typical tween, Girl Stories is a series of tales told in graphic novel form by Lauren Weinstein and featuring a 13-year-old narrator named, perhaps autobiographically, Lauren. Weinstein approaches the travails of Lauren in graphic novel form. She does not sugar coat the often difficult, awkward, confusing years of pre- and early teen hood. The vignettes here tell of Lauren’s (embarrassing) hobby of playing with Barbies long after most girls have packed them away, her struggle to be accepted by the cool kids, and her brutally honest account of dropping a friend who might jeopardize her popularity index.
Weinstein explains in her intro that this book represents several years worth of work, and therefore the style of her illustrations changes over time. The straightforward pictures sometimes belie more serious topics and dialogue that address serious tween and teen issues. Angst over wanting a boyfriend or girlfriend and body issues are two such subjects, and though these can quickly evolve into more mature themes, they are also very important issues for young readers. Weinstein’s honesty in depicting one young girl’s struggle with these years is refreshing and comes across as authentic, which many tween readers will appreciate. However, that same honesty makes this titles more appropriate for older tweens than the younger or less mature readers in this group.
The graphic novel format of this book makes it an easy read for some who are put off by longer doses of text, but Weinstein’s language is challenging enough to keep strong readers plenty interested as well.
Recommended for ages 11 and up.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)