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.

Interview with the author here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXwFRZ4nFXA

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.

Bakugan: Battle Brawlers

Bakugan Battle Brawlers (Hurchalla, Elizabeth; 2008; ISBN 9780345513687)

Adapted from a Japanese anime story, the Bakugan adventures feature six young friends who play Bakugan (a card game that allows them to teleport) while avoiding the evil plots of Michael, who first discovered the teleporting abilities that the characters enjoy.

Astro Boy

Astro Boy (Tezuka, Osamu; 2002; 424 pages; Dark Horse; ISBN 9781595821539)

One of the original Manga series by the highly regarded Osamu Tezuka, Astro Boy is a robot with human traits who fights crime with his special powers and can experience human feelings as well.

Brain Camp

 Brain Camp (Kim, Susan and Klavan, Laurence; 2010; 160 p., ISBN 9781596433663)

Summer camp takes a scary spin in this tale of Lucas and Jenna, two kids from different backgrounds who are invited to the exalted Camp Fielding--although neither Lucas nor Jenna is considered an especially great student.  They expect to roast marshmallows with the smart kids, but instead find themselves in the middle of a horror story!

Montage of graphics from the book is here.

(Ages 10+) 

Zeus: King of the Gods

Zeus: King of the Gods (O’Connor, George; 2010;  76 p., ISBN 9781596436251)

The story of Zeus told in graphic novel form, beginning with his first task of overthrowing his own father, Kronos.  This is a fast-paced book that appeals to a wide range of readers, including the most reluctant of the bunch because of its graphic format.

(Ages 9-12)

Trickster: Native American Tales: A Graphic Collection

 Trickster: Native American Tales: A Graphic Collection (edited by Matt Dembicki, 2010; 231 p., ISBN 9781555917241)

This collection of Native American stories includes a variety of “tricksters” such as Coyote, Rabbit, and Raven.  Stories include morals explained in a natural setting.

(Ages 10+) 

Fist Stick Knife Gun: A Personal History of Violence

Fist stick Knife Gun: A Personal History of Violence (Canada, Geoffrey; 1995; 179 p. ISBN 9780807004227)

Canada narrates his own stories, often gritty, of life on the streets of the Bronx in the 1950s. Today, Canada is a well known educator. In the 1950s, he was a boy being raised, along with his brothers, by his mother after his father left. He tells a series of stories in both personal narrative and graphic novel form.


(Ages 11+)

Smile!

 Smile (Telgemeier, Raina; Graphix, 2010; 213 p. ISBN 9780545132060)

This is a memoir—told in a graphic novel—of a 12-year-old girl who requires extensive orthodontic work after a bad fall results in damaging and losing her front teeth.  The orthodontic trials are difficult enough, but for them to be happening during a time of such insecurity and focus on appearances is especially difficult.  Readers see the author grow and evolve as her teeth heal; this book is especially great for any braces/retainer/headgear-wearing young people.

Check out a trailer for the book here.