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My name is Ardis and I am an avid reader and budding writer. I want to share my love of books with others. I work with kids and am interested in finding and creating books that will ignite the reader in everyone. Contact me at: ardis.atkins@gmail.com

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Showing posts with label graphic novel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label graphic novel. Show all posts
Thursday, September 3, 2020

ARC Review: Fangs by Sarah Anderson

 


Please Note: I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

 

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

A love story between a vampire and a werewolf by the creator of the enormously popular Sarah's Scribbles comics.

Elsie the vampire is three hundred years old, but in all that time, she has never met her match. This all changes one night in a bar when she meets Jimmy, a charming werewolf with a wry sense of humor and a fondness for running wild during the full moon. Together they enjoy horror films and scary novels, shady strolls, fine dining (though never with garlic), and a genuine fondness for each other’s unusual habits, macabre lifestyles, and monstrous appetites.

First featured as a webcomic series on Tapas, Fangs chronicles the humor, sweetness, and awkwardness of meeting someone perfectly suited to you but also vastly different. Filled with Sarah Andersen’s beautiful gothic illustrations and relatable relationship humor, Fangs has all the makings of a cult classic.

Review:

Sarah Anderson is mostly known for her witty, socially isolated characters from her Comic Sarah's Scribbles.  She can convey so much about the human condition by capturing brief moments in life.

With Fangs, the author creates a sweet love story between two unlikely characters, a werewolf and a vampire.  This is a compilation of an online Comic, called Fangs.  It is a truly delightful, quick graphic novel to read.

What I Liked:

Characters:

The two characters are super endearing.  I loved how they both are self-conscious about who they are (commonly thought of as monsters), while also embracing their tendencies. 

 

Humor:

The humor in this book is heavy on the irony and the macabre.  The author is very sly with her use of typical couples situations and then twisting them with dark humor.  


Artwork:

The drawings are sweet and bring out the emotions in each character.  I loved her use of aspects of vampires, such as not seeing themselves in mirrors, and of werewolves and their canine instincts.  The drawings are really funny.


Rating: 

 

 

Release Date:  September 1st, 2020

Author:  Sarah Anderson

Publisher:  Andrews McMeel Publishing

Genre: Humor Graphic Novel

Page Length: 77 Pages

Source:  NetGalley

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation:  A must-have for fans of Sarah Anderson.  This would make a fun gift for someone in your life who loves dark humor.

 

 

 

 



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Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Book Review: Almost American Girl by Robin Ha

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40030311-almost-american-girl?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=UeBgwye1hR&rank=1

Synopsis (from Goodreads):
A powerful and timely teen graphic novel memoir—perfect for fans of American Born Chinese and Hey, Kiddo—about a Korean-born, non-English-speaking girl who is abruptly transplanted from Seoul to Huntsville, Alabama, and struggles with extreme culture shock and isolation, until she discovers her passion for comic arts.

For as long as she can remember, it’s been Robin and her mom against the world. Growing up in the 1990s as the only child of a single mother in Seoul, Korea, wasn’t always easy, but it has bonded them fiercely together.

So when a vacation to visit friends in Huntsville, Alabama, unexpectedly becomes a permanent relocation—following her mother’s announcement that she’s getting married—Robin is devastated. Overnight, her life changes. She is dropped into a new school where she doesn’t understand the language and struggles to keep up. She is completely cut off from her friends at home and has no access to her beloved comics. At home, she doesn’t fit in with her new stepfamily. And worst of all, she is furious with the one person she is closest to—her mother.

Then one day Robin’s mother enrolls her in a local comic drawing class, which opens the window to a future Robin could never have imagined.

Review:
In the past, I hadn't read many graphic novels.  This was mostly due to my perception that they were glorified comic books that would be filled with superheroes and scantily-clad women.  But since my daughter has become an Art student, I've been exposed to many wonderful graphic novels about a wide variety of topics.

Almost American Girl, written and illustrated by Robin Ha, is a memoir.  Aside from the wonderful drawings, it is a powerful story of the immigrant experience and the tensions between and mother and a daughter.  I was blown away by the story and teary-eyed at the end.
What I Liked:
Illustrations:
The artistic style is really beautiful with delicate watercolors and detailed drawings of both South Korea and the United States.  I liked that strong emotional moments were highlighted with brighter colors.  She also had a clever way of distinguishing between when the characters are speaking Korean versus English.  She had two different colors for each type of dialogue.  This made it easy for the reader to understand.

Characters:
Chuna, who changes her name to Robin when she starts school in Alabama, is overwhelmed by the sudden move to America.  I appreciated seeing her struggles and frustrations with learning English.  I could really identify with that as I lived in Japan for three years, and found it difficult to learn the language.  I also think back on my own grandmother who came to America as a child and had to learn English.  It is a tremendous challenge that most people cannot fathom.  This book shows all the challenges, and also the rewards, with learning English.

 Robin's mom is force of nature.  As a single mother in conservative South Korea, she had to be resilient.  But as a child, Robin only sees her mom as the person who disrupts their lives again and again.  She doesn't know all the reasons why they left South Korea, and resents her mother for putting her through such turmoil.  Since her mom tries to shelter Robin from such difficulties, I can see why Robin felt so betrayed.

What I appreciated was that the story eventually shows Robin's mom as a complex person who is trying to what's best for her and her daughter.  She doesn't always get it right, but by the end of the book, you understand where she's coming from.

Story:
The Story centers around Robin's struggles to assimilate into life in America.  It's not easy.  She must learn English, try to do well in school when she can't understand a thing, and find a way to deal with a new family.  All the while, she misses her friends, and the culture of South Korea.  

This was a powerful story that showed how determined people must be to come to the United States.  Most people do learn English eventually, and become contributors to their community.  I hope when people read Almost American Girl they come away with a strong admiration for what immigrants bring to our diverse American culture. 

Rating: 




Release Date:  January 28th, 2020

Author & Illustrator:  Robin Ha

Publisher:  Balzer + Bray

Genre:  YA Graphic Novel Memoir

Page Length:  240 Pages

Source:  Public Library

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation: An important book that I would recommend to teens and adults who want to understand the immigrant experience.
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Thursday, July 11, 2019

Audio ARC Review: Cheshire Crossing by Andy Weir, Illustrated by Sarah Andersen

Please note:  I received an advance copy of this audiobook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

 Synopsis (from Goodreads):
From the #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Martian and Artemis, and illustrated by webcomics creator Sarah Andersen, this graphic novel brings together the heroines of Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and The Wizard of Oz in a charming fantasy mash-up as they join forces to defend their worlds from villainous threats.

Pulled from the pages of beloved children's fantasy stories, Alice, Wendy, and Dorothy meet at a supernatural boarding school where they're meant to learn how to use and control their special, superheroic powers. When villains like the Wicked Witch and Captain Hook form an evil alliance to conquer the worlds of Oz, Neverland, and Wonderland, the girls must work together to save not only these fantastical lands but also the Earth itself. This "storybook meets superheroes" graphic novel features the original magical girls of fantasy embarking on exciting supernatural adventures in a tale that could only come from the imagination of Andy Weir and the illustrative sorcery of Sarah Andersen.

Review:
When I heard that two of my favorite creative people, Andy Weir and Sarah Andersen, were teaming up to create a graphic novel, I was immediately excited!  Cheshire Crossing is a fun, wild spin on several classic fantasy tales, including Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, and even Mary Poppins.  I received the audiobook version of this story.  But even without the artwork, I found this story to be quite entertaining.

What I Liked:
Narration:
This audiobook production has a full cast, so it is kind of like listening to an old-time radio show.  I enjoyed all the performances, but a particular stand out was Rebecca Soler as Miss Poole.  As performed, the listener is  definitely meant to connect Miss Poole to Mary Poppins.  It really put a smile on my face when I would get the subtle references to Mary Poppins.

 The main narrator, performed by Pete Bradbury, sounded rather like a Rod Searling from The Twilight Zone.  It made for an eerie tone, emphasizing that something was amiss in each of the classic tales.

Setting:
What would happen to any young girl at the turn of the twentieth century who claimed they visited another world?  They would be sent straight to an asylum, of course!  And that's exactly what happens to Dorothy, Alice, and Wendy.  I loved this.  Later, when they start visiting each others fantasy worlds, we see that each place (Oz, Wonderland, and Neverland) has its charms and its difficulties.  

Characters:
The three main female characters, Alice, Wendy, and Dorothy, are affected by their stories.  Alice is bitter and seems traumatized by her experience in Wonderland.  Wendy takes her feelings of helplessness and it empowers her.  She learns to fight!  Dorothy is bewildered and has little self-worth.  After all, it was the shoes that were magical, not her.  Or was it?  I really liked that the author did try to show what would happen to these characters in a realistic way.  But he did so without ruining the spirit of those beloved stories.

Story:
This is a story of empowerment.  All three of the girls have others making decisions over what happens in their lives.  This story has them taking back control of their lives.  Awesome!!!

A note about the illustrations:
While this was an audiobook and I did not have a chance to experience the illustrations, I will say that Sarah Andersen is one of my favorite illustrators.  The cover, which I did see, is drawn in a lovely style.   I have no doubt that the rest of the graphic novel will be equally delightful. 

 Rating:  

Release Date:  July 16th, 2019

Genre:  YA Fantasy Graphic Novel

Author:  Andy Weir

 Illustrator:  Sarah Andersen

Publisher:  Ten Speed Press

Page Length:  128 Pages

Audiobook Publisher:  Penguin Random House Audio

Audio Length: 1 Hour, 38 Minutes

 Audiobook Cast:

Sophie Amoss as Alice
Brittany Pressley as Wendy
Kristen DiMercurio as Dorothy
Rebecca Soler as Miss Poole
Lisa Flanagan as the Wicked Witch
James Monroe Iglehart as Captain Hook
Neil Hellegers as Rutherford and Smee
Sean Patrick Hopkins as Lem and the Jack of Knaves
Peter Coleman as Peter Pan
and Pete Bradbury as the Narrator

Source:  Penguin Random House Audio

Format:  Audiobook

Recommendation:  A fun, quick audiobook that I think will be a wonderful graphic novel, as well.  Read this if you love all those classic fantasy novels of old.



 

  
 
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Tuesday, July 9, 2019

ARC Review: Teen Titans: Raven by Kami Garcia, Illustrated by Gabriel Picolo

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38452813-teen-titans?ac=1&from_search=true
Please note:  I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):
When a tragic accident takes the life of 17-year-old Raven Roth's foster mom—and Raven's memory—she moves to New Orleans to recover and finish her senior year of high school.

Starting over isn't easy. Raven remembers everyday stuff like how to solve math equations and make pasta, but she can't remember her favorite song or who she was before the accident. And when impossible things start happening, Raven begins to think it might even be better not to know who she was before.

But as she grows closer to her new friends, her foster sister, Max, and Tommy Torres, a guy who accepts her for who she is now, Raven has to decide if she's ready to face what's buried in the past... and the darkness building inside her.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia and first-time graphic novel artist Gabriel Picolo comes this riveting tale of finding the strength to face who you are and learning to trust others—and yourself.

Review:
I have long enjoyed Kami Garcia's Beautiful Creatures books.  She created such a moody atmosphere in that Southern Gothic genre.  Now, along with illustrator Gabriel Picolo, she has taken a stab at graphic novels.  What a wonderful start to what I hope will be a series (please, please, please).

               
via GIPHY


What I Liked:
Illustrations:
Sticking to a color palette of blacks and purples, illustrator Gabriel Picolo creates an angsty atmosphere.  His use of giant raven shadows was eerie and created a sense of foreboding.  He was also able to play with ways to show thoughts and inner dialogue that was fresh and original.  

 Setting:
The story is set in New Orleans.  Even though some of the scenes take place at a voodoo shop and a cemetery, it doesn't feel clichéd.   Much of the action happens either at Raven's high school.  Given how diverse New Orleans is, I like how lots of different kinds of teens are shown, including students with disabilities.

Story:
Raven is a person going through a terrible trauma.  Her foster mother was killed in a car accident right in front of her, leaving her with amnesia.  Even though she can't really feel sad for a person she can't remember, she does harbor feelings of intense guilt for surviving the crash.  Is the evil voice she hears in her head hinting that she was a terrible person before the accident?  Or is something trying to lead her astray?  People can have a variety of thoughts, both good and bad.  This is what make people complicated.  Realizing this is a step towards adulthood.  What a subtle, sophisticated subtext!

I also liked the use of headphones to help Raven deal with noise.  Lots of people are really sensitive about noise in public spaces.  Aside from having better sound quality for music, perhaps people are using them more for shutting out all the noise around them.
Overall:
This was a great start to a graphic novel series.  The mood, setting, and story set the stage for us to get to know Raven, her aunt, and her cousin.  I really hope this book does well, so we will get more of this series in the future.

 Rating: 




Release Date:  July 2nd, 2019

 Author:  Kami Garcia

 Illustrator:  Gabriel. Picolo

 Publisher:  DC Ink

 Genre:  YA Fantasy Graphic Novel

 Page Length:  192 Pages

 Source:  NetGalley

 Format:  E-Book (PDF)

 Recommendation:  Read it!  A great introduction to a complicated character.

 
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Wednesday, April 3, 2019

ARC Review: Mera: Tidebreaker by Danielle Paige

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38452566-mera?ac=1&from_search=true
Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions of my review in any way.

Synopsis (From Goodreads):
Mera is teenage royalty, heir to the throne of Xebel, the other not-so-lost colony under the sea. But Mera is destined to wear a different crown, that of Atlantis. When the inhabitants of Xebel plot to overthrow their homeland of Atlantis, Mera is sent to kill the heir to the throne, Arthur Curry. As the unrest between their colonies grows, Mera and Arthur unexpectedly fall in love...will Arthur Curry be the king at Mera's side in Atlantis, or will he die under her blade?

Mera by Danielle Paige is an astonishing story that explores themes of duty, love, heroism and freedom, all through the eyes of readers' favorite undersea royalty.

Review:
I am not normally a fan of graphic novels.  But with a daughter as an artist, I am gaining an appreciation of this genre.  Mera: Tidebreaker, is very well done.  Beautiful art work by Stephen Bryne and solid writing from Danielle Paige come together to create an enjoyable book.  It was the perfect way to dip my toes into graphic novels.

What I Liked:
Illustrations:
The star of this book really is the beautiful artwork.  The Illustrator use of a muted palette, punctuated by Mera's fiery red hair, creates a dreamy quality.  The undersea scenes are haunting with the many details of sea creatures in every panel.

Characters:
I did not see the Aquaman movie, so my only knowledge of Mera is through this graphic novel.  That being said, I could easily understand her character.  She wants to be a warrior like her mother.    She bristles when her suitor, Larken,  shows marrying her is a means to his becoming the king.  Everyone is making decisions for her.  All she wants is a choice. 

Larken is Mera's childhood friend and suitor.  He is not a two-dimensional character.  Although he can't see why Mera won't marry him, he does actually care about her.  He really doesn't understand that Mera doesn't want to be taken care of.  Also, he has no moral issue with killing Arthur if it will help him become king.  While I didn't admire this about him, I also felt he was willing to be a killer so Mera wouldn't have to.

Moral Dilemma: 
Choices, though, are not so easy.  At first, she sees killing the heir to Atlantis as a simple matter.  After all, it's easy to hate your oppressors from afar.  But when she goes on land and finally meets Arthur, she realizes he doesn't even know who he really is.  Can she kill an innocent person, just to become a ruler?  It's the classic choice characters must make: are they villains or heroes?

 What I Didn't Like:
I know this is a graphic novel so everything has to be packed in a short story.  But I am just not a fan of insta-love.  I thought throwing around the L word so quickly between Mera and Arthur was unnecessary.  She didn't need the stakes to be so high in order for her to do the right thing.

 Rating:  



Release Date:  April 2nd, 2019

 Author: Danielle Paige

 Illustrator:  Stephen Bryne

 Publisher:  DC Ink

 Genre:  Graphic Novel

 Pages:  192 Pages

 Source:  NetGalley

 Format:  PDF

 Recommendation:  A beautifully illustrated graphic novel with a strong female character.  Very entertaining.
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Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Book Review: Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35794239-hey-kiddo?ac=1&from_search=true
Synopsis (From Goodreads):
Hey, Kiddo is the graphic memoir of author-illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka. Raised by his colorful grandparents, who adopted him because his mother was an incarcerated heroin addict, Krosoczka didn't know his father's name until he saw his birth certificate when registering for a school ski trip. Hey, Kiddo traces Krosoczka's search for his father, his difficult interactions with his mother, his day-to-day life with his grandparents, and his path to becoming an artist. 

Review:
I have seen this graphic novel, Hey Kiddo, by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, around for several months.  But I always thought, "I'm too old to be reading this kind of book".  Not that I thought it was meant for young kids (it isn't).  It's just that I felt too set in my ways to try graphic novels, as a whole.  Well, low and behold, my book club picked this book and I thought I would give it a go.  I'm so glad I did.  This book is a powerful story of the effects of drug addiction on several generations of a family.   The characters are compelling, as was the story.  And the art work has a beautiful style that befits a memoir.  I was very moved by this book.

What I Liked:

 Characters:
The novel succinctly establishes the many characters in Jarrett's life.  There's his quiet, supportive grandfather, his obnoxious, racist grandmother, and his very troubled mom who is addicted to heroin.  I was in awe that so much can be conveyed so few words.

 Jarrett, himself, feels loved by his grandparents, but bitter about how his mother is never around.  She is in and out of prison, and is inconsistent with her attentions.  But I loved Jarrett's resilience in the face of such a tumultuous childhood.

Themes:
I think the theme of this book is that there are many types of families.  Multi-generational households, grandparents raising children, they are all strong families.  The challenges when a person has an addiction are to help the person without enabling them, to love them despite getting nothing in return, to not hate what they have become because of addiction.  These are such powerful notions, but readers will see a full picture of the lives of these families.  I hope when people read this that it puts a face to this issue that so many are dealing with.

Art:
The artwork, with its limited palette, is joyous.  As this is a story told as a recollection, I loved that the art had flash-back quality.  There are also many small details that are straight out of the author's life.  Sketches from his early childhood peek out of the pages, as do other mementos such as ticket stubs, and even the wallpaper from his grandparents home.  These are delightful and bring an authenticity to the book.  The reader knows this is drama from a real life.  A comic book, this is not.  Rather, this is a powerful look at a problem that is urgent right now.




Rating: 




Release Date:  September 25th, 2018

Author:  Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Publisher: Graphix

Genre:  YA Graphic Novel Memoir

Source:  Bought

Format: Hardcover Book

Recommendation:  A moving novel that will get a reader excited about graphic novels (if they aren't already).  A tear-jerker! 


 
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Thursday, March 17, 2016

ARC Review: The Imitation Game: Alan Turing Decoded

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26240627-the-imitation-game

Please note:  I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  This does not alter my opinions of my review in any way.

Synopsis:

English mathematician and scientist Alan Turing (1912–1954) is credited with many of the foundational principles of contemporary computer science. The Imitation Game presents a historically accurate graphic novel biography of Turing’s life, including his groundbreaking work on the fundamentals of cryptography and artificial intelligence. His code breaking efforts led to the cracking of the German Enigma during World War II, work that saved countless lives and accelerated the Allied defeat of the Nazis. While Turing’s achievements remain relevant decades after his death, the story of his life in post-war Europe continues to fascinate audiences today.

Award-winning duo Jim Ottaviani (the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Feynman and Primates) and artist Leland Purvis (an Eisner and Ignatz Award nominee and occasional reviewer for the Comics Journal) present a factually detailed account of Turing’s life and groundbreaking research—as an unconventional genius who was arrested, tried, convicted, and punished for his openly gay lifestyle, and whose innovative work still fuels the computing and communication systems that define our modern world. Computer science buffs, comics fans, and history aficionados will be captivated by this riveting and tragic story of one of the 20th century’s most unsung heroes.

Review:

When I found The Imitation Game, by Jim Ottaviani on NetGalley I was immediately interested in requesting it.  I had not seen the movie, but I thought this was a little-known piece of history that I should learn about.  This is a graphic novel and not a novelization of the movie.  The fact that this is a graphic novel gave me pause as I usually find them lacking.  I just like to have more written information when I read a book.

Needless to say, I was very surprised and happy as I read this book.  It does a brilliant job of explaining who Alan Turing was and what he accomplished in his short life.  

What I liked:
Learning about the Enigma machine:  This book did a wonderful job of taking a very complicated (and possibly boring) subject and making it easy to understand.  This is where the medium of a graphic novel was a tremendous benefit for this book.  The artist made great use of images to convey how the technology worked.  It was also was able to show some of the complicated mathematics and make them accessible to non math wizards. 

The Story Format:  I liked the storytelling device of interviews used in the book.  We are mainly seeing an interview with Alan's mother and are able to see parts of his childhood and years as a student to see what experiences shaped him.  I thought this was very clever.

What I was mixed about:
The artwork: While the artist did do an amazing job of showing us what the Enigma machine was and how the mathematics worked, I wouldn't say the art was eye-popping.  This is not a super-hero type book, so there is little opportunity for flashy drawings and such.  But I would have liked perhaps a little more color.  As I write this, it occurs to me that maybe the artist deliberately had a washed out color scheme to reflect England during WWII?  But looking at the cover, which was so bright with color, I was expecting more pop to the artwork.
   
What I didn't like:
The Book Format:  I think this would be a book that one should read in physical format, rather than digital.  I found that the wording was very small so I had to increase the magnification on my Adobe reader.  This meant I couldn't see the whole page all at once.  There were parts of the visuals where the reader needs to see the entire page at once in order to get the full effect of the drawings.  Since I needed to make the wording larger, I did not get some of the visual benefits.


Overall, I really enjoyed this book.  It makes me want to learn more about Alan Turing, and maybe even see the movie. 

Rating:



Release Date: March 22, 2016

Format: E-ARC

Source: NetGalley

Recommendation: A very enjoyable book that makes complicated science easier to access.  People interested in technology should definitely read to get an appreciation for how computers began.

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Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Book Review: The Wicked + The Divine

Synopsis (from GoodReads):

Every ninety years, twelve gods incarnate as humans. They are loved. They are hated. In two years, they are dead. The team behind critical tongue-attractors like Young Avengers and PHONOGRAM reunite to create a world where gods are the ultimate pop stars and pop stars are the ultimate gods. But remember: just because you’re immortal, doesn’t mean you’re going to live forever. Collects THE WICKED + THE DIVINE #1-5 

 Review:

 I read this as part of the Adult Booklr reading group on GoodReads.  I rarely read graphic novels, but I was willing to give it a try.  First, I must say that the art work for this book is stunningly beautiful.  It is full of color, great shadowing, and action-packed imagery.  The story has a great premise:  Rockstars are Gods who will have a glorious two years and then die!  The book is a commentary on the pop culture of superstars and ordinary people who want their moment in the spotlight.  

 That being said, I think graphic novels just don't appeal to me.  I really tried to like this book.  It has such a great premise, but as I read it I wanted more.  More details, more backstory, a more complicated plot.  I felt as though I was reading an outline of a really good book.  But I was never able to get too involved in the story as it was so brief.  If this graphic novel were to be expanded into a full-length novel, I think it would be a very exciting read.  But in this format, it was just a teaser.

 What do you think?  Do you enjoy graphic novels?  What is their appeal?  If you have any thoughts on this, please leave a comment below.

 I think if you do like this format, you will enjoy this book.  With striking art and intriguing characters, it would be well worth your time.  But it just wasn't for me.
Rating:
Source: Public Library
Format:  Paperback Graphic Novel
Recommendation: If you love graphic novels, you will enjoy the story and imagery. This format wasn't for me.
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