THE GRAVEYARD BOOK - Book Review

1.   BIBLIOGRAPHY

Gaiman, Neil., 2008. THE GRAVEYARD BOOK Vol. 1, Adapt. Russell, P. C., New York, NY:  HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 978006219481

2.   PLOT SUMMARY

THE GRAVEYARD BOOK is a novel of a young baby boy whose mother was murdered and he goes to live in a graveyard.  He has caretakers who are ghost.  He meets friends who come and go throughout his life journey.  A man name Jack who killed his family is looking for him and was suppose to kill him also. 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This comic style graphic novel adaptation is dark and fun to read.  The story was a little difficult to follow with all of the text in different areas and directions.  I would consider this book to be High Fantasy because it included a “second world” of ghosts.  It also could be seen as a Fantasy Series style of because it continues on to another book.  I can understand how this book would be considered a controversy because it dealt with death, dying, murders, ghouls, and witches.

The characters are identifiable and life-like, even the ghost and we felt a connection to Bod.  The plot was a journey through time and the theme seem to be a reversal of “good over evil”.  The style was imaginative with creative characters and places of mystery.

4.   REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

2009 Newbery Medal & Harvey and Eisner Awards

Hugo Award Best Novel and Locus Awards for Best YA Book 2009

New York Times proclaims “exciting and witty, sinister and tender”

5.   CONNECTIONS

·      Student create a version of their own graphic story.

Have children use their communication skills to tell ghost stories

SAVVY - Book Review

1.   BIBLIOGRAPHY

Law, Ingrid,. 2008. SAVVY, Boston, MA:  Walden Media. ISBN 9780803733060

2.   PLOT SUMMARY

SAVVY Is a fantasy story of a girl named Mibs Beaumont whose family members all have magical gifts that they call “savvy”.  The powers present themselves on the thirteenth birthday.  Mibs dad is in another city and is in a major accident where he is unconscious and her mom and 2 siblings go to him. 

Mibs and two brothers are left with their Pastors family.  On her birthday and she decides to run to find her father with her two other brothers and the preachers kids as stowaways on a bus with a Bible salesman.  She discovers her power in which she hears the inner voices of others through their tattoos and skin drawings and hence her adventure begins. 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

I believe that this young adult fantasy story was gripping and moving with tales of magic and make-believe.  This is a mystical story of fiction where the characters appear identifiable yet believable.  The plot is a journey to go to her father and the theme is hope that she can make her father better with her magic powers.  The style does seem to be vivid and imaginary.

4.   REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

2009 Newbery Honor

Kirkus Review claims the book is a “fertile Imagination”

5.   CONNECTIONS

* Sequel to SAVVY is “SCUMBLE (2010)”

*Student can write an imaginary adventure to share with the class.

LOST & FOUND - Book Review

1.   BIBLIOGRAPHY

Tan, Shaun, 2011. LOST & FOUND, New York, NY:  Random House, Inc. ISBN 0-394-80020-6

2.   PLOT SUMMARY

A wild imaginary graphic novel that is 3 books wrapped up in one.  The book first story THE RED TREE is a tale of a girl that seems depressed and later finds good in a red tree that grows up in the middle of her bedroom. 

The next story is THE LOST THING about a boy who finds a large, red “friendly” machine on a beach and takes it home like a lost puppy.  No one claims it so he makes it his mission to find its home, a home where he says nothing “doesn’t quit fit”. 

THE RABBITS is a story that rabbits invaded the area and brought their ways with them and took over and destroy the world.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

I did not care for the stories in this graphic novel; I found them dark and dreary.  The imagery on the other hand was incredible and vivid.  The characters were not so believable.  The sections were difficult to understand until I read the authors notes at the end and discovered that most of the stories were metaphors. 

4.   REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

2011 Astrid Lindren Memorial Award

ALA Notable Children’s Book 2012

5.   CONNECTIONS

* Also read PRAISE FOR THE ARRIVAL ANSD PRAISE FOR TALES FROM OUTER SUBURBS by Shaun Tan

*Have students investigate the environmental issues and social issues and report.

GHOSTS - Book Review

1.   BIBLIOGRAPHY

Telegemeier, Raina, 2016. GHOSTS, New York, NY:  Graphix, ISBN 9780545540612

2.   PLOT SUMMARY

GHOSTs is a amusing graphic novel that is about a girl named Cat and her family that moves to California because her sister is sick with Cystic Fibrosis.  She is sad to leave her friends behind.  She meets a boy next door that believes in ghosts and takes her and her sister on a ghost tour.  Sister gets sick “hiking” and chasing ghost and Cat blames her neighbor Carlos.  Later they meet ghosts and become friends.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This fantasy graphic novel is an easy read.  It is exciting and heart felt yet simple. The cartoon imagery is detailed and colorful.  The characters are believable except for the ghost characters, which appear to be oddly oozing things. It is touching how in the end of the story, the characters are visited by their ghost grandmother who makes them a feast.  The author includes life like events and real problems, which can be discussed with children including death and illness.  

4.   REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author for SMILE and SISTERS

Eisner Award for Best Publication for Kids 2017

2018 Good Reads Choice Award

5.   CONNECTIONS

·      Other stories by this author are “SMILE”, “SISTERS”, and “DRAMA”

·      Students can research Dia De Los Muertos and Mexican culture.

·      Student can extend learning by reading about Cystic Fibrosis