Graphic novels

Meesh the Bad Demon by Michelle Lam

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Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Meesh struggles with things that come easy for most demons her age, like breathing fire and puking acid, and is often picked on by a bully named Xavier.  She prefers befriending flowers and watching the Princess Nouna TV show with her grandmother.  When a mysterious substance starts turning demons into stone, Meesh realizes it’s up to her to save her community.  She goes off in search of Princess Nouna but is dismayed by the real-life princess when they finally meet.  The two unwittingly wind up going on a series of adventures together, during which Meesh discovers some new powers.  Eventually, they add a couple more kids to their group, including, much to Meesh’s surprise, Xavier.  Working together, the team manages to save the demons, and a surprising twist at the end will have readers eagerly awaiting a sequel.  304 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  This manga-style comic is sure to be a big hit, with its gorgeous art, non-stop adventures, creative world-building, and loveable team of misfits that learn to accept each other and work together to do great things.

Cons:  I think this is a “me” problem, but I do struggle in fantasy graphic novels to keep track of the various characters and their worlds.

Doodles from the Boogie Down by Stephanie Rodriguez

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Published by Kokila

Summary:  Steph is in eighth grade at her Bronx Catholic school, which means she and her friends are applying to New York City high schools.  Her strict Dominican mother wants her to continue at a Catholic school near home, but Steph is drawn to an arts school in Manhattan.  Since the school of her dreams requires a portfolio, not an exam, Steph decides to secretly work with her art teacher and mentor, Ms. Santiago, on a portfolio and to purposely fail the high school entrance exam.  Naturally, this plan drastically backfires, and Steph finds herself in trouble with both her school and her mother.  Fortunately, her mother, helped by her own mother, sits down and talks to Steph, resulting in a better understanding on both sides, and ultimately, Steph’s admission to the Laguardia Arts High School.  Includes a note from the creator telling more about her own life and what was the same and different from the fictional Steph.  208 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Fans of graphic memoirs, especially artists, will love this new addition to the canon and will root for Steph in spite of a few less-than-great choices on her part.  

Cons:  I was bummed to learn that the real Stephanie didn’t get to go to LaGuardia High School.

Parachute Kids by Betty C. Tang

~ Janet Dawson ~ 3 Comments

Published by Graphix

Summary:  10-year-old Feng-Li is excited to be visiting America for the first time on what she thinks is a vacation, but a week in, she discovers her father packing to leave.  Turns out, her parents have decided that she and her older siblings Jia-Xi and Ke-Gāng will settle in America, where they’ll have more opportunities, and their parents will return to Taiwan and earn money to support the kids.  At first, nearby family friends help out, but when the father of that family gets transferred, the kids are really on their own.  Jia-Xi is trying to prepare for the SAT’s while taking care of the house and kids; Ke-Gāng is struggling with the fact that he’s gay and that the trouble he got into back home caused his parents to want the kids out of Taiwan; and Feng-Li is just trying to learn enough English to make a friend and to keep her siblings from their constant bickering.  As one catastrophe follows another, the kids try to keep things going, and Feng-Li is forced to grow up fast to keep her family from falling apart.  Includes an author’s note about her own experiences as a parachute kid, and how she used those experiences and those of other immigrant friends to create this story.  288 pages; grades 4-8.

Pros:  A compelling graphic novel about a family faced with some unimaginably difficult times, and the three brave kids who are able to admit their mistakes and work hard to make things better.  As Betty Tang says in the author’s note, “We need more diverse books, so eventually, everyone can find a piece of themselves reflected and their voices heard.”  The Lins’ story adds another voice to that canon.  

Cons:  I was hoping Ke-Gāng would be able to come out to his family by the end of the story, but it didn’t happen.

Show and Smell (Marshmallow Martians book 1) by Deanna Kent, illustrated by Neil Hooson

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Published by Random House Graphic

Summary:  The Marshmallow Martians’ leader, G.L.O.W. (Galactic Learning Online Wizard), introduces them to P.E.E.P. (Polite Extraordinary Earth Portal), which can transport them down to Earth.  Due to a faulty transmission, the Martians believe that the Earth phrase “show and tell” is actually “show and smell,” and they plan a show and smell session for when they return from their trip to Earth.  An amusement park is chosen as the best place to collect smells, and the marshmallows collect odors from onions, shoes, burps, and a skunk.  Back on Planet Moop, the other marshmallows enjoy the show and smell presentation.  Includes instructions for drawing one of the characters (Snug). 72 pages; grades 1-3.

Pros:  Fans of Pizza and Taco, Narwhal and Jelly, and other early comics will get a big kick out of the Marshmallow Martians’ antics.

Cons:  If the marshmallows live on Planet Moop, why are they called Martians and not Moopians?

Four Eyes by Rex Ogle, illustrated by Dave Valeza

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Graphix

Summary:  Rex’s transition to middle school is a rough one, with his best friend Drew abandoning him for the popular kids and his blurry vision giving him daily headaches and making school work tough.  He finally admits to his mom what’s going on, and the diagnosis that he needs glasses is a blow to both of them.  Rex worries (correctly) that the bullying at school will get worse, while his mom and stepdad can’t afford new glasses and are forced to call Rex’s real dad, who’s something of a bully himself.  As the year goes on, though, Rex makes a new friend who teaches him how to stand up for himself.  Sixth grade ends on a positive note, with the promise of a seventh grade sequel.  224 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  The multitude of middle school graphic novel fans will enjoy this new entry that perfectly captures the angst of both family and friend relationships.  Nice to see a boy main character in this type of book.

Cons:  Having read Rex Ogle’s Free Lunch, I know that his family life was much more troubling than what is portrayed here.

Fox Point’s Own Gemma Hopper by Brie Spangler

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Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Gemma’s dealing with a lot at the beginning of seventh grade:  her mom has recently abandoned the family, leaving Gemma to deal with taking care of her baseball star older brother, twin kid brothers, and her dad who spends most of his time working.  At six feet tall, she can’t hide out at school, and her best friend’s attempts to get in with the popular kids make her feel like a loser.  She loves baseball, but only gets to play when her brother needs batting practice.  Usually, she pitches what he wants, but one day, she’s so fed up that she does her own thing.  Her amazing pitches are captured on camera and go viral, catching the attention of the same scouts who discovered her brother.  Suddenly Gemma is in the spotlight, and she discovers that, while it can be scary, it’s a more exciting place to be than where she’s been hiding.  272 pages; ages 4-7.

Pros:  Readers will be rooting for Gemma as she deals with a family that doesn’t always appreciate her and the usual friend dramas of middle school.  Accepting that her mom is gone helps her to move on, and the last few pages are completely emotionally satisfying.

Cons:  I prefer full-color illustrations.

Batcat by Meggie Ramm

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Published by Harry N. Abrams

Summary:  Batcat is part bat, part cat, and fully annoyed by the ghost that has moved into their treehouse.  They consult a witch about how to get rid of the ghostly invader and get sent on a quest to gather the three ingredients needed for the proper spell.  Along the way, Batcat meets up with some bats and some cats who assure them that they are lacking some of the bat and cat qualities to be either animal.  Batcat gets increasingly despondent about their deficiencies until they meet up with a couple of griffins who assure them that one does not have to be one thing or the other.  After embracing their one-of-a-kind identity, Batcat returns to the witch where they slowly realize that maybe the ghost isn’t so bad after all.  The witch works her magic, and Batcat and the ghost become friends and roomies.  96 pages; grades 2-4.

Pros:  This cute and clever graphic novel has humor, spookiness, and a subtle lesson in self-acceptance that works well with both Batcat’s dual-animal identity and their nonbinary pronouns.  I’m happy to see that this is book 1 and look forward to a sequel soon.

Cons:  I could have enjoyed some how-to-draw-Batcat pages at the end.

School Trip by Jerry Craft

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Published by Quill Tree Books

Summary:  Jordan Banks and his friends (and frenemies) from New Kid and Class Act are back for their last hurrah before finishing up at Riverdale Academy Day School (a.k.a. RAD).  The whole eighth grade gets to choose from a variety of trips including Yellowstone, Alaska, Mississippi, and, for Jordan, Paris.  He’s happy to be in a group with friends like Drew, Liam, and Alexandra, less thrilled with the inclusion of class bully Andy.  As the group experiences adventures and mishaps in France, they get to review some of what they’ve learned about friendship, bullying, and other relationship issues during their time in middle school.  Jordan has a big decision weighing on him, having gotten into an art school for high school and trying to decide if he wants to transfer or stay at RAD.  Back home, he finally figures out what he wants to do (“helped”, as always, by his mother), and it seems as though the story may be continued, or this could be the final installment.  256 pages; grades 4-8.

Pros:  Jordan Banks fans will be thrilled with a new book about RAD, and the chance to get off-campus leads to plenty of humor and also many thoughtful conversations on a wide range of relevant topics that will make this a great jumping-off place for class or book club discussions.

Cons:  One of my favorite things about New Kid was how deftly Jerry Craft wove discussions of racism and other social justice topics into a funny school story with lots of fun and interesting characters.  While I still love the messages being imparted, in this installment, they sometimes felt a bit more heavy-handed.

Fae and the Moon by Franco Aureliani, illustrated by Catherine Satrun and Sarah Satrun

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Yellow Jacket

Summary:  Fae has been alone since her mother mysteriously disappeared, supported only by a bunny friend and a couple of mice.  She dreams about her mom every night and is sure she is still alive somewhere.  Her mother had a strong connection to the moon, and one night Fae decides to remove it to the sky, hoping her mom will notice and return home.  The disappearance of the moon triggers some pretty unsavory animal behavior, and in a series of adventures, Fae learns that not only are a swarm of rats trying to steal the moon from her, but the “bunny” is really a power-hungry monster.  Fae discovers that she has powers of her own and manages to bring about a happy ending for herself and her mother.  Includes four pages showing the creation of the story and illustrations.  144 pages; grades 3-5.

Pros:  Don’t be deceived by the short length of this graphic novel; it’s a pretty elaborate fantasy story that will appeal to a wide range of elementary students.  Readers will be happy with the pretty strong hint at the end that there will be a book 2.

Cons:  No page numbers.

Hoops by Matt Tavares

~ Janet Dawson ~ 4 Comments

Published by Candlewick

Summary:  The story opens on a November evening in 1970.  Judi Wilson is watching her older brother and his friends play basketball, while her friend Stacy practices cheers.  When they head off to the high school game, Judi picks up the ball, dreaming of making the winning shot at a big game.  Fast forward five years, and Judi and Stacy are senior co-captains of the cheerleaders, rooting on the boys’ basketball team.  When Judi hears that a girls’ team is forming, she decides to try out, abandoning cheerleading and upsetting Stacy.  Only eight girls show up, so they’re all part of the new team.  Despite the lack of uniforms, a bus, meal money, or the use of the high school gym, the girls love playing and begin to win games.  As they get better known, they’re allowed to use the gym when the boys are done with it, but they still have to wear t-shirts with their numbers taped on with electrical tape and drive to away games in their coach’s borrowed RV.  Finally, when they make it to the state championship, the athletic director apologizes in front of the school for his shabby behavior, and the booster club gives them real uniforms.  In the final game of the championship, the score is tied with just seconds left, and Judi gets a chance for the winning basket, bringing the story full circle to her early dream.  Includes a 4-page author’s note about how he came to write this book and with additional information about Title IX.  224 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  Based on a true story, this graphic novel is fun and fast-paced, showing the uphill battle female athletes faced in the early days of Title IX.  Although it takes place in high school, the friendships and sports action will be enjoyed by elementary and middle school readers.  While I love Matt Tavares’s picture books, I hope he’ll continue with graphic novels as well!

Cons:  Judi’s sweatshirt on the last few pages indicates that she’s on a college basketball team, but I wish I found out for sure if she and her teammates got to play in college.