Graphic novels

Graphic novels with girl power

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Words Apart by Aimee Lucido, illustrated by Phillippa and Rachael Corcutt (Versify, 394 pages, grades 4-7). Olive is the younger sister who shares a love of words with her linguist dad. Maddie is the older sister, an artist who struggles in school. Since Maddie repeated kindergarten, the two girls are in the same grade. Maddie, who experienced bullying in her younger days, keeps to herself and encourages Olive to do the same. So when Olive gets a crush on a boy and starts working with him on the school paper, Maddie is jealous. On the home front, their dad has taken a job that requires him to live away from home during the week. When he returns on weekends, Maddie begins to suspect that he’s hiding a secret. All of the stresses come together, and the sisters end up hurting each other deeply. When their parents give them some difficult news, they must find a way to repair their relationship even if it will never be the same as it was.

Told in alternating voices, with Olive’s written in verse and Maddie’s in comics, this book took a much more serious turn than I was expecting, given the cover and the format. It deals with a lot of tough issues in a very relatable way. Don’t be put off by the page count, the comics and verse writing make it a pretty quick read.

Kindred Dragons by Sarah Mesinga (Harry N. Abrams, 208 pages, grades 4-8). Imagine if Anne of Green Gables were named Alice, her parents were still alive (but traveling with a theater company, hence her stay at Green Gables), and some of the other girls and women in the community were “kindreds,” entrusted by the fairies to take care of a dragon in a way that makes their lives dependent upon each other. Alice longs to be a kindred, but so far she hasn’t received an egg, although many of her friends have. When she encounters a dragon named Brim whose kindred–an elderly woman with a reputation for being a witch–is missing, she is determined to help him reunite with Miss Gilroy. Her advocacy for the two of them lands her in big trouble with her grandmother, but eventually Alice prevails. Although the reunion between Brim and Miss Gilroy ends with heartbreak, it results in a deeper bond between Alice and her grandmother and the revelation of Alice’s unique magical powers.

Even those unfamiliar with Anne of Green Gables will love this imaginative tale that celebrates both individuality and community and weaves an enchanting tale that combines magic with everyday life. The art is gorgeous, particularly the aerial views that showcase both the dragons and the Prince Edward Island scenery.

Strangers in strange lands

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How to Say Goodbye in Cuban by Daniel Miyares (Anne Schwartz Books, 240 pages, grades 4-8). Daniel Miyares tells the story of his father, Carlos, a young boy living in the Cuban countryside in 1956. When his father wins the lottery, he decides to pursue his dream of opening a furniture store, moving the family to the big city. Carlos is heartbroken to leave his friends and grandparents, but things take a darker turn as the political landscape in Cuba changes dramatically. The beginning of each chapter shows Castro’s slow rise to power, as he gathers enough supporters to overthrow Batista and takes over the country. Carlos’s parents aren’t particularly political, but that doesn’t protect them from the state taking his dad’s business. Carlos secretly watches Papi and some other men work every night building a boat, and shortly after that, his dad disappears. When life gets more dangerous in the city, the family returns to their grandparents’ farm, where Papi reunites with them and tells them they’re going to America. Carlos is heartbroken all over again, but his father convinces him it’s their only chance for a better life. After a dangerous nighttime journey, they arrive in Florida, ready to begin that life. Includes a four-page author’s note with additional information about Carlos and how his son Daniel came to write this book, along with several photos.

I was surprised to learn that Daniel Miyares has never won a Caldecott, and this graphic novel could easily remedy that situation–or win him a Newbery. The story and gorgeous artwork capture both the beauty of Cuba and the tension, confusion, and danger of the early days of Fidel Castro’s regime. The last part of the book, covering the family’s escape is both suspenseful and moving, and readers familiar with today’s immigration situation will be surprised at the welcome the Cubans get from the American military.

The Experiment by Rebecca Stead (Feiwel and Friends, 288 pages, grades 4-7). Despite his normal New York City upbringing, Nathan has always know that he’s different from other kids. He brushes his teeth five times a day with special pink toothpaste, his mother carefully records every calorie he eats, and…he and his family are aliens. Known as the Kast, his parents have raised Daniel on tales of how they traveled from their home planet as children to begin an experiment living on Earth. Nathan meets each month on Zoom with other Kast children, and he’s begun secretly texting one of them, a girl named Izzy. But recently a few of the kids, including Izzy, haven’t been on the calls, and when Nathan discovers that he’s growing a tail, he suspects he’ll be the next to disappear. He’s not wrong, and he and his parents are summoned to the mother ship, which sits in a parking lot outside a Pennsylvania mall, disguised as a storage container. As Nathan learns more about the ship and his parents’ past, he begins to suspect that it’s all a deception, and that he and the others might be human after all.

This science fiction story is hard to put down once you get through the first few chapters, and the last half has plenty of twists and turns that will keep readers guessing until the very end. It reminded me a little bit of a Margaret Peterson Haddix story and would make a great introduction to the sci-fi genre.

Early reader graphic novels: two mysteries and quite possibly the weirdest book ever!

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Cabin Head and Tree Head by Scott Campbell (Tundra Books, 88 pages, grades K-4). Obviously, Cabin Head is a creature with a cabin on his head, complete with a family inside and smoke coming out of the chimney, and Tree Head likewise has a tree on his (aww, look at the kid in the tire swing!). They’re best friends who also enjoy hanging out with other members of their community like Library Head, Pool Head, Volcano Head, and Outhouse Head. In a series of stories, they show that they may not be the brightest lightbulb heads in the chandelier head, but they are loyal friends and funny storytellers. Readers will cheer at the declaration on the final page: “Cabin Head and Tree Head shall return for more wonderful book times.”

Around page 11, I paused to consider: is this the weirdest book I have ever read? I mean, we do have the Noodleheads, not to mention a hit series based on the premise of a dog’s head being attached to a man’s body. But Cabin Head and Tree Head are definitely in the running for weirdest, but also for funniest, and I found myself laughing aloud throughout the book, particularly at the illustrations. I predict great things for these two, so be sure to stock up and keep an eagle eye out for book 2.

Detective Beans and the Case of the Missing Hat by Li Chen (Andrews McMeel, 208 pages, grades 1-4). Beans is an adorable cat detective who sets out to solve the case of the mystery note giver when he finds a series of encouraging notes stuck to his stuff. He’s derailed from this case almost immediately, though, when his lucky detective hat goes missing. Beans spends the day traveling around town, tracking down clues, generally just one step behind the hat as it’s passed from one owner to the next. He finally gets it back, and in the process accidentally catches a wanted diamond thief. The last few pages remind the reader that the mystery note giver still hasn’t been identified, but perhaps this mystery is unraveled in book 2, which came out earlier this year.

This is actually a 2024 book, but I was unable to resist the cute cover, and the rest of the book did not disappoint. Kids will love the artwork, and the story is simple yet engaging enough to hook those who are just starting to read independently. 

Detective Stanley and the Mystery Museum by Hannah Tunnicliffe, illustrated by Erica Harrison (Flying Eye Books, 64 pages, grades 1-4). Detective Stanley is enjoying his first morning of retirement from the Narlybone Criminal Investigation Department when a letter arrives at his doorstep begging him to come to the Narlybone Museum and figure out who’s behind the break-in there. Unable to resist a heartfelt plea–despite having to leave his pancakes behind–Stanley heads to the museum, where he finds a big mess but no stolen items. When he’s framed for the theft of a police officer’s watch, Stanley unexpectedly winds up in jail. From his cell, he’s able to puzzle out what really happened at the museum and convince a police officer to accompany him back to the scene of the crime. There, he unmasks the real thief in dramatic fashion and is able to return to his pancakes in time for supper. Includes information on Piet Mondrian, whose artwork is featured in the story, as well as a preview of book 2.

Another fun mystery for early readers, this one had a surprising number of twists for such a short story, some sly humor, and artwork full of cute animals that brought to mind Richard Scarry’s work as they go about their day.

A year in the life of a middle schooler

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Dear Jackie by Jessixa Bagley, illustrated by Aaron Bagley (Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 288 pages, grades 4-7). Jackie and Milo are best friends, born on the same day and growing up next door to each other. They’re nervous about sixth grade but certain they can navigate it together. When Milo starts hanging out more with his soccer teammates, and Jackie’s frenemy Adelle teases her about not dressing like a girl or having a crush, Jackie decides to take matters into her own hands. She types a letter to herself from a secret admirer and “accidentally” drops it into Adelle’s locker, which is right above her own. The cool kids are intrigued, so Jackie writes another note to get more positive attention. Before long, she’s in over her head, and she and Milo have both hurt each other with a series of misunderstandings and cruel pranks. Jackie gives into pressure and goes to the big school dance, but when the kids find out the identity of her “secret admirer,” she’s sure her life is over. With the help of her older sibling Bari, she figures out how to tell her parents who she really is and to make amends with Milo. A final letter to Bari at college reveals that she and Milo have found their people through a gaming club, and seventh grade promises to be a much better year for everyone. Includes notes from the wife-and-husband author and illustrator.

Fans of middle school graphic novels will enjoy this one, which really pours on the middle school cringe and cruelty in a way that all too many of us will find familiar. Non-binary Bari and Jackie will help kids see that there are many ways to express your identity, and the most important thing is to be true to yourself. I hope we get a sequel to find out how seventh grade turns out.

Winging It by Megan Wagner Lloyd, illustrated by Michelle Mee Nutter (Graphix, released October 21, 272 pages, grades 3-7). Luna’s unhappy when her dad tells her they’re moving from California to Washington, D.C., and even more so when she learns they’ll be living with her maternal grandmother until they can find their own place. Luna’s mom died when she was a baby, and while she would like to be closer to Grandma and learn more about her mom, her grandmother has always seemed stiff and distant. One day, though, Grandma shares her mother’s old nature journal, and Luna, who’s never enjoyed the outdoors, starts taking tentative steps to explore the natural world, with her biggest dream being to see the luna moth for whom she’s named. Slowly, she starts making friends with her neighbors and getting involved with her school’s environmental club. Even her busy father and her grandmother take an interest in sharing nature with Luna, and by the time a year has gone by, everything has changed so much that Luna feels like she’s truly found a new home.

Fans of Allergic and Squished will be excited to see a new graphic novel by the same team. Just like Dear Jackie, this story goes month by month through a school year, from one summer to the next, and shows the reader how much can happen in a middle school year, and how many changes there can be. Luna is forced to be brave as she deals with a big move and the adjustment of living with a grandmother she barely knows, but she rises to the occasion and discovers parts of herself she never knew existed.

Courageous women of World War II

~ Janet Dawson ~ 3 Comments

The Spy in the Museum: How Rose Valland Saved Art from the Nazis by Erin McGuire (Beach Lane Books, 40 pages, grades 2-5). Rose Valland loved art. As curator of Paris’s Jeu de Paume Museum, she appreciated all kinds of art: ancient, classical, or modern. Adolf Hitler hated modern art. When Nazis took over Rose’s museum, they fired all the staff except Rose, who was kept on as manager. As they started to steal the art, selling it to fund the war, Rose secretly listened to their conversations and made notes about where the art was going. The soldiers didn’t know she spoke German, but they still became suspicious of her, which put her in grave danger. Towards the end of the war, as the Nazis fled Paris, Rose worked with the French Resistance to stop their final train, loaded with valuable artworks, from leaving the country. For much of the rest of her life, she used her notes to help restore the stolen artworks from around the world. Includes additional information about Rose Valland and the art she worked to save, as well as a list of sources.

This inspiring story is supplemented with interesting and timely questions in the author’s note: why does protecting art matter, and why did the Nazis want to destroy it? The illustrations, many including famous artworks, add to the story and the conversation.

Song of a Blackbird by Maria van Lieshout (First Second, 256 pages, grades 8 and up). The narrative of this graphic novel alternates between 2011 and 1943 Amsterdam. In 2011, Annick is trying to find help for her Oma’s leukemia. When bone marrow tests reveal she was adopted, the two turn to a set of prints from her childhood, each signed by “Emma B.” to try to learn more about her past. Emma is the 1943 protagonist, an artist and student whose education is interrupted by the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands. She uses her talents to aid the Resistance, helping to create false documents and working to rescue children whose parents are being sent to concentration camps. A blackbird that represents art and creativity narrates, showing how his gifts help those in the darkest of circumstances. The two stories eventually meet, and the reader learns the fate of all the characters in a moving epilogue. Includes extensive back matter about the buildings pictured in Oma’s prints and the real-life people on whom Maria van Lieshout based her story.

I learned about this book when the National Book Award Longlist was announced a couple of weeks ago, and it absolutely blew me away. I truly can’t imagine creating this impeccably researched historical fiction, with its two riveting narratives, each one portrayed in its own color palette. Usually I’m rooting for a middle grade win over YA, but this is a compelling choice for sure. Although both books take place over 80 years ago, their stories speak to the timeless power of art and will surely inspire those fighting to create a brighter world.

Elementary heroines

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Dream On by Shannon Hale, illustrated by Marcela Cespedes (Roaring Brook Press, 240 pages, grades 3-6). Fourth-grader Cassie has a lot of big emotions as she navigates the difficult terrain of growing up in a small house with a large family and dealing with changing friendships at school. When she sees a flyer in the mail telling her she’s won some fancy prizes, she starts to dream about how this could change her life. Usually, she would enjoy sharing those dreams with her best friend Vali, but recently Vali’s been spending more time with another girl who alternates being friendly and being mean to Cassie. Cassie’s frequently told that she’s too sensitive, but she can’t help the way she feels, and as the story goes on, she learns that being sensitive also means having a greater sense of wonder about the world around her. Things don’t magically resolve themselves, but having good conversations with her mom (who’s often too busy for such things) and with Vali about their friendship helps Cassie feel better about her problems and to find a way to a new normal at school and at home. Includes a note from Shannon Hale about the parallels between Cassie’s 1980’s childhood and her own.

Fans of Shannon Hale’s Real Friends series will be delighted to discover this new graphic novel, with book 2 coming in August 2026. Just as with Real Friends, I found the tone of this book a little melancholy, but it’s a realistic portrayal of a character who is extra sensitive, making her prone to lower moods but also extra appreciative of more joyful ones.

Amina Banana and the Formula for Friendship by Shifa Saltagi Safadi, illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel (G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 128 pages, grades 2-5). Amina’s both excited and nervous about her first day of third grade in America. Her family has recently relocated from Syria to Indiana, and all of them have had to overcome many difficulties, with obstacles still ahead. Being scientifically inclined, Amina writes a five-step formula for making friends at her new school, only to find herself crossing off one step after another after a series of discouraging setbacks. But she finds a kind group of girls who help her with her English and encourage her to share her culture with them and with the rest of the class. By the final pages, Amina has found new friends and the courage to be herself in her new country.

I was wowed and humbled by the courage of Amina and her family in this early chapter book series starter (book 2 is out, and #3 will be published in January). Her dad, a pharmacist in Syria, is working at a fast food restaurant while her physician mom studies to pass the boards so she can practice medicine in the U.S. Despite their hardships, the family is loving, supportive, and has fun together. I’m always happy to find books featuring protagonists in younger elementary grades, so it was nice to discover these two books with girls in fourth and third grades.

Sci Fi graphic novels

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Rodeo Hawkins and the Daughters of Mayhem by John Claude Bemis, illustrated by Nicole Miles (Holiday House, 272 pages, grades 4-7). Sidney Poblocki is trying to convince his best friend Walt to try to run away with him after another failed foster family experience when two mysterious groups appear from out of nowhere, each trying to convince him to come with them. He chooses the Paladins over Rodeo Hawkins and the Daughters of Mayhem, drinking a punch that allows him to travel through the multiverse but makes those left behind, including Walt, forget that he even existed. Before long, Sidney realizes he’s chosen the side of evil, but gets a second chance to join Rodeo and her girls, where he learns about a prophecy that someone named Sidney Poblocki will destroy the multiverse, leading the Paladins to have killed every Sidney Poblocki they’ve found before him. All of that happens before page 70, and the rest is a fast-paced story of good vs. evil, as the ragtag Daughters of Mayhem seek to stop the Paladins before they can destroy Sidney…and possibly the entire universe.

While sci-fi graphic novel is not usually my favorite genre, I have to admire the incredible world-building, adventure, and pure fun of this series starter. It seems like a graphic novel that will appeal to fans of Wings of Fire, Amulet, and Animorphs, and I was happy to see a preview for book 2 at the end. Thanks to Holiday House for providing me with an advanced copy; publication is scheduled for September 9.

Schoolbot 9000 by Sam Hepburn (Dial Books, 288 pages, grades 4-7). James is struggling with some big feelings following the death of his artist father who always supported James’s creativity. Now his mom is working all the time, and she’s gotten a HomeBot to help out. James hates the way this domestic robot surveils him at home and around his neighborhood. As if that’s not bad enough, there are new SchoolBot 9000s at school, a couple of robots guaranteed to bring up student test scores. As the machines learn about the students and teachers, they gradually start taking over more and more of the educational process, edging out the human teachers who are offered secret jobs at the company running the program. James feels like he’s the only one who can see the sinister takeover of life by robots, but is one human enough to defeat the power of artificial intelligence?

This book could hardly be more timely, not only the exploration of AI, but the increasing dependence of school administrators on technology and the emphasis above all else on raising test scores, even if that means taking away teacher autonomy and input into the educational process. Despite the weighty topics, it’s also a fun and suspenseful story, and readers will be happy to see the message on the last page: “Stay tuned for the next SchoolBot adventure!”

Some wild and crazy animals

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There’s Something Odd About the Babysitter by Elayne Crain, illustrated by John Ledda (Feiwel and Friends, 40 pages, ages 4-8). Freddie’s stressed about a new babysitter, and his parents are so rushed getting out the door that they don’t notice anything unusual. But there’s definitely something odd about the babysitter who wears a trench coat, a bowler hat, and has a furry face and a black mask. The dog seems jumpy, and the babysitter refuses to take off the trench coat, but at least things are not boring. Before long, three raccoons have emerged from the coat, and everyone has a fun evening of puzzles, books, and games. Dinner is garbage, and the babysitters’ manners are appalling, but those details aside, Freddie has a great time. By the time his parents come home, and the “babysitter” has gotten bundled back into a coat and hat, he’s decided that this sitter is pretty special.

This is one of those picture books where the illustrations tell more than the words, and readers will get a kick out of seeing the humans duped by what is obviously three raccoons in a trench coat. This could be a good book to share to help kids who are having a new babysitter. On a side note, this reminded me a lot of the chapter book series Two Dogs in a Trench Coat.

Into the Bewilderness by Gus Gordon (HarperAlley, 192 pages, grades 3-7). Luis is a friendly bear who wonders what’s in the world beyond his woodland home. Gus is a grumpy mole who has no interest in traveling but loves his friend Luis. When Luis gets two tickets to see a play in the big city, he decides to set off on an adventure, and Gus reluctantly joins him. The journey is long, filled with funny mishaps and philosophical musings, and when they finally get to the theater, Luis realizes he’s left the tickets at home. Accepting the inevitable, the two animals head back home, their friendship stronger than ever having survived the stresses of travel together.

Fans of graphic novels featuring animal characters with contrasting personalities (e.g. Peter and Ernesto, Narwhal and Jelly) will get a kick out of this story filled with both big questions and dad-joke level humor. I thought at first it was going to be over a lot of kids’ heads, but it quickly took some goofy turns that assured me younger readers will enjoy it. The art is beautiful, too. And on another side note, this made me think of one of my favorite picture books, Nobody Owns the Moon.

Cinderella stories

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CeeCee: Underground Railroad by Shana Keller, illustrated by Laura Freeman (Charlesbridge, 32 pages, grades 1-5). Cecelia, or CeeCee for short, knows that her real name is different, a name that she keeps on a piece of paper hidden away from the people she works for on a Maryland plantation. The mother and two daughters there are always finding ways to scold and punish her, no matter how hard she works, but CeeCee has dreams of one day finding a better life. Binty the cook, in the role of the fairy godmother, sneaks CeeCee food and assures her that she can do anything. She also tells the girl about a prince named Moses who can give her a better life. After months of planning and secretly making herself new clothes to wear, CeeCee is runs away one night to find the mysterious prince. She’s surprised to learn that Moses is a woman named Harriet Tubman, who inspires CeeCee enough to finally share that she is named Edea, after her mama. Includes additional information about Harriet Tubman, names during slavery, Cinderella, and fairy tales.

This is a really interesting combination of Cinderella story and information about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad that would make an excellent compare and contrast exercise with some of the many other versions of Cinderella. The theme of the power of names and the dehumanizing impact of taking away someone’s name could start some good discussions.

The Fairy Tale Fixers: Cinderella by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Jorge Lacera (Clarion Books, 128 pages, grades 1-5). The Fairy Tale Fixer is just getting ready to go home to a Friday evening pancake supper, when the phone rings. It’s another mouse, and she has an emergency: the house where she lives is filled with screaming and she needs the Fixer to make things right. When the Fixer reluctantly takes the case, he discovers a girl named Cinderella being yelled at by her stepmother and stepsisters. His solution? Send Cinderella to the ball and marry her off to the prince. After all, doesn’t every girl want to marry a prince? But things go off the fairy-tale tracks at that point, and the Fixer learns that it’s a good idea to ask someone what she wants before assuming anything. Cinderella eventually gets her unconventional happily-ever-after, and the Fixer gets a new assistant and a call about a new case: an evil fairy is about to put a princess to sleep for 100 years.

The familiar story gets a fun twist in this new series opener featuring a couple of mice who fracture fairy tales. Kids just starting to read longer books will enjoy the humor and comparing the traditional story to the new version, with the end giving a preview of book 2.

Ghostly graphic novels

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Ghost Town by Eric Colossal (Harry N. Abrams, 256 pages, grades 4-7). Lily’s been accepted to a prestigious science academy, which means a move to another town, but she’s sure she doesn’t want her life to change. After purposely failing her science final in an attempt to lose her scholarship, she’s grounded and assigned to volunteer at the library every morning, but that doesn’t stop her from sneaking out to play baseball with her friends. When their ball goes through the window of an old mansion, the kids stumble upon a ghost and a trap for catching other ghosts. As they go through town, cleaning up ghosts and restoring the power that those ghosts have been sucking up, they slowly unravel a mystery involving an old family from town, and one member in particular, who, like Lily, didn’t want anything to change. As she begins to see the destruction his resistance has caused, Lily realizes that change is inevitable, and it’s okay for her to embrace the new things in her life.

This is a fun tween ghostbusters story with the whole gang taking on the task of trapping ghosts and finding out about their past lives, which they accidentally discover can be done by swallowing the ghost and initiating a flashback of its past life. There’s lots of humor, like when some of the ghosts turn out to be animals, but there’s also a pretty serious message conveyed in the big final showdown.

Free Piano (Not Haunted) by Whitney Gardner (Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 256 pages, grades 5-8). Margot loves playing the ukulele and writing songs, but everyone around her seems more concerned with getting likes and follows on social media. Her dad goes off to L.A. to pursue his musical dreams and his goal of 10,000 followers, while her two best friends are getting more action on their channel smashing things from a tree house than Margot gets with her music. When she finds an old synthesizer keyboard with a sign reading “Free Piano (Not Haunted),” she thinks it may be just the thing to help her connect with her dad. Instead, it starts making weird sounds, even when it’s not plugged in, and eventually the ghost of ’80’s pop star Vision appears. Vision encourages Margot to embrace her own talents, and together, the two of them exorcise an evil spirit from Vision’s past who’s been haunting the keyboard. The ghost eventually has to move on, but its clear that her influence has changed the way Margot sees herself and her talents. Includes additional information about the Prophet-5 keyboard featured in the story.

This is sure to be a popular choice for middle school kids struggling with their own identities and parental issues, and it never hurts to throw a ghost or two into the mix. The brilliantly colored artwork conjures up Vision’s 1980’s vibe, with the portrayals of ghosts and the haunted keyboard especially effective.