Anya's Ghost

Brosgol, Vera. Anya’s Ghost. First Second, 2011. 221 pages, $19.99 ISBN: 9780316056212 (trade) 

Plot Summary:

Walking to school one day Anya stumbles into an open pit, where she encounters the remains and the ghost of the last person to fall down the pit.  Lucky for Anya she is rescued, but the ghost hitches a ride when one of her bones ends up in Anya’s bag.  Initially Anya is annoyed by the ghosts hitchhiking, but when she helps Anya cheat on her test and impresses Anya’s crush, Anya changes her mind about having the ghost around.  That is until the ghost starts getting demanding and Anya discovers the true nature of her dead friend and how she really died.  

Critical Review:

Brosgol’s first book is a stunning graphic novel.  Anya is a funny and clever narrator struggling with fitting in without betraying her Russian and Jewish heritage.  Like many teens Anya feels like an outsider and yearns to fit in and be accepted by her classmates.  Brosgol’s graphic style of drawing is similar to the style of artist and writer Marjane Satrapi. 

Genre:

Graphic Novel

Fantasy

Multicultural

Interest Level:

Grades 7 and up

Similar Books:

Persepolis Marjane Satrapi

Subjects/Themes:

Ghosts

Teenage girls

High School

Judaism

Awards/Honors:

ALA Notable Children’s Books 2012

Cybil Award 2011

School Library Journal Best Books 2011

YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens 2012

YALSA Top 10 Graphic Novels for Teens 2012

Author’s Website:

http://verabee.com/

Annotation:

After falling down an old well Anya meets a ghost who returns home with her and becomes her new friend. 

Ghostopolis

TenNapel, Doug. Ghostopolis. Scholastic, 2010. 262 pages, $24.99 ISBN: 9780545210270 (trade)

Plot Summary:

TenNapel’s graphic novel revolves around Garth, a terminally ill teen who is accidentally sent to the afterlife by affable ghost hunter Frank Gallows.  Determined to rescue Garth, Frank enlists the help of his ex-girlfriend and ghost Claire Voyent to help him travel to the afterlife.  Meanwhile, Garth finds himself in a strange land with only a ghost horse named Skinny as a friend until he runs into someone who knows him, his grandfather.  With the help of Skinny and his grandfather Garth makes it to the capitol of Ghostopolis, where he meets up with Frank and Claire who have recently landed in the afterlife.  Unbeknownst to Garth, the ruler of Ghostopolis, Vaugner sees the living boy as a threat and enlists his minions to capture him and his accomplices.  In order to return home Garth must defeat the evil Vaugner and restore peace to the afterlife. 

Critical Review:

Doug TenNapel has created a classic hero tale in his boldly illustrated graphic novel Ghostopolis.  Garth’s sudden appearance in the afterlife and his mission to defeat the evil overlord and bring peace coincides with the classic hero archetype.  TenNapel’s characters are well developed and his illustrations are bright and beautifully colored.  Ghostopolis is an edgy, fast paced, tongue in cheek tale that will leave readers wanting more. 

Genre:

Graphic Novel

Fantasy

Adventure

Interest Level:

Grades 9 and up

Similar Books:

Anya’s Ghost Vera Brosgol

Subjects/Themes:

Death/dying

Tyranny

Author’s Website:

http://tennapel.com/

Annotation:

Ghostopolis is an edgy graphic novel in which teen Garth must defeat the evil overlord of the afterlife and bring peace to Ghostopolis. 

Smile

Telgemeier, Raina. Smile. Graphix, New York, 2010. 214 pages.  Tr. $21.99 ISBN 9780545132053

Plot Description:

Raina is not thrilled about getting braces, but braces are nothing compared to what Raina goes through after she accidentally trips and knocks out her front two teeth.  The dentist tries to reimplant Raina’s teeth, but they do not heal correctly, leading to further dental work for Raina.  Back at school Raina’s friends tease her about her dental work, as if middle school weren’t tough enough as it was?  Since Raina’s teeth did not heal properly the orthodontist proposes removing the two front teeth entirely!  But he has a plan, he will insert two fake teeth and over the course of several months he will shift the rest of Raina’s teeth toward the center disguising the missing teeth.  As Raina’s real teeth shift, the orthodontist will shave down the fake teeth until her real teeth replace them.  Throughout middle school Raina deals with teeth casts, braces, and head gear, but it is all worth it when she debuts her beautiful new smile when she gets to high school.

Review:

I loved Smile!  Raina Telgemeier’s autobiographical graphic novel brought me back to my own experiences at the orthodontist as a child.  Lucky for me I didn’t have to endure nearly the amount of dental work Raina did!  Telgemeier has a fun and bubbly style of writing that matches her amusing, bold and colorful illustrations.  Any tween who is undergoing orthodontic work will be reassured by Raina’s experience, especially since just getting braces is nothing compared to all the dental work poor Raina went through. 

Genre:

Graphic Novel

Nonfiction

Reading Level/Interest Level:

Grades 6-9

Similar Books:

Drama by Raina Telgemeier

Awards/Honors:

Cybil Award 2010

Will Eisner Award 2010

YALSA Best Graphic Novels for Teens 2011

Author’s Website:

http://goraina.com/

Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword

Deutsch, Barry. Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword. 2010. Abrams, 137 pages. $15.95 ISBN: 9780810984226

Plot Summary:

Mirka likes her stepmother, Fruma, despite that Fruma is extremely argumentative. In fact Mirka sometimes argues with her stepmother for amusement. One day Mirka loses her way and stumbles upon the house of a witch. Later she brings her siblings and Mirka eats one of the witch’s grapes and is then attacked by a monster. The monster is actually a very ferocious pig, but seeing as no one in Hereville eats pork, being a Jewish town, Mirka has never seen a pig before and understandable mistakes this particular vicious pig for a monster. The pig continues to harass her and steal her homework, until finally Mirka confronts the pig. Not expecting an answer Mirka is surprised when the pig tells her that she is guilty of stealing from the pig’s mistress and that the pig will continue to harass Mirka in punishment. Not one to back down Mirka tries to trap the pig and after almost drowning each other, Mirka and the pig come to a truce.

Later in the day Mirka stumbles upon the pig again, only this time he has been trapped by some older boys. Mirka rescues the pig and as a reward the witch tells Mirka where can find her own sword. The only catch is that the sword is guarded by a troll that Mirka must defeat. The witch does not tell Mirka how to defeat the witch, but tells her that her stepmother has all the information Mirka needs. Mirka is determined to learn how to defeat the troll and get a sword of her own.

Critical Review:

Hereville is based on the hit web comic of the same name, but with all new artwork and an extended story. Mirka is an unstoppable and courageous heroine. Hereville is not only a comedic adventure, but also informative about the Orthodox Jewish faith. Deutsch describes the weekly celebration of Shabbos. This was a fun graphic novel, filled with humor. My favorite part was Mirka’s battle with the pig, which Deutsch successfully sold as a monster.

Genre:

Humorous Fiction

Graphic Novel

Fantasy

Interest/Reading Level:

5^th to 7^th grades

Similar Books:

Into the Volcano by Don Wood

Rapunzle’s Revenge by Shannon Hale

Awards/Honors:

Andre Norton Award Nominee 2010

Eisner Nomination 2011

YALSA Best Graphic Novels for Teens 2011

Author’s Website:

http://www.amptoons.com/

Book Website:

http://www.hereville.com/webcomic/

Drama

Telgemeier, Raina. Drama. Scholastic, New York, 2012. 312 pages.  Tr. $23.99 ISBN 9780545326988

Plot Description:

Callie loves the theater, unfortunately she can’t sing or act, but she stills find a way to be involved in her school’s drama department by joining the stage crew.  Callie is determined to make this year’s production stand out by building a set worthy of Broadway, complete with a working canon.  Callie has her work cut out with her, but she also has help from two new friends, twin brothers, Justin and Jesse.  Justin is going out for the lead part and is open about his acting ambitions and his sexuality.  Jesse is shier than his brother and prefers to remain out of the spotlight, working back stage with Callie.  Battling dwindling ticket sales and all the drama off stage, can the production survive?

Review:

Raina Telgemeier’s graphic novel is a fun and flirty story about where all the real drama of the theater happens: back stage!  Callie is an enthusiastic and determined protagonist.  She is understandably confused by Jesse, having a crush on him and then discovering him with West, but in the end she realizes that no one is more confused than Jesse and the two are able to mend their friendship.  Brothers Justin and Jesse are wonderful secondary characters.  At first the brothers seem completely different, Justin is openly gay and extroverted and Jesse is quiet and thoughtful.  Teglemeier’s illustrations are bright and bold, the perfect complement to Callie’s personality! 

Genre:

Graphic Novel

Realistic Fiction

GLBTQ

Reading Level/Interest Level:

Grades 6-9

Similar Books:

The Secret Language of Girls by Frances O’Roark Dowell

Awards/Honors:

YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens 2013

Stonewall Award Honor Book 2013

Author’s Website:

http://goraina.com/