Middle Grade Review: Class Act

Class Act by Jerry Craft

Series: New Kid
Genres: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade
Maturity Level: 3 (for mature themes like police violence)
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Rating: ⋆⋆⋆⋆

Eighth grader Drew Ellis is no stranger to the saying “You have to work twice as hard to be just as good.” His grandmother has reminded him his entire life. But what if he works ten times as hard and still isn’t afforded the same opportunities that his privileged classmates at the Riverdale Academy Day School take for granted?

To make matters worse, Drew begins to feel as if his good friend Liam might be one of those privileged kids. He wants to pretend like everything is fine, but it’s hard not to withdraw, and even their mutual friend Jordan doesn’t know how to keep the group together.

As the pressures mount, will Drew find a way to bridge the divide so he and his friends can truly accept each other? And most important, will he finally be able to accept himself?

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Wow. I will literally pick up anything by Jerry Craft at this point. This book was just SO OUTSTANDING, I devoured it in an hour. While you don’t have to have read New Kid first, this book (especially the beginning) will make a lot more sense if you do, plus New Kid is amazing, so there’s that.

Classic Remarks: Graphic Novel Adaptations

This week Krysta and Briana at Pages Unbound are hosting the discussion: What do you think of graphic novel adaptations of classic novels? What makes one successful? Or what makes one not work? Do you have any to recommend?

Normally I don’t like to insert myself into a conversation if I don’t have a strong opinion or any background knowledge. And given the fact that I didn’t know people made graphic novel adaptations of the classics prior to reading the prompt for this discussion, this definitely should be a situation in which I don’t have a strong opinion.

But frankly, my immediate response is pure horror.

Not at a graphic novel. Not AT. ALL. I love graphic novels! They are amazing, and young people seem really connect with them, especially those who think they aren’t strong readers. I really enjoy graphic novels too, though mostly of the YA/MG variety. So I want to repeat, I take no issue with graphic novels.

Nor to I feel horrified when I see graphic novel adaptation of modern favorites. Percy Jackson and Twilight both got the graphic novel treatment, and I’m sure those graphic novels are … fine. But in those cases, the author is alive to give permission to the adaptor, if they aren’t writing the adaptation themselves. That’s a big deal. It means they get to give their stamp of approval to make sure the adaptation has the spirit of the original. I think it’s also pretty easy to recognize that they aren’t the same thing, and you can enjoy either one without necessarily having to have a preference or even have read both. Also, both those books have a little bit of an action/adventure feel to them, which makes WAY more sense for a graphic novel than, say, The Poet X.

Middle Grade Review: Roller Girl

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

Genres: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade
Maturity Level: 2+
View on Goodreads
Rating: ⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

Twelve-year-old Astrid has always done everything with her best friend Nicole. So when Astrid signs up for roller derby camp, she assumes Nicole will too. But Nicole signs up for dance camp with a new friend instead, and so begins the toughest summer of Astrid’s life. There are bumps and bruises as Astrid learns who she is without Nicole…and what it takes to be a strong, tough roller girl. 

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I started reading middle grade as an adult a little more than a year ago, and this is the first book I’ve read that I’m really disappointed didn’t exist when I was a young person. I think 10-year-old me would have loved it so much, and adult-me sure as heck did. Definitely one of my new favorite graphic novels!

Middle Grade Review: Rocket to the Moon!

Rocket to the Moon! by Don Brown

Series: Big Ideas that Changed the World
Genres: Middle Grade, Non-fiction, Graphic Novel
Maturity Level: 1
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Rating: ⋆⋆⋆

On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong took “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” when the Apollo 11 landed on the moon. But it wasn’t just one man who got us to the moon. Rocket to the Moon! explores the people and technology that made the moon landing possible. Instead of examining one person’s life, it focuses on the moon landing itself, showing the events leading up to it and how it changed the world. The book takes readers through the history of rocket building: from ancient Chinese rockets, to “bombs bursting in air” during the War of 1812, to Russia’s Sputnik program, to the moon landing.

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For kids who enjoyed learning about science from The Magic School Bus, learning about history from Big Ideas might be a great fit. But ultimately I found that graphic novel was maybe not the best medium for a non-fiction title.

Middle Grade Review: New Kid

New Kid by Jerry Craft

Series: New Kid
Genres: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade
Maturity Level: 2
View on Goodreads
Rating: ⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade.

As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale Riverdale Academy Day School, Jordan soon finds himself torn between two worlds—and not really fitting into either one. Can Jordan learn to navigate his new school culture while keeping his neighborhood friends and staying true to himself? 

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I loved this graphic novel! The art, the story, the characterization, the subtltly, everything was so spot-on! I would put this up there as an all-time favorite with El Deafo and Pashmina. A must-read for middle-graders!

Middle Grade Review: The Cardboard Kingdom

The Cardboard Kingdom, Written and Illustrated by Chad Sell and company

Contributers: Chad Sell, Jay Fuller, David DeMeo, Katie Schenkel, Kris Moore, Molly Muldoon, Vid Alliger, Manuel Betancourt, Michael Cole, Cloud Jacobs, Barbara Perez Marquez
Genres: Graphic Novel, Middle-Grade, Realistic Fiction
Maturity Level: 2
View on Goodreads
Rating: ⋆⋆⋆⋆

Welcome to a neighborhood of kids who transform ordinary boxes into colorful costumes, and their ordinary block into cardboard kingdom. This is the summer when sixteen kids encounter knights and rogues, robots and monsters–and their own inner demons–on one last quest before school starts again.

In the Cardboard Kingdom, you can be anything you want to be–imagine that!

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What it is: A series of short-form comics (5-10 pages), each written/illustrated by Chad Sell and a different contributor, about a group of kids who spends their summer vacation playing make-believe.

Why kids will like it:

• So much fun
• Great full-color illustrations that draw you in
• A range of characters, so every kid is sure to find someone they identify with
• Stories about friendship and being yourself
• Feel-good messages that aren’t heavy-handed

Why adults will like it for their kids:

• Diverse
• Great conversation starters
• Positive role-models and character qualities
• Will feel nostalgic, even if you never had such a community
• Teaches acceptance.

Caveats:

• Will probably mostly appeal to a certain type of kid, though anyone could enjoy it.
• Queer-positive will challenge conservative ideals in some communities, be prepared for potential push-back.

Verdict: Recommend!

Middle Grade Review: Lafayette!

Lafayette! by Nathan Hale

Series: Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales
Genres: Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction, Middle Grade
Maturity Level: 3
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Rating: ⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

Gilbert du Motier became the Marquis de Lafayette at a young age, but he was not satisfied with the comforts of French nobility—he wanted adventure!

A captain at eighteen and a major general by nineteen, he was eager to prove himself in battle. When he heard about the Revolution going on in America, he went overseas and fought alongside Alexander Hamilton and George Washington for America’s independence.

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YOU GUYS! If you’re a teacher or librarian and haven’t heard of Nathan Hale, I can only assume you’ve been living under a box. He takes historical figures and events and makes them kid-friendly. They are graphic novels told with a sense of humor and historical accuracy.

Middle Grade Review – Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea by Ben Clanton

Series: Narwhal and Jelly
Genres: Graphic Novel, Children’s
Maturity Level: 1
View on Goodreads
Rating: ⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

Narwhal is a happy-go-lucky narwhal. Jelly is a no-nonsense jellyfish. The two might not have a lot in common, but they do they love waffles, parties and adventures. Join Narwhal and Jelly as they discover the whole wide ocean together.

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This might be my favorite thing I have ever read. Ever. This book is so funny, and charming, and sweet, and smart, and the drawings are soooooo adorable. I am in love.

Why I don’t include graphic novels in my Top 10 of the year

In the last year or so I’ve gotten pretty into comics and graphic novels. And by pretty into, I mean I have like, two comics that I like but I *really* like them! In fact, I haven’t read a graphic novel that I’ve given fewer than four stars. Not a one. But observant readers (because I have such an obsessive fan base) will have noticed that there haven’t been any graphic novels in my Top 10 of the year posts. What gives?

Well, there’s a couple of reasons. It should be known that I’ve made a conscious decision to leave them out. Instead I might prefer to have a top graphic novels of the year post that is separate, but at this time I’m not really reading enough of them to do so.

The first and most blunt reason that I’ve chosen to leave them out is that I don’t even include comics on my Goodreads. Nor have I reviewed any of them. The main reason here is that what comprises of a “book” when comics are involved is really inconsistent. For example, when I read the original Runaways run by Brian K. Vaughan, I read a volume that collected the entire first season, a full eighteen issues. But more often comics are collected into trade paperbacks in groups of four, five or six issues. On the other other hand, I read Nancy Drew one issue at a time. It felt like cheating putting one Nancy Drew comic into Goodreads (a trade paperback wasn’t available), and I felt guilty putting in some comics but not others. So I made the decision to just … leave them out of it.

I don’t review them for a similar reason. What would I review, each issue? Ain’t nobody got time for that! A whole paperback collection? Who cares about that?! They come out a solid year after the issues were originally released! Besides, comics have their own little corner of the internet, and I’m barely scratching the surface there.

So that’s why I chose not to include comics.

But what about graphic novels? None of those concerns really apply.

Review: The Prince and the Dressmaker

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

Genres: Graphic Novel, Young Adult, Historical Fiction
Maturity Level: 2
View on Goodreads
Rating: ⋆⋆⋆⋆

Paris, at the dawn of the modern age:

Prince Sebastian is looking for a bride―or rather, his parents are looking for one for him. Sebastian is too busy hiding his secret life from everyone. At night he puts on daring dresses and takes Paris by storm as the fabulous Lady Crystallia―the hottest fashion icon in the world capital of fashion!

Sebastian’s secret weapon (and best friend) is the brilliant dressmaker Frances―one of only two people who know the truth: sometimes this boy wears dresses. But Frances dreams of greatness, and being someone’s secret weapon means being a secret. Forever. How long can Frances defer her dreams to protect a friend?

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Oh my goodness, this book was so sweet and cute and fun! I just loved it to death, and if you like graphic novels (and probably even if you don’t), you will too!