Graphic Novels for Kids: a 3-for-1 post!

 My son loves comic books and graphic novels.  In fact, he asks me to pick up new ones for him every time I go to the library (a couple times each month).  He doesn't really care what they're about, as long as "you think I'll like them".

Earlier this summer, I picked up three graphic novels I thought he'd enjoy...mainly because I thought that I would enjoy them.  And I did.  So, one at a time, and without further ado...

The Tea Dragon Festival, by K. O'Neill

I saw this book and was immediately in love with the illustrations.  The landscapes and use of color were so beautiful to me, and the little critters (called "tea dragons" -- look around the girl's feet) were cute AF.  I love tea.  I love critters.  I love this type of illustration.  Naturally, I needed to read this book.  

Touted as "a lovely, gentle fantasy" (Kirkus), it sounded like a calming, delightful sort of read that would be even more delightfully accompanied by the previously described images.  While it did deliver in both of these categories, I must confess, I was caught off guard by the whole notion of how "inclusive" it is.  Friends, it's woke.  

Maybe that's your thing.  Maybe it isn't.  It honestly annoyed me more than anything because I don't like pushing agendas of any kind on children, who are clearly this book's target audience.  While yes, the notion of gender fluidity did come up, it was mostly just in passing, and could be easily missed.  It was indeed forced and contrived (things that piss me off about writing in general), but it wasn't the primary theme of the story.  I cannot comment on how present these themes are in the other Tea Dragon books as I have not read those.  Unfortunately, I will not be likely to do so, due to the clear motives behind graphic novelist K. O'Neill.  Bummer.  I like tea, but this just isn't my cup of it.

Super Narwhal and Jelly Jolt (A Narwhal and Jelly Book, #2), by Ben Clanton

I love narwhals.  Maybe I don't say it enough but, from the moment I learned that they were real, actual creatures (!), I was smitten.  There is nothing I love more unda da sea.

Narwhal and Jelly books do not need to be read in order, so it was no problem that this was the first one that I picked up.  Unlike the previously discussed Tea Dragon books, Super Narwhal and Jelly Jolt pushes no agenda beyond having fun with your friends, using your imagination, and including others when you play.  In terms of inclusion, I personally believe this needs to be where we shift our focus when communicating these values to kids.  Regardless of your beliefs, I think we can all get on board with Narwhal and Jelly.

Wizkit: An Adventure Overdue, by Tanya J. Scott

A one-eyed cat who is learning to become a wizard?  YES PLEASE!!!! 

Wizkit, a lazy, bread-loving student of wizardry overhears sobbing in her house.  When she and her teacher discover an overdue library book that wants to be returned home, Wizkit and the book are sent on an adventure back to the library.  Along the way, they use their imaginations to fill the book's blank pages, solve problems they encounter, and meet new friends.  Wizkit learns the power of books, using your mind, and getting off your butt to create your own fun -- lessons we can all stand to learn!

Three new graphic novels for the kiddos.  No Pulitzer prizes here, just fun: plain and simple!

Persepolis and Persepolis 2, by Marjane Satrapi

For better or worse, we all remember our childhoods.  The ups, the downs, the highlights and major moments -- it's all there.

Iranian graphic novelist, Marjane Satrapi, recounts her childhood (roughly ages 6-14) growing up in Tehran in Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood.  As a child, Satrapi witnessed the overthrow of the Shah of Iran, the subsequent Islamic Revolution, and the crippling war with Iraq.  Raised by passionate Marxists in a precarious time, Satrapi's unique views of the world were shaped by her family and her environment.  Nevertheless, she was a child and an adolescent girl who experienced all the things that girls do: friendships, nail polish, boyfriends, school, and -sometimes- being too mouthy for her own good.

In the follow-up, Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return, Satrapi recounts her life as a teenage student -alone and abroad- in Europe.  While she was sent to Austria to escape the dangers of war-torn Iran under an intense and extreme regime, her world remained precarious.  She navigated adolescence without the loving guidance of her parents, who had to stay in Iran, and trouble often ensued.  Persepolis 2 brings Satrapi into adulthood, returning to Iran, then traveling abroad once again (this time to France).

It is hard to imagine a coming of age like the unique one experienced by Marjane Satrapi.  Most of us have our own stories, but few of them involve the horrors she witnessed.  Nevertheless, Satrapi tells her story with wit, the dark humor required to survive such trauma, and an amazing cohesion that ties all these seemingly unrelated life events into a continuous story.  

As graphic novels, Persepolis and Persepolis 2 are rather "quick and easy reads", despite the weight of their contents.  While my library categorizes them as Young Adult graphic novels, I would recommend they be reserved for more mature YA readers.  Yes, a teenager could handle it, but they are heavy and, sometimes, quite graphic and/or violent.

Ultimately, these are intriguing reads by a very talented graphic novelist.  Fascinating and informative, hilarious and heartbreaking, I would recommend them to anyone looking for a new perspective or world experience.

Elements of Cadence, a two part series by Rebecca Ross

 You guys know me by now, I think.  You know that I like fairytales, multi-faceted characters, elements of mystery, and -yes, I must confess- a drop of romance.  

Several months ago, one of my students paid me a great compliment: she recommended a book to me.  Yes, I know, anyone can recommend a book BUT, she recommended a book to me because she knows what I like and made her suggestion based on that.  What better compliment than to show that you know a person well enough than to offer them an adventure that is likely to please?

This student suggested that I read A River Enchanted, by Rebecca Ross.  At the time, I was not aware that this was the first in a duology.  It appears that both books were published in 2022, so I imagine they could be read like one great big mega book.  I listened to A River Enchanted on the Libby app and, upon discovering that it was the first of two, I immediately reserved the sequel, A Fire Endless.  So, some time lapsed between the two, but not enough for me to forget important plot elements.

Set on the fictitious island of Cadence, one can easily imagine this place as a far northern, remote location of Scotland.  In fact, the reader is Scottish (or at least reads with a Scottish accent, even during the book's credits), "the mainland" is often referenced, and the characters' plaids and kilts are frequently described.  "The Folk" (fairies/spirits) play huge roles throughout both of these novels, so they are -at the very least- inspired by Celtic legends and folktales.  And I love that.

We begin the story with Jack, a fatherless child of Cadence, whose mother had sent him to the mainland ten years prior to go to school and learn to become a bard.  In this time and place, a bard is a very prestigious position, reserved only for those who are very gifted in the art of song and storytelling.  Jack is summoned back home to Cadence -much to his chagrin- when he is around 20 years old.  Upon his return, we meet his family and the three other characters who will serve as the main ensemble for the rest of the duology: Adaira (heiress to the Tamarlaine clan lairdship), Torin (head guardsman, cousin of Adaira), and Sidra (talented healer, wife of Torin).  These four characters -Jack, Adaira, Torin, and Sidra- will continue to drive the plot for both books.  (Of no particular note: Sidra is my personal favorite.)

We also learn that the Isle of Cadence is split between two warring clans: the Tamarlaines in the East (clan to which our four protagonists belong) and the Breccans in the West.  The East has been blessed with bounty, light, and music, but they are often invaded by the West for their crops, livestock, and goods.  The West is a cold, desolate place where the people are hardened and desperate enough to invade the enemy territory in the East.  Still, the West has been gifted access to certain types of magic with little cost, rendering them all the more lethal to the East.

When Jack is summoned back to the East from the mainland, he soon learns the reason why.  Young Tamarlaine girls have begun disappearing and the heiress Adaira believes the spirits of the isle are behind it.  If nothing else, they might know why and where the girls are being taken.  But, in order to summon the spirits, a bard is required.  As the Tamarlaine clan has not had a bard since the death of Adaira's mother, the heiress is compelled to ask Jack to come back and sing for the spirits so that she can ask them for wisdom regarding the disappearance of the girls.  Reluctantly, Jack agrees to help.

Mysteries are solved.  Dark secrets are revealed.  Adventures are had.  It's a great fantasy read that incorporates so many of the things that I love about a good book and, as such, I would highly recommend the Elements of Cadence duology to anyone who is looking for a good escape.