October 19th, 2009 by fjacksonem
Many years ago I traveled to Australia. I saw the cities; I saw the outback; but never did I see suburbs similar to one in Shaun Tan’s
TALES FROM OUTER SUBURBIA. Fifteen illustrated tales makes the mundane suburban world into a magical place. It begins with the water buffalo who sits in an abandoned lot pointing children in the right direction. There is the foreign exhange student, Eric, a tiny leaf-like creature, with a rather large sense of wonder. And there is the Expedition of two brothers; each brothers wonders if the map of their hometown really ends in nothing.
Each story is illustrated by dazzling images to delight fantasy and science fiction fans. These stories are highly entertaining and anyone will read through this short book in just one sitting.
I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK FOR GRAPHIC FANS, FOR FANTASY FANS, AND FOR SCI FI FANS. It is a treasure to behold.
Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services
May 1st, 2007 by fjacksonem
Alex Zuckerman, a senior at East Meadow High School, did his community service internship at the East Meadow Public LIbrary. Alex is interested in filmmaking, including anime. Unfortunately our anime collection is very small, so I asked Alex to review some of the titles in our graphic novel collection.
WAR OF THE WORLDS by Stephen Stern and Arne Starr
The graphic novel is only slightly better then the movie, because Tom Cruse isn’t in it. What more can I say but if you like pointless action sequences that are only running away scenes and really bad artwork, then be my guest and pick this one up today. The real thing that got me mad, was the ending made no sense. Thanks to the bad art work, you can’t tell what’s going on in the story because it looks like the illustrator took a nap as they were drawing this piece of garbage. Now don’t get me wrong, the original book is great but this one isn’t.
CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON by Wang Du Lu and Andy Seto
This one is a great choice to read. If you like the movie then you’ll like the book too. With detailed art work, color and story line this one is a
must read.
JU-ON 2 by Takashi Shimizu and MEIMU
Just like the Sarah Michelle Gellar movie this graphic novel is really bad. The art work is atrocious at best and uninteresting. The original movie version from Japan is well written, acted and well thought out, certainly not like this graphic novel. The graphic novel is based on the Japanese movie but with really poor art work. This version it is just a pathetic attempt at a once good movie.
WAR CRAFT: THE SUNWELL TRILOGY by Richard Knaak and Jae-Hwan Kim
Well written story line, art work and based on one of the best video games ever,
This is a must read. The only bad thing about it is that the mane character hair is so ugly that it makes it look like a mop is on his head.
MARY SHELLEY’S FRANKENSTEIN: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL by Gary Reed and Frazer Living
One of the best graphic novels the Library has to offer. It’s an adapted version of the Mary Shelley’s book. With its detail art work, classic story and its look into the world of true horror,
this one isn’t just a must read, it’s a must own as well.
FLIGHT VOLUME 1
Flight is a beautiful graphic novel that is a mixture of short stories that all have a different art style to each of them. The stories are for all ages. It is a
must read.
WONDER WOMAN: LAND OF THE DEAD by Greg Rucka and Geoff Johns
This is one of the best graphic novels the Library has to offer. It is so well written that I take this graphic novel out all the time.
I strongly recommend this one.
NORTH COUNTRY by Shane White
This book is not based on the movie. This is truly one of the best graphic novels ever made. It’s about a man going back to visit his childhood home and on the plane ride there he thinks about all of the bad things that happened to him there. He was beaten by his drunken Dad, he tried to kill himself and likes to pretend that he is a comic book character. The best part about this book is that it’s not all talking. There’s a shoot-out, a motorcycle accident and a suicide. I strongly recommend this graphic novel to everyone.
It’s meant for older readers.
ROBIN: TO KILL A BIRD by Bill Willingham and Damion Scott
This graphic novel is about Robin fighting the penguin’s evil plan to rule Gotham city. If you like Batman then why not pick this one up.
GALAX ANGEL BETA by Kanan
If you’re a fan of Asian stereotypes then this is the one for you. It has girls in bikinis, something to do with space and a bazaar plot. If that sounds like something you like, then you should pick it up today, but I won’t.
FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST by Hiroumu Arakawa
In all honesty, I found this to be very boring. Here’s why. It said on the back that it’s supposed to be non-stop action but for me it was non-stop boredom and the background art is just bland, no detail at all.
Alex Zuckerman
Grade 12
East Meadow High School
March 27th, 2007 by fjacksonem
When I was growing up everyone talked about the latest comic book, SUPERMAN, BATMAN, and for girls, WONDER WOMAN and ARCHIE and most of them cost 10 to 15 cents. Even though comics have never left, they are back bigger than ever, and now are called GRAPHIC NOVELS.
Stephen Weiner, a librarian and graphic fan, has compiled a list of the best in graphic novels. It does not include picture books or comic strip collections. Mr. Weiner feels, “These are really cousins of the graphic novel.” He does include stories with ongoing characters including the manga story lines. Weiner checked bibliographies compiled by others, so his list is not purely personal.
My question is do you think he picked the best in 101 BEST GRAPHIC NOVELS
I RECOMMEND THIS TITLE FOR TEEN GRAPHIC NOVEL ENTHUSIASTS.
Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services
Continue reading ‘101 BEST GRAPHIC NOVELS’
January 22nd, 2007 by fjacksonem
Just eleven days ago I wrote the winners of the Nassau/Suffolk Young Adult Librarians choice for the 2007 Printz Award. Well, they were not even close. The winner is AMERICAN BORN CHINESE by Gene Luen Yang. This is the first graphic novel to honor. I reviewed this title for the YA BOOK LOG on November 11, 2006. (You might want to check it out.)
Yang’s publisher, FirstSecond, tells about the author on their webpage. Gene Yang began drawing comic books in the fifth grade. In 1997, he received the Xeric Grant, a prestigious comics industry grant, for Gordon Yamamoto and the King of the Geeks, his first comics work as an adult. He has since written and drawn a number of titles, including Duncan’s Kingdom (with art by Derek Kirk Kim) and The Rosary Comic Book.
He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his lovely wife, Theresa, and son, Kolbe, and teaches computer science at a Roman Catholic high school.
Four more books were honored in the 2007 selection.
THE ASTONISHING LIFE OF OCTAVIAN NOTHING, TRAITOR TO THE NATION; v.1: The Pox Party by M.T. Anderson. With 18th century language this book tells the story of Octavian, the subject of a horritying Enlightenment experiment, who escapes slavery and fights in the American Revolution.
AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES by John Green, last year’s Printz winner. A road trip to the town of Gutshot, Tennessee, offers Colin Singleton, a child prodigy and compulsive boyfriend of girls named Katherine, the opportunity to face his past and find his future.
SURRENDER by Sonya Hartnett. This is a psychological thriller. A troubled young man relives the horrifying events that land him on his deathbed.
THE BOOK THIEF by Marcus Zusak This was the local librarians favorite. Death recounts the journey of Liesel Meminger, a young girl who witnesses the destructive and healing power of words in Nazi Germany.
Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services
November 20th, 2006 by fjacksonem
I have posted entries on Printz Award winners and honor books in the past, so it would be appropriate to mention those titles the Young Adult Librarians of Nassau and Suffolk Counties consider possible 2007 Printz contenders.
My first read is a graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang called AMERICAN BORN CHINESE. The book includes three tales which appear to be unrelated while reading. They include the story of a young boy who discovers he is the only Chinese American student in his school, the Chinese fable, the Monkey King, and the All-American boy who must submit to the shame inflicted on him by a visiting Chinese cousin with stereotypes once attached to Chinese-Americans.
At the conclusion all the tales come together, but I must admit the last story made me feel uncomfortable with the stereotypes. Do you think stereotypes belong in today’s literature for young people?
This graphic novel is truly a unique choice for a Printz nominee and WILL BE BEST UNDERSTOOD BY TEENS IN GRADE 9 AND UP.
Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services