Archives:
Logicomix: The Epic Search For Truth
Author/Illustrator: Apostolos Doxiadis, Christos H. Papadimitriou, Alecos Papadatos, and Annie Di Donna Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Grade levels: 6-8, 9-12, Higher Education Subject: Math Genre: Historical Fiction, Biography/Autobiography Special Attractions: Nonfiction, Teaching comics, For adults too Synopsis: Covering a span of sixty years, the graphic novel Logicomix was inspired by the epic story of the quest for the Foundations of Mathematics. This was a heroic intellectual adventure most of whose protagonists paid the price of knowledge with extreme personal suffering and even insanity. The book tells its tale in an engaging way, at the same time complex and accessible. It grounds the philosophical […] Read More
How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less
Author/Illustrator: Sarah Glidden Publisher: Vertigo Grade levels: 6-8, 9-12, Higher Education Subject: History/Social Studies Genre: Biography/Autobiography, Political Special Attractions: Nonfiction, Female Lead Characters, Multicultural Lead Characters, Social issues, For adults too Synopsis: A stunningly accomplished debut graphic novel, HOW TO UNDERSTAND ISRAEL IN 60 DAYS OR LESS is Sarah Glidden’s charming and funny travel memoir of her trip through Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, the Golan Heights, Masada and other historic locales, brought to life with lush watercolors in all of their quirky and breathtaking detail.At the same time, ISRAEL is a sensitive, deeply thoughtful and personal examination of a highly charged issue, an account […] Read More
Friends with Boys
Author/Illustrator: Faith Erin Hicks Publisher: First Second Grade levels: 6-8, 9-12, Higher Education Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction Special Attractions: Female Lead Characters, Teen Lead Characters Synopsis: Being homeschooled and raised with three brothers had its problems, but Maggie’s life is about to get a lot more complicated as she faces her greatest trial yet – entering public school for the first time! New York Times review Kirkus review Author’s site
A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge
Author/Illustrator: Josh Neufeld Publisher: Pantheon Grade levels: 6-8, 9-12, Higher Education Subject: History/Social Studies Genre: Historical Fiction, Biography/Autobiography, Political Synopsis: A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge is a masterful portrait of a city under siege. Cartoonist Josh Neufeld depicts seven extraordinary true stories of survival in the days leading up to and following Hurricane Katrina. Here we meet Denise, a counselor and social worker, and a sixth-generation New Orleanian; “The Doctor,” a proud fixture of the French Quarter; Abbas and Darnell, two friends who face the storm from Abbas’ s family-run market; Kwame, a pastor’s son just entering his senior year of high school; and the young […] Read More
A Treasury of XXth Century Murders series
Author/Illustrator: Rick Geary Publisher: NBM Publishing Grade levels: 6-8, 9-12, Higher Education Subject: History/Social Studies Genre: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Biography/Autobiography Special Attractions: Nonfiction, Social issues, For adults too Synopsis: New Brunswick, New Jersey, Thursday, September 14, 1922. Reverend Hall and Mrs. Eleanor Mills take a stroll in the town’s park in the evening. Shots are heard. 2 days later, their bodies are found laying on the ground very neatly next to each other with her hand on his thigh, love letters strewn around them, the scarf on her neck covering up the deep bloody slit in it. Reverend Hall, himself married, was in an […] Read More
Fallout
Author/Illustrator: Jim Ottaviani, Janine Johnston, Steve Lieber, Vince Locke, Bernie Mireault, Jeff Parker, Chris Kemple, and Eddy Newell Publisher: G.T. Labs Grade levels: 9-12, Higher Education Subject: Science, History/Social Studies Genre: Biography/Autobiography Special Attractions: For adults too, Nonfiction, Social Issues Synopsis: The lives of scientists J. Robert Oppenheimer and Leo Szilard offer a cautionary tale about the uneasy alliance between physicists, the military, the government, and the beginnings of “big science.” Comics Worth Reading review Comic Book Galaxy review Diamond Bookshelf review Discover Magazine review Publisher’s book page Study Guide
Dignifying Science: Stories About Women Scientists
Author/Illustrator: Jim Ottaviani, Donna Barr, Mary Fleener, Stephanie Gladden, Roberta Gregory, Lea Hernandez, Carla Speed McNeil, Linda Medley, Marie Severin, Jen Sorensen, Anne Timmons, and Ramona Fradon Publisher: G.T. Labs Grade levels: 6-8, 9-12, Higher Education Subject: History/Social Studies, Science Genre: Biography/Autobiography Special Attractions: Female Lead Characters, Nonfiction Synopsis: Dignifying Science is the second in a series of books done in comics form telling true stories about scientists. This book features famous women scientists including Marie Curie, mathematician Emmy Noether, physicist Lise Meitner, DNA researcher Rosalind Franklin, biologist Barbara McClintock, primatologist Birute Galdikas, and Hedy Lamarr. Yes, that Hedy Lamarr…her story will surprise […] Read More
Templar
Author/Illustrator: Jordan Mechner, LeUyen Pham & Alex Puvilland Publisher: First Second Grade levels: 9-12, Higher Education Subject: History/Social Studies Genre: Adventure, Historical Fiction, Political Special Attractions: Social issues Synopsis: Martin is one of a handful of Templar Knights to escape when the king of France and the pope conspire to destroy the noble order. The king aims to frame the Templars for heresy, execute all of them, and make off with their legendary treasure. That’s the plan, anyway, but Martin and several other surviving knights mount a counter-campaign to regain the lost treasure of the Knights Templar. Note: Book One of Templar was previously published in […] Read More
The Professor’s Daughter
Author/Illustrator: Joann Sfar & Emmanuel Guibert Publisher: First Second Grade levels: 9-12, Higher Education Subject: History/Social Studies Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance Special Attractions: Female Lead Characters, For adults too Synopsis: Imhotep IV is an Egyptian mummy who’s just opened his eyes for the first time in 3,000 years. Lillian Bowell is the daughter of a renowned Egyptologist. One day, when the Professor’s away, the two go out for an afternoon on the town. The heap of trouble that they land in–brought on by Mozart, afternoon tea, and a passing gentleman’s sensitive nature–only deepens when they learn Imhotep IV’s father is in town. Can Imhotep […] Read More
Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birute Galdikas
Author: Jim Ottaviani Illustrator: Maris Wicks Publisher: First Second Grade levels: 6–8, 9–12, Higher Ed Genre: Nonfiction, Biography Special attractions: Science, Female Lead Characters, For adults too Following 2011’s critically-acclaimed, bestselling science biography FEYNMAN, Jim Ottaviani returns with an action-packed account of the three great woman primatologists of the last century: Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birute Galdikas. These three ground-breaking researchers were all students of the great Louis Leakey, and each made profound contributions to primatology–and to our own understanding of ourselves. Tackling Goodall, Fossey, and Galdikas in turn, and covering the highlights of their respective careers, PRIMATES is an […] Read More