Archives:
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 Game for Swallows: To Die, to Leave, to Return
Author/illustrator: Zeina Abirached Publisher: Graphic Universe Grade levels: 6-8, 9-12 School Subject: History/Social Studies Genre: Biography/Autobiography, Political Special Attractions: Nonfiction, Female Lead Characters, Child Lead Characters, Multicultural Lead Characters, Social issues, For adults too Synopsis: When Zeina was born, the civil war in Lebanon had been going on for six years, so it’s just a normal part of life for her and her parents and little brother. The city of Beirut is cut in two by bricks and sandbags, threatened by snipers and shelling. East Beirut is for Christians, and West Beirut is for Muslims. When Zeina’s parents don’t return from a visit […] Read More
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
Vamplets series
Author/Illustrator: Gayle Middleton, Dave Dwonch, & Amanda Coronado Publisher: Action Lab Entertainment Grade levels: 2-3, 4-5, 6-8 Genre: Fantasy, Horror Special Attractions: Adaptation, Female Lead Characters, Teen Lead Characters Synopsis: Teenager Destiny Harper is at a crossroad in her life. Graduation is coming, and she has zero prospects for the future. Answering an ad for ‘The Night Care Nursery’ seems like a great idea, until she is magically transported to Gloomvania, where dark creatures lurk the streets, and the world is being mysteriously overrun by baby vampyres called Vamplets! Can Destiny serve her term as Governess of ‘The Nightmare Nursery’ and return home? […] Read More
Hopeless Maine
Author/Illustrator: Tom and Nimue Brown Publisher: http://www.hopelessmaine.com Grade levels: 6-8, 9-12 Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Adventure Special Attractions: Female Lead Characters, Teen Lead Characters, Multicultural Lead Characters Synopsis: Being Hopeless isn’t just a state of mind. Trapped on an island off the coast of Maine, the people of Hopeless find life a little darker and more dangerous with every day that passes. The number of orphans rises continually, but who can say what happens to their parents? Plenty of the bodies are never found. This is not the stuff of happy, careless childhoods, it is instead fertile ground for personal demons. In Hopeless, […] Read More
Hilda and the Midnight Giant
Author/Illustrator: Luke Pearson Publisher: Nobrow Grade levels: 4-5, 6-8, 9-12 Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Mythology and Folktales Special Attractions: Female Lead Characters, Teen Lead Characters Synopsis: Hilda finds her world turned upside down as she faces the prospect of leaving her snow-capped birthplace for the hum of the megalopolis. Her mother, an architect, has been offered a prestigious position in the bustling metropolis that she would find hard to reject. Besides, the tiny elven creatures making a daily habit of bombarding them with threats isn’t making Hilda’s case any better. As she seeks ways to stall her mother’s decision, Hilda rushes to befriend the […] 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
Sardine in Outer Space series
Author/Illustrator: Emmanuel Guibert/ Joann Sfar Publisher: First Second Books Grade levels: 2-3, 4-5 Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Humor Special Attractions: Child Lead Characters, Female Lead Characters Synopsis: In these goofy science fiction adventures, a little girl named Sardine must outwit Supermuscleman, the chief executive dictator of the universe, who is on a mission to make all the galaxy’s kids behave. An exciting series by two of France’s most talented comics authors, Sardine is a feast for the imagination of young readers. Emmanuel Guibert, an outstanding artist and graphic storyteller, takes a turn on the script, while Joann Sfar illuminates the writing with rambunctious, […] Read More
Smile
Author/Illustrator: Raina Telgemeier Publisher: Scholastic Graphix Grade levels: 4-5, 6-8 Genre: Biography/Autobiography Special Attractions: Female Lead Characters, Teen Lead Characters, Social Issues Synopsis: Family, Friends, Boys . . . Dental Drama?! Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But one night she trips and falls, severely injuring her two front teeth. What follows is a long and frustrating journey with on-again, off-again braces, surgery, embarrassing headgear, and even a retainer with fake teeth attached. And on top of all that, there’s still more: a major earthquake, boy confusion, and friends who turn out to be not so friendly. (from the […] Read More