Shannon and Dean Hale's Rapunzel's Revenge

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hale, Dean. Hale, Shannon. 2008. Rapunzel’s Revenge. Ill by Nathan Hale. New York. Bloomsbury. ISBN 9781599900704

2.    PLOT SUMMARY
Authors Shannon and Dean Hale have written a graphic novel based on the old fairytale Rapunzel, in this version there is a twist, Rapunzel is a crime-fighting heroine, and the story is set in western times, it is full of cowboys and the great frontier is in the front and center. The story begins in similar fashion as the original, Rapunzel is taken from her parents as a retribution for her parents’ stealing vegetables from Gothel, the witch’s garden. As the story unfolds, Rapunzel finds out that Gothel is not her real mother, she meets her biological mother and becomes angry with Gothel, so she rebels and denounces Gothel’s love. Gothel banishes Rapunzel to a tree tower in the middle of an isolated swamp, in which food grows inside the tree for her and her hair grows extremely long, and she is able to use it as a rope and escape from her prison tower.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This graphic novel has it all, a protagonist who is a heroine, the antagonist an evil witch, a plot twist, magic and mythical creatures; it is also rich in characters, and dialogue. The tale of Rapunzel who manages to against all odds fight for her happy ending is told in an action packed graphic novel. The graphics illustrated by Nathan Hale are well-done, clean cut and appropriate for each comic strip, the pictures correlate with the text written. The authors wrote and developed this story in a cohesive manner, they introduced Rapunzel and her back story, so when she turns into the western heroine it is a smooth transition, and her journey to rescue her mother and find her happily ever after!

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Booklist starred review: “Rich with humor and excitement, this is an alternate version of a classic that will become a fast favorite of young readers.”

School Library Journal starred review: “The dialogue is witty, the story is an enticing departure from the original, and the illustrations are magically fun and expressive.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*Children may enjoy exploring some other graphic novels.

*Look for these other fantasy graphic novels:

Hale, Dean. Hale, Shannon. Calamity Jack. ISBN 9781599903736

Hale, Shannon. Princess Academy: Palace of Stone. ISBN 9781619632578

Shaun Tan's Lost and Found

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY
Tan, Shaun. 2011. Lost and Found. Singapore. ISBN 9780545229241

2.    PLOT SUMMARY
Shaun Tan has put together three picture books, and formed them into an experimental compilation that is loosely connected through a theme that is about how one loves and find what is important to someone, and finding your place in the world. The three separate stories are, “The Red Tree” -where a girl finds a bright spot in a dark world, “The Lost Thing”-in which a boy leads a strange, lost creature home, and “The Rabbits” –where a group of peaceful creatures cedes their home to hostile invaders.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Tan is a simplistic writer, but a skilled draftsmanship, his drawings help boost his writing, and at times the images are the ones telling the story. The non-traditional graphic novel captures the essence of the central message to living in a world that one might not fit into, and just going with the motions of life, yet feeling unattached. The tone throughout the stories is dark, sullen, yet hopeful; this story will capture the attention of readers.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Good Reads starred review: “Shaun Tan, with his understated voice and brilliant draftsmanship, has proved that he has a unique imaginative window to our souls, and an unparalled ability to share that opening with pictures and narratives that are as unexpected as they are deeply true.

The Hub starred review: “Shaun Tan knows alienation. Readers familiar with The Arrival that his work differs from the traditional graphic novel. Tan’s images are so powerful; they speak volumes on their own.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*Children may enjoy exploring some other graphic novels by Shaun Tan.

*Look for these other graphic novels:
Tan, Shaun. The Rabbits. ISBN 9780734411365

Tan, Shaun. Lost Thing. ISBN 9780734411389

Cynthia Lord's Rules

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY
Lord, Cynthia. 2006. Rules. New York. ISBN 97880439443821

2.    PLOT SUMMARY
Writer Cynthia Lord’s debut novel Rules stars a protagonist, a twelve year old girl named Catherine, who is dealing with her autistic brother’s David’s quirks, while being a pre-teen trying to find her place in the world; her brother’s different actions sometimes embarrass her. She longs for a “normal” brother, one who knows how to behave properly and not embarrass her, she feels people judge her, her family and David, and that is why they don’t get invited to parties and events. Catherine matures and learns to appreciate her brother’s unique sense of being.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Lord’s novel is a heartwarming narrative told in the protagonist’s Catherine’s point of view, she recounts her experiences alongside her brother David, who is autistic, and what is like growing up with a brother like him. Sometimes she does experience sibling jealously, and is not content with always being placed second to her brother, but begrudgingly understands why her parents do so Being a pre-teen she handles her brother’s uniqueness in stride, yet sometimes she struggles with other’s judging or unapproving looks, and wishes her brother was normal, but through her day to day experiences with her brother, she learns to accept him for who he is her brother who is just being the best version of himself. Her love for her brother triumphs over her being embarrassed by certain things he does!

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Newbery Honor Book

Good reads starred review: “A heartfelt and witty debut about feeling different and finding acceptance—beyond the rules.

CommonSense Media starred review: “The main character wrestles with how to deal lovingly with her autistic brother and how to be a friend to a mute paraplegic boy.

5. CONNECTIONS
*Children may enjoy exploring some other fantasy novels written by Cynthia Lord:
*Look for these other fantasy and wonderful stories:
Lord, Cynthia. A Handful of Stars. ISBN 9780545700276

Lord, Cynthia. Touch Blue. ISBN 9780545035323

Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gaiman, Neil. 2008. The Graveyard Book. New York. ISBN 978-0-06-053092-1

2.    PLOT SUMMARY
Neil Gaiman’s “The Graveyard Book,” is a fantasy novel, whose protagonist is the orphan Nobody “Bod” Owens who is raised ghosts after his family was killed by an evil man Jack. Bod was a small baby when he wandered out of his house in the middle of the night, unbeknownst to him that he had escaped death. Bod is taken in by the Owens’s, a ghost couple that never had a child when they were alive, so they became Bod’s adoptive parents, Silas the caretaker is named his guardian, who looks after him up until he turns of age and is old enough to take care of himself. In the graveyard Bod lives a different life from those of his peers, but it is a peaceful life, he is raised by all the supernatural occupants. The graveyard is the only home he knows, as he gets older he longs to be in company of other humans, but Silas reiterates to him that his parents’ murderer is still out there in the world and it is still not safe for him to leave the graveyard. His life journey in the graveyard was just the beginning of Nobody Owens life, and once Jack is taken care of, he is able to leave his home, those who raised him and go in search of a new “normal” life!

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
English author Neil Gaiman is prolific, he began writing graphic novels and then wrote fiction novels full of fantasy, suspense and magic. Gaiman has a profound writing style, in “The Graveyard Book” he tells a story about a young boy, Nobody Owens, whose family is murdered, and he is taken in by supernatural forces in the graveyard, raised by ghosts and protected from those who wish to harm him. Bod’s life journey is full of suspense, mystery, veiled by death and encompassed by the ghosts who take care of him. This story is brilliantly told in the three-hundred and seven pages, eight chapters that are two years apart in chronological order. Gaiman did a splendid job bringing this story of the dead, back to life!

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
John Newbery Medal

Kirkus starred review: “Wistful, witty, wise— and creepy. This needs to be read by anyone who is or has ever been a child.”

Good Reads starred review: “Beloved master storyteller Neil Gaiman returns with a luminous new novel for the audience that embraced his New York Times bestselling modern classic Coraline. Magical, terrifying, and filled with breathtaking adventures, The Graveyard Book is sure to enthrall readers of all ages.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*Children may enjoy exploring some other fantasy novels written by Neil Gaiman.
*Neil Gaiman’s story is filled with dialogue and has been turned into a play and will be turned into a film.
*Look for these other fantasy and wonderful stories:
Gaiman, Neil. Coraline. ISBN 9780380807345

Gaiman, Neil. Stardust. ISBN 9780380804559