Module 6 - Fiction, Fantasy, and graphic novels

Module 6

Fiction, Fantasy, and Graphic Novels

Additional Book

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hale, Shannon and Dean. 2008.  III by Nathan Hale. RAPUNZEL’S REVENGE. New York, NY: Bloomsbury Children’s Books. ISBN 9781599900704

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Shannon and Dean Hale have created characters in this fantasy graphic novel that gives a hilarious twist to the original classic stories of Rapunzel, Jack and the Beanstalk, and The Goose that Lain the Golden Egg.  In the plot, Rapunzel, a little girl stolen from her mother as a baby by a witch, has a reoccurring dream about something she lost in life.  She gives in a wild journey, after discovering the woman that claims to be her mother is not her mother, but a cruel witch.  After trying to escape, Rapunzel is locked in a tall tree trunk for several years and finally escapes with her long hair she used as a lasso.  She is on a quest to free her real mother from the miners.  The setting changes constantly from an old villa to a forest with magical images, and old west images.  The theme reflects evil never wins in the end and those that desire justice from the unjust can win.  The world can be changed for the good by just a few who are willing to take a chance to create something good for everyone.    

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This twist on the original fairy tale will appeal to the older reader.  The book is divided into four parts of Rapunzel’s adventure in search of her mother.  The illustrations by Nathan Hale are detailed and sprinkled with onomatopoeias through out the book.  The language takes on the flavor of the old western days.  Rapunzel’s dress even changes from an orphan image to a cowgirl using her hair as a lasso and riding a horse.  This fast speed story is filled with adventure.  Escaping the villain, recaptured by the villain, and finally the good character wins over the evil character.    

4. REVIEW EXCERPT (S)
From Kirkus Reviews: “A dash of typical fairy-tale romance, a strong sense of social justice and a spunky heroine make this a standout choice for younger teens.”

From Good Reads: ““Rapunzel’s Revenge” is an awesome retelling of the classic Brothers Grimm tale “Rapunzel” by Shannon and Dean Hale along with illustrations by Nathan Hale (no relation). “Rapunzel’s Revenge” is a brilliant tale of adventure and romance that both children and adults will enjoy for centuries!”

5. CONNECTIONS
* Great for older kids that are into graphic novels. 

* Good way to compare fairy tales with older kids.

Module 6 Fiction, Fantasy, and Graphic Novels

Module 6

Fiction, Fantasy, and Graphic Novels

Additional Book

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Jamieson, Victoria. 2015. ROLLER GIRL. New York, NY: Penguin Group. ISBN 9780803740167 

2. PLOT SUMMARY
 Astrid, a twelve year old girl and her best friend Nicole have been together since fifth grade until mom takes them on one of her evening of cultural enlighten trips.  Astrid’s life changes as she experiences the excitement of the skaters at the Roller Derby.  She has to cope with Nicole not sharing her interest and making a new friend.  Nicole turns to Rachel as a new friend because she shares her interest in dance rather than skating.  As Astrid works to become the best skater possible she keeps her feelings bottled up inside and this drives her to make some wrong decisions about how to react to Nicole not sharing her interest and making new friends.  She feels she has lost a friend forever.  Astrid’s journey from childhood into her teens is typical of today’s youth and they can identify with Astrid’s struggles and feelings on her journey to discover her true self.  Astrid learns from her mistakes and as she grows she matures in her thinking and her actions toward others.  She is stronger and finds out she is her own person with or without Nicole’s friendship.  

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Jamieson’s delightful graphic novel, written and illustrated in comic book form, has captured the childhood challenges of interacting with ones peers and simply finding out who you are and what you want out of life.  Astrid deal’s with her everyday problems as she strives to become a good skater and friend.  The language used is typical a twelve year old as it reveals her thoughts about the conversations with her mother and friends.  Jamieson has created expressions on her characters faces to fit their emotions and words.  Some are comical and others are serious.  The pages are thicker than normal pages in a book, but easy to turn.  The watercolor pictures are divided like comic strips on each page.  Jamieson, a skater with the Rose City Rollers Roller Derby League has the identity as Winnie the Pow.  She has written an excellent account of the struggles to become a good Roller Derby skater as well as the challenges to find your self as you grow from childhood into your teens.  This story of Astrid will warm your heart with admiration yet make you laugh with the humor that comes naturally out of everyday situations.      

4. REVIEW EXCERPT (S)
From Kirkus Reviews: “Full of charm and moxie—don’t let this one roll past.”

From Good Reads: “Jamieson has a soft spot for the every soul - she doesn't tell stories just about the stars of the world. Here, she uses her background playing roller derby to tell a coming of age story about a tween.”

5. CONNECTIONS
* This is a really cure graphic novel for little girls.  I think it would be a cute book to read in a book club with a few girls.

* This would also be a good book to read if you were having a few troubles with your new teenager. 

* I think that this is a 5^th grade and up book.    

Module 6- Fiction, Fantasy and Graphic Novels

Module 6

Fiction, Fantasy, and Graphic Novels

Graphic Novel

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Krosoczka, Jarrett. 2010. LUNCH LADY AND THE SUMMER CAMP SHAKEDOWN. New York, NY: Random House Children’s Books. ISBN 9780375860959 

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Krosoczka’s graphic novel is a page-turner written in comic book form.  This book starts with kids heading to summer camp.  Some are sad they are going to miss their electronics and some are really excited for all the activities.  On the bus there is one kid that is a bully to everyone and is giving everyone a hard time about a “swamp monster.”  He is telling them that he will eat them.  When they get to camp everyone is getting settled in and ready for camp activities.  The counselors are really excited for all the campers.  One counselor gets attacked by the “swamp monster,” so they start cancelling different activities.  This upsets the campers, but even more it upsets the lunch ladies and they have to figure out who is doing this.  The two lunch ladies start to investigate even though they were told not to.  They use all their “tools” from the cafeteria to investigate.  They get a lead on the “swamp monster” and follow where he is going.  They finally get to him and figure out it was one of the camp counselors!        

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
 Graphic novels are very creative.  They are a long comic strip or book that keep you at the edge of your seat, at least this one did.  It introduced all the characters in the beginning.  The pictures were different shades of black, white, and yellow.  The illustrations also had different textures to paint the picture for you.  Whenever the scene changed it would tell you at the top of the page.  On some of the pages there would be little boxes and others the picture would take up the whole page.  I noticed if a page was more exciting it took up the whole page.  For example… “At one of the boys cabins…” You always knew exactly what the setting was and what they were doing.  This author still did an awesome just at keeping you on the edge of your seat though because there were no hints on who the “swamp monster” was.  You had to keep reading and solving the mystery with the lunch ladies to find out.  

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
From Kids Reads: “LUNCH LADY AND THE SUMMER CAMP SHAKEDOWN is a fast-paced, high-energy graphic novel. Written and illustrated by award-winning author and illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka, the story and illustrations make the reading experience a delight.”

From Good Reads: “This story is fun, easy-to-follow, and perfect for young readers. It is well written, and has a clear mystery with a great resolution, which kids would love trying to figure out.”

5. CONNECTIONS

* I think these little graphic novels are an awesome way to get kids to read that aren’t too excited about it because they are easy to follow and still have all the fiction story traits. 

*Another similar series would be BABY MOUSE.

*In my classroom a lot of my students love the graphic novels, they get to reading and don’t want to stop.

Module 6

Module 6

Fiction, Fantasy, and Graphic Novels

Award Winning Book

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gaiman, Neil. 2008. THE GRAVEYARD BOOK.  III. by Dave McKean. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 9780060530921 

2. PLOT SUMMARY
This is a fantasy novel that involves ghost and a young living boy.  A family of ghost adopted the boy.  The chapters are lengthy because they are living their everyday life in the graveyard.  The story begins with Jack killing a mother, father, and a young girl.  He is on his way to the attic where a toddler sleeps to finish killing everyone in the family.  The toddler hears a noise downstairs, so he climbs out of his crib and crawls out of the room and bumps down the stairs.  He makes it to the front door and goes off into the night.  HE finds his was to the graveyard and is adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Owens, two ghosts that never had children, but always wished for a child.  Bod is given the protection of the graveyard.  His guardian, Silas, explains to Bod that he is safer inside the graveyard and must not ever venture outside to the world of the living because the man, Jack, is still searching for him.  He needs to kill Jack to preserve the organization he belongs to. Bod learns how to live with ghost and other weird creatures.  The ghosts are his only friends and family.  The ghosts give Bod the ability to Fade, Slide, and Dreamwalk.  He is given the freedom of the graveyard.  He learns to talk and ask many questions.  Bod loves to learn all he can.  As he grows, he loves the book Silas brings and eventually slipping into the library to read.  He learns the alphabet from the tombstones.  Bod’s curiosity finally finds him going outside the graveyard to Old Town where he sees many living, breathing people.  The experiences on the outside make Bod want to explore more.  He makes friends with Scarlett.  As the story progresses, Bod goes to school semi invisible where no one will remember him.  Silas prepared Bod for the outside world and finally agrees at the age of 15 Bod is ready to meet his future on the outside.  Bod is excited and leaves the graveyard.         

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Neil has written a collection of short stories, picture books, and award winning novels for young adults.  If you are a lover of fantasy then all his books would be worth exploring.  This novel is graphic with language that brings the images to life.  Listening to some of this one on CD the actors that play the different parts really bring it to life.  The voices are very creepy sounding and match the setting of a graveyard and the personalities of the characters.  The adventures in this story really get your imagination working with a little bit of dry humor throughout the novel.  The black and white drawings of Bod, the characters, and the setting add and element of interest to the novel.  Bod is an innocent victim in this story.  He is loved by all the ghost and admired by the reader for his attitude, helping others, and ability to cope in an unnatural setting for the living.  The author keeps the readers interest not about the ghost and weird creatures, but how a toddler can survive being raised by ghost when he is so dependent on adults for all his needs.  After Bod solves the mystery of his family, who he is, with the help of Silas and goes into the world of the living, the reader has to wonder about his future.  Is there another story? What happened to Bod in a world that he doesn’t know?  This is a book divided into chapters that are rather long, but fast action reading. 

        
4. REVIEW EXCERPT (S)
Newberry Award Winner

From Good Reads: “Neil Gaiman has a real knack for the imaginative combination of sweet and creepy elements together with the bittersweet ending, creating a unique and unforgettable story which appeals both to children and adults.”

From New York Times: ““The Graveyard Book,” by turns exciting and witty, sinister and tender, shows Gaiman at the top of his form.”

5. CONNECTIONS

* I think this is for kids at least 12 and older.  It could really scare younger children, maybe reading a fantasy that is not as deep before this one. 

*If you do love this book you could also read CORALINE or STARDUST.