Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong: Teen Sitcom Motifs

Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong 
by Prudence Shen & Faith Erin Hicks

Why did I read it?

Because the synopsis was interesting, and graphic novels are quick reads when you need to read, but don't necessarily have a ton of time. 

What happened?

Charlie may be the captain of the basketball team, but he wasn't planning on running for class president or anything. But his ex-girlfriend has other plans. Charlie's best friend, Nathan, is running for class president to secure funds for his robotics team. But, Holly (Charlie's ex) would rather the money went to the cheerleader's new uniforms.

So, enter the cheerleaders running Charlie's presidential campaign (that he would rather not do), and enter Nathan starting a mud-slinging battle to end all mud-slinging battles. 

All things aside though, Charlie can't decide whether dealing with Nathan and Holly, or his workaholic father and absentee mother is worse. And things will probably get worse before they get better...

What did I like or not like?

This book has the run time and the plot line of an episode of your favorite teen sitcom. There isn't anything too intense going on, it doesn't take too long to read, and the characters don't go through any life-altering revelations or ah-ha moments. But, it was enjoyable to read, and the art was put together nicely and told the story well :)

You've got your classic jock versus geek, class president mud-slinging campaigns, and ditching the parents to boot. But who doesn't need a nice-looking graphic novel version of these motifs every once in a while?

Meanwhile: A Novel That Lets You Decide

Meanwhile by Jason Shiga

Why did I read it?

It was suggested to me at a reader's advisory workshop last year, and I happened to see it on the shelf yesterday. 

What happened?

Jimmy walks into an ice cream shop and has the choice of vanilla or chocolate ice cream. Sounds like the beginning of a normal book, right? Wrong! Have you ever read a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure novel? Well, this one is just like that...just on steroids and in graphic novel form.

Shiga pretty much gives you complete control of what happens in this novel. If you choose chocolate, then you follow the pipes to another page, where you will be faced with another choice. Each choice you make will decide whether or not Jimmy will wind up at home, with a stomach ache, attacked by a crazy ice cream shop owner,  traveling ten minutes into the past, or destroying the entire human race!

What did I like or not like?

Needless to say, this book is super cool. The design of the novel itself is ingenuitive as the pictures run vertical, horizontal, backwards, forwards, and up and down, and you jump from a page in the back to a page in the front to a page in the middle and back again as you continue to make choices.

Apparently, there are 3, 856 story possibilities, and as I've only figured out two of them so far, I'm going to hang onto the book for a little while (that is, if I can pry it out of the hands of my little brother hehe).

Marvel Civil War: Whose Side Are You On?

Civil War: A Marvel Comics Event
by Mark Miller, Steve McNiven, Dexter Vines, and Morry Hollowell

Why did I read it?

So that same brother that told me about The New 52 Justice League? He also loves him some Avengers, Captain America and Iron Man, so he's been chatting about Marvel Civil War for a while. Once again, I couldn't help but add it to our Teen section.

What happened?

Everybody and their mother has their own reality TV show, so why shouldn't super heroes? Young heroes do battle with villains and capture petty criminals for the thrill of the TV watching populace. But, when a chance at higher ratings winds up destroying an entire city block, people aren't amused anymore.

This flagrant disregard for a citizen's safety brings up the age-old question of super hero registration. Iron Man, SHIELD, and the United States Government are tired of heroes running around without any accountability or training. Heroes are therefore required to register with SHIELD, or hang up the tights.

Obviously, this doesn't sit well with some heroes. Secret identities help protect their already shaky personal lives. Captain America is asked to hunt down heroes who won't comply, but instead, he agrees with them and starts a resistance movement for freedom. Soon teams are torn apart, alliances are broken, and families are split right down the center. Whose side are you on?

What did I like or not like?

The idea of heroes fighting heroes isn't new. There have been plenty of crossover comics. But, the idea that the entire Marvel universe is in a state of Civil War is way too cool to pass up. Whoever your favorite hero is, they most likely wind up on one side or the other, and you'll probably get to see them fighting against another hero.

But underneath the action are the ideas of responsibility, loyalty, freedom, and who heroes are actually fighting for.

Justice League: Back to Square One

Justice League, Volume 1: Origin
by Geoff Johns, Jim Lee, and Scott Williams

Why did I read it?

My brother may or may not be a little bit obsessed with the Justice League heroes. He isn't one of those guys that buys up every comic that comes out, but he does keep abreast of top stories and things. So, when DC announced its New 52 lineup, the re-imagining of classic heroes like Batman and Superman, he was quick to mention it to me, and I was quick to add it to the library collection.

What happened?

With his innovative gadgets and technology, Batman has traced an extraterrestrial threat in his own backyard. But while battling this newfound evil, he very quickly realizes that he is outmanned, and isn't the only one interested in this phenomenon.

A nearly indestructible alien (Superman), a scarlet speedster (The Flash), an accidental teenaged hero (Cyborg), an amazon princess (Wonder Woman), a space cop (Green Lantern), and an undersea monarch (Aquaman), all want a piece of the action.

The only problem is that the Dark Knight doesn't know whether to trust these inexperienced, sometimes dangerous "heroes" or fight against them. But, the stakes of an almost worldwide invasion might just make that decision for him.

What did I like or not like?

I'm a big fan of comic books, and this collection is absolutely beautiful. The quintessential elements of the DC heroes are definitely present, but they are reenvisioned in a fresh new storyline.

The concept of a well-established team like the Justice League being taking back to square one is really interesting. How did this team start? Who will be the leader? Who is their nemesis? The action is quick, the plot is interesting, and this comic is a great new start or introduction to the world of the Justice League.

Daybreak and Broxo: Some Zombie Stories

Daybreak by Brian Ralph and Broxo by Zack Giallongo

Why did I read it?

Daybreak: I referenced this book in my Teen Literature class for my Master's in Information and Library Science.
Broxo: It was an advanced reader copy that looked interesting.

What happened?

Daybreak: Your eyes snap open and you see a one-armed man walking toward you. He mentions that you don't want to be out in the open when night falls, so you follow him. After grabbing some food and meeting his dog, you settle in for the night. But sleep won't be easy with a horde of the undead outside...nor will surviving...

Broxo: Princess Zora has traveled way too long for her quest to be this pointless! Hoping to open negotiations with one of her fellow tribes, Zora had traveled for many months only to find the supposed home of the clan abandoned. All she finds instead is a lone warrior named Broxo, who has become accustomed to the harsh landscape and random undead that make life interesting. Even though Broxo doesn't seem to mind, Zora can't rest until she finds out what happened to the missing clan, and the real secret behind these monsters.

What did I like or not like?

You might be wondering why I put 2 reviews into 1 post this week. First of all, I'm taking a break for the holidays, so I figured I'd give you 2 books to try and hold you over lol.

The other reason was even though I heartily enjoyed both books, there wasn't a whole lot to make a review out of. The stories aren't too long, so I didn't want to give too much of the plot away.

But here are some things I can tell you. Both are graphic novels, and both include the undead, but that is really the only similarity between them. Daybreak is first person perspective (in a graphic novel which is cool), and Broxo is third person. Daybreak is more realistic fiction/sci-fi, and Broxo is more fantasy. Daybreak has a very limited color palette, and Broxo has a very lively color palette.

You know how sometimes you read a book and it wasn't necessarily heart-wrenching, hilarious, thought-provoking, or amazing, but was still enjoyable to read and worth your time? That is how I would categorize these 2 titles.

Let me know what you think when you read them, and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Sailor Twain: A Woman's Scorn...

Sailor Twain (or The Mermaid in the Hudson) by Mark Siegel

Why did I read it?

There are two reasons that I picked this book up. First, I am apparently on a Romance reading spree (Every Day, Forever..., and Amiri & Odette: A Love Story are the last books I've read lol).

Secondly, while flipping through the work, I found that it featured a topless mermaid. I wanted to ensure that it wasn't gratuitous before I put it onto our young adult shelves.

What happened?

Twain is the captain of a steamboat on the Hudson River near Victorian era New York City. Some days he thinks he is the only one that keeps the wonderful ship afloat. The owner, a French noblemen is bedding every woman that comes aboard, and the engineer was involved in a mysterious explosion on his last expedition.

But Twain's dedication to his ship lessens dramatically when he rescues a wounded mermaid and slowly falls in love with her. Sharing his own personal stories and reading fantastical tales with the creature, Twain makes her promise that she will never sing to him. But Twain's devotion to his ship isn't the only thing affected by his love for the mermaid. He also begins to neglect his crippled wife who he used to visit every weekend...

As the mermaid begins to consume Twain's every waking thought, he can't help but wonder where she came from, and who wounded her in the first place. This search will ultimately lead to a terrible choice that begs question of the difference between love and obsession, selflessness and selfishness, and supernatural forces.

What did I like or not like?

This graphic novel actually began as a serialized webcomic drawn in charcoal. The illustrations are simple, being only black and white, but that aspect keeps them powerful and mysterious.

In addition to fascinating illustrations, the story of love, danger, and consequences is really engrossing and I know that I blazed right through it. But I have to admit that I had to contemplate the ending a little bit to make it make sense to me.

Concerning the topless mermaid issue, pretty much every illustration shows her absolutely bare-chested. While I completely understand if this turns you off from the novel, I think I understand the reason behind it. Siegel was trying to write an original novel based on mythology. Traditionally speaking, mermaids have been drawn topless, and it seems he was trying to remain true to that aspect of the mythos.

So I can't say the toplessness is gratuitous as there is quite a bit of precedent there, but I think it should play a part in whether or not you decide to read the story.

Amiri & Odette: The New with the Old

Amiri & Odette: A Love Story by Walter Dean Myers,
with paintings by Javaka Steptoe

Why did I read it?

My sister grabbed this book from the library, and when she finished reading it, I couldn't resist the uniqueness of the cover and idea behind the adaptation.

What happened?

Amiri is the prince of the basketball courts in the Swan Lake Projects. While he appears to own and conquer all he sees and all who challenge him, his mother worries. She understands the violence and danger of his urban life, and wants him to settle down.

Later that night, his mother's desires become his desires, as he meets the girl of his dreams. But a dangerous curse separates their new found love as Odette is promised to Big Red. While Odette believes herself irrevocably chained, Amiri believes their love is stronger than any other tie.

But, defeating Big Red and holding onto the love that they have found will be even more difficult and dangerous than either can imagine.

What did I like or not like?

As Myers puts out in his introduction, the story of Swan Lake has been told in Celtic, Russian, Slavic, and Arabian folklore, and is best known for the Tchaikovsky ballet version of the tale. But Myers felt it appropriate to tell the tale again as he believed modern dangers in young people's lives today are similar to the magic spells of folklore.

Myers sets his retelling of the classic tale in a housing project, relates the action in verse form, and has his words accompanied by collage-on-cinder-block paintings by Javaka Steptoe.

I thought the combination of urban poem and paintings was a new and interesting way to portray the timeless themes and story of Swan Lake.

Fanboy and Goth Girl: You're Not Alone

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga

Why did I read it?

This novel has showed up on multiple teen lists that I keep track of, so when I had a long drive to a library training ahead of me, I figured I'd get the CD book and listen to it. 

What happened?

Donnie sometimes wishes that all the jock jerks in his school would get killed by some terrorists. For absolutely no reason they trip him, beat him up, pick on him, and generally make his life miserable.

That isn't the only thing; his Mom doesn't get him at all, and the step-fascist (his Mom's new husband) got her pregnant. Now he has to hear about all the terrible things that he is doing in the context of what a terrible older brother (step-brother!) he is going to be.

The only thing that makes his life worth living is the graphic novel he is working on. Donnie is convinced that this graphic novel is the key to getting out of his small town, and show all those jock idiots who is really the boss.

Enter Kyra, the weird Goth chick who loves his graphic novel and hates the jocks as much as he does. They would be a perfect team...if she wasn't possibly serious about killing the jocks and have some disturbing problems in her own past as well.

What did I like or not like?

This book dragged me in and wouldn't let me go. Lyga does an excellent job showing two troubled characters who might have problems with each other, but still find comfort in each other's presence and direction.

Ultimately, Donnie finds that he isn't as alone as he once thought, and if you want to find out more about Kyra, you can read my post next week about Goth Girl Rising.

P.S. There is language and sexual references throughout this one. 

Wonderstruck: If Only the World was Organized

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

Why did I read it?

Because The Invention of Hugo Cabret (same author and style) was awesome, and because we just talked about it at TeenBookWorms =D

What happened?

Even though they are separated by 50 years (Rose's tale starts in 1927, and Ben's starts in 1977), Ben and Rose have a lot in common. Both of their fathers aren't in their lives, they have a hard time connecting to those around them, and they are both deaf. They also have a passion for New York City, and collecting things around them.

But, their stories are also different. Rose's parents don't think it is safe for a deaf child to be unattended in a large city and Ben has just lost his Mom and is stuck living with his Aunt and Uncle. So, when Rose sees an article about her famous mother, and Ben finds a note relating to his long-lost father, they both start off on adventures to find a place to belong, and answer the questions beating inside their heads.

What did I like or not like?

Similarly to Hugo, this book does a really good job of showing the wonder and awe that a child's world has. It also shows how important it is for kids to have caring adults in their lives, and to know where they fit.

This book was also really cool because also similarily to Hugo, part of it is told in text like a novel, and the other parts are told in pictures, kind of like a flip chart.

Another unique part of the story was the many references to Deaf culture, libraries and museums. These are typical plot elements, and that made the story all the more fascinating.

Finally, even though the novel starts as two distinct stories, we find by the end that Rose's and Ben's stories are much more connected than we originally thought, and they both find a part of what they are looking for in each other.

DC Versus Marvel Comics

DC Versus Marvel Comics by Ron Marz & Peter David (and a lot of illustrators, editors, and letterers from DC and Marvel Comics)

Why did I read it?

A couple patrons mentioned that I don't have enough comic books in the Young Adult section. So, I grabbed a couple comic encyclopedias and this one. Once it arrived I brought it home for a couple of my brothers to read, and then I got the chance to read it. It wasn't quite what I was expecting, but it was still good.

What happened?

Comic book heroes are starting to disappear. But, not disappear completely. No. They are starting to show up in their rival comic book universe. Spider-Man runs into Joker, Juggernaut meets Superman, Robin runs into Jubilee...Whether its heroes, villains, or citizens, everyone is affected.

Once both universes are severely confused and mixed-up, the announcement comes. Each hero will be pitted against another hero from their rival universe. Whichever universe has the most victors will remain. The other will be obliterated.

So Superman fights The Hulk, Captain America does battle with Batman, Spider-Man contends with Superboy, and countless other battles are waged across two universes to decide the fate of all.

What did I like or not like?

While I really enjoyed the imagination behind the battles and the overall story that brought the characters together, I don't think the battles were long enough. When the heroes faced off, the longest one was like eight frames. Lame!

Now I understand that their has to be a story behind the battles, comic books really aren't very long, and ultimately we like it when heroes are fighting side by side not face to face. But, there was and is a little bit of hype around this showdown, and the battles themselves were a little disappointing.

Overall though, the art was really cool, the thought of creators from both of the biggest comic book companies collaborating is pretty sweet, and the way they got the characters to fight but also team up was pretty imaginative.

Around the World: A Historic Graphic Novel

Around the World by Matt Phelan

Why did I read it?

Every month or so, I get a couple library magazines that roll across my desk. One of the main ones is VOYA (Voices of Youth Advocates). VOYA has great articles that deal with teen programming, and they also have a huge list of book reviews.

Around the World was one of the ones that my eye, so I asked our Acquisitions Librarian (the lady that orders our books) to buy us a copy. I'm always wondering if the books that I order because of a book review are any good, so I couldn't resist reading it. I'm really glad I did.

What happened?

In 1873, Jules Verne wrote the intrepid novel, Around the World in 80 Days, in which Phileas Fogg makes a wager to circumvent the globe in under 80 days. Inspired by that story, actual travelers sought to circle the globe. Matt has assembled three of these real-life stories into a fantastic graphic novel adventure.

Thomas Stevens road a bicycle around the world (boated over the ponds lol) to be remembered. Nellie Bly, girl reporter, did it to prove that she could. Joshua Slocum, a well-known sea captain, traveled around the world in a second rate ship as he mourned the loss of his first wife.

What did I like or not like?

When I first read the review for this one, I thought it was just an author inspired by the writings of Verne who knew a good idea when he saw one. Little did I know that there were real life people that went all the way around the world shortly after Around the World in 80 Days was published. Telling these actual events in graphic form, mixing in quotes from the traveler's journals, and pondering why they did what they did makes for a very interesting read.

Fahrenheit 451: Burn Their Ideas Away

Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451: The Authorized Adaptation by Tim Hamilton

Why did I read it?

North Idaho Reads is a series of events coming up this Fall. We'll be having a film festival, banned music, and a futurist all centering around one book: Fahrenheit 451. Originally written in 1953, Fahrenheit 451 was recently adapted into a graphic novel, and I thought I'd check out what this version had to offer.

What happened?

Guy Montag is a fireman, which means he starts fires for a living. Might seem a little bit backwards, but with perfectly fireproof houses, accidental fires don't happen; only intentional ones do. Why would they start fires? To eliminate books.

From our time, society continued to move faster and faster until reading a novel just wasn't desirable anymore. Watching a virtual world on your living room wall was much more interesting and made you much happier. Books became a burden. They confused people and made them sad. So, people decided by themselves that they didn't want books anymore, and firemen changed their jobs from stopping fires to starting them.

Starting fires is all Guy has ever known, but when a peculiar girl talks to him about taking life slow, and an old woman would rather burn than let go of her books, Guy starts to think that their might be something to those countless novels he put to the flame.

What did I like or not like?

Obviously, Dystopian novels are huge right now, and Fahrenheit 451 was one of the very first ones. It tells a thought-provoking tale of what might happen if we just lived for pleasure, and let go of reading and thinking for ourselves. The style of the graphic novel is rough, with a limited but vibrant color palette, and it was very interesting to read and take in.

Once again, I'm not sure if Dystopian novels are meant to be enjoyed per se, as they often portray dark and dangerous futures, but it was very interesting and worth reading.

Just Lasso the Nearest Tree

Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon and Dean Hale, and illustrated by Nathan Hale.

What happened?
Rapunzel has always been curious about life outside her walled castle, where she lives with her mother Gothel. So on her twelfth birthday, she sneaks out for a look. Turns out that Gothel kidnapped her from her birth parents because they stole some measly leaves, and Gothel is also a sorceress wrecking the farming of anyone who doesn't pay her taxes.

Confronting her "mother" with this, Rapunzel is quickly thrown into a lonely tower. For four years Rapunzel can only wonder if she will ever get out, until her hair grows long enough to lasso around the nearest tree. Having escaped from the tower, Rapunzel vows to find her real mom, and hopefully take Gothel down in the process.

What did I like or not like?

The Wild West setting was a visually interesting place to tell the story, and having Rapunzel's hair work like twenty feet of rope (or whips depending on the situation) was also a fun idea. Adding some action to this story, Rapunzel and her partner, Jack, fight off bandits, giant sea serpants, and eventually take the fight to Gothel herself. Along the way, Rapunzel deals with selfishness, doing what's right, and sticking up for the little guy. This graphic novel had plenty of the elements of the classic tale, but told them with an interesting new twist.

The Artist the Biker can't Ignore

Mars Vol. 1 by Fayumi Soryo
Why did I read it?
As I've mentioned before, I like to vary what I read, and there is nothing more varied than Manga, which reads from right to left instead of from left to right :) I went to a program today, and some kids were asking what I was reading. They thought it was pretty cool that the book read backwards. Mission accomplished! Mars is a graphic novel that is 15 volumes long, but I like the way it begins.
What happened?
Rei is a rebellious bike racer with no fear. Every hot girl waits their turn to be with him, and then he moves on. Kira is a terribly quiet girl who no one is brave enough to talk to. But, something draws them together and them, nor anyone they know, can ignore the connection they have. Rei begins to appreciate Kira's skill as an artist, and Kira starts to realize that Rei is more than just an arrogant, confident punk. Rei protects Kira from a jealous classmate and an advancing teacher, but their friendship becomes even more special and complicated.
What did I like or not like?
I think it's cool that star-crossed lovers and forbidden love cross cultures and languages. This is a story that has been told countless times before. But, reading a Manga version that was originally written in another language is pretty cool.
P.S. There is a teacher who comes onto Kira, and there is some brief discussion of Rei's sleeping with other girls.

A Criminal Mastermind Full of Bad Luck

A Book Blurt on Calamity Jack, written by Shannon and Dean Hale and illustrated by Nathan Hale.

Why did I read it?

I try to diversify Book Blurt by reading graphic novels, fantasy, sci-fi, chick flicks, and realistic fiction. A graphic novel that is getting a lot of attention right now is Rapunzel’s Revenge, and this is a graphic novel written by the same people (and this one was on the shelf at my library hehe).

What happened?

Jack considers himself a criminal mastermind, with too much bad luck. He does some small gigs and makes a little bit of money, but each one has unexpected side effects. Just before Jack walks away from criminality for good, his mother is threatened by Blunderboar, a literal giant of a crime boss. Trying to help his mom out, Jack plans on stealing from Blunderboar, but once again the unexpected side effects show up again, and Jack is running for his life. Away from his home, Jack runs into Rapunzel (which I think might have something to do with Rapunzel’s Revenge), and he decides to return home. While Jack was away, Blunderboar has taken control of the entire city, and giant ants demolish buildings and kill citizens. Jack and Rapunzel try to find a way to save the city, and Jack’s mom from the fist of Blunderboar.

What did I like or not like?

This retelling of Jack and the beanstalk is a lot of fun, and very imaginative. The illustrations are fantastic, and the make-believe world of giants, pixies, and jabberwoks is brought to life beautifully. Throw in a criminal mastermind who can’t quite decide if he wants to be a criminal, and you have an entertaining book to read.

Electric Revolution

How dost thou?

Sorry, there were characters in the book this week that spoke older English. For the past couple of weeks I’ve looked for another graphic novel to read, and The Sons of Liberty caught my eye. Apparently it caught the eye of some of you as well, because it was checked out for a while before I could get my hands on it. Of course, that probably means I’m actually reading books that you enjoy, which can’t be a bad thing.

Anyways, the book is a graphic novel created and written by Alexander and Joseph Lagos, drawn by Steve Walker, and colored by Oren Kramek. The novel opens just before the Revolutionary War. Slavery was still very prominent, and runaway slaves were hunted down and mistreated. Two such runaways are Graham and Brody who find shelter with a kind-hearted man named Ben Franklin. But, Franklin’s son, William, isn’t so kind-hearted. William uses Graham and Brody for an experiment. Using quick jolts of electricity, Graham and Brody are able to leap rivers and split trees with their fists. How this “gift” will affect their lives is uncertain, as this is the first installment in a series of graphic novels.

As historical fiction, this graphic novel is very interesting. You definitely get a feel for slavery during those times and how it affects Graham and Brody. The novel also gives an interesting take on William Franklin, who is painted as far from an upright character (he will probably become a serious bad guy in future installments). The idea of super heroes in revolutionary times is a very interesting idea, and I wouldn’t mind reading future installments. But, the drawing style itself and the subject matter of the book is dark, and has some violence.

Ultimately, the feeling I got was similar to my feelings for Wild Wild West starring Will Smith. The movie was good, but the mix of technology with an older time period leaves you feeling a little gross. But, the novel does make revolutionary times fresh and interesting, and you get interested in Graham and Brody’s future.

P.S. My high school aged brother picked up the book and devoured it. He thought super heroes in the revolutionay war was pretty sweet.