El Deafo

El Deafo by Cece Bell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Deserving of its Newbery Honor, for sure.

Wonderstruck

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

AR Reading Level: 5.4
On the library stacks: Children's Fiction
Recommended for: Ages 9+

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mr. Selznick takes the same approach he made famous in Hugo Cabret of combining beautiful illustrations and text to tell this tale. In Wonderstruck we are told two stories--one of a lonely girl obsessed with a Broadway starlet, the other of a lonely boy obsessed with finding his father. Both go to New York City as part of their quest. And both will eventually get answers, even if they aren't necessarily the ones they set out to seek.

I adore the illustrations and imagination of Brian Selznick. Even though this was missing some of the spark I found in Hugo, I can't imagine not reading anything this man produces. I liked how the two stories intertwined, and I love the expressions on the faces of his characters. Reading this book is just a lovely experience, one that my daughter and I both enjoyed immensely.

Also reviewed by: The Book Nest ~ Thoughts of Joy ~ Bart's Bookshelf ~ Book Nut ~ Booking Mama ~ Bermudaonion's Weblog ~ At Home With Books ~ Ms. Yingling Reads ~ Your link here?
Source: Library

Calamity Jack

Calamity Jack by Shannon Hale, Dean Hale, and Nathan Hale (ill.)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I've mentioned before that Coco loves graphic novels. She has been dying to buy Rapunzel's Revenge and this recently released sequel. So she knew exactly what she was going to do with a Christmas gift card she received to B&N from her Gramma.

I'll say straight up that Coco loved it. This book continues the adventures of western heroine Rapunzel, but we learn a lot more about her love interest. Jack is a city boy with a good heart, but he's also a criminal with bad luck. (He reminded me a lot of Aladdin!) After inadvertently growing a beanstalk, killing a giant, he escapes to the West.  Fortunately, for him he has the golden goose in tow. With Rapunzel he turns his life around and heads back to the city to find his mother and show her that she really did raise a good boy. Instead, he arrives to a city destroyed by giant ants and finds his mother is being held captive. Together, Jack and Rapunzel must save the day.

Graphic novels are not exactly my thing, but this was a fun way to spend an hour and bond with my daughter. The illustrations are fabulous but I didn't find the story quite as engaging as I did when I read Rapunzel's Revenge. Still, reading graphic novels are a nice change of pace every once in awhile. Appropriate for 4th grade and up.

Also reviewed by:

• Book Nut
• The Book Nest 
• Becky's Book Reviews
  
• Superfast Reader 
• Maw Books 
• My Own Little Corner of the World  

Book 7 of 100 for the 100+ Reading Challenge
Book 12 of 25 for the MG Reading Challenge
Book 5 of 50 for the YA Reading Challenge 
Book 21 of 55 for the Countdown Challenge (2010)

Source: Borrowed from Coco. :)

Babymouse: The Musical

Babymouse: The Musical by Jennifer L. Holm

Book 95 of 100 for the 100+ Reading Challenge
Book 26 of 50 for the New Author Challenge
Series: Book 10 of ? (Babymouse)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My almost 9-year old has been voraciously reading the Babymouse books this summer. She even decided to use her allowance money to buy four of them. I was sitting next to her the other day and I decided to pick this up and she watched me read it. We had so much fun laughing and giggling together (even though she's read it many, many times).

This is the 10th book in the series, but is my first exposure. Babymouse is an elementary school mouse. In this installment, she is persuaded by a new British student, Henry Higgins, to try out for the school musical. Babymouse is dramatic, but she's not terribly coordinated, and mayhem ensues.

Reading these books is kind of like watching a Disney movie. My kids and I both enjoy them, but we are laughing at totally different parts. I loved the Narrator and references in this book to A Chorus Line, Grease, and Phantom of the Opera. My daughter doesn't really get that, but it doesn't matter to her. She loved the references to High School Musical and the situational comedy.

I can see why my daughter likes these. I may even have to pick another one up so we can laugh and giggle together again at Babymouse's antics.

Also reviewed by:

• Becky's Book Reviews
• Book Nut
• Average Girl Reads

Have I missed yours?

Source: Purchased (by my daughter!)

The Arrival

The Arrival by Shaun Tan

Book 60 of 100 for the 100+ Reading Challenge

Awards: New South Wales Premier's Literary Award; 2006 Cybils Award; Bologna Ragazzi Award, Special Mention; Spectrum Award; Junior Library Guild Selection; World Fantasy Artist of the Year; A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2007; A New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2007; Amazon.com's Best Teen Book of 2007; 2007 Parents' Choice Gold Award; A Book Sense Winter 2007-2008 Top Ten Children’s Pick; A New York Public Library Best Book for Reading and Sharing; A New York Times Notable Children’s Book of 2007; Rocky Mountain News, A Top Ten Book of the Year; The Columbus Dispatch, A Best Book of 2007; Booklist; A School Library Journal Best Book of 2007; A Washington Post Best Book for Young People for 2007; Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Blue Ribbon for Fiction; ALA Notable Children's Book, 2008; ALA Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults, 2008; ALA Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens, 2008; Horn Book Fanfare Book 2007; Metropolitan Home Magazine's Design 100, 2008; An IRA Notable Book for a Global Society, 2008; 2008 Locus Award, Best Art Book; 2008 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, special citation for excellence in graphic storytelling; CCBC Choices 2008; Nominated for an International Horror Guild Award, Illustrated Narrative; Nominated for 2008 Hugo Award

rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Arrival is a wordless graphic novel that explores the trials and triumphs of the immigration experience. Set in a fantastical world that borrows from our own, readers will recognize images that Tan used to base the novel on, including Ellis Island and post-WWII Europe. However, there is a different alphabet, make-believe animals, and hot air balloons used for travel.

The book is entirely sepia-toned pencil drawings with gorgeous detail. Shaun Tan spent four years working on this book, and it shows. Although Tan is an illustrator first and foremost, I did miss his personal voice.

Since there are no words, I would say this book is experienced rather than read. It is a unique and thought-provoking book that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Also reviewed by:

• Rebecca Reads
• The Compulsive Reader
• Stuff as Dreams are Made On
• ReadingAdventures
• 1morechapter.com
• Ticket to Anywhere
• Thoughts of Joy...
• The Book Nest
• The Genteel Arsenal
• Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
• Menasha Public Library

Let me know if I have missed yours!

Tales From Outer Suburbia

Tales From Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan

Book 55 of 100 for the 100+ Reading Challenge
Book 6 of 50 for the New Author Challenge
Book 6 of 10 for the Orbis Terrarum Challenge (Australia)

Award: Australian Aurealis Awards

rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a book that I'm glad I didn't judge by the cover. Honestly, it might be my least favorite illustration in the whole book. Tales From Outer Suburbia is one of the most unique books I've ever read. It's not a book to read quickly. You should savor each illustration, each word, each idea. Made up of 15 short stories, some are just funny, some are zany, and some are deceptively deep. You will get out whatever you put into this book tenfold.

I think my favorite selection in the book was about where discarded poems go. There's also a story about a guy who shows up in a suburban neighborhood wearing a dripping wet antique diving suit, a story about stick people that grow each night, and a story about a government machine that makes people forget about everything bad the government does. This book definitely gets bonus points for creativity, gorgeous illustrations and word choice that gave me chills.

I'm definitely a new Shaun Tan groupie and I look forward to reading more works by him.

Also reviewed by:

• Books of Mee
• Bending Bookshelf
• She Reads Books
• readerbuzz
• Peeking Between the Pages
• Menasha Public Library
• The Genteel Arsenal

Please let me know if I have missed yours!

Persepolis 2

Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return by Marjane Satrapi

rating: 3 of 5 stars

I read Persepolis last year for my YA Lit class. I didn't have a huge desire to run right out and get Persepolis 2, but the other day I decided to pick it up at the library.

Persepolis and Persepolis 2 are graphic novels detailing the life of the author. Marjane Satrapi was born in Iran and was sent as a teenager to live in Austria to escape the Iranian regime and the Iran-Iraq War. Much of Persepolis 2 details this time in Austria where she struggles to fit into Western society and ideals. Eventually, she returns to Iran where she feels that she doesn't fit in either because of her time in the West. She eventually gets her life on track by focusing on her education.

This book is usually found in the YA section, but I think this book has a lot very mature themes including drug use, violence, sexual content, and explicit language.

Melissa hit the nail on the head when she said this is not an easy book to read, but it does give some important insight on what it is like to live in a country where the people are repressed by the governing regime.

Also reviewed by:

• Irish @ Ticket to Anywhere
• B&b ex libris
• Book Nut
• Nymeth @ things mean a lot
• Trish's Reading Nook

Rapunzel's Revenge

Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale

rating: 4 of 5 stars

Shannon Hale has teamed up with her husband Dean Hale and illustrator Nathan Hale (no relation) to create a really unique graphic novel based on the fairy tale, Rapunzel. In this book, Rapunzel's hair helps her escape her prison, fight villains, and battle beasts. Rapunzel sets out on a swashbuckling quest to right the wrongs of Mother Gothel and to reunite with her real mother. And, there just might be a little love story along the way. :)

Definitely recommended for all ages. It is in the YA section of my library, but my eight year old read it and loved it too. The Hales are hard at work on a sequel so stay tuned!

Also reviewed by:

• Becky's Book Reviews
• Book Nut at Estella's Revenge

Maw Books went to her release party!
Here's Shannon and Dean on the Today Show (via Nathan Hale's blog)

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

This gem of a book is 533 pages long. I told Dan he needed to read it, and that it only takes an hour or two and he looked at me like I was INSANE. I don't actually read that fast, but this novel is told in both pictures and words. If you haven't read a graphic novel yet, this is a great one to try first.

You will find it in the juvenile section of the library. If I hadn't looked it up, I would say this book would be great starting around 5th grade--Publisher's Weekly says ages 9-12.

I don't want to tell you too much about it. (I'm glad the site that I got the recommendation from didn't spoil it for me.) Just go get it and enjoy. You'll be glad you did.