Plymouth Librarians' Choice

Castle Waiting by Linda Medley
Teen Graphic Novels – Main Level – C

This graphic novel (recently available in a one-volume hardcover) starts by retelling the story of Sleeping Beauty. The young princess veers from the classic story, though, by leaving the castle with her prince as soon as she wakes up. The castle, with all its staff, is left without a ruler, waiting for her promised return. Over time, it becomes a refuge for those cast out from the rest of society, if they believe the legends and can find it. One such is a Lady Jain, pregnant and alone, who comes to Castle Waiting to bear her child. The castle is populated by a variety of interesting characters, including three now ancient ladies-in-waiting, a crane named Rackham, John Henry, and a horse-headed man called Sir Chess. The rambling story shifts its focus in the second half from Jain to a Solicitine nun, who shares her story and the history of her most unusual order. It’s funny and serious at the same time, and full of sly references to the characters of folk and fairy tales. The introduction by author Jane Yolen, hinting at the difference between truth and Truth, was a delightful addition.

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
Teen Graphic Novels- Main Level- A

“Class, I’d like us all to give a warm welcome to your new classmate Jing Jang!”
-“Jin Wang.”
“He and his family recently moved to our neighborhood all the way from China!”
-“San Francisco.”

Yang’s beautifully colored graphic novel weaves three stories together into one statement about life as a “human transformer.” He begins in the forest with a discontented monkey learning invulnerability through kung-fu—a retelling of the Chinese folk tale “The Monkey King.” Then it shifts over to young Jin Wang being introduced to his new classmates. Jin doesn’t eat dogs, and he can speak English. So why do the other guys treat him like an “FOB” (fresh off the boat)? Yang’s third story is the saga of Danny, a popular high school student who is humiliated on a yearly basis when his cousin, an embodiment of stereotypes, comes to visit from China.

American Born Chinese is the winner of the 2007 Michael L. Printz Award for excellent young adult literature, but adults will enjoy the drawings and stories as well. If you’ve never read a graphic novel before, this is a great one to start with.

To see other Printz Award winners, check out
http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/booklistsawards/printzaward/previouswinners/winners.htm

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Teen Graphic Novels- Main Level- P

Contrary to what I thought when I started the book, Persepolis is not the name of the main character. The main character’s name is Marjane; Persepolis is the Greek name for the capital of the former Persian Empire. Wait, you say. The main character has the same name as the author? Yes, friends, this is an autobiographical comic book.

Marjane, the great-great granddaughter of Nasser-al-Din Shah (the Shah of Persia for the second half of the 1800s) grew up in Iran with her Marxist parents. During her youth, the Shah was overthrown, the Islamic Revolution was accomplished, and Iran went to war with Iraq. Sadly, Satrapi cannot imagine her childhood without these events. She was obliged to wear a veil in public, propaganda was taught at school, and many loved ones were in danger of being arrested, tortured, killed, or bombed in the war. Somehow the simplicity of the comics lightens the tone of the story, while the emotion on the character’s faces had me (big cliché coming…) both laughing and crying. I sure hope the film adaptation makes its way to Michigan.

BONE Volume One: Out from Boneville
by Jeff Smith
Teen Graphic Novels - Main Level - B

One day the three Bone cousins Fone Bone, Phoney Bone, and Smiley Bone are chased out of their home, Boneville, because of Phoney’s shady dealings. Unfortunately they get lost from each other in the Valley. While lost they encounter some interesting characters and fast-paced adventures. Ted is an all-knowing little bug who leads wise Fone Bone to Thorn, a sweet and beautiful teenage girl who promises to help reunite the Bone cousins. She lives with her Grandma Ben, a brave woman who loves to race cows. The Bones also encounter rat creatures who are only interested in destroying the Bones, but luckily the amazing Red Dragon saves the Bones time and time again!

Although the Bone cousins are eventually reunited at the end of the story, there is an ominous threat lingering over the Bones as they get ready for the great cow race. For once again Phoney has tried to make money in a dishonest fashion, and is threatened by the Hooded One—the leader of the rat creatures. One will have to pick up volume two of the Bone series, The Great Cow Race, to find out what happens next in the Bone saga!

Out From Boneville by Jeff Smith is a fun and enjoyable graphic novel. If you have never read this type of literature, this selection may be a good starting point. It is also acceptable for upper elementary students. The illustrations are friendly and true to the characters’ emotions. So if you want to laugh and be a little frightened along the way read about the three Bone cousins in Out From Boneville by Jeff Smith!

Miki Falls- Spring
Teen Graphic Novels- Main Level- M

Miki starts her senior year of high school determined to be better, kinder, smarter, more herself. So when the cute new boy, Hiro, puts up a standoffish front, Miki vows to make friends anyway. Eventually her cheeriness wears him down, and he confesses to her that he is no ordinary high school boy, but one with a super-special magical secret job!

The tricky bit is, Hiro wasn’t supposed to tell anyone. Not only is his status a secret, but the rules of his trade prevent his falling in love with an ordinary person like Miki. But gosh, she sure is cute. And the whole star-crossed lover thing is pretty appealing. Thus, Hiro and Miki find themselves in a mess of trouble.

Spring is the first in a four volume series of comics by Mark Crilley, an artist who splits his time between Southeast Michigan and Japan. Although his characters are drawn in a Japanese manga style, the books do read front to back and left to right. Stay tuned- Mark will be coming to the library in April!

The Sandman by Neil Gaiman
Adult Graphic Novels-Main Level SAN

To anyone who might be remotely familiar with comics, the world of Sandman is probably not new to you. To those who aren’t and are looking for a place to start, this is it. Winner of the World Fantasy Award, eighteen Eisner Awards, two Bram Stoker Illustrated Narrative Awards, and one of the first comic books to appear on the New York Times Best Seller list, The Sandman is one of the most highly regarded and influential graphic novels ever made.

The plot revolves around a group of beings known as the Endless that are anthropomorphic manifestations of human existence. While the focus of the story is on Dream, the other siblings Death, Destiny, Despair, Destruction, Delirium (who used to be Delight), and Desire all weave their way into the narrative forming a very unique dysfunctional family.

What makes the Sandman so interesting is Neil Gaiman's ability to take various mythological, theological, literary, and philosophical threads and weave them together to create a rich satisfying story. Where else can William Shakespeare perform “A Midsummer’s Night Dream,” to the very Faerie folk that inhabit his story, or Thor, Odin and Loki from Norse mythology, Anubis and Bast from Egyptian mythology, Susanoo-no-mikoto from Japanese mythology, and a pair of angels from Christianity all vie for the key to hell? Besides all these grand themes intertwining, The Sandman also has the ability to examine the small emotional moments that make us human. Not merely a comic book, The Sandman is an important literary work that has helped break the barriers much like Maus did in the past and Persepolis does now.

Y The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra
Adult Graphic Novels - Main Level - Y

The thought of being the last male on the planet is probably one almost every guy has dreamt about during the course of his life. However, for Yorick Brown this dream has become a nightmare reality. Following an unexplained plague that has left the world devoid of any males, Yorick and his pet monkey (who is also male) must help save what is left of humanity. The world is of course in chaos considering there is a large political and military vacuum left in the wake of the plague. Dispelling any sexist notions that males are solely responsible for violence and power plays, the women of the world are soon at each other’s throats in search of Yorick. To some he represents the last remnants of a patriarchy that must be cleansed, to others he is the key to unraveling the mysterious plague, and to a few he might just be a fun play toy.

At turns horrifying, hysterical, and action packed Brian K. Vaughn is able to create a fantastic world that could very well be our own. Armed with an arsenal of pop culture references, strong female characters, and surprising plot twists it’s no wonder Vaughn is also writing for Joss Whedon’s “Buffy Season 8 comic.” If that’s not enough of a recommendation Vaughn has also written some of the best episodes of the labyrinthine mosaic “Lost.” The artist Pia Guerra is able to visualize the characters and story in perfect sync with Vaughn’s writing creating yet another example of why graphic novels should be taken more seriously as a literary medium.

Blue Pills: A Positive Love Story by Frederik Peeters
Adult Graphic Novels - Main Level - BLU

Blue Pills is an autobiographical graphic novel that chronicles the relationship between the author/illustrator Frederick Peeters, his girlfriend Cati, and her three-year-old son. As Frederick and Cati grow closer, she must reveal that both her and her son are HIV positive. Where many might run from the relationship or fall into the trap of pity, Peeters reacts by embracing his love for Cati, albeit cautiously. With the help of a doctor who is as Peeters describes actually “human,” the two learn that the boundaries the virus creates sexually and psychologically can be broken down. With its simple monochromatic illustrations and frank and unsentimental perspective, Blue Pills is the type of book that can easily be read in one sitting. However, Peeters' true skill is his ability to turn a harrowing subject on its head and find the good in it.