Timely and boldly told.
The creators of the acclaimed graphic novel Illegal (2017) take on climate change.
Twelve-year-old Sami lives with his grandfather in a fishing village on the Bay of Bengal. Every day, survival becomes more difficult as the sea rises, cyclones buffet the coast with increasing ferocity, and the two bring in fewer and fewer fish. Thousands of miles away, in Northern Canada, in the Arctic Circle, Yuki, a 14-year-old girl cued as Inuit is determined to save the emergent and struggling grolar bears (a polar bear–grizzly hybrid), which brings her face to face with nature at its most primal. Their stories mirror each other, pitting individuals and communities against themselves, each other, and nature itself as their worlds change faster and more drastically than they can adapt to. The decision to depict two mostly disparate, highly personal narratives from vastly different communities works surprisingly well to heighten relatability for young readers who might otherwise feel worlds away from the events of the story. The quotidian consequences of climate change are laid bare, impossible to ignore despite the creative team’s adroit avoidance of proselytizing. The text is pointed and poignant, beautifully complemented by dynamic illustrations that bring the scenes to dramatic life. Backmatter does an excellent job summarizing global warming and its negative effects, which does cast a shadow over the somewhat-forced optimism of the story’s ending, as it seems only a matter of time before the children’s hard-won luck runs out again.
Timely and boldly told. (map with Sami’s and Yuki’s locations, authors’ and illustrator’s note, sketchbook) (Graphic fiction. 10-14)Pub Date: April 11, 2023
ISBN: 9781728257235
Page Count: 144
Publisher: Sourcebooks Young Readers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Brava!
From award winner Telgemeier (Smile, 2010), a pitch-perfect graphic novel portrayal of a middle school musical, adroitly capturing the drama both on and offstage.
Seventh-grader Callie Marin is over-the-moon to be on stage crew again this year for Eucalyptus Middle School’s production of Moon over Mississippi. Callie's just getting over popular baseball jock and eighth-grader Greg, who crushed her when he left Callie to return to his girlfriend, Bonnie, the stuck-up star of the play. Callie's healing heart is quickly captured by Justin and Jesse Mendocino, the two very cute twins who are working on the play with her. Equally determined to make the best sets possible with a shoestring budget and to get one of the Mendocino boys to notice her, the immensely likable Callie will find this to be an extremely drama-filled experience indeed. The palpably engaging and whip-smart characterization ensures that the charisma and camaraderie run high among those working on the production. When Greg snubs Callie in the halls and misses her reference to Guys and Dolls, one of her friends assuredly tells her, "Don't worry, Cal. We’re the cool kids….He's the dork." With the clear, stylish art, the strongly appealing characters and just the right pinch of drama, this book will undoubtedly make readers stand up and cheer.
Brava! (Graphic fiction. 10-14)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-545-32698-8
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Graphix/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: July 21, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2012
SEEN & HEARD
A rather unsatisfying graphic novel, sure to disappoint fans of Ellis’ book.
A graphic-novel adaptation of Ellis’ heartwarming story of Parvana, a young girl in Afghanistan who cuts her hair and dresses as a boy to earn money for her family when her father is imprisoned by the Taliban.
Adding a layer of remove from the original, this graphic novel is an adaptation of the upcoming film version, and it varies significantly from the original book. Notable deviations include the absence of helpful Mrs. Weera, who provides so much support to Parvana and her family in the original book, and two new details: a grudging former student who tattles on Parvana’s father and Parvana’s solo visit to rescue her imprisoned father. Much story is lost as a result of the numerous deviations, which also sadly promote Western views of Afghanistan, such as rampant corruption and violent men. Even as a stand-alone title for readers not familiar with the book, the storyline is bumpy, moving in fits and starts. At one point, Parvana’s mother decides to abandon Parvana and leave for the neighboring village but then changes her mind midway. Another disappointment is the book cover, which shows Parvana selling chai, something she does not do in either story (although her friend does). The only redeeming factor is the beautiful artwork, stills from the film, with its vivid use of colors to display context, such as use of red for war and black for the Taliban rule.
A rather unsatisfying graphic novel, sure to disappoint fans of Ellis’ book. (Graphic historical fiction. 10-14)Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-77306-118-4
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Groundwood
Review Posted Online: Dec. 2, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2018
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
