Striking and provocative.
Five wolves create and discuss art during their adventures in this stream-of-consciousness narrative.
The format defies easy categorization. Its episodic structure, roguish characters, and philosophical commentary suggest a picaresque tale; the page turns and abundant illustrations evoke a picture book. The verbal storytelling, spun from dialogue and an offstage narrator, unfolds in hand-lettered sentences that form swirling, mostly blue wavy lines filling compact spaces on the white pages. Larger, darker text demands to be read first. Highly textured ink renderings, many in gray (among other colors, used monochromatically), punctuate the pages of text. An early scene portrays the wolves on a Viking-like ship, painting on canvases. A shark leaps to steal the portrait the wolf has drawn of it, activating the plot, which involves five competitive, artistic cats, who fire their vessel’s cannon, as well as a shipwreck, flying creatures, a fiery encounter with a dragon regarding an impromptu mural, a princess in a hanbok, and a climactic battle. Many of the remarks and asides deal with the nature of art: what can be seen, what role identity plays, if serious art is superior or some subjects are unworthy, the role of permission in creating art, and whether some artists can be considered failures. McCarty pulls some lines from children’s books and popular culture, including The Runaway Bunny and Star Wars. This utterly original book respects its readers, asking them to display patience, have comfort with ambiguity and rereading, and exercise the ability to construct meaning.
Striking and provocative. (Illustrated fiction. 10-adult)Pub Date: Oct. 14, 2025
ISBN: 9781250170620
Page Count: 288
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: June 13, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: tomorrow
A contemporary hero’s journey, brilliantly told.
The 17-year-old son of a troubled rock star is determined to find his own way in life and love.
On the verge of adulthood, Blade Morrison wants to leave his father’s bad-boy reputation for drug-and-alcohol–induced antics and his sister’s edgy lifestyle behind. The death of his mother 10 years ago left them all without an anchor. Named for the black superhero, Blade shares his family’s connection to music but resents the paparazzi that prevent him from having an open relationship with the girl that he loves. However, there is one secret even Blade is unaware of, and when his sister reveals the truth of his heritage during a bitter fight, Blade is stunned. When he finally gains some measure of equilibrium, he decides to investigate, embarking on a search that will lead him to a small, remote village in Ghana. Along the way, he meets people with a sense of purpose, especially Joy, a young Ghanaian who helps him despite her suspicions of Americans. This rich novel in verse is full of the music that forms its core. In addition to Alexander and co-author Hess’ skilled use of language, references to classic rock songs abound. Secondary characters add texture to the story: does his girlfriend have real feelings for Blade? Is there more to his father than his inability to stay clean and sober? At the center is Blade, fully realized and achingly real in his pain and confusion.
A contemporary hero’s journey, brilliantly told. (Verse fiction. 14-adult)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-310-76183-9
Page Count: 464
Publisher: Blink
Review Posted Online: April 30, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2017
PERSPECTIVES
While there are many rhyming truck books out there, this stands out for being a collection of poems.
Rhyming poems introduce children to anthropomorphized trucks of all sorts, as well as the jobs that they do.
Adorable multiethnic children are the drivers of these 16 trucks—from construction equipment to city trucks, rescue vehicles and a semi—easily standing in for readers, a point made very clear on the final spread. Varying rhyme schemes and poem lengths help keep readers’ attention. For the most part, the rhymes and rhythms work, as in this, from “Cement Mixer”: “No time to wait; / he can’t sit still. / He has to beg your pardon. / For if he dawdles on the way, / his slushy load will harden.” Slonim’s trucks each sport an expressive pair of eyes, but the anthropomorphism stops there, at least in the pictures—Vestergaard sometimes takes it too far, as in “Bulldozer”: “He’s not a bully, either, / although he’s big and tough. / He waits his turn, plays well with friends, / and pushes just enough.” A few trucks’ jobs get short shrift, to mixed effect: “Skid-Steer Loader” focuses on how this truck moves without the typical steering wheel, but “Semi” runs with a royalty analogy and fails to truly impart any knowledge. The acrylic-and-charcoal artwork, set against white backgrounds, keeps the focus on the trucks and the jobs they are doing.
While there are many rhyming truck books out there, this stands out for being a collection of poems. (Picture book/poetry. 3-6)Pub Date: Aug. 27, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-7636-5078-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: May 28, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© 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.
