September 5, 2023 by First Second
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Twins Zara and Zeesh Aziz have very different interests; Zara is very devoted to animals (especially her Persian cat) and animal rescue efforts, and Zeesh is obsessed with watching NASA videos and learning everything he can about space. They frequently argue, but when their family heads off to the Florida Keys to a medical conference, their bickering escalates. Their parents, both doctors, are stressed enough about flying, since the family is frequently pulled aside for spot checks because they are Muslim, and eventually take away both children's phones after they have a very public fight. The mother is being honored as pediatrician of the year, a fact which the hotel concierge has taken time to remember, even if he asks the rude question of "where are you from". The parents did come from Pakistan, but the children have only ever lived in the US and are very tired of this question. With their phones gone, the children have to find things to do at the resort while their parents are at the conference. On the beach, Zara finds a large loggerhead turtle that seems unwell, and makes it her mission to help it. She names it Sunshine. She covers it with branches for shade and goes into town to ask at a pet store about it. Eventually, a local veterinarian comes and examines the animal, and thinks that once it gets some more vitamins, it will be okay. There are other children at the conference, and some of them are very mean. We see, in somewhat faded colors, flashback to similar events the children experienced back home. Their mother gets her award and the family is celebrsting her, but when Zeesh is angry that he is missing an important NASA broadcast, he runs away into a storm. Zara goes after them, and the two find that Sunshine is in trouble. They save it, and find that they bicker a bit less once they learn to appreciate each other's interests and have learned to work together.
Strengths: The artwork in this was more beautiful than the average graphic novel, and since it is set in the Florida Keys, it was like being on a little vacation! I'd love to see more graphic novels illustrated by Khan. Adults tend to forget what a big role siblings have in the lives of middle grade children, so it was good to see that even though the twins bickered, they were able to hang out together and find things to do. I adored that their parents took away their phones when they didn't do what was expected! Taking away technology was always my first line of defense with my own children, and it can be very effective! The Pakistani American representation is good to see, although it's sad that the family has to deal with so many microaggressions and hatred. This story moved quickly, and the turtle added an extra layer of interest.
Weaknesses: It seemed a bit odd that the children were allowed to wander around so much on their own, but perhaps this is fairly common in the Florida Keys. I've never been there.
What I really think: This is a good choice for graphic novel readers who want sibling tales like Harper's Bad Sister or books with Muslim characters and challenges like Huq's The Story of Nisrin's Hijab or Famy's Huda F. Are You.
Weaknesses: It seemed a bit odd that the children were allowed to wander around so much on their own, but perhaps this is fairly common in the Florida Keys. I've never been there.
What I really think: This is a good choice for graphic novel readers who want sibling tales like Harper's Bad Sister or books with Muslim characters and challenges like Huq's The Story of Nisrin's Hijab or Famy's Huda F. Are You.
I Survived the American Revolution, 1776 (I Survived Graphic Novel #8)
September 5, 2023 by Graphix
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Nathaniel Fox sailed with his father, a sea captain, after his mother's death, but when his father was washed overboard, he ended up living in Virginia with his rich uncle, Mr. Storch. The uncle is cruel, enslaving a woman and her son and selling her husband. When the son accidentally hits Storch with a stick, Nathaniel takes the blame and then runs off to New York, only to find that the country is in the grips of the Revolutionary War. He tries to walk away, but ends up in an army camp, where he finds one of the sailors from his father's ship. He decides to stay and work in the camp, and ends up in the fighting of the Battle of Brooklyn.
These graphic novel adaptations are very popular with my students, who love Tarshis' work even though some of them won't pick up any other historical fiction books. The graphic novels are almost exactly like the novels, and about the same length, so I have only purchased a few.
September 5, 2023 by Graphix
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
This is a completely new collection of tales from the writers who brought you Bone: Quest for the Spark book one (2009) and two, as well as the Bone graphic novel series, which started in 1991! I didn't realize there was a third novel of Quest for the Spark, but since it came out in 2013, I will probably not buy it now. (Although the paperback is still available through Follett.)
This series continues to be very popular, and I have to rebuy at least one book a year when someone loses a copy, so I hope it remains in print for a while.
I've read all of these back before 2011, so didn't remember as much as I should have. This is one of those series like MacHale's Pendragon or Nix's Mister Monday books that I just can't for the life of me remember. I'll definitely purchase this one, and the lines of readers waiting for it will be long!
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