Category: Graphic Novel

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Long Way Down Graphic Novel

By Jason Reynolds, art by Danica Novgorodoff

Danica Novgorodoff has adapted Jason Reynolds’ masterpiece, Long Way Down, as a graphic novel. It is a beautiful piece of art. Watercolors create a stormy background for the somber tone of the story. Flashbacks are done in shades of moody blue and white. The emotions and the details and the personalities of each character are tangible. The illustrations bring the story to life.

On the down side, the beauty of Jason’s words are not the focus of the book. His words are exquisite and impactful in the original. Words you want to remember. In the graphic novel, the words just don’t stand out as much. The graphic novel is again, beautiful and powerful, but does not take the place of the original.

Any fan of Jason Reynolds will adore this book as will graphic novel lovers.

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Dragon Hoops by Gene Yang

“I’m a story kind of guy”

Gene has writer’s block. He can’t think of anything to write about; nothing is inspiring. And then he overhears chatter about the school basketball team and its chance at competing in the state competition. Gene has no interest in basketball but decides to learn. He works it out with the coach to follow the team on their journey. As the season goes on he becomes much more involved with the boys than he ever expected.

Each chapter looks at a different player and showcases the diversity of the team. Not every black kid has the same backstory, skills, or ambition or are even African-American. Gene shows each boy with all his warts and his glories. He also intertwines his reluctance to feature the disgraced former coach until he realizes that the man deserves to have his story told.

This graphic novel is autobiographical and shines a light on Yang’s creative process as well as his family. The tale is followed by an Epilogue to set facts straight from creative license. His fans, sports-oriented readers, and emerging writers will enjoy the book.

I waited too long to write this review and so did not have access to the preview copy for more details to include. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy.

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Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass

By Mariko Tamaki, Illustrated by Steve Pugh

Book Cover
Harley Quinn Breaking Glass

Teen Harley Quinn arrives at her grandmother’s apartment only to find out that grandma has died. The apartment manager, Mama, takes her on and envelops her into his lovely group of drag queens (and surrogate moms). She enrolls in the local high school, makes friends with a passionate activist, Ivy, and enemies with the local little-rich-boy, John Kane. Harley soon finds her friends at odds with the wealthy Kanes who are destroying the neighborhood by tearing down homes, including Harley’s, and building towers.  Harley has a history of violence and retribution, is easily agitated, and has not yet figured out angels from devils. She gets roped by with the enigmatic Joker not realizing he is one of the devils her mother warned her about and manages to get herself in so much trouble that she is forced underground.

As I am not familiar with the Batman universe, I did not know that “historically” Harlequin was the Joker’s girlfriend until they had a falling out. In this rendition of the story, Harley was never friends with the Joker and quickly becomes his enemy. She is a complicated character with a weird vocabulary (booger is often repeated) and a firm sense of loyalty and willingness to fight for what she perceives as right. The title will appeal to younger teens as well as adult graphic novel readers and Gotham fans.

Preview copy provided by NetGalley

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Cory Doctorow writes a graphic novel

In Real Life by Cory Doctorow and Jen Wang 

An internatCover of In Real Lifeional industry has developed where people with more time than money are paid to play for hours on massive multiple player online (MMO) games to earn virtual wealth that can then be sold to people with more money than time. The ethics of this are debatable but the reality is that the “farmers” are often poorly paid and have very little influence on their working conditions. It is this that Doctorow addresses in this graphic novel collaboration with illustrator Jen Wang.

Anda is a socially awkward girl who joins the Fahrenheit Clan, an all-girl team in a virtual world. She distinguishes herself quickly as a fierce fighter and is recruited by another to track and kill virtual “gold farmers”.  Anda doesn’t really know what she is doing but she is getting paid real money for the “work” and continues to earn the respect of other fighters in this alternate reality. When she actually meets and talks to one of the virtual farmers, she finds a real person with real problems. Her perspective changes but her attempt to correct a wrong might create a bigger problem.

I have been a Doctorow fan since “Little Brother” and like his ability to bring up real world problems in young adult stories without hitting them over the head. The graphic novel format complements the storytelling and makes this complex problem accessible to young and older readers alike. It is a worthy purchase for all libraries.