The YA Files

A Blog for the YA Graphic Novel Reader

Graphic novels tell stories using text and artwork. They enhance the story with visuals that support the story's mood and tone. The artwork can be complex and colorful or scratchy and black and white. Graphic novels come in all shapes and sizes and tell every imaginable story, from biography to fantasy to steam punk to a re-imagining of a classic text. Don't think graphic novels are for you? Think again! There is something for everybody...

The Amazing Screw-On Head and Other Curious Objects

The Amazing Screw-On Head 

and Other Curious Objects 

by Mike Mignola

Bibliographic Information: Mignola, Mike. The Amazing Screw-On Head and Other Curious Objects. Milwaukie, OR: Dark Horse Books, 2010. Hardcover. 
ISBN 13: 978-1-59582-501-8. $17.99 US. 104 pages.

Annotation: A collection of stories involving The Amazing Screw-On Head with the help of Mr. Groin and Mr. Dog, these humorous and fantastical tales are great for young graphic novel readers, ages 13 - 16. This is a good addition to a public library. 

Award:
Eisner Award Winner for Best Humor Publication

The Graphic Form: Mr. Head's story begins with President Abraham Lincoln enlisting his help to fight the evil Emperor Zombie. With the help of his assistant, Mr. Groin, and his companion Mr. Dog, make quick work of defeating their enemy. But first they have to destroy a monster who was trapped inside a turnip [Flip through Part One: The Amazing Screw-On Head]. [Be sure to flip through the gallery of portraits on the next pages, showcasing their artistry].

Part Two: Other Curious Objects tells two tales; one about a magical beanstalk with the devil sitting at the top, and the other about a scientist who turns into a Cyclops and his friend who travels to Mars to try and save him. [Flip through Part Two] These stories are full of humor and action. The Amazing Screw-On Head is the perfect goofy hero. 

Watch the trailer for The Amazing Screw-On Head, a cartoon that never aired:

Useful Links:
Click here for The Amazing Screw-On Head's Facebook page.

Dark Horse's website offers a preview of the first few pages of the graphic novel. 

Young Adult Interview: 

Siobhan W. - I read a lot of Manga. I read graphic novels sometimes, but I like Manga more. I like Manga just because I like it. My favorite series is Vampire Knight. I read a lot. [She’s taking out 5 hefty novels while we’re talking]. I have the same reading habits as my mom. I don’t want I would do without books. I use Youtube a lot, and I read a lot of Manga blogs, but I don’t have twitter, or a smartphone. I have Facebook.- 17 years old 

Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty

Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty 

by G. Neri, Illustrated by Randy DuBurke

Bibliographic Information: Neri, G. Illustrated by Randy DuBurke. Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty. NY: Lee & Low Books, 2010. Paperback. 
ISBN 13: 978-1-58430-267-4. $16.95 US. 94 pages.

Awards and Honors: 

• 2011 Coretta Scott King Author Honor  
• 2011 ALA Notable Book
• 2010 Cybil Award - Best YA Graphic Novel
• 2011 Once Upon a World Children's Book Award
• 2012 Street Lit Book Award - Emerging Classic
• Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2010
• Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2010
• Booklist Editor's Choice Best Books of 2010
• 2011 YALSA Top 10 Quick Picks
• 2011 ALA Great Graphic Novels for Teens 
• Booklist's Top 10 Graphic Novels for Youth
• School Library Journal Best Comics for 2010
• 2011 CCBC Choices 
• 2011 Storytelling World Honor Award
• 2011 IRA Notable Book for a Global Society
• 2011 Glyph Award finalist - Story of the Year
• 2011 Eisner Award finalist - Best Teen Book
• PW Comic Weekly Fifth Annual Critics Poll List
• Chicago Public Library - Best of the Best Book 
• 2011 Virginia, Indiana, and Louisiana Readers' Choice List for High School
• 2012 Maverick Graphic Novel List from the Texas Library Association 
• Cynsational Books of 2010

Annotation: Based on true events, Shorty, a child from Chicago who never had a real home, gets mixed up in a violent gang called the Black Disciples. The fictional narrator, Roger, shows how Yummy was given a gun and, at 11 years old, accidentally shot a 14 year old girl. This is a great classroom read, and should be in school and public libraries. Yummy is a great graphic novel for young adults of all ages, especially ages 15 - 18. 

Index Card Trick

• Yummy: short kid who loves candy
• Father left, Mother in and out of jail
• Raised by grandmother who loved him, but had other grand kids to take care off
• Yummy would disappear in the streets for days
• Joins the Black Disciples - Finds acceptance and a home with them
• Trying to prove himself
• Shoots Shavon, 14 year old neighborhood girl
• Yummy is then murdered by the Black Disciples
• Roger: asks why?
• Is Yummy a victim, a thug, a villain, a killer, or a lost boy somewhere in the middle? 

Useful Links:

Click here for Booksource's review on Facebook.

Watch a powerful book trailer for Yummy on G. Neri's website powered by Vimeo. You can also find Neri's contact information and his personal reading list. 

Be sure to look at G. Neri's blog for news on all of his work.

 

The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks

The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks by Max Brooks

Bibliographic Information: Brooks, Max. The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks. NY: Three Rivers Press, 2009. Paperback. 
ISBN 13: 978-0-307-40577-7. $17.00. 160 pages. 

Annotation: A horrifying look through the past reveals that zombies have been around since the dawn of humans. This fun, scary, and inventive graphic novel is great for young adults ages seventeen and up (there is a bit of nudity). This is a great pick for a public library. 

Powerfull Points Presentation: 

Young Adult Interview:

Erik A. - I deleted my Facebook, and I don’t use twitter or have a great phone. I do use youtube all the time. I read some of The Walking Dead because I love the show, but I’ve never read any other graphic novels. I like nonfiction, and I don’t think there are really any graphic novels that are about the stuff I like. I guess if I knew about some, I would read them. But I did like reading The Walking Dead. - 19 years old

Fist Stick Knife Gun

Fist Stick Knife Gun 

by Geoffrey Canada, Adapted by Jamar Nicholas

Bibliographic Information: Canada, Geoffrey. Adapted by Jamar Nicholas. Fist Stick Knife Gun:  A Personal History of Violence. Boston, MA: Beacon Press, 2010. Paperback. 
ISBN13: 978-0-8070-4449-0. $14.00 US. 124 pages. 

Awards:

• Story of The Year Award Winner at The East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention
• Rising star award for Jamar Nicholas at The East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention
• Best Male Character Winner at The East Coast Black Age of Comics Convection

Annotation: Adapted from Geoffrey Canada’s memoir of the same name, this graphic novel tells Geoff's story about growing up in the South Bronx with his single mother and three brothers. He learned about violence at an early age and tells his story of dealing with escalating gang violence in New York from the late 1950s to the 1970s. A great book for a school or public library, this is best for young adults ages 15 to 18. 

Open Ended Booktalk: How can Geoff and his young siblings defend themselves against neighborhoods thieves and bullies if they’ve never fought before? How can they fit in with the other kids on Union Street if they don’t act tough and learn to fight? This tense story will keep you hoping that Geoff remains unharmed and that he and his brothers can leave the violence behind. That’s hard to do when you live in the South Bronx in the 60s. When his brother’s coat is stolen, Geoff watches as his mother forces his two older brothers to go out and face the thief.  This is the brothers’ first brush with violence. When they return with the coat, Geoff begins to realize how much power courage, fear, and fists can have over others.  Even when Geoff leaves for college in another state, his violent past follows and makes what could be a very dangerous decision. In a community overrun with violence, will Geoff ever be able to give up his Fist Stick Knife Gun?

Useful Links: 
Click here to follow the process of taking Geoffrey Canada's memoir from print to graphic novel. You can also read the first 13 pages. 

You can also view the talented Jamar Nicholas' blog here. 

Young Adult Interview: 

Kay R.- I’ve read one before for a class, I forget which one, but I’m not a big fan. It was a steampunk thing. I don’t like having to look at the pictures and then read. I’d rather go through and read something that’s more lengthy. I like to read novels in general, I love fantasy. I’m a big fantasy person, but I like memoirs too sometimes. - 20 years old

Batwoman Elegy

Batwoman Elegy: Deluxe Edition 

by Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams III

Bibliographic Information: Rucka, Greg and J.H. Williams III, Batwoman Elegy: Deluxe Edition. NY: DC Comics, 2010. Hardcover.
ISBN 13: 978-1-4012-2692-3. $24.99 US. 192 pages. 

Honor:

• Eisner Award Nominee for best Penciller/Inker and Best Cover Artist

Annotation: Part origin story, part class action tale, Batwoman (aka Kate Kane) is out for revenge. Follow Batwoman as she defends Gotham City and fights for her own life. This is a beautifully drawn graphic novel and is great for older young adults, ages 17 and up. It is an excellent addition to any public library. 

Wrap Back to the Title / Graphic Form / Book Whisper: Batwoman’s been drugged, stabbed in the heart, her mother and sister were murdered, oh, and her girlfriend just broke up with her. Learn the origins of Batwoman  [flip through pages 10 – 20 to show the first fight between Alice and Batwoman, and to show the teens the beautiful and large illustrations] and follow her journey for revenge as she tries to stop the insane Alice, who takes her cues from Alice in Wonderland, from poisoning all of Gotham City. And on the way, Batwoman may have to battle some supernatural creatures. How long can she soldier on before the people of Gotham are singing Batwoman’s Elegy? 

Useful Links: 
Debi Linton from the feminist website, the F word, writes an excellent review of the novel, focusing on the authors’ modern take on Batwoman. 

Click here to view Batwoman Elegy's Facebook page. 

Young Adult Interview:

Reah L.: I read the comic book Maximum Ride and I didn’t really like it. I like fiction that has action and magic in it. I wouldn’t read a graphic novel, or another comic book because they don’t really express the thoughts of the characters. I like reading Sarah Dessen, she’s my favorite.  I use Facebook, but I don’t use Twitter. I do have an iPhone, so I use Facebook a lot on it.- 14 years old

The Simpsons / Futurama Crossover Crisis

The Simpsons / Futurama 

Crossover Crisis

By Matt Groening

Bibliographic Information: Groening, Matt. The Simpsons /  Futurama Crossover Crisis. NY: Abrams, 2010. Hardcover. 
ISBN 13: 978-0-8109-8837-8. $24.95 US. 208pages. 

Annotation: Follow the adventures of the characters from The Simpsons and Futurama as their lives come together in unpredictable and outrageous ways. This is an excellent read for any fan of either The Simpsons or Futurama and is great for all ages. However, some humor may be lost on very young readers, so it is best for ages 15 and up. It is best for a public library’s graphic novel collection. 

Honor:

• A YASLA's 2011 Great Graphic Novels for Teens pick

The Graphic Form:
What starts out as a normal but crazy day in the lives of the Simpsons turns upside down when the cast of Futurama makes their way into the Simpsons’ comic book after a run in with the evil brains (flip through pates 12 – 13). The cast from Futurama start to make a home in Springfield, but chaos ensues and they have to make it back home to the future. However, the whole cast of the Simpsons end up coming back with them (show double-page spread on pages 58 -59).  Even worse, one of the Professor’s inventions goes terribly wrong and makes all fictional characters from books come alive and terrorize everyone (show page 130 – 133). The Futurama and Simpsons characters work together to bring a giant Homer out of a Simpsons comic and fight the fictional characters (show p. 140-143 of giant Homer). Even if giant Homer can save the day, will the Simpsons be able to return home? 

(Also, be sure to flip through the cover gallery at the back of the book for funny and imaginative full page drawings of the Simpsons and Futurama characters. )

For more information on The Simpsons, visit their official website. For more information on Futurama, click here. Both sites offer episodes, information on characters, and fun online games. 

Ghostopolis

Ghostopolis by Dough TenNapel

Bibliographic Information: TenNapel, Doug. Ghostopolis. NY: Scholastic Graphix, 2010. Paperback
ISBN 13: 978-0-545-21028-7. $12.99 US. 267 pages. 

Awards: 

• 2011 ALA Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens
• IRA Children’s Choices 2011, Advanced Readers
• Kirkus Reviews 2010 Best Children’s Books
• VOYA 2009 Best Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror
• 2012 ALA Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adults
• 2011 Eisner Award Nominee for Best Publication for Teens

Annotation: Garth Hale, a young terminally ill boy, is mistakenly transported to the ghost world. There, he needs to find his courage and defeat the realm’s evil Lord Vaugner. Best for ages 13 – 16, this is an easy but fun read. This work is a great collection to any school or public library. 

Index Card Trick:

• - Garth Hale, a young boy, is terminally ill
• - Frank Gallows works for the Supernatural Immigration                              Task Force
• Frank is chasing a skeleton horse that escaped from Ghostopolis and accidentally transports Garth back to Ghostopolis with the horse
• Garth meets his own grandfather, who never forgave himself for a fight with his daughter years ago
• Frank and his ex-girlfriend and ghost, Claire, travel to ghost world to rescue Garth
• Evil Lord Vaugner has oppressed the inhabitants of ghost world
• What forces in ghost world are working against Vaugner?
• Who is really on Garth’s side?
• Can Frank and Claire be happy together again? 
• Will Frank’s grandfather make peace with his life and help his grandson? 
• Can Garth use his new found powers he possesses only in ghost world to defeat the Vaugner?
• Can Garth make it back home and beat his terminal illness? 

The author's website has information on all of his work, provides his contact information, and provides a forum were readers can ask TenNapel questions. 

Young Adult Interview:

Joseph D. - I don’t have twitter or Facebook, just an email, but I do use Youtube.I like to read fiction, I really like ghosts and supernatural books. I’m reading Zombies Versus Unicorns right now, and have a book at home about the show “supernatural” that I’m going to read next. I usually one to two times a week, but read whenever I have a book at home. My favorite book is the third Harry Potter. I don’t read graphic novels because the library doesn’t have that many and I’ve just never found one that I really wanted to read.- 14 years old

Kill Shakespeare

Kill Shakespeare

by Conor McCreery, Andy Belanger, and Col Anthony

Bibliographic Information: McCreery, Conor, Andy Belanger, and Col Anthony. Del. Kill Shakespeare. San Diego, CA: IDW Pub., 2010. Print.ISBN 13: 978-1600107818. $19.99. 148 pages.

Awards:

• Nominated for a Joe Shuster Award

• Nominated for a Harvey Award

Annotation: Best for ages eighteen and up, especially young adults who are familiar with Shakespeare’s work, this inventive graphic novel is the tale of young Hamlet, seeking revenge for his father’s death. Hamlet embarks on a journey to find the evil Shakespeare’s quill and meets some of Shakespeare’s most famous characters along the way. This is an excellent addition to any public library’s graphic novel collection, and is also a great way to get young adults more interested in Shakespeare. 

Open ended booktalk: What if Shakespeare’s Hamlet was not quite the whole story? What if Hamlet, after mistaking Polonius for his traitorous uncle and accidentally murdering him, left his city and began a very different quest? What would happen if all of Shakespeare’s most famous characters existed in the same universe together? King Richard III convinces Hamlet to find and steal the evil Shakespeare’s pen. As a reward, the three witches will bring Hamlet’s beloved father back from the dead. But is Richard III as trustworthy as he seems? Or is Hamlet in for a twisted and treaturous journey? Can Hamlet bring Shakespeare’s quill to Richard III and see his father again, or will other forces stop him in his tracks? Can Hamlet accept his destiny as the “Shadow King” and Kill Shakespeare?
Watch the teaser trailer here:

Visit Kill Shakespeare's website for the authors' blog, updates, more videos, and artwork. 

Read Shakespeare's plays online for free and find out the back story for the characters from Kill Shakespeare.