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

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