Entries Tagged 'Graphic Novel' ↓
August 8th, 2010 — 2.5-3 Treasure Chests, Book Review, Family Life, Graphic Novel, P-R, School Situations
by Captain Lyaf Yarr
Title: Dork Diaries 2: Tales from a Not-So-Popular Party Girl
Author: Rachel Renee Russell
Format: Hardback
Page Count: 279
Grade Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Summary: Nikki Maxwell is still the same dork. In this sequel, she has to deal with her two best friends Cloe and Zoey, her secret crush Brandon, and Mackenzie, Nikki’s locker neighbor; the most popular girl in school. Oh, and Mackenzie hates Nikki’s guts! A scheme of McKenzie’s pulls Nikki and four others in charge of the ENTIRE school dance. So not good. In addition, Nikki accepted an offer to be a giant smelly rat and help out Mackenzie’s aunt at her sister’s ballet party. To make everything better her friends tell her that they’ve decided to go with her idea and dress up as trash bags for the dance, but when Brandon finally asked Nikki to go with him so she decides to dress up as Juliet! Now she can’t wait to go to the dance and hang out just with Brandon… but what about the Halloween party and her friends?!? How can one dork handle all of this in just one night???
Why I started this book:
I read this book because I read the first book and I was eager to know what happened next!
Likes:
- I liked reading this book as a diary. I felt so sneaky! This format is what drew me into the first book also. There should be more diary styled comic books!
- I enjoyed the illustrations in the book. They we’re fun and it gave you a better idea of things that Nikki was talking about.
- I thought Cloe and Zoey were the best friends ever! They always stood up for Nikki and were very understanding.
Dislikes:
- This book was way too predict Buy: Dork Diaries 2: Tales from a Not-So-Popular Party Girl
able! A little dumbed down in places too. For instance, when Nikki was wondering what Brandon wanted to tell her, I was thinking “Gee, I wonder! (Sarcastically.) Could he, and for that matter she, be any more oblivious?”
- This book was an easy read. Maybe too easy. I need something a little more challenging now I think, so while I liked the book I wouldn't say I Liked the book.
- Why did Mackenzie tell Nikki that the dance rocked? Aren’t they supposed to hate each other? It just doesn’t make sense.
Rating: 2.5 Treasure chests!
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June 21st, 2010 — 3.5-4 Treasure Chests, Action & Adventure, Book Review, Fantasy, Graphic Novel, Horror, Suspense or Thriller, U-W, YA Genre
by First Mate Keira
Title: Malice
Author: Chris Wooding
Illustrator: Dan Chernett
Format: Hardback
Pages: 379
Grade Reading Level: 7th-9th Grade
Summary: In Britain all the children know the rumors of a comic book called
Malice
. They also know that if a ritual is done and a chant said six times they could be taken into the world of that comic. Some do so on a dare. Others because they’re missing adventure. Others to prove it doesn’t exist. More still because they believed Malice was better than their normal lives. It doesn’t matter why you do it – you’re Tall Jake’s as soon as you invite him into your life. It’s only a matter of time before he comes to collect. There’s no going back and certain doom awaits you on the other side.
Why I started this book:
My librarian recommended it to me because I liked fantasy book series. This is the first book and the story is continued in Havoc
.
Likes:
- Malice is divided into several zones and this book takes you through two. The Clock Tower and the Oubliette. In the Clock Tower they face the Clockmaker and his metal inventions. In the Oubliette they face a hungry impenetrable darkness and blind ravenous gnawls.
- Seth – he’s pretty foolhardy and he thrives on Malice which makes him feel a little guilty.
- Justin – he’s the knowledgeable guide to the world, having actually read the comics before doing the ritual. He’s also a good friend despite what his life has taught him about how friends never stick around when trouble’s afoot.
- Kady – she’s not a bad character either, I just don’t like the fact that she practices hypnosis. Of the three she’s the most practical and comes as prepared as one can be for a place like Malice.
Dislikes:
- The use of hypnosis throughout the novel. People simply couldn’t have (partial) amnesia? It’s all false testimony on the senses doing more harm than good.
- I had trouble with about half of the illustrations which were too stylized. I couldn’t make head or tails out of what I was seeing some of the time so I ended up just reading the bubbles. I figure somebody with more background in comics will manage with no problem. It just wasn’t the case with me.
- The real victims are all the parents who have no idea what’s going on and only know that their children go mysteriously missing and if they’re lucky come back… but the kids never come back the way they were before the left and nobody knows why, not even the kids.
Last Minute Thoughts: The beginning is pretty scary (horror like scary), but once the kids make it to Malice is more like a thrilling adventure. I also sincerely hope that despite how it appears Justin is still alive. I can’t wait for the next book about the kid rebels known as Havoc.
Buy: Malice
Rating: 3.5 Treasure Chests
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March 12th, 2010 — 3.5-4 Treasure Chests, Book Review, Family Life, Graphic Novel, Humorous, J-L, YA Genre
by Captain Yarr
Title: Diary of a Wimpy Kid Dog Days
Author: Jeff Kinney
Page Count: 214
Format: Hardcover
Grade Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Summary: No matter what Greg does he can never enjoy his summer. Even if he is liking his summer, it won’t last long and/or will probably turn out badly. This summer he’s juggling between his family, friends, and his love life. Will he loose his best friend? Will he get Heather Hills to fall in love with him? As things are Greg isn’t sure which is worst: his summer or going back to school.
Why I Started the Book:
I liked all the previous books and put this title on hold at the library. My place on the hold list was fairly low and I got the book in time to devour it over the weekend.
Likes:
- I like the chapter (or day) that Greg used his Ladybug (his cell phone that only calls 911 or his house) for the first time and almost gets his day arrested. It was funny!
- I enjoyed Manny in this book because he never cared about what was going on; he just wants to have a good time.
- The humor is as good as the rest of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. You will definitely chuckle to yourself as you read.
Dislikes:
- I never found out how Greg and Rowley paid back Mr. Jefferson back for ordering all the fruit smoothies at the clubhouse. Even though it wasn’t as important as some other problems, I really wanted to know.
- If I were to choose a title for this book, I wouldn’t name it Dog Days. There are only some parts in the story that involve a dog, and he’s not even the main problem in the story!
Last minute thoughts: I hope Jeff Kinney will add another book to the series because I enjoy reading them and don’t want to see the end of the books.
Buy: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (Hardcover)
Book Rating: I give this book 3.5 treasure chests!
Originally posted 2009-11-11 03:13:50.
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February 21st, 2010 — 2.5-3 Treasure Chests, Graphic Novel, J-L, School Situations, YA Genre
by Captain Lyaf Yarr
Title: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
Author Jeff Kinney
Page Count: 217
Format: Paperback
Grade Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Summary: Greg is writing in his journal (diary) again and is facing more problems than ever before. He is getting into more trouble while trying to fix each of these problems. According to his dad, Greg should act more like his ex-neighbor, Lenwood Heath. His dad wants to send him to a summer conditioning program at Spag Union to change him from a troublemaker to a normal kid. Will Greg have to spend his entire summer at a conditioning program? Will he convince his dad to not send him to the program? What will be the last straw?
Why I Started This Book:
I already read the other two books of this series and enjoyed them both.
Likes:
- The idea of the diary is still pretty awesome. It just appeals to me. I think it would be fun to read another diary or journal by a different author and compare it to the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.
- Greg is a fun character. I love that he is so wimpy in appearance, but that his attitude isn’t wimpy. It's funny that he thinks he’s perfect as can be.
- I like Greg's best friend, Rowley. He's immature. my favorite things he did was getting into a pillow fight with six year olds.
- Oh and one last note: Greg's mom is funny. Hehe.
Dislikes:
- I didn't like Greg's dad; he hears what Greg says but he doesn't listen. That's just bad parenting!
- Some things were so stupid that they became funny. I wish it had been more funny and less stupid. Boys!
- When he was wearing his mom's bathrobe and stood under the heat vent - why did he get in trouble for this? Makes no sense to me.
Last minute thoughts: I didn’t enjoy this book as well as the first one, but liked it better than the second one. I would like to read Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days soon and other books by Jeff Kinney.
Buy: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
Book Rating: I give this book 3 Treasure Chests.
Originally posted 2009-10-22 03:54:35.
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February 12th, 2010 — 3.5-4 Treasure Chests, Book Review, Graphic Novel, J-L, School Situations, YA Genre
by Captain Lyaf Yarr
Title: Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Author: Jeff Kinney
Page Count: 217
Format: Paperback
Grade Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Summary: Greg is starting middle school and his mom buys him a “Journal” (diary). In it he writes all of his problems, events, and whatever is happening in his personal life. The book follows him through his first year in middle school and it isn’t exactly as Greg thought it would be.
Why I Started This Book:
I knew kids at school who had read this book and liked it and when my mom heard about it she told me I should grab it from the library. I did and I grabbed another one too, just in case the first was any good.
Likes:
- I like the idea of reading someone’s diary. I’ve always wanted to without being caught and yelled at for invading their privacy.
- In this book I liked the moldy cheese that was always on the basketball court and never came off. I was kind of grossed out when I found out what happened to it at the end of the story, but I thought it was funny.
- I loved the comedy in the book; sometimes it was funny because it was stupid, but I was laughing all the time anyway.
Dislikes:
- In this book there wasn’t just one major problem. It was more like ten problems, and they weren’t very big problems except one. I thought it was kind of weird reading with more than one problem going on. It’s not something I’m used to and I’m not sure really how I feel about it.
- I didn’t especially like the fact that there were so many pictures in this book. Not that I didn’t enjoy the picture it’s just that it took up most of what could have been text, and it felt like I could finish ten pages in ten seconds.
Last minute thoughts: I was never tired of reading this book. I was eager what would happen next.
Buy: Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Book Rating: I give this book 3.5 Treasure Chests, and I will read the second one soon!
Originally posted 2009-10-07 03:37:11.
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