Fantasy

Bibliography

Gaiman, Neil. THE GRAVEYARD BOOK. 2008. ILL. By Dave McKean. New York, NY: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-06- 053093-8

Plot Summary: 

After his family is brutally murdered, a baby wonders out of his house into a graveyard.  Mr. and Mrs. Owes find the baby and decide to protect and raise him even though they are ghost.  The baby who is given the name Bod, which is short for Nobody, is raised in the graveyard among the dead to protect him from the killer.  Growing up in this strange, world Bod encounters many adventures, from getting kidnapped by ghouls, to attending school with other living children. These adventures prepare Bod for a final conflict with Jack, the man that murdered his family, who has never stopped looking for him.

Critical Analysis:

The Graveyard book is a series of independent but connected short, following Bod from age two to 16.  They many plots in this book intertwine beautifully to seam into on completed piece. 

Bod's love for his graveyard family provides the emotional connection that allows the reader to identify with the character.  As he embarks on the many adventures the reader is on edge through the chilling moments as they are genuinely frightening.  The setting in the story only enhances the dark and eerie feeling the reader gets while partaking in this novel.

Reviewed Excerpts:

Booklist starred (September 15, 2008)

“There is plenty of darkness, but the novel’s ultimate message is strong and life affirming.”

Horn Book (November/December, 2008)

“Warmly rendered by the author, Bod's ghostly extended family is lovably anachronistic; their mundane, old-fashioned quirks add cheerful color to a genuinely creepy backdrop.”

Kirkus Review starred (August 15, 2008)

“Wistful, witty, wise--and creepy. Gaiman's riff on Kipling's Mowgli stories never falters, from the truly spine-tingling opening, in which a toddler accidentally escapes his family's murderer, to the melancholy, life-affirming ending. “

Connections:

*Students can complete a journal entry as Bod.

*Divide students up and have them research the time period of the different characters introduced.

*Complete a story map on the computer

Bibliography

Bacigalupi, Ship Breaker. 2010. ILL. New York, NY: Little Brown. ISBN 978-0-316-05621-2

Plot Summary:  Teenage Nailer lives in a future world that is destroyed by climate change and damage made to the earth by humans.  Nailer who works as a ship breaker makes his living scavenging off other boats when he discovers a girl who is the daughter of ship company owner.  Nailer has to decide if he wants to help this girl or kill her sell her for parts.  Nailer decides to help Nita even though it means losing everything.  With Nailer's abusive father, vicious half-men, and a corrupt shipping company all after them, Nailer and Nita journey to the drowned city of Orleans in the hope of rescue.  Ship Breaker is a non-stop thrill ride from beginning to end.

Critical Analysis:

In this thrilling adventure the world is depicted in a bleak vision; "whole waterlogged world...torn down by the patient work of changing nature."  The setting is almost like another character, giving the reader great visualization into the world that Nailer and Nita live in. 

Filled with hopelessness and despair the characters have the odds stacked against them with Nailer's abusive father, vicious half-men, and a corrupt shipping company all after them.  The two teenage characters manage to triumph over evil despite the scary world that they live in.  The reader can’t help but root for Nailer because he is an extremely likable character. He maintains softness even though his life is hard and the hopeful ending makes up for the dark and bleak story.

Overall, there is a great mix of action and post apocalyptic message, which is clear but not overwhelming.  There is also a very stark portrayal of poverty and an extreme class system.  The message is hidden and not as pronounced as the environmental issue.

Reviewed Excerpts:

Booklist starred (May 15, 2010)

“The characters are layered and complex, and their almost unthinkable actions and choices seem totally credible.”

Horn Book (July/August, 2010)

“This thriller will grab and keep readers' attentions as Nailer and Nita "crew up" in their fight to survive.”

Library Media Connection (August/September 2010)

“The story is gritty with strong language and violent situations, but the adventure is compelling. While slightly post-apocalyptic, this title is still very realistic and will have cross- over appeal for both science fiction readers and adventure readers. Highly Recommended.”

Connections:

*Have students research different environmental issues and in groups try to find ways to solve these problems.

*Students can write a survival handbook for different natural disasters.

*Students can write about what they would have done if they were in Nailer’s shoes.  Would they have helped Luck Girl?

Bibliography

Hale, Shannon. RAPUNZEL’S REVENGE. 2008. ILL. By Nathan Hale. New York: Bloomsbury. 978-1-59990-070-4

Plot Summary:
Rapunzel was raised in a castle by a woman who she believed was her mother.  When Rapunzel gets curious and decides to look on the other side of the wall she is punished by her “mother” and placed in very tall hollow tree.  When she escapes the real story begins when she decides, along with Jack, to free the land from the grip of the witch.

Critical Analysis:

The graphic novel, Rapunzel’s Revenge, takes a twist on the classic fairy-tale with a Wild West twist. Illustrator Nathan Hale Hale mixes the familiar with the quirky settings as the characters go from a deserted villa to a mine with the seven dwarfs.  The illustrations add to the vivid story and help with the pacing of the story. 

Shannon Hale does a fantastic job relating the character of Rapunzel with the young readers.  When Rapunzel learns the truth about her mother’s greed and oppression the reader can relate to the sadness and anger that Rapunzel is feeling.  Like all classic tales, good triumphs over evil and Rapunzel does it with her hair- whip.  The heroine of this story is a role model for all young readers but especially young female readers.  It is great to see that spunky Rapunzel is the ultimate hero who ends up saving the day.

Although, the plot is unbelievable it holds to the classic fairy-tale.  The fast moving action makes the pace of the book almost like the reader is watching a cartoon or movie. 

The writing style of Hale draws the reader in and allows the reader to believe in Rapunzel and her cause.  The readers will find themselves believing that the heroine is the real deal.

Reviewed Excerpts:

Booklist (September 1, 2008)

“Rich with humor and excitement, this is an alternate version of a classic that will become a fast favorite of young readers.”

Horn Book starred (January, 2009)

“The gutsy tale is particularly well suited to its format, with illustrations mixing the familiar and offbeat. High action, sensory thrills, and the wisecracking heroes are clearly conveyed through image cropping, text placement, and facial emotional cues.”

Kirkus Review (August 1, 2008)

“The Hales apply a new twist (or three) to the classic tale, creating a strong, sassy, braid-whipping character who waits for no prince.”

Connections:

*Students can do a compare and contrast with the traditional Rapunzel and Rapunzel’s Revenge.

*Students can pick their own fairytale and turn it into a graphic novel using Comic Life or just drawing it.