Next book

I SURVIVED THE SINKING OF THE TITANIC, 1912

From the I Survived Graphic Novel series

A fresh and interesting adaptation, making for an easy crowd pleaser.

A popular prose series gets a graphic revitalization.

Faithfully following its predecessor, the book introduces readers to 10-year-old George, an American boy traveling first class on the Titanic with his aunt Daisy and little sister, Phoebe. When the fateful collision between boat and berg occurs, Phoebe goes missing. As the arctic waters rise, George sets out to find her. Although panic mounts all around, it seems that George’s privilege will save him, until he is shocked to discover otherwise. After the Titanic goes down and he’s safe back at home, George wrestles with his anxieties in a way that is accessibly age-appropriate, albeit a bit facile. In the vein of other graphic adaptations of bestselling series (like the evergreen The Baby Sitter’s Club), the first installment of Tarshis’ sprawling prose disaster oeuvre for young readers is reimagined in visually interesting full-color comic panels that support its recognizable thrilling pace and convenient twists. Many of the most exciting scenes are largely wordless, spotlighting the propulsive action amid growing tensions. New backmatter includes interesting historical facts and photographs of persons and places of interest, including pictures of the first-, second-, and third-class cabins and of relics recovered from the shipwreck. Also included are lists of further reading, both fiction and nonfiction. George, Phoebe, and Daisy are white, as are nearly all the secondary characters as well.    

A fresh and interesting adaptation, making for an easy crowd pleaser. (facts, character bios, bibliographies) (Graphic adaptation. 7-10)

Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2020

ISBN: 978-1-338-12092-9

Page Count: 160

Publisher: Graphix/Scholastic

Review Posted Online: Oct. 12, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2019

Next book

THE TREASURE HUNT

TRUE STORIES OF TREASURES LOST, STOLEN, AND FOUND

Interactive fun that demonstrates that knowledge is the most rewarding treasure of all.

Searching for treasure exhumes much more than pieces of eight.

Brown-skinned Saksham and Zuri and an unnamed pale-skinned child referred to as “you” (a stand-in for readers) undertake a round-the-world journey, always just one step behind the ghost of the infamous pirate Captain Kidd, who’s apparently trying to purloin treasures “as revenge for the riches he lost all those years ago.” Their pursuit depends on the many convenient clues that Kidd has left for readers, providing motivation for aspiring map readers, code crackers, puzzle solvers, and inscription decipherers. Along the way, the children discover stories of both found and still-missing lost loot, including the Mona Lisa, the Viking ship Gokstad, India’s Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, and China’s Terracotta Army. The quest takes the indefatigable trio across the globe, digging up a fair amount of history on the way. Interspersing comics panels with captioned vignettes and full-page illustrations, Wright’s brightly detailed and watercolorlike images evoke the far-flung destinations. Despite some editorial lapses, this engaging and information-packed U.K. import offers plenty of visual excitement, including changes of perspective, time period, and composition. The protagonists unearth facts related to geography, history, paleontology, archeology, and cryptic communication during their journey. The revelation at the end might be somewhat of a letdown, but no treasures were harmed during this protracted hunt.

Interactive fun that demonstrates that knowledge is the most rewarding treasure of all. (code-breaking explanations; world map; introduction to orienteering, metal-detecting, and geocaching) (Nonfiction/activity book. 7-10)

Pub Date: June 10, 2025

ISBN: 9781623546298

Page Count: 64

Publisher: Charlesbridge

Review Posted Online: April 4, 2025

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2025

Close Quickview