A thrilling quest that’s light on characterization but full of action.
In this second series entry, a boy continues to fight alongside his Ghosts, in search of his mother.
Other than finding his mom, Nilay Rao just wants to have a good time with his best friend, Chester “Chess” Swartz, and go trick-or-treating—and not even the bullies who mock their cosplaying will dissuade him. But what is discouraging is how he keeps getting pulled into fights by other players. Nilay is far too responsible to use his most powerful GHOSTS, lest he end up hurting his opponents; instead, he wins by using his wits. That may not be enough, however, when a strange figure suddenly appears and won’t leave him alone. His dad might not like it, but Nilay is ready to find a guild. With the help of an old family friend, he might even find an unlikely ally he’ll be forced to cooperate with. While he navigates friendship problems (which quickly get out of control when the World of GHOSTS becomes involved), Nilay is also forced to make some difficult choices. This fast-paced graphic novel features black-and-white illustrations that highlight the ethnically diverse cast. The GHOSTS are alternately cute and fierce. Although the storytelling focuses more on the battles than on the development of characters and their relationships, Nilay is a charming lead.
A thrilling quest that’s light on characterization but full of action. (Manga. 13-18)Pub Date: June 25, 2024
ISBN: 9780760389980
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Rockport Publishers
Review Posted Online: April 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2024
Another page-turning volume with intriguing character development.
The stakes skyrocket in this thrilling series continuation.
John, the school zero, finds himself growing closer to the boy who’s his polar opposite in their private school’s social hierarchy—but Arlo’s intentions may not be as pure as John’s. While John genuinely wants to befriend him, Arlo might be more interested in pushing John’s buttons in order to see whether he’s really as powerless as he claims. While John ultimately makes an irreversible decision, Seraphina makes her own momentous choice: She’s done being controlled by her family, and her friendship with John motivates her to follow through and persist until she’s free. Though they have an emotional, much-anticipated reunion, going back to school might not be so easy now that Seraphina is being targeted by a mysterious group who pose a serious threat to her life. The higher-ups in the school hierarchy start to suspect that there’s more to the militia group EMBER, who are targeting superheroes, than the press lets on. The complex characters are neither clearly good nor unambiguously evil, and their problems and the dangers they face escalate in this volume as relationships become more strained and complicated, bringing people to their breaking points. The bright, colorful illustrations bring to life this intense story, which features exciting pursuits and even more thrilling fight scenes. The art strongly expresses characters’ emotions, particularly during battles.
Another page-turning volume with intriguing character development. (extras) (Graphic adventure. 14-18)Pub Date: July 2, 2024
ISBN: 9780358521228
Page Count: 320
Publisher: HarperAlley
Review Posted Online: April 20, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
A solid addition to the Manga Classics series of literary adaptations.
Aboard a North Pole expedition ship, a gaunt Victor Frankenstein recounts the events that led him to the Arctic in this adaptation of the original 1818 version of Mary Shelley’s classic.
As a youth, Frankenstein had an interest in natural philosophy, which led him to pursue scientific studies at the University of Ingolstadt. His mastery of the curriculum progressed swiftly, and his thirst for knowledge turned toward the arcane—specifically, to the origin of life, which Frankenstein discovered after nights of grisly research and a moment of electrifying inspiration. He applied his discovery to the construction of a massive being, and on one fateful evening, he brought the being to life. What follows is a struggle between creator and creation, each presented as villain and victim and alike in wretchedness. Illustrator Liu vividly depicts Frankenstein’s and the creature’s emotions, capturing the force of their rage and horror. Frankenstein’s eyes are especially expressive, giving greater impact to the scenes in which his face is partially obscured. Visual details are concentrated on the foreground, with panel backgrounds frequently blank, filled by a gradient, or lightly sketched. This serves to draw readers’ attention to the characters, though the simplicity of the background art also detracts from scenes meant to highlight the sublimity of nature. Characters are depicted as White.
A solid addition to the Manga Classics series of literary adaptations. (cast of characters, how to read manga, character design sketchbook, artist's note, adaptor’s note) (Graphic novel. 13-18)Pub Date: Nov. 10, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-947808-16-4
Page Count: 324
Publisher: Manga Classics
Review Posted Online: Sept. 28, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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