Colorful, often shady characters propel this diverting mystery.
In Douek’s graphic novel, a celebrity couple who’ve already lost a child make headlines when their daughter goes missing.
Fourteen years ago, Andrew and Emma Walker’s young daughter Mandy vanished, only to tragically turn up murdered. Since then, media coverage has made the Walkers famous. Now they star in a reality TV show called Second Chancesthat focuses on the couple as they raise their other girl, Meghan. On the morning of her 6th birthday, Meghan is missing; an open window in her room suggests another abduction. The Walkers quickly point fingers at Nina Hendrik, a journalist who had accused them of exploiting Mandy’s murder, leading to a defamation suit that wrecked her career. Nina starts looking into the old case with LAPD Detective Raul Martinez, who, while trying to apprehend Mandy’s killer all those years ago, fatally shot the culprit. That man didn’t work alone, Nina believes, and she compiles a list of potential accomplices. (“Three solid suspects. None of them the poor schmuck you put six bullets into.”) Meanwhile, the Walkers get a phone call from Meghan’s kidnapper, who makes an unusual demand if they want to see their daughter again. Douek’s rich characterization generates tension—quite a few characters seem dubious, as if they’re hiding something. The story comes in pieces, shining a light on characters’ past involvement in the 14-year-old case as the present-day investigation gradually unravels. This approach leads to a handful of plot turns that, while entertaining, are mostly predictable—but that certainly doesn’t dilute the scathing examination of social media personas. (Are the Walkers being their true selves on their show? How much do they allow the public to see?) The standout among a robust cast is whip-smart Detective Connors, the scene-stealing lead investigator of Meghan’s abduction. Illustrator Olson excels at depicting the surroundings, from an impressively detailed stand of woods to deep-black shadows in darkened rooms to the memorable, lightly toned flashbacks.
Colorful, often shady characters propel this diverting mystery.Pub Date: Aug. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781952303753
Page Count: 82
Publisher: Mad Cave Studios
Review Posted Online: July 30, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A clever and timely conversation on reclaiming identity and acknowledging one’s full worth.
Superman confronts racism and learns to accept himself with the help of new friends.
In this graphic-novel adaptation of the 1940s storyline entitled “The Clan of the Fiery Cross” from The Adventures of Superman radio show, readers are reintroduced to the hero who regularly saves the day but is unsure of himself and his origins. The story also focuses on Roberta Lee, a young Chinese girl. She and her family have just moved from Chinatown to Metropolis proper, and mixed feelings abound. Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane’s colleague from the Daily Planet, takes a larger role here, befriending his new neighbors, the Lees. An altercation following racial slurs directed at Roberta’s brother after he joins the local baseball team escalates into an act of terrorism by the Klan of the Fiery Kross. What starts off as a run-of-the-mill superhero story then becomes a nuanced and personal exploration of the immigrant experience and blatant and internalized racism. Other main characters are White, but Black police inspector William Henderson fights his own battles against prejudice. Clean lines, less-saturated coloring, and character designs reminiscent of vintage comics help set the tone of this period piece while the varied panel cuts and action scenes give it a more modern sensibility. Cantonese dialogue is indicated through red speech bubbles; alien speech is in green.
A clever and timely conversation on reclaiming identity and acknowledging one’s full worth. (author’s note, bibliography) (Graphic fiction. 13-adult)Pub Date: May 12, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-77950-421-0
Page Count: 240
Publisher: DC
Review Posted Online: Feb. 29, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Even so, this remains Macbeth, arguably the Bard of Avon’s most durable and multilayered tragedy, and overall, this enhanced...
A pairing of the text of the Scottish Play with a filmed performance, designed with the Shakespeare novice in mind.
The left side of the screen of this enhanced e-book contains a full version of Macbeth, while the right side includes a performance of the dialogue shown (approximately 20 lines’ worth per page). This granular focus allows newcomers to experience the nuances of the play, which is rich in irony, hidden intentions and sudden shifts in emotional temperature. The set and costuming are deliberately simple: The background is white, and Macbeth’s “armor” is a leather jacket. But nobody’s dumbing down their performances. Francesca Faridany is particularly good as a tightly coiled Lady Macbeth; Raphael Nash-Thompson gives his roles as the drunken porter and a witch a garrulousness that carries an entertainingly sinister edge. The presentation is not without its hiccups. Matching the video on the right with the text on the left means routinely cutting off dramatic moments; at one point, users have to swipe to see and read the second half of a scene’s closing couplet—presumably an easy fix. A “tap to translate” button on each page puts the text into plain English, but the pop-up text covers up Shakespeare’s original, denying any attempts at comparison; moreover, the translation mainly redefines more obscure words, suggesting that smaller pop-ups for individual terms might be more meaningful.
Even so, this remains Macbeth, arguably the Bard of Avon’s most durable and multilayered tragedy, and overall, this enhanced e-book makes the play appealing and graspable to students . (Enhanced e-book. 12 & up)Pub Date: Sept. 9, 2013
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: The New Book Press LLC
Review Posted Online: Nov. 6, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2013
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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