Exploring a serious issue with compassion and humor, this story should appeal to both animal lovers and Philly residents.
Russell’s graphic novel follows a dog’s harrowing journey after he is abandoned on the streets of Philadelphia and eventually taken to a crowded shelter.
Midnight’s idyllic life with his loving owner “Grandma” is turned upside down in an instant when the elderly owner’s grandchildren abandon the dog after the woman is hospitalized. Captured by an animal control officer, the terrified dog is brought to an overcrowded open-access shelter filled with “pigs, chickens, reptiles, wildlife, little critters, dogs, and cats. These shelters are where the tame and the wild things go.” The noisy, stinking place is a nightmarish hellscape for Midnight. He befriends another dog named Mister who enlightens him about the shelter’s dark realities, which include neutering and possible euthanasia if an animal isn’t adopted. The two dogs are “Phillybred” and, in addition to being hardcore Eagles fans, communicate in the city’s distinctive vernacular (“you’re gonna eat whatever jawn they hands ya”). With the goal of finding a forever family, the two dogs maneuver their way through an inefficient system marked by prejudgment and indifference. The hundreds of illustrations (which all began as etched ceramic tiles) give the work a unique, decidedly organic feel—Koszalka does an impressive job of conveying a wide scope of emotions (fear, anger, despair, joy) through her art. But the real power here is the narrative, which pulls no punches and is based on a true story. Midnight and Mister’s plights are deeply disturbing, but thanks to kind-hearted volunteers, advocates, and animal owners, their stories are ultimately hopeful rather than sad cautionary tales. As Midnight reflects, “like Grandma used to say, ‘things happen for a reason.’ Maybe cuz when somethin’ really good happens after all the bad stuff happens, there’s gotta be a reason for that. But I dunno. I ain’t no philosophizer.”
Exploring a serious issue with compassion and humor, this story should appeal to both animal lovers and Philly residents.Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2025
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: Archimedes' Printing Shoppe & Sundry Goodes
Review Posted Online: Nov. 15, 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
A sweet bedtime story.
A boy and his stuffed bear head into the woods.
Having captured readers’ attention with Born a Crime (2016), his bestselling memoir of growing up in South Africa, comedian and television host Noah has written a parable about decision-making. As he puts it in a brief prologue, “It’s about disagreements and difference—but it’s also about how we bridge those gaps and find what matters most, whether we’re parents or kids, neighbors, gnomes, or political adversaries. It’s a picture book, but it’s not a children’s book. Rather, it is a book for kids to share with parents and for parents to share with kids.” With plentiful illustrations by Hahn and in language aimed at young listeners, it tells the story of a small boy so impatient to start his Saturday adventures that he rebels against the rules of his household and heads out without brushing his teeth or making his bed, despite the reminders of his stuffed bear, Walter. “We can’t just run away,” protests the bear. “Your mother will miss you. And where will we sleep? And who will make us waffles?” “We’ll build our own house,” the boy responds. “And we’ll grow our own waffles!” From there, the pair go on their walkabout, encountering a garden gnome, a pair of snails, and a gang of animated coins who have lessons to offer about making choices. Though the author suggests in the introduction that adult readers might enjoy the book on their own, those looking for a follow-up to the memoir or a foray into adult fiction should be warned that this is not that book.
A sweet bedtime story.Pub Date: Oct. 8, 2024
ISBN: 9780593729960
Page Count: 128
Publisher: One World/Random House
Review Posted Online: July 4, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
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