Mary's Review: Petshop of Horrors by Matsuri Akino [Graphic Novel]

Somewhere in Chinatown is a shop that sells love, hope, and dreams... unless of course you break the contract. Then the owner simply can't be responsible for the repercussions...
Naturally as one could expect from such a premise, Petshop is not a happy little series. Only ten volumes in length, the series is mainly episodic, settling into a series of mini-dramas on the fallibility of human nature. A typical chapter begins with a pet being bought from the shop, where upon the buyer is given a contract containing three seemingly simple conditions. As can be expected it nearly always proves impossible, due to greed or other human fault, to hold to these rules and (often rather bloody, particulary in the early volumes) tragedy occurs. Blessed comedic relief comes in the form of Detective Leon Orcot, a rather crass American police officer obsessed with bringing in the shop's owner, Count D. Of course he's never able to prove anything-who's going to believe that D possess beasts seen only in stories, that often the pets he sells are human in appearance? And is it all a trick brought on by the mysterious incense of the Count's shop, or true magic? Well, much like Leon the reader isn't always satisfied with the answers. But answers aren't really the point here anyway. Mostly they take a backseat to Akino's eerie, beautiful art and the series' odd philosophy on humanity. Not to mention the wonderful love-hate relationship of Leon and D, which strings these seemingly unrelated incidents together and gives the reader something constant to hold to. The ending may not have the answers, but it has something more, something bittersweetly satisfying--possibility.
Final Verdict: 5Q, 3P

Mary's Review: The Phantom of Manhattan by Frederick Forsyth

Blind fan worship can be a very bad thing. In the case of this book, its on the level of eye-searingly bad. Phantom fans beware. Of course one can suspect something's amiss when Mr. Forsyth dedicates an entire introduction to decrying the author of the original Phanton novel, Gaston Leroux, in favor of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical adaptation. If one does not take this as warning sign enough and continues into the body of the novel, prepare to be met with a barrage of bad writing, poor characterization, very loosely tied narratives, and our beloved Erik dressing up as a clown. No, we are not making this up. Apparently Mr. Forsyth was unsatisfied leaving the musical as it was (choosing to completely ignore Erik's death in the original novel) and so decided to publish this little narrative, wherein Erik (the Phantom to you sole Webber-ities) moves to America, works on the pier (hence the clown costume), makes many thousands of dollars, and meets Christine again, whom he somehow mysteriously impregnated during the timeline of the play. When? The author doesn't seem to know either. It's one of many things the reader must simply swallow in order to finish the book. Did we mention that, like most glorified fanfiction, this story entertains the delightful misconception that Christine was passionately in love with Erik, as opposed to say, fearing and pitying him? It is far from true that glorified, published fanfiction can't be done well (read: Susan Kay's Phantom), its just that this piece of loathesome garbage was unable to accomplish it. Try again Mr. Forsyth. Or, don't. Please.
Final Verdict: 1Q, 1P

Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz

Normal black, plastic yo-yo equipped with a special nylon string that will lift up to 200 pounds and clips securely to your belt. Small tube of zip cream that is harmless to the touch but can burn through metal. Nintendo Game Boy, with 4 game cartridges, each performing an extraordinary function: fax/photocopy, x-ray, bug finder, and smoke bomb.
What do these gadgets have in common and who would possibly need them? Alex Rider, 14-year-old Special Operations Officer for the British Intelligence Agency MI6. Alex Rider, reluctant teenage spy.
His mission? Complete the assignment his uncle Ian (the banker?) had been on before he was killed in car accident. A car accident that mysteriously left his car riddled with bullet holes. An assignment that merely requires Alex to pose as the winner of a contest and test the new super computer, Stormbreaker, which is being given to every school aged child in the country, a gift the government believes is too good to be true.
Will he choose to accept it?
Join us next time… for another Alex Rider adventure.

Kevin K's review: American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang [Graphic Novel]

American Born Chinese is a book about identity and assimilation. Jin Wang is an ABC (American Born Chinese). His parents came from a foreign land and were married after going to graduate school. Jin Wang has to balance the old and new worlds and find an identity as a teenager on his way to high school. Being an American is everything. He is cold towards a boy from Taiwan who does not speak English. Jin Wang tells him, “You’re in America. Speak English.”

There is a parallel story about a monkey king and how he is rejected by a pantheon of human gods. No matter what the king does he can’t fit in. He has power amongst his own kind, even getting his monkey subjects to wear shoes. The monkey king represents Jin Wang and his quest to fit in. Both fail miserably and endure taunts and stereotypes about their cultures.

Jin Wang’s friend, Wei-Chen Sun, and Amelia, the love interest, are dynamic characters that add to the flow of the story. The tale of the monkey king and Jin Wang’s story of angst eventually collide and brings some cohesiveness to the tale. At points, who is who can be confusing.

The art stands out far more then the storyline. The contrast in colors between the characters and the drab backgrounds adds to the appeal of the tale. American Born Chinese is the first graphic novel to win a major publishing award (Printz). For this fact alone, American Born Chinese should be recognized as a literary achievement. However, it can be argued that previous graphic novels are far more deserving of the award.

Dane's Review: Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind

The setting is clear from the first page of the book. A fantastic world: everything, no matter how small isn't overlooked and everything hides magic. Richard, a humble woods guide is immediately confronted with magic when he meets Khalan. In dire need of help they both seek Richard's grandfather, the wizard Zedd. The east of Richard's beloved home, Heartland Woods, is under great peril. The eastern cities are falling and being over-run, by a tryant who seeks control through great magical means. Swept up in a current of wonderous places and abysmal creatures, Richard is nigh forced to the eastern palaces to topple the dictator, Darkened Raul, from seizing control of all the lands.

This book contains heavy adult themes: death, blood, gore, sex. Although I found this book and series "The Sword of Truth" novels to be hands down the best book I've read, I don't recommend it to the weak of heart or mind, as it is VERY graphic.

Rating: 5Q, 4P

Emily's Review: Runaways by Brian K Vaughan [Graphic Novel]

Typical comic-book situation-- a bunch of kids find out their parents have superpowers, and hey! so do they. Only these kids are the Runaways--a strategist, a jock, a goth, a geek, a prep and a girl of only eleven--and their parents are the Pride, a group of dangerous supervillians.
When they witness a murder and realize the truth of their parents' identities, they decide to break away and form a vigilate group to right the wrongs of the Pride. But all's not well: they're framed for murder, the police, their parents, and other superheros are after them, and one of them is feeding information to the Pride.
Runaways features sharp, contemporary dialogue from Vaughan, perfect pacing and character interaction as well as TOTALLY gorgeous art by Adrian Alphona (although the artist who does the inking fails to supplement the awesome art and color--their likes are stiff and rob the art of motion.) Plus, there's an Alphona sketchbook and the original comic pitch from Vaughan at the back of the collected edition.
Runaways, however, appeals more to the geek crowd (characters namedrop Harry Potter and Leeroy Jenkins alongside Josh Whedon), though I recommend it to everyone.
Rating: 5Q, 4P

Jessica's Review: If the Shoe Fits by Stephanie Rowe

If the Shoe Fits, by Stephanie Rowe, is told by Paris Jackson, an aspiring entrepreneur who spends her nights creating the perfect running shoe with her best friends, and her days working a typical 9-5 job where she fantasizes about her new boss. Paris doesn't believe in marriage anymore after her ex-husband left her, but soon finds herself caught between her almost boyfriend, her almost perfect boss, and an ex-husband who wants her back. Her mom, who has always been the backbone to her life suddenly is changing everything the two of them ever believed in and Paris finds herself torn between not only the three men, but her job and her dream as well. Soon though, she will discover that the answer to all of her problems are simply a pair of designer heels. I really enjoyed this book as the words painted pictures of places I wanted to be. I wanted to meet each character and see if they really were as Paris described them. The twists in the plot were believable, but they still caught you by surprise and kept you guessing at what crazy catastrophe was going to happen next. The reader easily comes to love the characters and all their little quirks. It really isn't much of a teen reader selection, but is easily enjoyable.
Rating: 4Q, 3P

Mr. Rogers' Review: Leonardo's Shadow by Christopher Grey

Based upon a servant mentioned in the historical Leonardo da Vinci's notebooks, Giacomo is this book's narrator. Filled with the flavor of an Italian Renaissance household, Leonardo's Shadow has the historical accuracy to make it believable. Revolving around the painting of "The Last Supper," this story offers up action, suspense, and the everyday activities of Giacomo's Milan. Yet, it points out the problems of living within the patron system, compounded by the everchanging interests of a man of genius. I can highly recommend this chronicle of Giacomo's journey to find himself and his path through life.

Mr. Rogers' Review: The Queen's Soprano by Carol Dines

In a world of "haves" and "have-nots", Angelica Voglia's voice offers a way out of her humble beginnings and modest existence. To do so, she must thread a path between the rules of a strict society; her scheming mother, and manipulative men of wealth and power (all factions that attempt to use Angelica for their own purposes.) In this swirl of intrigue, plot and counterplot, another central figure is Christina, the ex-Queen of Sweden. As Angelica's patroness, this strong woman does all she can to protect her. Yet, even the Queen has her own agenda. Concerning two historical women, and filled with factual tidbits, this book makes a great read.

Educating Esmé by Esmé Raji Codell

As students, you know what teachers are like, right!? Well, after reading this diary of an amazing, innovative, creative, enthusiastic, first-year teacher you might change your mind. Did any of your teachers ever build you a time machine, buy classroom books with their own money, or let a trouble student be teacher for a day? Did you ever have classroom subjects such as “Puzzling”, “Mad Scientist Time”, “Time Traveling and World Exploration”, “Art of Language”, and “Free Reading Time”? Ever had a teacher roller skate down the hall or create a fairy tale festival? No? Well, then it’s time you met Madame Esmé, who chronicles her first year of teaching in an inner city Chicago school, where one classroom window is riddled with bullet holes, obscenities often fly from students’ mouths, and parents are known to abuse their children in the halls. If you’ve ever considered teaching, had a great teacher, or just think it’s about time that you met one, then it’s time for you to experience Esmé.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Let me introduce myself. I am Coraline and I’d like to tell you a story but first we have to get something straight. This is not a fairy tale or a ghost story. It all started when we (Mom, Dad, and myself) moved into a new apartment building. My parents work from home and are always busy so I get bored a lot. I had taken to exploring the neighborhood and hanging out with my neighbors, who wouldn’t normally have been my first choice of companions. The old guy upstairs says he is training a mouse circus and the mice have a message for me, “Don’t go through the door”. The two old ladies next door used to be actresses and they want to read my tea leaves, which say I’m in danger. Well, I’m not too inclined to believe anything from these three elderly residents who can’t even get my name right (it’s CORALINE not Caroline!).
So anyway there is one other apartment in the complex and it is empty. Strangely enough there is a door in our dining room that appears to have once led to that apartment. Now it opens only to a brick wall but we still keep it locked. Well, I guess I should say that it usually opens to a brick wall. Once I opened it and it led to a dark hallway. Being bored and inquisitive, I walked down the hallway and emerged into my own apartment. At least it looked like my apartment complete with my mother and father. Except they weren’t really my mother and father. My other mother had paper white skin, long fingers with even longer blood red fingernails and flowing black hair. The most striking difference of all was their eyes, because in place of eyes they had big, black, shiny buttons. My other parents were very nice, feeding me a wonderful dinner and paying extra special attention to me. And they even invited me to stay forever, with one condition. Just one little thing and they promised it wouldn’t hurt a bit. And that’s when I caught a glimpse of the black cotton spool of thread, long silver needle, and two large black buttons my other mother was holding.