Comics and Kate DiCamillo

Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo, Candlewick Press, September 2013

Some books you open and immediately start to read aloud, needing to share with someone- anyone; Flora and Ulysses is one of these books. A run-in with a vacuum cleaner grants Ulysses the squirrel the powers of super-strength, flight, and poetry. Flora witnesses Ulysses' transformation and vows to help him fight evil, using knowledge acquired from her favorite comics. But every superhero has an arch-nemesis, and Ulysses' is Flora's mother. Add a host of quirky characters, the never-ending search for love, and illuminations by K.G. Campbell and you've got a surprising, romping adventure certain to wow readers of all ages. Acclaimed writer Kate DiCamillo manages to show the value inherent in all people, and all genres of literature, with one quirky book.

For Father's Day...a new novel by Neil Gaiman

Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Skottie Young

Disaster strikes one morning when there isn't any milk with each to eat cereal. Bravely, the narrator's father sets off to buy some, and is gone a long, long time. The father returns with the milk and a long excuse involving a professorial stegosaurus, time-travel, balloons, volcanos, aliens, wumpires, and pirates. But is the father's hilarious adventure made-up? Or did he really brave life, death, and confusion to bring his children milk? Gaiman's story is a ridiculous breakfast time read-aloud. Your dad may even find it more interesting than the paper.

My Favorite Middle Grade Novel This Year

(at least thus far this year)

 

The Time Fetch by Amy Herrick,  Algonquin Young Readers

As the winter solstice nears, the days get shorter. But what if the days were literally getting shorter as time was lost, forever? Edward doesn't believe in his aunt's new agey Solstice nonsense until the unthinkable happens. Annoying classmate Feenix disappears and no one seems to notice. Pumpkins decay in the course of a single class. And time has started disappearing. Though Edward would rather do the easy thing than the right thing, he and three classmates will have to venture into the snow if the world is to be put back into balance. Take the dimensional characters and realistic relationships from Rebecca Stead's books and mix with the strange magic of The Peculiar; the result is Amy Herrick's stunning middle grade debut. 

I think it has Newbery potential. 

Algonquin Young Readers: Somebody Up There Hates You

Somebody Up There Hates You by Hollis Seamon 

Richard Casey is in hospice, in a place people only go when they're going to die. Down the hall is Sylvie, another teen whose bulletin board shows her in her pre-sickness life, beautiful, surrounded by friends...completely different from Richard, pre-sickness. Sylvia is still beautiful in Richard's eyes and romance blossoms. But how can two sick teens, overseen by nurses and families 24-7, ever really be together? Well, with death literally next door, drastic measures can't hurt. Throw in a crazy uncle and already bereft parents for the full range of drama and comedy. Though Richard knows he's going to die, he's going to do a bit of living first. This debut novel made me laugh and cry. Readers who enjoyed The Fault in Our Stars should pick this up. While the premise may be similar, Richard's voice is engaging and wholly original.

Make way for the third Invisible Inkling book!

 

Invisible Inkling: The Whoopie Pie War by Emily Jenkins Illustrations by Harry Bliss

Hank and his invisible bandapat, Inkling, are back in their third adventure. Hank's mother is forcing him to take swim lessons, which is hard when you're the oldest kid in the most basic level. Meanwhile, Hank's dad is trying (and continually failing) to make pumpkin ice cream in an attempt to win back business stolen by a whoopie pie truck. Luckily, Hank has Inkling to help and just maybe a friend or two. Emily Jenkins writes honestly about the trials of being a fourth grader, adding a sprinkling of humor to the top. Even if you've never read an Invisible Inkling book, pick this up! Oh, and maybe an ice cream cone (with sprinkles) to enjoy it with.

Another great graphic novel from First Second!

Battling Boy by Paul Pope

Humanity is plagued by monsters. Some snatch children and others eat metal. When the hero Haggard West dies trying to fight the monsters, the hero world on high sends down Battling Boy for his rambling (test), giving him only a place to stay and twelve t-shirts, each with a different trait. Battling Boy may be superhuman, but he's still just a kid. Quickly paced, readers will be pulled into the story only to linger over Pope's stunning drawings and original monsters. While I've already started to reread, the sequel can't come soon enough.

This Fall: A New Graphic Novel from Matt Phelan

 

 

Bluffton: My Summers with Buster by Matt Phelan

As with his two previous books, Phelan bases Bluffton on actual events. In this case, the childhood summers of actor, filmmaker, and comedian Buster Keaton. Keaton and his family summered by a lake in Michigan, where he and his fellow vaudevillians pulled pranks, told rousing stories, and played lots of baseball. Through the eyes of Henry, a normal turn-of-the-century boy, readers are introduced to Buster's early life and the magic of summers in which the circus came right to one's door. Phelan's sprightly line and fluid watercolor captures the exuberant movements of his characters and the glowing light of summer. Those who enjoy Phelan's past work or historical fiction and teachers shifting to the Common Core will want to snag a copy! 

*Unfortunately, the digital review copy was in black and white and the final print version will be in full-color. I'll have to pick up a copy when it pubs!