Category Archives: graphic-novels

My Literary Travel Bucket List

Posted on Feb 16, 2020 by

Shocking statement of the decade:  I’m one of those readers who like to blur the line between fantasy and reality.  When I read about a particularly dreamy setting, my internal voice turns into Liz Lemon, whispering, I want to go … Continue reading →

Posted in folklore/fairy tales, graphic-novels, literary travel, mermaids, Ocean Girl radar | 4 Comments

It’s still summer in Sweet Valley.

Posted on Sep 26, 2019 by

If you’re lucky enough to live where the mercury never falls below 50, you can totally still sneak in some beach reading in these early days of Autumn.  And what’s beachier than a nostalgic romp through Sweet Valley, California?  Better … Continue reading →

Posted in favorites, graphic-novels, humor, nostalgic, satire | 4 Comments

Grimm and Grimmer: twisted fairy tales for more mature trick-or-treaters

Posted on Oct 8, 2018 by

We continue our Halloween journey, collecting five scary tales for middle-grade and older readers.  The Scare-o-Meter ratings are more varied here; the mildest story gets a 5, the scariest one a solid 10. These stories teach us Very Important Lessons, … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, folklore/fairy tales, graphic-novels, Halloween, horror, LGBTQIA, meta, spooky | Tagged | 5 Comments

And how’s YOUR summer job? (mermaid edition)

Posted on Jun 19, 2018 by

Ah, the summer job.  A classic coming-of-age experience for many teens —  a chance to learn responsibility, gain new skills, and earn some extra clams.  My first job back in high school was, of course, shelving books at my hometown … Continue reading →

Posted in family, fantasy, graphic-novels, LGBTQIA, mermaids, re-reads, romantic | 8 Comments

The comics update: Mystical planets, skateboarding ninjas, and Azzazian warrior queens

Posted on May 11, 2018 by

Another Free Comic Book Day come and gone.  Fort Wayne has several great comics shops, as well as an amazing downtown library, so I definitely wasn’t lacking in places to hit up for free comics.  The library even had special … Continue reading →

Posted in comics, fantasy, folklore/fairy tales, graphic-novels | 4 Comments

Selkies, shape-shifters, and maybe mermaids.

Posted on Jun 14, 2015 by

Betsy Cornwell.  Tides.  Boston: Clarion, 2013. Noah and Lo Gallagher are spending the summer with their grandmother, Dolores, on the Isles of Shoals.  Noah is there for a marine biology internship, while Lo hopes to spend the time drawing and … Continue reading →

Posted in comics, family, fantasy, favorites, folklore/fairy tales, graphic-novels, humor, LGBTQIA, mermaids, romantic, selkies | 3 Comments

2013 Hall o’ Faves

Posted on Dec 15, 2013 by

Edit 01-06-14:  Cannot. Believe. I left out the Sherlock Holmes stories (Vol. 2 of the Barnes & Noble ed.; I read Vol. 1 in 2012). Cannot. Believe it. (Shut up, Naruto.) Edit:  Oops! Missed one. Sorry ’bout that, October Daye … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, folklore/fairy tales, graphic-novels, humor, picture books, poetry, spooky, year-end review | 1 Comment

“The unicorn lived in a lilac wood…”

Posted on Dec 10, 2012 by

Peter S. Beagle.  The Last Unicorn.  New York:  ROC – Penguin, 1991.  212 pgs. . . . . . . . . Tell me that opening line doesn’t make you go all glittery-eyed with childlike wonder.  So far, this is … Continue reading →

Posted in Classic Juv/YA fantasy, fantasy, favorites, folklore/fairy tales, graphic-novels, humor, meta | 2 Comments

2011 favorites

Posted on Dec 30, 2011 by

These are my favorite reads from 2011 – not all of these titles were published in 2011, and some aren’t “Juv/YA” titles per se, but no matter! Castle Waiting, Vol. 2, by Linda Medley.  Pub. 2010. The art and writing … Continue reading →

Posted in family, fantasy, folklore/fairy tales, graphic-novels, humor, meta, nonfiction, romantic, satire, year-end review | Leave a comment

Wonderstruck

Posted on Oct 13, 2011 by

Brian Selznick.  Wonderstruck.  New York:  Scholastic, 2011.  608 pages. A former wishlist book, inspired by the Waking Brain Cells review. See also the BookPage review of The Invention of Hugo Cabret, which describes Selznick’s early career and the inspiration for … Continue reading →

Posted in family, favorites, graphic-novels, historical | Tagged | 3 Comments