Posts tagged Macmillian

Great Graphic Novels for Girls

December 17, 2012 · Filed under Fiction, Graphic Novel, High School, Intermediate (3-5), Middle School (6-8) · Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Graphic novels are not just for boys anymore (if they ever were).  We have heroes like Zita (from Zita the Spacegirl) and Mirka (from Hereville) who prove that girls don’t have to stand on the sidelines cheering on the guys. They can kick some serious butt on their own.  Not really into epic adventures?  We also have Babymouse, which is as pink and girly as you can get.

Here are just a few new titles your tween and teen girls will want to read from fantastic adventure to realistic fiction in graphic novel format.

Giants Beware! by Rafael Rosada and Jorge Aguirre. April 2012. 9781596435827. Gr. 2-5.

Turn the typical fairy tale on its head with Giants Beware! This graphic novel stars a little girl who dreams of slaying giants, her princess-wanna-be friend and a little boy whose talents aren’t traditionally male. The three of them set out to slay the legendary giant, and along the way they prove their bravery and ingenuity as they face the Apple Hag in the Forest of Death, the Water King in the Mad River, and finally the giant himself.  This is a great adventure with lots of heart.  It might not look like a “girl book” from the cover, but it’s a great girl power story that you will want to recommend to your tweens.

Drama by Raina Telgemeier. September 2012. 9780545326988. Gr. 6-8.

Middle school is full of drama, on-stage and off.  Callie knows she loves the theater, and she has found a place for herself behind the scenes as her school drama club’s set director.  Her off-stage life is much more confusing with boys who may or may not like her and new friends who may or may not be gay.   There is a lot to like in this sweet story, and tween girls will be rooting for Callie as she attempts to sort it all out. Our Graphic Novel reviewer, Tuan, shared his thoughts on Drama in this review.

Lou! : Secret Diary by Julien Neel. April 2012. 9780761387763. Gr. 6-8.

Secret Diary is the first book in an award-winning series from France about Lou, a twelve-year-old girl with a big personality.  Lou spends a lot of time thinking about the boy she has a crush on, clothes, and getting out of gym class.  She is close with her mom, an aspiring novelist who plays a lot of video games, and they are more alike than either of them realize. For one thing, both Lou and her mom have crushes on neighbors but they are both too shy to admit how they feel.  Lou does her best to get her mom and Richard together, but crushes are complicated.  Lou’s story is fun, and tween girls will relate to her as she figures out what it means to grow up.

Peanut by Ayun Halliday and Paul Hoppe. January 2013. 9780375965906 Gr. 7-10.

It’s hard to be the new girl at school.  Everyone knows everyone, and no one knows you or cares who you are.  But Sadie has come up with a way to stand out at her new school. She is going to tell everyone about her life threatening peanut allergy… that she doesn’t really have.  Soon Sadie has a dramatic story about a near-fatal encounter with a peanut circulating about her.  She has friends, and soon she has a boyfriend.  But her lie gets harder and harder to maintain.  A fake allergy is actually a lot more difficult than you might expect.  This story explores the very common fear of starting over and the idea that we can remake ourselves in a new place.

What are some of your favorite graphic novels for girls? 

Blogger: Mindy R.

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Mindy’s Caldecott, Schneider, & Stonewall Award Picks

January 16, 2012 · Filed under High School, Novels, Picture Books, Primary (K-2), Realistic · Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

My brain is still in picture-book mode from choosing the picture book titles for our Booktalk Now! Spring Webcast, so I must say I am really looking forward to the Caldecott picks this year.  There are so many great books that I could see taking the award or an honor, but I’ve narrowed down my predictions to just four:

  • Grandpa Green by Lane Smith – I really love this book.  It is a tribute to grandparents that will be treasured by many families, but it is also an opportunity to inspire kids to think about the way that art can capture history—personal or otherwise.  I’d love to see young people sculpting their own memories after reading this book or perhaps creating some other tribute to what has come before them.  What better book to win an award for the art than one with such potential to inspire young artists!
  • Won Ton: A Cat Tale in Haiku by Lee Wardlaw and illustrated by Eugene Yelchin – I wouldn’t call myself a “cat person” but even I was charmed by the cat in this picture book.  Wardlaw’s haiku match with Yelchin’s graphite and gouache illustrations to create a character in the cat to whom you can’t help but relate.  PW called this book “surprisingly powerful,” and I think the book’s overall design plays a role in its emotional impact, which makes it a strong contender, in my opinion.
  • I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen – This pick will likely have some naysayers, but I, for one, would love to see more humorous books get honored.  This book is wickedly funny, and its use of color to tell the story is really interesting.  It’s different, for sure.  Maybe too different for the committee?  We’ll see!
  • Underground by Shane Evans – Underground  proves that you don’t need a lot of words to tell a powerful story. Each spread is dominated by dramatic illustrations with only a few well-chosen words to tell the story. If you want to talk about Black History with younger kids, this is the book to use.  Evans puts readers there without overwhelming them.  It’s intense, but it’s compelling in a way that few picture books are.

I also have my eye on a couple of other awards this year.  I’m always interested in the Schneider Family Book Award picks given my personal interest in the way that disabilities are portrayed in fiction.  I like Rebecca Elliott’s Just Because for the picture book category.  The book opens up the idea that there aren’t answers for why some people can do things others can’t. Sometimes the answer is “Just because.”  I highly recommend sharing this book with young people regardless of whether they have anyone in their lives with a disability for its simplicity and charm. For older readers, I enjoyed Now Playing: Stoner & Spaz II by Ron Kortge and The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen for their complex look at life with physical differences.

There are some serious contenders for the Stonewall Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award this year.  In particular, I am J by Cris Beam stands out as an authentic look at a transgender teen who hopes one day his parents will accept him.  Other highlights from my favorite list include Shine by Lauren Myracle and Sister Mischief by Laura Goode.

I’d love to know your picks for any of these awards!  Please feel free to share in the comments!

Blogger:  Mindy R.

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