October 2006 books

[dirtylibrarian]

Formerly Known as the Justice League
Keith Giffen
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Definitely!
B-List heroes. Super Buddies. Kidnappings. Gladiators. Alien invasions. Ridiculous spin-off characters. Recruitment. Teams. Friendship.
Hilarious post-modern superhero fun.

Wait for Me
An Na
Teen Audiobook
Recommend?: Definitely!
Sisters. Disabilities. Dry cleaning. Korean-Americans. Interracial dating. California. Singing. Lies. Expectations.
Great stuff…very intense and well layered.

Poison
Chris Wooding
Teen Fiction
Recommend?: Definitely!
Fantasy. Storytelling. Adventure. Sisters. Kidnappings. Fairies. Monsters. Cleverness. Heroines.
Inventive and fresh.

Go with Grace
George Alexopolous
Teen Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Manga. Illness. Sisters. Cruelty. Fathers. Romance. Ghosts. Suicide.
Fresh manga styling, but failed lesson teaching.

Hot Air
Anthony Masters
Tween Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Shrug.
Adventure. Hot air balloons. Cousins.
Ok mixed fiction/gn for reluctant readers.

Raven's Revenge
Anthony Masters
Tween Graphic Novel
Recommend?: No.
Kayaking. Adventure. Birds.
Ok mixed fiction/gn for reluctant readers.

Minerva Clark Gets a Clue
Karen Karbo
Teen Fiction
Recommend?: Definitely!
Teen age girls. Self confidence. Mysteries. Absent parents. Older siblings. Brothers. Artists. Portland, Oregon.
Great fun and enjoyable read.

Justice League: A New Beginning
Keith Giffen
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Team-ups. Humor. Aliens. In-fighting. International cooperation. Cold War.
Fun, but not as good as the more recent ones by this team.

Nana (Volume 2)
Ai Yazawa
Teen Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Manga. Japan. Tokyo. First apartments. Friendship. Dating. Train rides. Job hunting.
Charming and fun…I enjoyed it more than the first one.

Reservoir Chronicles Tsubasa (Volume 10)
Clamp
Teen Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Shrug.
Manga. Time travel. Quests. Feathers. Princesses. Races. Wars. Fighting.
I find this series visually confusing, and generally complicated yet not deep.

Salamander Dream
Hope Larson
Tween Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Forests. Play. Imagination. Nature. Friendship. Games. Story. Growing up.
Lovely little story with delightful art and dreamy feel.

The Supernaturalist
Eoin Colfer
Teen Audiobook
Recommend?: Yes.
Science fiction. Orphans. Medical testing. Parasites. Gangs. Street car racing. Friendship. Corporations. Energy sources. Strange creatures. Near-death experiences.
Imaginative and great fun, with a slightly frustrating ending.

Siberia
Nikolai Maslov
Teen Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Shrug.
Siberia. Soviet Union. Family. Vodka. Work. Military service. Art students. Bureaucracy. Moscow.
Rough art and depressing stories, ok, but I wanted something more.

The Black Flame (B.P.R.D.)
Mike Mignola
Teen Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Supernatural beings. Secret government agencies. Frogmen. Nazis. Friendship. Death. Loss. Hellboy. Monsters. Loss. Heroes.
Good, but would have been better with Hellboy in it, rather than just occasionally mentioned.

Childhood's End (New X-Men - Volume 1)
Craig Kyle
Teen Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Mutants. Schools. Loss. Death. Religious fanatics. Danger. Leadership. Teenagers.
Pretty good…but I still wanted a bit more from it.

Inverloch (Volume 1)
Sarah Ellerton
Teen Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Elves. Magical kingdoms. Furry people. Quests. Kidnappings. Missing fathers. Humans.
Lovely color, strong teen appeal.

Offroad
Sean Murphy
Teen Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Post-high school. Guys. Jeeps. Off-roading. Mud. Parties. Growing up.
Fun with serious bits. Good for older high school guys.

Rozen Maiden (Volume 1)
Peach-Pit
Teen Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Shrug.
Manga. Mail order. Dolls. Fantasy. Horror. Homicidal teddy bears. Sisters. Absent parents.
For fans of gothic Lolita.

Last Days
Scott Westerfeld
Teen Fiction
Recommend?: Definitely!
Parasites. New York City. Bands. Vampires. Saving the world.
So fun…plus I could really related to the band trying to pick out the perfect name.

Pride of Baghdad
Brian K. Vaughan
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Definitely!
War. Zoos. Lions. Animals. Freedom. Danger. Iraq. Family.
Good stuff.

Gen 13: Who They Are and How They Came to Be…
Jim Lee
Teen Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Shrug.
Conspiracies. Government agencies. Experiments. Superpowers. Families. Cheesy early 90s references.
I suppose I've read worst.

Shades of Blue (Volume 1)
James S. Harris
Teen Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Shrug.
High school life. Crushes. Unexpected powers. Unwanted sidekicks. Bad subs.
Decent concept, unimpressive execution.

Big Fish
Daniel Wallace
Adult Audiobook
Recommend?: No.
Fathers. Sons. The South. Personal mythology. Mortality. Liars.
Bor-ing! I'm surprised to find that the movie was much better (and I found it disappointing).

Kinetic
Kelley Puckett
Teen Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Definitely!
Illness. Overprotective mothers. High school. Crushes. Superpowers.
Good stuff…out of the ordinary...more bitter and realistic.

Roadsong (Volume 1)
Allan Gross
Teen Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Rivals. Musicians. Weddings. Siblings. Loss. Revenge. Escape. Suspicion. Romance. Guys.
Fun, but probably too many girls taking off their clothes for school libraries ;)

Wide Awake
David Levithan
Teen Fiction
Recommend?: Definitely!
Elections. Gay presidents. Speculative fiction. High school life. Romance. Electoral college. Vote tampering. Protest.
Wonderful book…highly recommended. Does a great job of dreaming about how positive change might come about in this country.

Psy-Comm (Volume 1)
Jason Henderson
Teen Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
War. Advertising. Entertainment. Psychics. Powers. Meaningless deaths. Heroes.
Entertaining and sneakily thought provoking. I'd like to see where this goes.

Can't Get No
Rick Veitch
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Shrug.
Permanent markers. Lawsuits. NYC. 9-11. Body modification. Raves. Journeys. Redemption.
I suspect this would have been better if they had left out all the words.

Side-Scrollers
Matthew Loux
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Video gamers. Post-high school. Parties. Crushers. Geeks. Street Fighter. Girl scouts.
For anyone who likes Scott Pilgrim.

Twelve Reasons Why I Love Her
Jamie S. Rich
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Romance. Chance. Dating.
Good, but not that moving.

Fear And Pride (Lions, Tigers And Bears - Volume 1)
Mike Bullock
Kids Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Fantasy. Bedtime. Night monsters. Grandmothers. Stuffed animals. Alternative worlds.
Cute…probably good for 2nd-4th graders.

Love the Way You Love (Volume 2)
Jamie S. Rich
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Bands. Musicians. Slimy agents. Bad engagements. Romance. Songwriting.
Fun with a unique drawing style.

Batman & the Monster Men
Matt Wagner
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Shrug.
Gotham. Genetic engineering. Dating. Crime fighting. Prototype Batmobile. Gangsters.
Old comic feel, capturing the early days of Batman.

East Coast Rising (Volume 1)
Becky Cloonan
Teen Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Flooding. Punky pirates. Sea monsters. Jersey. Treasure.
Fun concept, decent art. Needs more meat.

Shrine of the Morning Mist (Volume 1)
Hiroki Ukawa
Teen Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Manga. Supernatural. Cousins. Houseguests. Schoolgirls. Weird parents. Japan.
Not bad, but didn't grab me.

The Blade of Kringle (Manga Claus - Volume One)
Nathaniel Marunas
Teen Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Santa. Samurai. Magic. Frustrated elves. Ninja evil teddy bears. Christmas.
Fun!

Journey Into Mohawk Country
George O'Connor
Teen Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
American history. Traders. Native Americans. Journeys. Winter. Journals. New England wilderness.
Very interesting interpretation of a journal from 1634!

Ghost Rider: The Road to Damnation
Garth Ennis
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Shrug.
Hell. Heaven. Damnation. Motorcycles. Quests. Lies. Violence. Human stupidity. Evil. Angels.
Visually quite amazing, for being so dark and gory. Overall, unsatisfying plot and characters make it a marginal recommendation.

ES: Eternal Sabbath (Volume One)
Fuyumi Soryo
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Manga. Psychics. Mind control. Violence. Scientists. Experiments.
Intriguing, people who like Death Note will like this psychological horror story.

Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich
Adam Rex
Kids Picture Book
Recommend?: Definitely!
Monsters. Silliness. Food. Dancing. Songs stuck in heads. Zombies. Mummies.
Great fun.

Robin/Batgirl: Fresh Blood
Bill Willingham
Teen Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Teenagers. Superheroes. Loss. Death. Mourning. Teamwork. Villains. Crime fighting.
Not bad, but I didn't find myself as engaged as with much of Willingham's other work.

Daphne in the Brilliant Blue
Shiki Satoshi
Teen Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Manga. Rebels. Test drivers. Underwater cities. Environmental disaster. Corporate run worlds. Outlaws.
Interesting premise, with lots of good action.

We Are on Our Own
Miriam Katin
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
World War Two. Holocaust. Jewish families. Mothers and daughters. Hiding. Running. Loss of faith.
Sad, but sweet.

Kafka
Steven T. Seagle
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Witness protection program. Test subjects. Corrupt governments. CIA. Psychic powers. Lost love. Adventure.
Good stuff, but not a lot of teen appeal.

Crossroad (Volume 1)
Mizuki Shioko
Teen Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Manga. Absent mothers. Step-siblings. Abandoned children. Family. Friendship.
Pretty good.

Samurai Champloo (Volume 1)
Masaru Gotsubo
Teen Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Manga. Samurai. Anachronisms. Humor. Adventure. Friendship. Fighting. Quests.
A bit violent for my tastes, and odd mix up of genres, but fun.

Saint Iggy
K.L. Going
Teen Fiction
Recommend?: Definitely!
Outcasts. High school. NYC. Poverty. Drug abuse. Abandoned children. Friendship. Need.
Sad book about a boy who desperately seeking his way.

Who's Your Daddy?
Lynda Sandoval
Teen Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Friendship. Dating. High school. Colorado. Occult. Fortune telling. Romance.
Fun, and not as light as it looks.

Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy (Children of the Red King - Volume 3)
Jenny Nimmo
Tween Audiobook
Recommend?: Shrug.
Magic. Boarding schools. Friendship. Snakes. Invisibility. Pets.
The relationships, or lack there of, between children and adults in this book really bugged me.

The Case of Madeleine Smith (Treasury of Victorian Murder)
Rick Geary
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Murder. Scotland. Illicit romance. Class. Passion. Arsenic. History.
Geary really has a good thing going in these slightly creepy, but very informative books.