Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi

Marjane Satrapi uses the graphic format to give glimpses into her life growing up in 1980's Iran. Between revolutions, wars and a fundamentalist regime this land does not provide the ideal setting for a girl's childhood. But it does make for a fascinating read and engaging history lesson. I didn't realize that Iran has been killing its own citizens for many years. The seeming boon of revolution in the 1980's only ushered in fundamentalist leadership that stripped away even more human rights.

The only downside to this book is that it ends mid-story. Marjane is fourteen and shuttled away from Iran by her parents. The plus is that you can pick the story back up in Persepolis II. Yeah!

American Born Chinese by Gene Luan Yang

American Born Chinese by Gene Luan Yang weaves together three tales: Jin Wang's troubles adapting to a new school, a re-telling of the Monkey King's adventures and Chin-kee's disruption of his cousin Danny's life. By the end of this graphic novel you discover how these three story lines relate and the implications of being Chinese in the American culture. Attractive full-color pictures aid in transporting this book from a simple story to a visual feast.

Moving to a new school is never easy and in this story is compounded by the blind bigotry of classmates. Jin Wang finds himself torn between two different stories of his heritage. From Chinese mythology we have the story of the Monkey King whose ego must be overcome to find out his true nature. From American mythology we have Chin-Kee the representative of the caricatured stereotypical Chinese man. These forceful narratives influence Jin Wang's life and find new meaning when reinterpreted through a boy's adjustment to a new culture.

These tales are also told graphically which throws another element into the storytelling stew. To see the faces of the characters limits my imagination but is compensated by receiving more of the author's vision. A different part of my brain is engaged and the visual elements force me to a more visceral level. I can sense Jin's confusion by the white splotches that frame the storyboard. I react to the incessant laughter of Chin-Kee that lines the bottom of the frames in which he appears. By telling this story graphically, Yang uses more tools to display different layers of meaning. His techniques allow for a certain amount of silence that propels the reader into reflecting upon the hardship of finding one's self amid the flurries of incessant myths.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Please remind me to read more of Neil Gaiman. Strike that. Remind me to listen to Neil Gaiman tell one of his entrancing tales. Yes his talents are many. Not only does he create a new world to explore but he makes it come alive by giving voice to all the characters that people his world.

Meet Coraline. No its not Caroline although the man who lives upstairs can't help mispronounce it. She lives with her parents and in an Alice in Wonderland turn of events finds a passageway to an alternate universe through a door in the living room. This is when it gets good. Meet the Other Mother and the Other Father who welcome Coraline and urge her to stay with them. There is something very strange however about these Other parents. Maybe it is their black button eyes. Maybe it is the strange sense Coraline gets by their insistent offerings.

Gaiman, yes, I need to read more of his stuff. Read his journal if you've got the time. Kick back and relax a bit...

Looking for Alaska by John Green

I listened to this story on my way to and from work. Set at a boarding school in Alabama we become familiar with Pudge, the Colonel and the unforgettable Alaska Young. Culver Creek sounds like a pretty interesting place to be receiving an education--for Pudge this learning extends outside of the classroom. He is in search of the Great Perhaps and the adventures awaiting him in a sweltering Alabama deliver him to that unknown precipice.

When one of the main characters exits the story the rest of the characters must deal with the loss in whatever way they can. Green lets us experience the struggles inherent in facing the mystery of life. His characters shine with individuality and mirror humanity's incessant need to both push the bounds and question authority. Read it now!

Skellig by David Almond

David Almond does it again. He gently reminds you of the magic that is existence. Through the eyes of Michael we are reintroduced to the connectedness of all living things. His friend Mina sings Blake poetry and shows Michael how to listen more closely to the fabric of life. (I want to return to the days of youth and truly have a day of exploration.)

Skellig could be human, angel or animal--but more than anything he represents the possibilities of the imagination and the beauty of love. This is the book that announced David Almond to the world and I hope that you find the time to marvel at its wonders. Peace!

Hard Love by Ellen Wittlinger

"So I loved you for your courage and your gentle sense of shame,
And I loved you for your laughter and your language and your name,
And I knew it was impossible, but I loved you just the same,
Though the only love I gave to you was hard love."
-Bob Franke

Before reading Ellen Wittlinger's novel Hard Love I was unfamiliar with the work of Bob Franke but now find myself awed by his poetry. I think that Wittlinger was as well when she transposed the characters of Hard Love from the realm of the imagination to the page. And these characters, wow, they will move you. Zines are the mode of expression for our two main players, John (a.k.a. Gio) and Marisol, who share their pain and triumphs through the written word. Both deal with issues of abandonment and identity which is magnified through their relationship. See--Marisol is gay and Gio finds himself falling in love with her. Can love still exist between members of the opposite sex without physical consummation? Perhaps--but what you'll have left is hard love.

The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron

I know there has been controversy regarding this book and I'm sure in some circles the word scrotum is unmentionable. Seeing past that word though you find a sweet little story and an irresistible title character. Abandonment issues abound with Lucky whose parents are dead or deserted and Miles who carries around a copy of Are You My Mother? You get a sense of the isolation in Harp Pan, CA and the scraggly Lucky is a testament to folks that live in weather-beaten climates. Her search for her Higher Power mirrors our own search for security in the face of the great unknown. Winning the Newbery Medal is a fitting prize for this little gem of a book.

Kit's Wilderness by David Almond

I recently listened to an interview with David Almond for class and was impressed by his honesty and good humor. He wrote many books and stories before his first, Skellig, actually got published. He wrote for adults primarily but when he made the switch to writing for young adults everything clicked. He said that he felt his writing was the best it had ever been and his writing has only gone up from there. With Kit's Wilderness Almond won the Printz award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature.

So Kit's Wilderness. Kit is the main character and lives in a town with his grandfather, mother and father. His new friends include Allie a budding soap opera actress and John Askew an outcast and phenomenal artist. Kit and Askew have an other-worldly connection that both ties them to the past and propels the book to its climax. Beware: there are ghosts flitting about the edges of this book and one in particular, Silky, lives in the mines and has a mischievous nature. I look forward to catching up with Almond's books and plan on Skellig to be my next foray into his world.

My Darling, My Hamburger by Paul Zindel

Paul Zindel is at it again in this novel that gives a brief glimpse into the lives of four teenagers. The title refers to the advice given by a teacher when a girl asked her how to stop a guy when he is going too far. The teacher says to suggest going for a hamburger.

Yes the tone is set in this tale and as you can well imagine the adults are not on the same page as the kids. There is a beautiful sequence towards the middle of the book when you follow each teen home to get a taste of the typical family encounter. Maggie and her mom seem to have the healthiest relationship where Liz and her mother and stepfather are at odds and the misunderstandings run deep. Sean talking to his dad makes for uncomfortable laughter because the scene rings so true. What do you do with a parent that has not a clue? As with Pigman, Zindel again is a front runner in presenting realistic teens that face life-changing issues. I feel as if I am in the hands of a master as I weave through his harrowing tale. Bravo!

Sandpiper by Ellen Wittlinger

I picked up this book because of an online book discussion group that is just getting under way. I came to the chat about half way through because my work schedule gets me home late on Wednesday evenings. I'm looking forward to this Wednesday when Ellen Wittlinger will be a part of the chat group. Questions anyone?

Sandpiper has a reputation around town and her latest break-up brings her face-to-face with one of the mysteries of the story, the Walker. Her mother is getting re-married, her sister can be slightly annoying and her Dad is out of touch. But these characters grow past a 'type' and interact with believablility and humor. I wanted to find out if Sandpiper could work past her difficulties and learn more about Walker who definitely has some secrets of his own. This book would mostly appeal to girls who could walk in the difficult shoes of a likable character learning hard lessons about herself.