Graphic Novel Review: Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova
Awkward
Series: Berrybrook Middle School #1
Author/Illustrator: Svetlana Chmakova
Published: July 21, 2015
227 Pages
Reviewed By: Cristina
Book Description:
Cardinal rule #1 for surviving school: Don’t get noticed by the mean kids.
Cardinal rule #2 for surviving school: Seek out groups with similar interests and join them.
On her first day at her new school, Penelope–Peppi–Torres reminds herself of these basics. But when she trips into a quiet boy in the hall, Jaime Thompson, she’s already broken the first rule, and the mean kids start calling her the “nerder girlfriend.” How does she handle this crisis? By shoving poor Jaime and running away!
Falling back on rule two and surrounding herself with new friends in the art club, Peppi still can’t help feeling ashamed about the way she treated Jaime. Things are already awkward enough between the two, but to make matters worse, he’s a member of her own club’s archrivals–the science club! And when the two clubs go to war, Peppi realizes that sometimes you have to break the rules to survive middle school!
Cristina’s Review:
Today I’m sharing a graphic novel that I really enjoyed: Awkward, by Svetlana Chmakova. It’s the first of a series, too, so there’s more to read if you love it.
Being the new kid in middle school is tough. But embarrassing yourself on the first day? Even worse. It’s a good thing Penelope (Peppi for short) found the art club. Now if she could just apologize to the boy she was mean to on the first day…but he’s in the science club, art club’s worst rival! A story of owning mistakes, making friends, and resolving rivalries in the best ways possible, Awkward is a great summer read.
I am a believer in Graphic Novels. These are not just “comic books.” There are well thought out story lines, problems to solve, character development and lessons shared in a well done graphic novel. If you have a reader who shudders at the thought of a chapter book, a graphic novel is a great way to introduce them to deeper stories while still having visual interest through the art work. Enjoy!
Graphic Novel Review: V for Vendetta by Alan Moore
V for Vendetta
Author: Alan Moore
Illustrator: David Lloyd
First Published: March 1982
296 Pages
Reviewed By: Kim
Kim’s Rating: 5 stars
Book Description:
“Remember, remember the fifth of November…”
A frightening and powerful tale of the loss of freedom and identity in a chillingly believable totalitarian world, V for Vendetta stands as one of the highest achievements of the comics medium and a defining work for creators Alan Moore and David Lloyd.
Set in an imagined future England that has given itself over to fascism, this groundbreaking story captures both the suffocating nature of life in an authoritarian police state and the redemptive power of the human spirit which rebels against it. Crafted with sterling clarity and intelligence, V for Vendetta brings an unequaled depth of characterization and verisimilitude to its unflinching account of oppression and resistance.
Kim’s Review:
Considering how much I dislike the graphic novel style, this one I loved! I know we avoid politics on this page and I like it that way. But this is a political story and one that I think everyone should read. I actually went into thinking it would be biased because I had someone tell me that it was written as condemnation of one specific person. Thankfully, it wasn’t. Some issues were specific and easy to see who it would appeal to, however most of it was general enough that it was all about corruption and freedom. I, as someone many have called extreme, really appreciated the lessons and relevance. Plus, it’s just a great story with brilliant characters. This is one of only two graphic novels that I actually love!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
#Diverseathon2021: Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaption
Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaption
Adaptor: Damian Duffy
Illustrator: John Jennings
Published: January 10, 2017
252 Pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: April 15-17, 2021
Jessica’s Rating: 3 stars
Book Description:
I lost an arm on my last trip home.
Home is a new house with a loving husband in 1970s California that suddenly transformed in to the frightening world of the antebellum South.
Dana, a young black writer, can’t explain how she is transported across time and space to a plantation in Maryland. But she does quickly understand why: to deal with the troubles of Rufus, a conflicted white slaveholder–and her progenitor.
Her survival, her very existence, depends on it.
This searing graphic-novel adaptation of Octavia E. Butler’s science fiction classic is a powerfully moving, unflinching look at the violent disturbing effects of slavery on the people it chained together, both black and white–and made kindred in the deepest sense of the word.
Jessica’s Review:
As you are aware, I previously read Kindred and loved it and read it again this month for #Diverseathon. I bought the graphic novel online from Book Outlet for just a few dollars, so with having Kindred fresh in my mind, I decided to read the graphic novel.
This graphic novel is an adaption and covers the whole story, some in shorter sections than the novel. I’m not going to talk about the story of Kindred, that review has been previously posted, I am going to to talk about the graphic novel. The illustrations do not enhance the story, they take away from it. I admittedly have not read many graphic novels, but this one disappoints. There is just something missing from the artwork, but really nothing could live up to Butler’s original novel. The artwork is just not pleasant for me to look at, and Dana just does not look feminine. The novel does capture the brutality of the antebellum world towards African Americans. The biggest thing for me with this graphic novel was when we reach the climax and then we get just one panel and then the epilogue! In my opinion a whole important section was reduced to just one panel!
I have included some pictures that show what the art work looks like. I gave the graphic novel 3 stars, which averages out the 5 star review of the story with the 2 star poor artwork.
The graphic novel is divided up into the same chapters at the novel. There were a few things I did like about the graphic novel: There is an introduction to the novel and Butler herself, a Q& A with the adaptor and illustrator, and notes on their process of the progression with the panel artwork. There is also a teacher’s guide.
I recommend you to read the novel version of Kindred and reader beware if you choose to read the graphic novel.
#Diverseathon Information:
April’s Host: Suleika at All About Books Divas
She will host at Instagram and Facebook.
For full details on this year long readathon, please click here.
And don’t forget about the awesome GRAND PRIZE at the end of the year. Click the link here for that information.
Suleika is having a US only giveaway: She is giving away a copy of Spy in the Struggle by Aya de Leon That information is here.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK