Very Bad at Math

First off, this book is another I checked out from my local library. Local libraries rule! Very Bad at Math is about Verity "Very" Nelson, who is a real go-getter. She is a three-term class president, excellent English and social studies student, top debater, first-chair clarinetist, and can do more push-ups than anyone in gym class. 

See?

On the surface, it looks like there is nothing she can't do, but secretly she is failing math. She is ashamed of it and hides this fact from everyone, including her friends and parents. When she learns that failing a class would disqualify her from student government, she is offered the chance to participate in a "math pod" with a doctoral student who is working at the school where eventually she learns that she has dyscalculia.

Before this revelation, however, all of the secrecy does some damage. Her miscalculations seem to ruin a fundraiser for a class trip that was her main campaign promise. Even worse, her friends do not know what is going on with her and jump to some conclusions that she is being aloof, snobby, and/or uncaring. It also does not help that a middle school podcaster is snooping, secretly recording her, and creating misinformation. In the end, I found this a very compelling and realistic book in how it dealt with the current realities with social media, friendships, and learning disabilities. Also, the characters are also well defined and interesting. I like how they are drawn, how they interact, and how surprising some turn out to be.

This book's author, multiple Eisner Award winner Hope Larson is very good at comics. She practically invented YA graphic novels with her book Chiggers, adapted the graphic novel version of A Wrinkle in Time, wrote the Four Points series and Salt Magic drawn by Rebecca Mock, and created a trilogy of books starting with All Summer Long. She speaks about her work on Very Bad at Math in this interview.

All of the reviews I have read of this book have been positive. In a starred review from School Library Journal, Amy Ribakove wrote, "With captivating characters and a thoughtful exploration of dyscalculia, this book is a wonderful addition to any library." Kirkus Reviews summed it up as "a buoyant misadventure with some lessons along the way." Crystal Wilder concluded, "This graphic novel does a beautiful job of portraying the anxieties that may surround learning disabilities and the many ways family, friends, and learning professionals can be supportive."

Very Bad at Math was published by HarperAlley, and they have a preview and more available here. 

All Summer Long

All Summer Long is a story about adolescence and relationships. Bina is thirteen years old, and during the summer after seventh grade, her life starts changing in all sorts of ways. To start with, her best friend and next door neighbor Austin is going away for a month to summer camp. Not only does his absence leave a void in her typical social life, he also has been  acting weirdly of late.

After a set of circumstances, Bina ends up hanging out with Austin's older sister Charlie. Charlie is typically loud and obnoxious, but she and Bina like the same kind of music, so they bond over that. Over time though, Bina learns that Charlie might be using her to get out and also see her sort-of-boyfriend Jae.

Ah, sibling love!

What I admired most about this book was how it handled its characters and their interactions. As you can see, the situations they are dealing with are pretty ordinary and relatable. I was impressed by how well developed and interesting all the characters were, not falling into stock stereotypes but surprising me with how they respond to particular situations. Also, there is lots of clever dialogue and interesting conversation. Oftentimes, when a comic depends on text heavily, it can be a slog, but this one is a joy to read, moving along at a crisp and effervescent pace. I very much liked getting to know these characters, and better yet, this volume is the first of three, so I'll get more chances to see how they mature and evolve.

This book's creator Hope Larson is an Eisner Award winner for her adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time. She also has written and drawn the young adult story Chiggers. She has written a number of comics, notably the graphic novels Knife's Edge and Compass South, as well as comic book series, one about a teen detective Goldie Vance and the other a run on DC Comics' Batgirl. She speaks about her work on All Summer Long in this interview.

All the reviews I have read about this book have been very positive. In a starred review, Kirkus Reviews summed it up as "a coming-of-age story as tender and sweet as a summer evening breeze." Elizabeth Bush called it a "compact but deftly developed graphic novel." Publishers Weekly praised the character work as well as "dialogue that’s fresh and funny."

All Summer Long was published by Farrar Straus Giroux, and they offer a preview and more here.

A review copy was provided by the publisher.

Knife's Edge

I have been looking very forward to this sequel to Compass South, and boy did it not disappoint. That first book in the Four Points series was one of the best reviewed books of the past year, receiving lots of accolades for its fine story and art, and I daresay that this book is even better. After reuniting with their father, twins Cleo and Alex are faced with many quandaries. They learn more about their mother, why they were abandoned, and how they ended up in their current predicament, but at the same time they face more mysteries and unanswered questions. The plotting of these stories is so complex and well thought out, and I love how approachable and natural the whole narrative still seems.

 

In addition to the many revelations, there are also a few new characters and locales introduced, but none of it seems forced or rushed. There is a sizable amount of exposition, but it is adeptly worked into the story, not seeming like a slog to read or rote information to note. Part of why all these features are the case is the exceptional artwork that brings out strong characterizations as well as expertly imparting verve into every scene. Cleo especially seems to spring from the pages as a fully realized character, full of nuance and affect. I loved this book, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good swashbuckling tale that is full of heart and human moments. I sure hope that this book is not the final installment in this series, because it left me yearning for more.


This book is a fantastic collaboration between writer Hope Larson and artist Rebecca Mock. The Eisner Award winning Larson has created a number of graphic novels, including an adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time and the young adult story Chiggers. She is also writing two comic book series, one about a teen detective Goldie Vance and the other a run on DC Comics' Batgirl. In addition to the Four Points books, Mock was a co-organizer of  the Hana Doki Kira anthology. You can read more about their collective work on this book, in this interview with Larson and this one with Mock.

All of the reviews I have read about this book have been full of praise. Kirkus Reviews wrote, "As in its predecessor, every question answered leads the twins to more questions to be asked, and it ends with a breath-catching cliffhanger." Oliver Sava was impressed by Mock's "talent for expressive, engaging characters and crisp movement." Tamara Saarinen called it "a fast-paced, absorbing tale."

Knife's Edge was published by Farrar Straus and Giroux, and they have a preview and more info available here.

I saw the artist Rebecca Mock at HeroesCon this year, and she was so kind to sign my copy of this book. Thank you!

Compass South

Compass South is an adventure story set in the 1800s, but it also strongly resembles a fairy tale. The plot follows a pair of twins, Alexander and Cleopatra Dodge, who were orphaned and came to be raised by one of their mother's old flames. When he mysteriously disappears and is taken for dead, all they have to their names are two items passed down from their mom as their legacy: a watch and pocket knife. So the siblings join a gang of juvenile criminals and try to live by their wits and ill-gotten gains.

After they run afoul of the law, Alexander and Cleopatra decide they are going to try a new grift, passing themselves off as a pair of long-lost twins.This new plan entails Cleo having to pretend to be a boy and also some stowing away to get to the west coast. There are complications, however, one of which is running into another pair of red-headed twins with the same intentions they have to defraud an unwitting family (what are the chances?!?). What makes this book really work is how far off track all of their plans get, as well as the inventive ways that the story unfolds and reveals some interesting twists. It is chock full of action, humor, heart, nautical intrigue, and mystery, and I think it will be a popular book with many YA readers. I very much enjoyed it, and I am looking forward to its sequel (and maybe more in a series?).

Compass South was made by writer Hope Larson and artist Rebecca Mock. The Eisner Award winning Larson has created a number of graphic novels, including an adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time and the young adult story Chiggers. She is also writing two comic book series, one about a teen detective Goldie Vance and the other a run on DC Comics' Batgirl. This is Mock's first graphic novel, and she was a co-organizer of  the Hana Doki Kira anthology. Larson speaks about this book and her various comics projects in this interview.

All of the reviews I have read about this book give it praise. Kirkus Reviews summed it up as "Complex, engaging, and sure to please a wide audience." Publishers Weekly spoke highly of the book, especially Mock who "adeptly captures the changing relationships between the twins—especially the gender-bending awkwardness that accompanies Cleo’s stint as a boy." Sarah Hunter from Booklist gave it a starred review and called it "A gorgeously executed, lively caper."

Compass South was published by Farrar Straus and Giroux, and they have a preview and more info available here.

I met Rebecca Mock recently at HeroesCon, and I was glad to buy a pre-release copy. She was gracious enough to also draw a picture and sign a book for me. Thank you!

A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel

A Wrinkle in Time is a classic novel by Madeleine L'Engle, a Newbery Award winner and bestseller for more than 50 years. It is the first in a series of five books about the O'Keefe and Murry families, and it covers a lot of territory including quantum physics, time travel, centaurs, family drama, growing up, and the struggle between good and evil. This book uses the original dialogue and chapter breakdowns of the novel but adds much in terms of striking visuals and fantastic visual storytelling. Making this novel into a graphic novel could have detracted from the original evocative language, removing some of the imaginative work involved in visualizing the characters, situations, and fantastic elements, but this book strikes a great balance between showing and telling. It is an adaptation, but it is also a translation and an homage that leaves lot of room for interpretations from the reader.

As you can see form the excerpts above, the art is expertly rendered, well-balanced and -paced, and powerfully atmospheric. There is a limited color palette, but the black, white, and blue are used to excellent effect. This fine storytelling was done by Hope Larson, past winner of the Eisner, Ignatz, and Doug Wright Awards for her talents. She has created multiple comics and graphic novels including Chiggers and Mercury. Larson speaks about her work on this adaptation in this interview, and this one also has commentary from the book's editor as well.

This adaptation is a best seller, and also won accolades including the 2013 Eisner Award for Best Publication for Teens. Reviews I have read have been mostly positive. Publishers Weekly wrote, "While fans may miss L’Engle’s detailed and evocative prose, her original dialogue, combined with Larson’s deft interpretation, will remind them of their first reading, while simultaneously bringing a seminal classic to a new generation." Kirkus Reviews summed up, "Larson’s admiration and respect for the original text shines through; this is an adaptation done right." Seth T. Hahne offered a contrary opinion, expressing his overall disappointment with the book.

A preview and much more are available here from the book's publisher Margaret Ferguson Books.

Chiggers

Chiggers is the story of Abby coming back to another summer camp. This year a few things are different. Her good friend Rose is now a cabin assistant, which makes her busy and absent much of the time. Her other good friend Beth came in with new piercings and is buddying up more with Zoe. Her first bunkmate Deni gets sent home early because of chiggers. Her new bunkmate is Shasta, who likes fantasy novels, wears a bandana, dates a high school senior on the internet, and also claims to have been struck by lightning. And to top things off, Abby has a crush on a boy named Teal.

This graphic novel was written and drawn by Hope Larson, who is already an acclaimed creator. She has won both the Ignatz and Eisner Awards and has published work in prestigious publications like the New York Times. Larson has published four other graphic novels, including Mercury, and is now at work on a graphic adaptation of Madeline L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time. These interviews with Zack Smith and Kiel Phegley shed more light into her work on Chiggers.

Reviews of this book have been very positive. Johanna Draper Carlson commented that Larson's art uses a "beautiful visual thinking that reaches the reader emotionally." Eva M wrote that the artwork was "simple and expressive" and that she got lost in the narrative and relatable summer camp experiences. Jack Bauerstein83 noted that while not everyone (i.e. young boys) will find this book interesting, it well deserves checking out.

A preview is available here from Larson. The book's publisher Simon & Schuster posted a different preview here.