So the work continues, but I essentially need to refuel in mid-air. One of the ways I do that is by reading things that come at me out of the blue (often recommended by my daughter). They can't be long. They have to be interesting enough to break through my fatigue, and different enough to provide rest and new perspective.
Sometimes that includes manga, with which I am often disappointed. Frequently I can admire some of the artistic vision and quirky concepts, while I often don't feel like the entire package has been integrated or realized its potential.
The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook by Eleanor Davis (and co-conspirator Drew Weing plus some technical allies) is a graphic novel (not a manga, which is a subset of graphic novels) and it shows what can be accomplished when the text and images contribute equally to the storytelling in inventive ways.
The intended audience is middle-graders. The plot is nothing new or different. Who cares? It's fun. It's quick. It's well envisioned and witty. It works. I read the last page with a magnifying glass so I wouldn't miss much. I'm not sure I caught everything anyway.
Cover:
Inside:
Some spreads have significantly more dialog and text. I think the most enjoyable spreads are the most art-dependent ones.
Highly recommended for anyone who is not humor-impaired. That's probably most people I know.
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Back to the wool for me.
No Kindle version :-(
Posted by: Donna | June 03, 2010 at 03:48 PM
Bummer. Im actually not surprised that its not on Kindle--they have not been able to handle Nomads most heavily illustrated books on that platform. Kindle works by far best with straight text.
Secret Science Alliance would be perfect on the iPad, though!
Posted by: Deb Robson | June 03, 2010 at 10:50 PM
I've read two graphic novels so far and both were morbid and depressing. One of the titles was Stitch. Can't recall the other (and am too lazy to look it up). This one looks like a different genre.
Thought you might enjoy this Icelandic post: http://icelandeyes.blogspot.com/2010/06/sheep.html
Posted by: Valerie | June 04, 2010 at 05:07 PM
Valerie, this is completely different from what youve read before. I laughed a lot.
Youre right, I love that Icelandic post! Thanks.
Posted by: Deb Robson | June 04, 2010 at 07:57 PM
Glad you're having time for an occasional refuel. I love a good graphic novel! They can be so quick & engaging, with plenty to be absorbed by if you have the time...
Posted by: Meg | June 05, 2010 at 08:40 AM
This looks like a fun diversion. I'm always looking for things that are easy to relax with but that don't annoy me (by being poorly written, etc., etc.) and can get frustrated. There isn't enough time for everything and I don't want to waste it with junk... unrealistic, but there.
Posted by: KitD | June 05, 2010 at 09:08 AM
Kit, once we return it {grin}, our library has a copy. Meg, yours likely does, too.
Very worth looking up. Because of whats happening in the images, its not a page-turner . . . each page rewards some study . . . but its the sort of book I put down the first evening because I didnt want to finish it so soon!
Posted by: Deb Robson | June 06, 2010 at 08:13 AM