August 2012 books
Explorer: The Mystery Boxes
edited by Kazu Kibuishi
Tween Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Definitely!
Short stories. Magic. Fantasy. Boxes. Science fiction.
Delightful little collection.
Empowered (Volume 1)
Adam Warren
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Superheroes. Pretty girls. Unreasonable costumes. Objectification. Romance. Sex. Friendship. Battles. Frustrations. Self esteem.
I'm of two minds on this. It really does seem to be created as the ultimate in fan service, but the character refuses to be just that. Oddly captures the vulnerability, frustrations, and struggles of being a sexy girl in a male dominated world.
Binky Under Pressure (Binky - Volume 3)
Ashley Spires
Kids Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Housecats. Imagination. Flies. Foster kitties. Secret agents. Tests. Invations. Stress.
Very amusing series, but starting to feel strained.
The Loners (Quarantine - Volume 1)
Lex Thomas
Teen Fiction
Recommend?: Yes.
Infections. High school. Cliques. Violence. Desperation. Brothers. Jocks. Betrayal. Romance. Heroes. Bullying. Empowerment. Murder. Self-defense. Government experiments. Isolation. Brutality.
I doubt I'll continue with the series myself, but teens will eat this up. Good guy read for Hunger Games fans.
Vanishing Point (Tune - Volume 1)
Derek Kirk Kim
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Art students. Crushes. Unemployment. Korean parents. Romance. Aliens. Science fiction. Zoos.
Intreguing to see how Kim mixes real life art student feelings and experiences with sci-fi experiences. I look forward to reading the next one to see where he takes it.
Plenty: Eating Locally on the 100-Mile Diet
Alisa Smith
Adult Non-Fiction
Recommend?: Yes.
Foodies. Environmentalism. Local farms. Food production. Experiements. Couples.
Does a great job of really making you think about where your food is coming from, and why.
The Disenchantments
Nina Lacour
Teen Fiction
Recommend?: Definitely!
Bands. Graduation. Road trips. Friendship. Love. Crushes. Complications. Tattoos. Artists. Dreams. College planning.
Really wonderful book. Truly gets the complicated nature of human relationships.
37 Things I Love (in No Particular Order)
Kekla Magoon
Teen Fiction
Recommend?: Yes.
Friendship. Fathers. Comas. Grief. High school. Cliques. Lies. Romance. Crushes. Mothers. Loss. Lesbians.
Short, but not light. Great little read. A bit too much intimacy for middle school readers.
Zoo City
Lauren Beukes
Adult Fiction
Recommend?: Definitely!
Science fiction. South Africa. Murderers. Animals. Mysteries. Lost things. Pop stars. Ghetto life. Journalists. Addicts. Familiars. Magic.
Despite its preposterous premise, I really enjoyed reading this book.
Team Human
Justine Larbalstier
Teen Fiction
Recommend?: Definitely!
Small towns. High school. Vampires. Friendship. Romance. Goals. Dreams. Dating. Loss. Fears. Trust.
Often silly, frequently poking fun at vampire romances, but tender thoughtful and respectful too. Good stuff.
Lies, Knives, and Girls in Red Dresses
Ron Koertge
Teen Poetry
Recommend?: Yes.
Fairy tales. Verse. Ever after. Viewpoints. Darkness. Harsh.
Great art, decent poems.
Resistance (Volume 1)
Carla Jablonski
Teen Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
World War 2. France. Nazis. Small towns. Wineries. Missing fathers. Siblings. Underground. Spies. Drawing.
Good mix of history and adventure for middle school readers.
Defiance (Resistance - Volume 2)
Carla Jablonski
Teen Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Family. Betrayals. Secrets. WW2. Propaganda. Leaders. Romance. Birthdays.
Great at getting the challenges and emotional turmoil of living in an occupied country.
Victory (Resistance - Volume 3)
Carla Jablonski
Teen Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Prisons. Interrigators. Police. Family. Journeys. Paris. Reunions. Death. Fighting. Peace.
Gives great insight into how complex war becomes and the price of rebellion.
The Storm and the Fury (Hellboy - Volume 12)
Mike Mignola
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Monsters. Demons. Witches. Ghosts. King Arthur. Swords. Romance. Teetotalers. Epic battles. Hell.
Continuing solid work.
Over the Hill with the Swords of a Thousand Men (The Boys - Volume 11)
Garth Ennis
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Superheroes. Corporations. Power. Assasinations. White house. Evil bastards.
Seriously sick, twisted, disgusting, gory and yet an awesome commentary on abuse of power.
Goliath
Tom Gauld
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Bible stories. Soldiers. Image. Plots. Misunderstood villians.
I love retellings of classic stories from the other side, and Tom Gauld's art.
Motel Art Improvement Service
Jason Little
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Bicycling. Road trips. Asshats. Small town motels. Generic art. Drug addiction. Hotels. Sex. Drug dealers. Art dealers.
I love Jason Little's ability to draw cute hip characters and make them adorably rauncy, with dark plot twists.
Get Jiro!
Anthony Bourdain
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Near future. Foodies. Sushi chefs. Gangsters. Crime bosses. Vegans. Violence. Rivals.
Fun, but borrows a lot from Taranteno and Bourdain's earlier work. But a good effort.
Cardboard
Doug Tennapel
Tween Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Definitely!
Fantasy. Single fathers. Unemployment. Windowers. Birthdays. Cardboard construction. Magic. Creativity. Jealously. Monsters. Romance.
Good stuff. I feel like Tennapel is finally really coming into his how. I've always enjoyed his ideas and images, but they never came together this solidly before.
The Last of the Innocent (Criminal - Volume 6)
Ed Brubaker
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Cheaters. Rich in-laws. Addicts. Friendship. Old flames. Small towns. Debts. Private investigators. Murder.
Very dark, but quite good. I plan to go back and read the rest of the series after vacation.
Inherit the Wind (Fables - Volume 17)
Bill Willingham
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Fairy tales. North wind. Grandchildren. Tests. Inheritances. Oz. Rebellions. Fencing. Hope. Santa Claus. Little Match Girl. Enchanted animals.
Continues to be good and interesting, but this one was all over the place…lots of different story arcs going on.
Wizzywig
Ed Piskor
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Telephones. Hackers. Pranks. Bulletin boards. Prison. Trials. Friendship. Family.
Solid mash-up of true hacker stories, with a really great binding.
Code Name Verity
Elizabeth Wein
Teen Audiobook
Recommend?: Definitely!
WW2. Spies. Girl pilots. Gestapo. Torture. Confessions. France. England. Sacrifice. Secrets.
One of the best books I've read all year. Really wonderful.
The Last Dragonslayer (Chronicles of Kazam - Volume 1)
Jasper Fforde
Teen Fiction
Recommend?: Definitely!
Fantasy. Orphans. Nuns. Wizards. Magic. Dragons. VW Beetles. Swords. Apprentices.
Really fun book, feeling a bit like contemporary Terry Pratchett maybe.
The Year of the Beasts
Cecil Castellucci
Teen Fiction
Recommend?: Definitely!
Sisters. Jealousy. Friendship. Summertime. Carnivals. Boyfriends. Secrets. Tragedies. Graphic novel mix-in.
Great work of both CC and Nate Powell. Really tremendous combination.
edited by Kazu Kibuishi
Tween Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Definitely!
Short stories. Magic. Fantasy. Boxes. Science fiction.
Delightful little collection.
Empowered (Volume 1)
Adam Warren
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Superheroes. Pretty girls. Unreasonable costumes. Objectification. Romance. Sex. Friendship. Battles. Frustrations. Self esteem.
I'm of two minds on this. It really does seem to be created as the ultimate in fan service, but the character refuses to be just that. Oddly captures the vulnerability, frustrations, and struggles of being a sexy girl in a male dominated world.
Binky Under Pressure (Binky - Volume 3)
Ashley Spires
Kids Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Housecats. Imagination. Flies. Foster kitties. Secret agents. Tests. Invations. Stress.
Very amusing series, but starting to feel strained.
The Loners (Quarantine - Volume 1)
Lex Thomas
Teen Fiction
Recommend?: Yes.
Infections. High school. Cliques. Violence. Desperation. Brothers. Jocks. Betrayal. Romance. Heroes. Bullying. Empowerment. Murder. Self-defense. Government experiments. Isolation. Brutality.
I doubt I'll continue with the series myself, but teens will eat this up. Good guy read for Hunger Games fans.
Vanishing Point (Tune - Volume 1)
Derek Kirk Kim
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Art students. Crushes. Unemployment. Korean parents. Romance. Aliens. Science fiction. Zoos.
Intreguing to see how Kim mixes real life art student feelings and experiences with sci-fi experiences. I look forward to reading the next one to see where he takes it.
Plenty: Eating Locally on the 100-Mile Diet
Alisa Smith
Adult Non-Fiction
Recommend?: Yes.
Foodies. Environmentalism. Local farms. Food production. Experiements. Couples.
Does a great job of really making you think about where your food is coming from, and why.
The Disenchantments
Nina Lacour
Teen Fiction
Recommend?: Definitely!
Bands. Graduation. Road trips. Friendship. Love. Crushes. Complications. Tattoos. Artists. Dreams. College planning.
Really wonderful book. Truly gets the complicated nature of human relationships.
37 Things I Love (in No Particular Order)
Kekla Magoon
Teen Fiction
Recommend?: Yes.
Friendship. Fathers. Comas. Grief. High school. Cliques. Lies. Romance. Crushes. Mothers. Loss. Lesbians.
Short, but not light. Great little read. A bit too much intimacy for middle school readers.
Zoo City
Lauren Beukes
Adult Fiction
Recommend?: Definitely!
Science fiction. South Africa. Murderers. Animals. Mysteries. Lost things. Pop stars. Ghetto life. Journalists. Addicts. Familiars. Magic.
Despite its preposterous premise, I really enjoyed reading this book.
Team Human
Justine Larbalstier
Teen Fiction
Recommend?: Definitely!
Small towns. High school. Vampires. Friendship. Romance. Goals. Dreams. Dating. Loss. Fears. Trust.
Often silly, frequently poking fun at vampire romances, but tender thoughtful and respectful too. Good stuff.
Lies, Knives, and Girls in Red Dresses
Ron Koertge
Teen Poetry
Recommend?: Yes.
Fairy tales. Verse. Ever after. Viewpoints. Darkness. Harsh.
Great art, decent poems.
Resistance (Volume 1)
Carla Jablonski
Teen Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
World War 2. France. Nazis. Small towns. Wineries. Missing fathers. Siblings. Underground. Spies. Drawing.
Good mix of history and adventure for middle school readers.
Defiance (Resistance - Volume 2)
Carla Jablonski
Teen Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Family. Betrayals. Secrets. WW2. Propaganda. Leaders. Romance. Birthdays.
Great at getting the challenges and emotional turmoil of living in an occupied country.
Victory (Resistance - Volume 3)
Carla Jablonski
Teen Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Prisons. Interrigators. Police. Family. Journeys. Paris. Reunions. Death. Fighting. Peace.
Gives great insight into how complex war becomes and the price of rebellion.
The Storm and the Fury (Hellboy - Volume 12)
Mike Mignola
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Monsters. Demons. Witches. Ghosts. King Arthur. Swords. Romance. Teetotalers. Epic battles. Hell.
Continuing solid work.
Over the Hill with the Swords of a Thousand Men (The Boys - Volume 11)
Garth Ennis
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Superheroes. Corporations. Power. Assasinations. White house. Evil bastards.
Seriously sick, twisted, disgusting, gory and yet an awesome commentary on abuse of power.
Goliath
Tom Gauld
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Bible stories. Soldiers. Image. Plots. Misunderstood villians.
I love retellings of classic stories from the other side, and Tom Gauld's art.
Motel Art Improvement Service
Jason Little
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Bicycling. Road trips. Asshats. Small town motels. Generic art. Drug addiction. Hotels. Sex. Drug dealers. Art dealers.
I love Jason Little's ability to draw cute hip characters and make them adorably rauncy, with dark plot twists.
Get Jiro!
Anthony Bourdain
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Near future. Foodies. Sushi chefs. Gangsters. Crime bosses. Vegans. Violence. Rivals.
Fun, but borrows a lot from Taranteno and Bourdain's earlier work. But a good effort.
Cardboard
Doug Tennapel
Tween Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Definitely!
Fantasy. Single fathers. Unemployment. Windowers. Birthdays. Cardboard construction. Magic. Creativity. Jealously. Monsters. Romance.
Good stuff. I feel like Tennapel is finally really coming into his how. I've always enjoyed his ideas and images, but they never came together this solidly before.
The Last of the Innocent (Criminal - Volume 6)
Ed Brubaker
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Cheaters. Rich in-laws. Addicts. Friendship. Old flames. Small towns. Debts. Private investigators. Murder.
Very dark, but quite good. I plan to go back and read the rest of the series after vacation.
Inherit the Wind (Fables - Volume 17)
Bill Willingham
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Fairy tales. North wind. Grandchildren. Tests. Inheritances. Oz. Rebellions. Fencing. Hope. Santa Claus. Little Match Girl. Enchanted animals.
Continues to be good and interesting, but this one was all over the place…lots of different story arcs going on.
Wizzywig
Ed Piskor
Adult Graphic Novel
Recommend?: Yes.
Telephones. Hackers. Pranks. Bulletin boards. Prison. Trials. Friendship. Family.
Solid mash-up of true hacker stories, with a really great binding.
Code Name Verity
Elizabeth Wein
Teen Audiobook
Recommend?: Definitely!
WW2. Spies. Girl pilots. Gestapo. Torture. Confessions. France. England. Sacrifice. Secrets.
One of the best books I've read all year. Really wonderful.
The Last Dragonslayer (Chronicles of Kazam - Volume 1)
Jasper Fforde
Teen Fiction
Recommend?: Definitely!
Fantasy. Orphans. Nuns. Wizards. Magic. Dragons. VW Beetles. Swords. Apprentices.
Really fun book, feeling a bit like contemporary Terry Pratchett maybe.
The Year of the Beasts
Cecil Castellucci
Teen Fiction
Recommend?: Definitely!
Sisters. Jealousy. Friendship. Summertime. Carnivals. Boyfriends. Secrets. Tragedies. Graphic novel mix-in.
Great work of both CC and Nate Powell. Really tremendous combination.