AMULET: THE STONEKEEPER

AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR: Kazu Kibuishi
PUBLISHER: Graphix (an imprint of Scholastic)
GENRE: Fantasy & Sci-Fi

FORMAT: Hardback
VOLUME: Book. 1 (The Stonekeeper)
PAGES: 187
COLOR: Full color
ISBN-10: 0-439-84680-3
ISBN-13: 978-0-439-84680-6


STORY SYNOPSIS
Emily and her brother, Navin, have already faced loss, with the strange disappearance of their grandfather many years ago and then the tragic death of their father during an automobile accident. When they move to a new town, and into an old family home, they find that their lives have only begun to change. They are only in the home for a day before their mother is kidnapped by a mysterious tentacled tick-beast, and the children set off to save her.


STORY REVIEW
Quick-paced and action packed, AMULET hits the ground running: The father dies, the family moves into the missing grandfather’s old home, and their mother is taken. Readers who enjoy a book that gets right to it, will enjoy AMULET. Magic, robots, and all manner of beast and bad guy. Everyone wants what Emily, affectionately called Em, finds in the grandfather’s home before the monster comes, and she is the key to it all. It’s nice to have a female hero with a boy sidekick, although this is not a girl-oriented story. The first in a series of books, kids will be hard pressed to put the book down until it’s finished, and they will certainly ask for more.

I introduced AMULET to the fifth graders in my practicum classroom and they loved it. So much so, the teacher bought a classroom copy at the Scholastic book fair. She also bought Bone. AMULET, my friends, is a keeper.


ART REVIEW
The characters, except for the grandfather, are rendered without much detail. The settings, however, are more detailed. The coloring sets the different tones and moods and reflects the situations. I think the scary events are offset by the cartoon nature of the characters. It is a great looking book.

Prologue page 1

Prologue page 2

Prologue page 3

Prologue page 4

AGE RECOMMENDATION
My Rating: Ages 9 and older
Publisher’s Recommendation: Ages 9-12

It is scary, yes, with kidnappings and death, but I really see no reason why children younger than 9 years old could not read this book. It may not be appropriate for all young children, but I do not think the Age 9 rating should be concrete.


BE AWARE
There is magic and death in this story.


IN THE CLASSROOM
The classroom that wants to explore the hero myth (called the monomyth) could use AMULET. A boiled down version of the monomyth could be used for elementary children. For more information on monomyth go here and here or do a Google keyword search for “monomyth.”

A lot could be made of the decisions that Emily and her brother make. Specifically, there is a scene where Emily must decide to accept the amulet and its power or not. If she accepts it, then she can become the ruler of Alledia and also turn back time and save her father and mother. She is also told that she will obtain “glorious great power beyond anything [she] has imagined.” This is a pivotal moment in the story and if written well will come full circle by the end of the series. Great power means great responsibility doesn’t it Spider-Man fans? I am anxious to see what writer Kibuishi does with this.


OTHER INFORMATION
This is book one in a larger series. It is available in paperback and hardcover. The entire prologue is available as a pdf here.


MY RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended
This is an exciting book to introduce to kids. Children of both genders will enjoy the action and girls will be drawn to the female protagonist.

TIME FOR KIDS: COMICS IN CLASS

Time for Kids: Elementary school teachers use it to teach social studies. Created by Time Magazine, TFK is a glossy, color 8-page magazine covering current events that impact the lives of our children. I love using it when I teach and the kids seems to enjoy it.

This week’s edition was of particular interest to me as it dealt with using comic books in the classroom. From TFK:

"In some places, they are part of the lesson. Schools around the country are using comic books to teach reading and other subjects. The Maryland State Department of Education has developed a comic book curriculum using classic Disney comics. After a successful test, it is being used in about 200 classrooms, and continues to expand. The state has introduced a new series of original comic books, Toon Books, in first and second grade. The series was created by Francoise Mouly, art editor of The New Yorker magazine, and her husband, Art Spiegelman, a prizewinning comics artist."

Not everyone thinks it’s a good idea. That’s okay. Those of us who are using them can see the impact on student engagement and learning. As for reading, it takes no time to figure out that the interest in reading skyrockets once comics are added to the curriculum.

Read the Time for Kids article here.

RECOMMENDED FOR FREE COMIC BOOK DAY: GRAPHIC CLASSICS – FCBD SPECIAL EDITION

Middle school and high school literature teachers have a real opportunity ahead of them. There are lots of good titles being offered on Free Comic Book Day, but there is one in particular that these teachers must get their hands on: GRAPHIC CLASSICS – FCBD SPECIAL EDITION. Stories included in this special edition are:

• Edgar Allen Poe’s The Black Cat
• Ambrose Bierce’s Diagnosis
• Arthur Conan Doyle’s John Barrington Cowles
• Mary Shelley’s The Dream
• Lord Dunsany’s A Narrow Escape

Editor Tom Pomplun sent me an advance copy and his book hits the mark. It is a wonderful representation of the others in the series. The art of The Black Cat, in particular, was outstanding – spooky and outstanding. As always, Pomplun uses different artists for different pieces, giving the entire book an eclectic feel. We like that. We have reviewed MARK TWAIN and BRAM STOKER, both from the same series, and they are top notch.

This month, Pomplun put out another book in the series titled FANTASY CLASSICS, which includes such writers as Mary Shelley, Nathaniel Hawthorne, L. Frank Baum, H.P. Lovecraft, Lord Dunsany and Clark Ashton Smith.

Go early to your comic books stores and grab up a copy for your middle school or high school classroom. Be warned: if you get this special edition, you will surely want more for your classroom and your students. That’s a great thing, isn’t it?

You can read a good interview with Tom over at Comics in the Classroom.

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY

It is exactly what it sounds like. Launched six years ago, Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) was a way to promote comics among non-comic readers and help support the local comic shops. Thousands of comic book stores throughout the nation will participate, giving away certain comics designated and printed especially for FCBD. Those comics will have the FCBD logo on them.

Different comic shops run their day differently. Some only allow you to pick up a certain number of comics, while others let you pick up one copy of any designated title.

Teachers and librarians, this is your chance to pick up some comics for free and see what it is all about. Call your local comic books stores, see if they are participating, go early and pick up some free comic books. There are plenty of comics for children, teens and adults, so you should have no problem finding appropriate books. I would, however, suggest going early so you have plenty to choose from.

What comics will be available? You can click on the links below to see what is being offered to the stores. Each store may or may not have all titles. Not all titles are appropriate for children. There are a lot of titles this year that are geared for kids or all ages.

FCBD Gold Sponsors
FCBD Silver Sponsors

Free Comic Book Day
May 3, 2008

COMIC BOOK CONVENTION EXPERIENCE ABOUT PASSION FOR READING

Comic book conventions are cavernous pits of geek-filled adventure overloaded with all manner of artists, writers, exhibitors and costumed fans. Most importantly, though, a con is teeming with excited, rabid readers. At their core, comic fans are people who have a profound love affair with literature.

The stacks of comics carried in arms, boxes and backpacks are a testament to the dedication the readers have to their favorite characters, titles, and to reading itself. Comic literature is no cheap hobby so there must be some kind of payoff for the genre to continue. Comic readers have known for a long time what the general public is just now realizing: Comic literature is a real form of literature worth of scholarly study. The blending of text and images allows for a special experience that is profound and lifelong.

I stopped and took a picture of two boys sitting in the hallway outside the convention floor, pilfering through their plunder. Unable to wait until they got home, these boys sat on the floor for the better part of an hour devouring their comics and playing with comic-related toys. They were experiencing the story.

The same is true for the adult fans in costumes, whose love of story transfers into hand crafted threads and the constant posing for pictures. One fan came in full Iron Man glory. He stood an impressive 7 feet tall and the crowd split as he walked down the rows.

The thirty-some members of the Star Wars costuming organization, 501st Legion – 70th Explorers Garrison, was on hand for the event. The members came from all over the state to participate in the comicon. According to member Gary Schaeperkoetter, who also shared his photos with us, any money the group receives is donated to charity.

Fans stood in long lines, sometimes for hours, just to have their comics and pictures signed by their favorite writers and illustrators. All of it – the long lines, the costumes, the discussions, the hours spent reading and studying characters – is done in the name of literature. To have this kind of passion for reading in our classrooms would give comfort to teachers and parents. Yet there is still resistance as old stereotypes creep in.

Interestingly enough, I find a deep passion for reading when I introduce comics to my fifth graders. I have one girl who wrote her first piece of fan mail after reading volumes 1 and 2 of MAIL ORDER NINJA by Josh Elder. She just about passed out when she found out that I know him. Everyday I line my guided reading table with comics and the kids stand in lines to pick up titles. Many have a hard time doing their morning work (before school really begins) for the urge to read is too strong. When they finish assignments, the kids pick up comics and read. It is amazing. It has been so significant that my cooperating teacher has requested that I design a lesson plan centered around comics.

Time and again I run into people who stop to tell me their hidden stories of comics. These people relate to me that reading comics was the catalyst that got them interested in reading. They hid them behind textbooks and under mattresses. They read them at recess and after school. Some parents would buy them while others scorned them. Yet the children continued to read well into adulthood. Many of these folks end up being the ones who dress up as their favorite comic book or movie character.

It is a strange beast, comic literature, holding power over its readers. The con experience reinforces that love of reading.

(Thanks to Gary Schaeperkoetter who gave us permission to use his con photos.)

WHITE PICKET FENCES

Issue #1 cover

Issue #2 cover

Issue #3 cover

AUTHOR: Matt Anders & Eric Hutchins
ILLUSTRATOR: Micah Farritor
LETTERING: David Hedgecock
PUBLISHER: Ape Entertainment
GENRE: Science Fiction

FORMAT: Comic
ISSUES: 1-3 (of 3)
PAGES: 32 pages each
COLOR: Full color


STORY SYNOPSIS
Charlie and his friends are living their happy lives by playing war, while their families are preparing the emergency bomb shelters for the shadow that is the “red scare.” In this LEAVE IT TO BEAVER world, the danger is not from a communist country, but from a red-skinned, yellow-blooded alien race of beings.

A deal was struck and treaties signed. The good guys were supposed to destroy the alien technology in their possession, and in trade for doing so the aliens agreed not to invade the blue planet. The great government did not hold up its bargain, choosing instead to hide the alien weapon in a barn in the Midwest. The barn was supposed to be haunted, said the locals.

Telling kids to stay away from a building because it is haunted never works. Eventually, some daredevil kid makes his or her way inside. Charlie did just that, but when he accidentally found the technology, he made off with it, setting off alarms with the Army and the aliens. Now Charlie and his friends must find a way to give the bomb back and stop the destruction of the entire planet.


REVIEW
I am not the first to see the LEAVE IT TO BEAVER connection here. If the writing did not give that away the art surely would. WHITE PICKET FENCES has a retro feel that is reminiscent of early American comics … well in a manner of speaking. It is the art, and not the story, that gives this title its unique appeal. With a white washed feeling, subdued colors and pencil work, WHITE PICKET FENCES stands out among other titles. The writing certainly accentuates this by creating a 1950’s apocalyptic world.

At one point in issue #1, Charlie lies to his father and says he and his friends are going to city hall to see what is going on. His father replies: “That’s great, son. I’m happy that you are taking an interest in what’s going on in your town.” This ideology goes back to early America. Schools were originally designed to create civically minded citizens, a goal that has continued to present day. We could see Charlie having a Huckleberry Finn transition from seeing the world as a boy, to becoming a symbol of strength and courage.

WHITE PICKET FENCES views the world from a certain political perspective. When the device is stolen by Charlie, the weapon is activated and destroys a satellite in space. This alerts the aliens and the army, who in turn invades and occupies the town with tanks and armed soldiers. The people are terrified. Even Charlie’s next door neighbor who saluted the soldiers as they came into town ended up hiding in his bomb shelter.

The army and the government are portrayed as corrupt on an administrative level, but the boys on the ground, the soldiers, are seen as kind but incompetent. An 11-year-old boy is able to make his way into the barn where it all began by simply distracting the soldiers guarding it.

So is WHITE PICKET FENCES a metaphor for the Iraq War and the occupation therein? I do not know. Certainly a teacher could use this comic as a way to talk about current events, but I would be cautious about somehow presenting the war from a particular political viewpoint, unless the opposite view is also represented. Teachers are facilitators of learning and should encourage children to discover truth on their own.

If a teacher were to use WHITE PICKET FENCES in the classroom, then he or she would want to consider some other issues as well. There are several incomplete sentences with implied cursing such as “you son of a …”. The alien uses a translator that, in a very obscure way, also implies cursing.

The 1950s culture is also appropriately portrayed. The adults smoke and the role of men and women in this period is shown. Women were treated very differently and this book portrays that. Nothing wrong with showing history, but it can offend the sensibilities of some. It would warrant discussion in the classroom.

At the end of each issue is the story of Captain Odyssey, the boys’ comic book hero. It is cute, and adds to the tone of the book, but it could have been written better to tie in to the overarching theme that the writers were attempting. Be that as it may, the female character that appears in issue #3 is nearly naked – Britney Spears kind of naked – and it does not play well for a title that is labeled by the publisher as All Ages. That certainly would hamper a teacher’s ability to use the book in the classroom.

Issue #1, page 4

Issue #1, page 7

Issue #1, page 9

AGE RECOMMENDATION
My Rating: Ages 12 and older
Publisher’s Recommendation: All Ages

Overall, this book is fine for kids. Many a child has played army and can relate to the pretend play going on. However, the near nudity at the end of issue #3 is very problematic.


MY RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended with Strong Reservations
I have strong reservations because of the hyper-sexualization of women portrayed in the Captain Odyssey section at the end of issue #3. It is too bad, really, because WHITE PICKET FENCES offers an interesting look into our past, present and future all at the same time, making way for good discussions about current political events.

IN THE CLASSROOM THIS WEEK

Good news this week. TGC has teamed up with a fifth grade class, and I am helping them create their own comics. The top three will be published at The Graphic Classroom. More details to follow.

Here is the list this week:

1. The Batman Strikes! #44
2. The Goblin Chronicles #2
3. Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century #13
4. Marvel Adventures: The Avengers #23