Classic European style / tradition comic books

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Book SynopsisOffers a critical examination of children's and YA comics. The anthology is divided into five sections: structure and narration; transmedia; pedagogy; gender and sexuality; and identity, that reflect crucial issues and recurring topics in comics scholarship during the twenty-first century. The contributors are likewise drawn from a diverse array of disciplines.

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Book SynopsisAnya could really use a friend. But her new BFF isn''t kidding about the "Forever" part . . . Of all the things Anya expected to find at the bottom of an old well, a new friend was not one of them. Especially not a new friend who''s been dead for a century. Falling down a well is bad enough, but Anya''s normal life might actually be worse. She''s embarrassed by her family, self-conscious about her body, and she''s pretty much given up on fitting in at school. A new friendeven a ghostis just what she needs. Or so she thinks. Spooky, sardonic, and secretly sincere, Anya''s Ghost is a wonderfully entertaining debut graphic novel from author/artist Vera Brosgol.This title has Common Core connections.Anya''s Ghost is a 2011 Kirkus Best Teen Books of the Year title. One of School Library Journal''s Best Fiction Books of 2011.One of Horn Book''s Best Fiction Books of 2011.Winner of the 2012 Eisner Award for Best Publication for Young Adults (Ages 12-17)

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Book SynopsisWelcome to Stately Academy, a school which is just crawling with mysteries to be solved! The founder of the school left many clues and puzzles to challenge his enterprising students. Using their wits and their growing prowess with coding, Hopper and her friend Eni are going to solve the mystery of Stately Academy no matter what it takes! From graphic novel superstar (and high school computer programming teacher) Gene Luen Yang comes a wildly entertaining new series that combines logic puzzles and basic coding instruction with a page-turning mystery plot!

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Book SynopsisWith a carefree outlook on life, Hiroto knows better than anyone that slowing down is sometimes the best way to move forward.At 29 years old, carefree Hiroto Ikuta doesn’t have a girlfriend, a full-time job, or a plan for the future—and he couldn’t be happier. Hiroto’s breezy attitude isn’t easy for everyone to understand, though. In a world filled with anxiety, confusion, and grief, Hiroto and the people who surround him are all just doing their best to figure out this thing called life.After developing an unlikely friendship with the grouchy old woman who lives in his neighborhood, Hiroto suddenly finds himself inheriting not just her house but some rather difficult emotions as well. His 18-year-old cousin, Natsumi, moves in with him, but as a struggling art student, she has her own troubles to deal with and may just put Hiroto’s easygoing lifestyle to the test.

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Book SynopsisThe best-selling series from Eisner-nominated Takehiko Inoue, one of Japan’s greatest manga creators.

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Book SynopsisCELEBRATE SCOTT PILGRIM’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY WITH THE ORIGINAL STORY THAT INSPIRED THE BELOVED MOVIE AND THE NEW NETFLIX ANIME! When Scott Pilgrim meets Ramona Flowers, sparks fly. Discover the graphic novel series that captured the imagination of fans around the world. Collecting all six black-and-white digest-sized volumes in one gorgeous slipcase with an exclusive poster, this is the classic Scott Pilgrim experience.

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Book SynopsisTravelling to Hong Kong to visit the Chinese branch of her family, Yoko is attacked by a massive, lizard-like creature. She finds a string of scientific clues and evidence, but as the pragmatic electronics engineer's investigation progresses, the trail leads her to a mysterious little girl-and a sense of wonder that will change her life forever.

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Book SynopsisFrom New York Times bestselling and Newbery Medal-winning author Neil Gaiman comes an affirming poem for unconventional, powerful, growing daughters at any age. A much-loved baby grows into a young woman: brave, adventurous, and lucky. Exploring, traveling, bathed in sunshine, surrounded by the wonders of the world. What every new parent or parent-to-be dreams of for her child, what every girl dreams of for herself.Neil Gaiman and beloved illustrator Charles Vess turn a wish for a new daughter into a book that celebrates the glory of growing up: a perfect gift for girls embarking on all the journeys of life, for their parents, and for everyone who loves them.This beautiful picture book is a lovely graduation or baby shower gift.

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Book SynopsisOne of the most iconic characters in children's literatureHergé's classic comic book creation Tintin is one of the most recognisable characters in children's books. These highly collectible editions of the original 24 adventures will delight Tintin fans old and new. Perfect for lovers of graphic novels, mysteries and historical adventures.The world's most famous travelling reporter learns the secret of the Unicorn.When Tintin stumbles across a model ship at the Old Street Market, he buys it as a gift for his friend Captain Haddock. But this isn't just any old model ship it's the Unicorn. Built by one of Haddock's ancestors it holds a clue to finding the treasure of a notorious pirate.Join the most iconic character in comics as he embarks on an extraordinary adventure spanning historical and political events, and thrilling mysteries. Still selling over 100,000 copies every year in the UK and having been adapted for the silver screen by Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson in 2011.The AdvTrade ReviewTintin shows young readers that the world in all its complexity is theirs to bestride. (The Wall Street Journal) I became enthralled with the way Hergé told his stories. Grand, epic, global adventures about a young reporter who goes all around the world looking for stories to tell. (Steven Spielberg, 'The Adventures of Spielberg: An Interview', The New York Times, 2011) Top 100 Children’s Book – Time Out (2022) Terrific world-straddling adventures. (Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Ten Essential Children’s Books, Books for Keeps, 2020) The Red Sea Sharks was named one of Young Bond author Charlie Higson’s favourite books in The Daily Express: “Tintin was a huge inspiration being a young person in an adult world.” (2015) Explorers of the Moon was named one of comedian Milton Jones’ favourite books in The Daily Express (2018) Explorers of the Moon was named one of screenwriter and best-selling crime novelist Peter May’s favourite books in The Daily Express: “A childhood favourite…it encouraged me to create my own cartoon series.” (2016) The Calculus Affair was named one of author and foreign correspondent Christian Jennings’ favourite books in The Week (2017)

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Book Synopsis?A sweeping story, gorgeously drawn and beautifully told ? this is Craig Thompson?s masterpiece.? ?Joe Sacco, author of Palestine and Paying the LandFrom the celebrated author of Blankets and Habibi comesa new graphic memoir exploring the class divide, childhood labor, family, and our globalized world?all centered on Wisconsin''s ginseng farming industryWhen Blankets first published in 2003, Craig Thompson''s seminal memoir about first love and faith lost in rural Wisconsin debuted to rapturous acclaim. The winner of two Eisner and three Harvey Awards, it is to this day considered one of the all-time great works of graphic storytelling. Now, in Craig''s long-awaited return to the autobiographical form, comes the story that Blankets left out.Ginseng Roots follows Craig and his siblings, who spent the summers of their youth weeding and harvesting rows of coveted American ginseng on rural Wisconsin farms for one dollar an hour. In his trademark breathtaking pen-and-ink work, Craig interweaves this lost youth with the 300-year-old history of the global ginseng trade and the many lives it has tied together?from ginseng hunters in ancient China, to industrial farmers and migrant harvesters in the American Midwest, to his own family still grappling with the aftershocks of the bitter past.Stretching from Marathon, Wisconsin, to Northeast China, Ginseng Roots charts the rise of industrial agriculture, the decline of American labor, and the search for a sense of home in a rapidly changing world.

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Book SynopsisMighty Apollo is known by all as the god of the sun, but there's more to this Olympian than a bright smile and a shining chariot. In the latest volume of Olympians, New York Times bestselling author George O'Connor continues to turn his extensive knowledge of the original Greek myths into rip-roaring graphic novel storytelling.

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Book SynopsisFollowing little Shannon's life from kindergarten through fifth grade, Real Friends captures the emotional roller coaster ride of friendship, from navigating the tricky waters of cliques and bullies to her never-ending struggle to stay in 'The Group.' Shannon's honest and heartfelt story reminds us of how hard it was to learn what real friends are - and why finding them is worth the journey.

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Book SynopsisScott Pilgrim has faced down six of Ramona Flowers' evil exes. But now that the happy couple is no more, was it even worth it? And if Scott and Ramona aren't together, then why do the ominous messages from Gideon Graves keep coming? This the end of the Scott Pilgrim saga like you've never seen it before - in full, glorious color with a bevy of extras! This is truly Scott Pilgrim's finest hour!

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Blossoms and Bones describes what it’s like to have an eating disorder in a way I’ve never seen described before—the sudden, out-of-the-blue obsession with food and the sudden inability to recognize oneself through the obsession. Krans is a powerful storyteller: she is intuitive and direct in her words and drawings. In describing this thing that I’ve never seen described, she's taken the power of shame away from it for me—and, I hope, also for herself.” — Liana Finck, cartoonist and author of Excuse Me “I wish we all could make books like this: like if a wail could be tender, and if a scribble could contain all of humanity’s language. This book amazes.” — Tom Hart, New York Times bestselling author of Rosalie Lightning “Required reading for anyone who needs to move through hard times and find the light within us all.” — Tommy Rosen, author of Recovery 2.0 “Shocking and compassionate images that produce remarkable insights and eventually crack the bones of sorrow to release the eternal buds of renewal.” — Michael Meade, author of The Genius Myth “A revelation...a vast landscape of forgiveness, truth and possibility.” — Elena Brower, bestselling author of Practice You "Kim's message is so moving—and incredibly important at this time, when so many people are struggling with disordered eating, addiction, and limiting beliefs. In Blossoms and Bones, Kim combines honest, vulnerable storytelling with beautiful, arresting artwork to create an inspiring and completely original memoir." — Gabrielle Bernstein, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Universe Has Your Back “A combination diary and sketchbook, Krans’s depiction of her 40 days spent at an ashram recovering from an eating disorder, divorce, and multiple miscarriages is raw and, for anyone who’s wrestled the demons of perfectionism, intensely relatable....Krans’s work literally pushes the boundaries of the page. The result is vulnerable and experimental.” — Publishers Weekly “Krans communicates far beyond the text…using drawing and lettering styles that range from precise and elegant to sketchy and unsettling. Readers who surrender to the hallucinatory feel and flow of this will be rewarded.” — Booklist

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Book SynopsisIn these new adventures, Aaricia is crowned Queen and Thorgal has to face many difficult tests to track down his beloved. They spend some happy days together in the countryside and their first child is announced. Alas, everything is upside down by the jealousy of Shaniah, a teenager who Thorgal turned away. Then Thorgal is taken prisoner on board the Black Galley, where he is turned into a plaything by Veronar, a degenerate tyrant.

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Book SynopsisPatronimo's Apache tribe is still waging war against the white settlers. The damage on both sides is getting heavier and heavier. Lucky Luke is called in to restore the peace between Patronimo's tribe and Colonel O'Nollan. But, while negotiating with both sides, Lucky Luke is perceived as a traitor. Only a wild twist of fate will enable him to come out of this tricky situation unscathed.

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Book SynopsisIn Baghdad the Magnificent, everything is for sale. You can buy goods from all around the world, as well as charms, spells and enchanted items. If you have the gold, you can find anything - even what you need to become Caliph instead of the Caliph. Of course, buying it doesn't mean you know how to use it properly, as the despicable grand vizier Iznogoud finds out again and again...

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Book SynopsisJack might be the only kid in the world who's dreading summer. But he's got a good reason: Summer is when his single mum takes a second job and leaves him at home to watch his autistic kid sister, Maddy. It's a lot of responsibility, and it's boring, too, because Maddy doesn't talk. Ever. But then, one day, she does talk. Maddy tells Jack in no uncertain terms to trade their mum's car for a box of magic beans. It's the best mistake Jack has ever made. The little garden behind his house is about to become home to tiny onion babies running amok, dangerous biting cabbages, and, in a fiery cliff hanger at the end of this first volume: a dragon.

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Book SynopsisMeet Babymouse--the spunky mouse beloved by young readers for more than a decade! When Babymouse shows everyone her talent on the ice, she gets discovered by the famous Coach Bearnakorva. Will her dreams of getting a medal finally come true? This groundbreaking young graphic novel series, full of humor and fun, is a bestseller that’s sold more than three million copies!   Move over, Superman, here comes Babymouse!—The Chicago Sun-TimesTHE G.O.A.T. Best Gymnast. Best speller. Best kazoo player. It seems everyone has a talent except Babymouse. That is, until Babymouse takes to the ice and surprises everyone with her spectacular spins and jubilant jumps. Then the famous Olympic coach, Coach Bearnakorva, discovers her and asks Babymouse to be her new protege. Will Babymouse's dreams of a medal come true? Or is she treading on thin ice? Find out in Skater Girl—the 7th hilarious, action-packed installme

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Book SynopsisTake out your nicest shrouds, dust off your coffins, and slick your spider webs: Melusine invites you to the great vampire ball. The little witch is back in a new series of gags, dreadfully funny as always. All her family is there: the witches Adrazelle and Cancrelune, of course, but also Mister and Madam, the owners of the haunted castle.

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Book SynopsisFelps decides to plant lettuce on his property but rancher Cass Casey's cattle regularly ransacks his grounds. Furious, Felps wants to surround his property by barbed wire, which is regarded as provocation in the Old West. War is declared between the ranchers. Felps hires Lucky Luke for protection, and Lucky Luke will need all his skills as a mediator to reconcile everybody!

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Book SynopsisSeveral months after their adventures in Antarctica, Blake and Mortimer are back in England. Still somewhat shaken after his ordeal, the professor is ordered by his doctor to get some rest. In typical Mortimer fashion, he decides to spend his holidays in Africa - looking for a lost civilisation! Accompanied by Nastasia Wardynska and an old flame of his, he begins tracking down a culture that is older than any ever recorded-but someone is dogging their every step -

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Book SynopsisFox dreams of being the terror of the hen house, but no one on the farm is the least bit intimidated by him - when he picks a fight with a hen, he always ends up on the losing end. He tries to take lessons from his mentor Wolf, but Fox's incompetence always gets in the way. It looks like Fox will have to spend the rest of his life eating turnips. But then Fox and Wolf have a brilliant idea. If Fox steals some eggs, he could raise the chicks himself and have a plump, juicy chicken dinner. But Fox's plans change when three adorable chicks hatch and call him 'Mummy.' Beautifully rendered in watercolour by Benjamin Renner, The Big Bad Fox is a hilarious and surprisingly tender parable about parenthood that's sure to be a hit with new parents (and their kids too).

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Book SynopsisA NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERBen Hatke brings back our intrepid space heroine for another delightful sci-fi/fantasy adventure. Zita is determined to find her way home to earth, following the events of the first book. But things are never simple, and certainly never easy, in space. Zita's exploits from her first adventure have made her an intergalactic megastar! But she's about to find out that fame doesn't come without a price. And who can you trust when your true self is being eclipsed by your public persona, and you've got a robot doppelganger wreaking havoc ...while wearing your face? Still, if anyone can find their way through this intractible mess of mistaken identity and alien invaders, it's the indomitable Zita, in "Legends of Zita the Spacegirl."Legends of Zita the Spacegirl" is one of "Kirkus Reviews'" Best Children's Books of 2012.Trade ReviewZita's moxie is positively contagious, and her adventures are un-put-downable. Readers would be hard-pressed to not find something to like in these tales; they're a winning formula of eye-catching aesthetics and plot and creativity, adeptly executed. "Kirkus Reviews, starred review"

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Book SynopsisThis is a tour-de-force new work by rising indie comics star Gene Yang. "American Born Chinese" maps the adolescent Chinese-American experience through three separate but interwoven stories. One story centres on Jin Wang, a Chinese-American student at an all-white California high school. Jin is plagued by jocks and bullies, so when another Chinese student transfers to the school, Jin wants nothing to do with him. Next is a comic update of the legendary story of the Monkey King, an ancient Chinese morality tale. Finally, there's the gross and surreal stereotype of Chin-Kee, the ultimate negative Chinese cliche, complete with a sitcom-style "laugh track". These three apparently unrelated tales come together in an astonishing climax - all with a mighty blast of humour, surprising poignancy and skilled artistry.Trade ReviewAs alienated kids go, Jin Wang is fairly run-of-the-mill: he eats lunch by himself in a corner of the school-yard, gets picked on by bullies and jocks and develops a sweat-inducing crush on a pretty classmate. And, oh, yes, his parents are from Taiwan. This much-anticipated, affecting store about growing up different is more than just the story of a Chinese-American childhood: it's a fable for every kid born into a body and a life they wished they could escape. The fable is filtered through some very specific cultural icons: the much-beloved Monkey King, a figure familiar to Chinese kids the world over, and a buck-toothed amalgamation of racist stereotypes named Chin-Kee. Jin's hopes and humiliations might be mirrored in Chin-Kee's destructive glee or the Monkey King's struggles to come to terms with himself, but each character's expressions and actions are always perfectly familiar. True to its origin as a Web comic, this story's clear, concise lines and expert coloring are deceptively simple yet expressive. Even when Yang slips in an occasional Chinese ideogram or myth, the sentiments he's depicting need no translation. Yang accomplishes the remarkable feat of practicing what he preaches with this book: accept who you are and you'll already have reached out to others. (Sept.) Publisher's Weekly Graphic novels that focus on nonwhite characters are exceedingly rare in American comics. Enter American Born Chinese, a well-crafted work that aptly explores issues of self-image, cultural identity, transformation, and self-acceptance. In a series of three linked tales, the central characters are introduced: Jin Wang, a teen who meets with ridicule and social isolation when his family moves from San Francisco's Chinatown to an exclusively white suburb; Danny, a popular blond, blue-eyed high school jock whose social status is jeopardized when his goofy, embarrassing Chinese cousin, Chin-Kee, enrolls at his high school; and the Monkey King who, unsatisfied with his current sovereign, desperately longs to be elevated to the status of a god. Their stories converge into a satisfying coming-of-age novel that aptly blends traditional Chinese fables and legends with bathroom humor, action figures, and playground politics. Yang's crisp line drawings, linear panel arrangement, and muted colors provide a strong visual complement to the textual narrative. Like Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye and Laurence Yep's Dragonwings, this novel explores the impact of the American dream on those outside the dominant culture in a finely wrought story that is an effective combination of humor and drama. School Library Journal Gr. 10-12. With vibrant colors and visual panache, indie writer-illustrator Yang (Rosary Comic Book) focuses on three characters in tales that touch on facets of Chinese American life. Jin is a boy faced with the casual racism of fellow students and the pressure of his crush on a Caucasian girl; the Monkey King, a character from Chinese folklore, has attained great power but feels he is being held back because of what the gods perceive as his lowly status; and Danny, a popular high-school student, suffers through an annual visit from his cousin Chin-Kee, a walking, talking compendium of egregious Chinese stereotypes. Each of the characters is flawed but familiar, and, in a clever postmodern twist, all share a deep, unforeseen connection. Yang helps the humor shine by using his art to exaggerate or oppose the words, creating a synthesis that marks an accomplished graphic storyteller. The stories have a simple, engaging sweep to them, but their weighty subjects - shame, racism, and friendship - receive thoughtful, powerful examination. Booklist Three seemingly unrelated stories blend into a memorable tale of growing up Chinese American. The book begins with the ancient fable of the Monkey King, the proud leader of the monkeys. He is punished for entering the god's dinner party by being buried under a mountain for five hundred years. Second in the story of Jin Wang, the son of immigrants struggling to retain his Chinese identity while longing to be more Americanized. The fnial story is that of Cousin Chin-Kee, an amalgamation of the worst Chinese stereotypes. Chin-Kee yearly visits his all-American cousin Danny, causing so much embarrassment that Danny must chage schools. The final chapter unifies the three tales into one version of what it means to be American-born Chinese. This graphic novel first appeared as a long running web comic on www.moderntales.com, where it enjoyed an enthusiastic following. The artwork is clean and distinctive, with varying panel styles and inking that is visually appealing. The Cousin Chin-Kee story line is extremely hyperbolic and at times difficult to read, as it embraces the most extreme negative Chinese stereotypes, but it displays some of the difficulties in perception faced by young Chinese Americans. This graphic novel could be especially cathartic for teens and adults of Asian descent, but people of any ethnicity would find themselves reflected in the universal themes of self-acceptance, peer pressure, and racial tensions. This book is recommended for libraries serving teens and adults, particularly those enjoying graphic novels. Sherrie Willians, VOYA Raised in San Francisco's Chinatown, Jin Wang moves to a new neighborhood and a new school in third grade, where he quickly realizes that he's an oddball among Anglo-American classmates. Further complicating his life is the arrival of a Taiwanese student who latches onto him for companionship and sticks like a burr on through junior high. The picture of dorkiness in his huge eyeglasses, Robo Happy shirt, hiked-up pants, and cowlick, Wei-Chen Sun turns into Jin's closest friend and greatest embarrassment, both a cheerleader and a stumbling block to Jin's efforts to fit into mainstream school life and win the blonde girl of his dreams. Weaving around and ultimately converging with the seriocomic story of Jin's coming-of-age problems are two related tales that comment on issues of identity. In the first, the Chinese legendary Monkey Kong, banished from the gods' dinner party because he is a monkey, perfects his skills and disciplines to the point where he claims to have transcended his monkeyness. As "The Great Sage, Equal of Heaven," he's ready to take on all comers including the creator god Tze-Yo-Tzuh, but he is ultimately punished, humbled, and redirected to the understanding that his freedom will only come through acceptance of his true nature. The last piece of the narrative triad is a sitcom, "Everyone Wuvs Chin-Kee," complete with a laugh track, in which broadly stereotyped Chin-Kee turns up on an annual visit to Americanized cousin Danny and, in a series of classroom episodes that play out Jin Wang's worst nightmares, turns Danny's social life into a shambles. The graphic novel format is particularly well suited to managing the flow of three simultaneous storylines, and the action sequences of the Monkey King's tale and over-the-top satire on the portrayal of immigrants in American pop culture settle right into their spacious frames on the generously white bordered pages. Compositions are tidy and the palette is softly muted, so that even the strongest colors in the action scenes never reach the intensity of a visual assault. Kids fighting an uphill battle to convince parents and teachers of the literary merit of graphic novels will do well to share this title. EB The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books A National Book Award finalist and ALA's Printz Award winner, this fable stars the mythological Monkey King, realistic youngster Jin Wang of Taiwanese parentage, and TV sitcom teen Danny. All three are dogged by an unwanted identity and humiliated by others' prejudice. The Monkey King trains to be a god but is unceremoniously bounced out of heaven and urged by "he who is" (the great god) to be what he is: a monkey. Jin tries to be accepted and romance a fellow student but gets picked on by classmates. Danny does well with friends until Chinese cousin Chin-Kee, a bitingly funny bundle of racist stereotypes, makes his annual visit and behaves so offensively that Danny must change schools. Finally, the three stories suddenly merge, to center on Jin coming to terms with his minority experience and moving beyond his own fear and hostility. Coalescence comes almost too quickly, but the trivision approach and treatment are unique and moving. The art is simple, colorful, and both attractive and effective. Some potty humor; recommended for teen and adult collections. M.C. (from the Graphic Novels column by Martha Cornog & Steve Raiteri), Library Journal American Born Chinese is a graphic novel that tells the story of two protagonists. The Monkey King is a figure from Chinese folklore. Angry at not being admitted to a Heavenly Dinner Party because he isn't wearing shoes, the Monkey King masters the twelve disciplines of King Fu and sets about proving that he is a god to his fellow deities. He does this by beating up anyone who calls him a monkey. Danny, an Asian boy drawn with white features, wants to be like the rest of the kids in his high school. Unfortunately, the arrival of his cousin from China, Chin-Kee, dashes his hopes. Chin-Kee is every cliche about Chinese people (pronounce his name phonetically) rolled into one fun-filled package. Chin-Kee is so full of fun that a laugh track follows him around, but Danny, who has transferred out of two high schools already because of Chin-Kee's past antics, isn't laughing. There is also a third storyline featuring Jin Wang (Danny in junior high) and his best friend, Wei-Chen Sun. This is one of the best graphic novels I've read this year. It reminds me of Derek Kirk Kim's excellent Same Difference and Other Stories, which is also worth purchasing. The three storylines are interrelated, and all have the same theme: accept who you are. Be warned that the character of Chin-Kee will arouse strong feelings: some may find him offensive while others may think he's funny. American Born Chinese contains racial stereotypes, comic book violence, and one urinating monkey (from the back). It is highly recommended for all graphic novel collections. KLIATT Is it so bad to grow up Asian in America? One might be forgiven for asking upon encountering American Born Chinese, a graphic novel that, with its dark exploration of Asian-American adolescence, won last year's Michael L. Printz Award for young adult literature and was also a finalist in its genre for a National Book Award. After all, Asians are widely perceived to have it easier than other minorities in the United States, especially African-Americans, whose coming-of-age struggles have been chronicled for decades by writers like Walter Dean Myers, Jacqueline Woodson and Sharon G. Flake. But in American Born Chinese, Gene Luen Yang makes growing up Chinese in California seem positively terrifying. The narrative is divided into three parts: the coming-of-age tale of the Asian-American Jin Wang, which centers on his relationship with his best friend, Wei-Chen Sun; the fantastical tale of a Monkey King who does not want to be a monkey; and the deeply disturbing story of Chin-Kee, a grotesque who takes every Chinese stereotype and wraps it into a leering, drooling package. Yang seems to use Chin-Kee to express his deepest fears of how others perceive Asian-Americans. In the book's more realistic sections, Wang's friend Wei-Chen is embarrassingly "fresh off the boat"; Chin-Kee is less embarrassing than monstrous. He comes to the United States for an extended visit with Danny, his blond, blue-eyed cousin, and enters with a shout of "Harro Amellica!" (The author uses Chin-Kee's L/R switch to great effect - at one point he says he's having a "lorricking good time" in his new school.) He wants to bind the feet of Danny's attractive study partner. His eyes are pupil-less slits. And he dominates Danny's classes, reminding us that the image of a Chinese student filling out all the SAT bubbles correctly can be as damaging as one eating "flied cat gizzards." More disquieting than Chin-Kee himself is the reaction of his American peers. They accept him with blank, idealized political correctness. Only when he begins to engage in truly disgusting behavior do they turn on him. It is as if Chin-Kee is trying to make others despise him. While Chin-Kee's coolie outfit harks back to the 19th century, Yang - who teaches high school computer science in San Francisco - also takes from modern sources. In one scene, Chin-Kee dances on a table singing "She Bangs" in the style of William Hung, the Berkeley student who turned a ridiculed American Idol audition into a brief singing career in 2004. Hung's hooks were his geeky appearance and accent; his music video soaked him in bling and surrounded him with backup dancers to drive home the point that he would never have bling or backup dancers. American Born Chinese blends Chinese and American cultures in inventive, unexpected ways. Structurally, its interwoven stories form a trilogy - a familiar Western construction - but the tale of the Monkey King is dominated by groups of four: four Major Heavenly Disciplines of kung fu; four emissaries of Tze-Yo-Tzuh, creator of all existence (an invention of Yang's). Thus four, a cursed number in Chinese numerology, dogs the Monkey King until he comes to terms with his identity. At the end of his story, in the book's most clever ethnic synthesis, he turns four to his favor, becoming one of four emissaries to the West who replace the wise men in their pilgrimage to see Jesus. This image of the blending of Asian-American and white cultures will be tested in the coming years. As the white population in America falls below 50 percent, around 2060 (according to census projections), the definition of "white" is once again set to expand as it did for Italian- and Irish-Americans. Who will get to join the club? Or will the club finally fall to pieces? Caught up in these complex questions, it is easy to forget that American Born Chinese also functions well as a comic book. (Many graphic novelists are taking back this once-disparaging term.) The art blends the clean lines of anime with a bold American palette. Yang is equally adept at depicting a high school cafeteria and the Monkey King's fantastical realm. American Born Chinese is sometimes needlessly crass - it opens with a joke about breasts and peaches - and it is hampered by a confusing ending that stretches to resolve the three tales. But with Chin-Kee's striking embodiment of ethnic confusion and self-betrayal, Gene Luen Yang has created that rare article: a youthful tale with something new to say about American youth. NED VIZZINI, New York Times Book Review, Children's Books "

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Book SynopsisThe bloody mutiny was a success, and Long John is now in command of the Neptune. Following their native guide, the survivors find the mouth of the Amazon and sail on towards Guiana-Capac. But after the dangers of the open ocean, it's the unknown terrors of the jungle they must now face with a damaged ship and a reduced crew. To what doom will the lush labyrinth of the Amazon lead Long John, Lady Vivian and Dr Livesey?

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Book SynopsisAs Prime Minister Cao Cao tightens his grip on the emperor and his people, Bei Liu is approached by many, including the emperor himself, who would like to see Cao Cao's reign ended. Oaths are sworn and pledged are written in blood, but spies are everywhere, and one false move will result in blood being spilled on more than just a page.

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Book SynopsisYakari learns from the tribe’s elder that the Sioux haven’t always been the magnificent riders they are now – indeed, that there was a time they didn’t even know what a horse was. Shaken, he speaks a little too demandingly to Little Thunder, wounding his four-legged friend who immediately runs away. Devastated, the young boy will have to track down his companion and find a way to earn his forgiveness if he ever wants to share a gallop with him again...

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Book SynopsisThis humorous series on the American Civil War centres around two cavalrymen in the Unionist Army: Cornelius Chesterfield, a zealous and devoted sergeant and Corporal Blutch, a reluctant soldier, highly critical of authority and who always tries to eschew yet another senseless battle. This highly comical duo does what it can to escape the often obtuse military mindset, absurd orders and the madness of war. In this volume, the Sergeant obeys the Captain for the first time and ends up in the Marine...

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