SKIM, time out for a great graphic novel
I’ve been doing nasty statistic reports at work, my brain is fried, so I decided I needed a diversion. I used to do this in college when I should have been studying for a final or doing a report. All of a sudden I would start some book that was not what I needed to be reading but wanted to read. I read the “Fire Next Time” by James Baldwin doing that, and can still remember it vividly.
I digress.
Skim
words by Mariko Tamaki
drawings by Jillian Tamaki
Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press
143 pages
Anyway I picked up Skim on Sadie’s recommendation
and I had a library hold on it and it just got back. It really is good. I’ve also discovered I like black and white graphic novels rather than color. The color distracts me from the writing.
(Copyright of this image belongs to Jillian Tamaki)
Jillian Tamaki is the illustrator, Mariko Tamaki the author. It is the teen angst novel, but carried out with subtlety, good dialogue, empathy for the characters, and experiences we’ve all had through the horrifics of growing up. I’m glad the ALA (American Library Association )Great Graphic Novels for Teens List, put this one on it.
Another graphic I read with black & white illustrations was kimmie66 by Aaron Alexovich. Telly’s adventures in virtual reality to find her friend Kimmie. Might want to give that one a try.
While I like these graphics, my disclaimer for parents would be, if you want to know what your child is reading, then read some of their books, and it’s up to you to determine what’s right at what age for your child, I’m not their parent.
Graphic Novels, Get Fables
My first couple of attempts at graphic novels didn’t take, they were very dark and violent and I just couldn’t get into them. But Sadie of Extremelygraphic blog suggested Fables, actually I started with 1001 Nights of Snowfall. 
The illustrations are just incredible, plus it gets you started with the whole Fables series. I just finished Fables: Legends in Exile or it could be titled “Who killed Rose Red?”. 
How can you not like fairy tale characters with all too human personae, The Big Bad Wolf as Bigby, hunky detective; Snow White, very tough second in command of Fabletown and Prince Charming, as less than charming man about town. Characters are introduced through a mystery surrounding the bloody disappearance of Rose Red.
If you haven’t picked up a graphic novel yet, go ahead and try these. Read Sadie’s entry about the planned Fables television series.
