#tnlreadrev

[the-nerdy-librarian]

The Witch Boy

By Molly Ostertag

Published: 10/31/2017

Source : Scholastic books

The Witch Boy is a graphic novel, telling the story of Aster. In Aster's family, girls become witches and boys become shapeshifters - but Aster's skills lie in witchcraft, and he can't shapeshift.

This story has a really good portrayal of a child dealing with gender bias in his family. There's a definite analogy to LGBT+ and particularly transgender themes, and I'd recommend this book for a reader struggling with gender identity issues. The themes and language are appropriate for a younger audience, and it's easy to read, but it's enjoyable and relevant for teens or adults, as well.

[the-nerdy-librarian]

Carry On

By Rainbow Rowell

(This is not for class, but one of the books I'm currently (re) reading for pleasure. )

My first review of this book: "Harry Potter was my childhood. Carry On, while definitely not a rip-off, fills a very similar niche - it's as if the genre's grown up with me and provided a new favorite for my older self. Baz is snarky, witty, and absolutely my favorite. Simon is clumsy and sweet and heroic and everything I want from a Chosen One trope, and the gay is just icing on the cake. Add an interesting (and not completely obvious) plot and a fun supporting cast, and Carry On is a well-written, great read all around."

Currently, I'm listening to the story again as an audiobook. Euan Morton does a great job with the narration, bringing the feel and attitude to each character as he reads from their perspective. Everything I felt after the first read-through is the same, and yes - Baz is still absolutely my favorite!

Carry On is a fantasy novel playing on the tropes that readers are familiar with from Harry Potter - the british wizard boarding school, the Chosen One, the snarky upper-class rival, smart and sassy female bff, headmaster as mentor, and others. It brings them all together in a way that's a ton of fun, bringing new content to a beloved genre. Also, the LGBT romance between the two main characters is the most awkward, adorable thing I've read in ages.

Recommended for anyone who likes Harry Potter, LGBT romance/comedy, coming-of-age novels, or reading fanfiction*.

*Note: this story is actually a novelized version of the story mentioned in Rowell's book "Fangirl." If you liked one, you should check out the other! (Fangirl is in my to-read stack at the moment.)

[the-nerdy-librarian]

Heart of Iron By Ashley Poston Published 2/27/2018 I just finished this book a couple of days ago, and wow! I've loved Ashley Poston since I picked up Geekerella on a whim, and Heart of Iron did not disappoint. I am DYING for the sequel. Ana is a sassy space pirate, and the heroine we deserve. Without spoilers - she finds herself at the center of a massive, galactic conspiracy, complete with brainwashing, evil robots, and other fun tropes done VERY well. Beyond the main heroine, there's a whole cast of amazing supporting characters - D09, or Di, is a robot struggling to find identity and emotion in an unfriendly universe. He and Ana are #goals, at least until... ((Ominous spoiler noises)) Super badass space pirate Captain Siege is the best Space Mom, kicking ass and taking names. She's married to an equally awesome, equally female member of her crew. Jax, the Solani psychic pilot and Robb the runaway nobleman are equally #goals, and super adorable in their vain attempt not to be epically gay for each other. ((Mild spoilers ahead)) Basically, it's Firefly meets Anastasia, with strong, flawed female characters, strong, flawed male characters, and representation for multiple variations on gender and sexuality. Also - non-white space princess!

[the-nerdy-librarian]

Jessica Jones, Vol. 1: Uncaged!

Collecting Jessica Jones (2016) #1-6

By Brian Michael Bendis, Michael Gaydos, Matt Hollingsworth. Cover by David Mack

Source : Marvel Comics

Published: May 10, 2017

Jessica Jones is one of Marvel's darker, "grittier" superheroes, and has had increased popularity since the release of the Netflix Series by her name in late 2015. A former superhero, Jessica is a private detective in New York, and is set apart from many other superheroes due to her more down-to-earth nature. She doesn't wear a costume (anymore), she cusses, she screws things up. She doesn't always manage to save the day, but that's part of what makes her feel more 'real' than the Avengers crowd. As the review on the cover states - you just can't help but root for her, even when she's fucking everything up.

This series of issues starts with Jessica's release from prison, and deals with themes of family, betrayal and crime. The art is dark and choppy, with a lot of black and shadows. This gives the comic a slightly uncomfortable, noir feel, which works well with the unhappy story. This comic is not for younger readers - there is explicit language, violence and adult themes, and there's actually a parental advisory on the cover of the issues (though not on the image I used for this post).

I'd recommend it for fans of the Netflix series, and people who enjoy darker, more adult comics.

[the-nerdy-librarian]

Avatar : The Last Airbender - The Search

By Gene Luen Yang, Gurihiru

Published: 07/02/2013

Source : Dark Horse Comics

This book is part of a longer series of comics derivative of the cartoon series. The books are sponsored by Nickelodeon but published by Dark Horse, and the art is pretty fun and interesting. It's similar to the show - the characters are very recognizable, but it's not just cookie-cutter from the animation like some derivative comics.

The series is released as short graphic novels - longer than a normal serieal comic but shorter than many other graphic novels. It's broken down into sections that are easier for younger readers to make it through in one reading. There are a number of story arcs, and while they are chronological they also stand alone - this is the beginning of the second story arc in a series of trilogies.

This book takes place after the end of the show, so it is necessary for readers to have seen the cartoon to fully understand what's going on. Fire Lord Zuko grows uncomfortable with how he's treated his family, and lets Azula out of the psych hospital to go looking for their mother with him. He asks the Gaang along to help keep Azula under control, and the result is a new adventure with a very similar feel to the original show. It's a fun, well-written adventure that lets fans of the cartoon enjoy more of the characters they love. Good for kids, teenagers, or anyone who enjoyed the show.

[the-nerdy-librarian]

C'est la vie

By Jennifer Babcock

Published: 02/22/2018

Source: www.gocomics.com

C'est la vie started out as a comic for a university newspaper, and now runs as a webcomic roughly once or twice a week. It features the heavily cynical commentary of a Parisian living in America, mainly told through her conversations with her stuffed rabbit, Monsieur Smokey.

C'est la vie is incredibly cynical and sarcastic, and the dark tone of the humor is mirrored in the black and white, somewhat angular art style. It tends to cover current events, and some of the humor can be pretty biting, so it's not quite as friendly for wider audiences.

[the-nerdy-librarian]

Doonesbury

By Garry Trudeau

Publication date: 03/25/2018

Source : www.gocomics.com

Doonesbury is a daily comic, published in a lot of newspapers. It tends to be cynical and political in it's messages, and covers a lot of topics related to current events.

The art style is what I would consider "traditional" for current newspaper strips. Detailed, but not too detailed. The characters look and feel like caricatures - which is appropriate because they usually are.

The humor tends to lean towards the sarcastic, and Trudeau is not afraid to mock the powerful (as can be seen above.) Overall a fun comic, aimed at adults with timely humor.

[the-nerdy-librarian]

Dream of the Rarebit Fiend

Author: Windsor McKay

Publication date: 10/29/1904

Source : www.comicstriplibrary.org

This is what's referred to as a "heritage strip" - an early comic strip from before 1940 and long before the superhero era. This strip was printed weekly in newspapers, and each strip depicts a character having a weird and disturbing dream. The dreams are usually blamed on indigestion.

I struggled with these strips due to the language and art style - they're very much an older style than modern comics, and feel simplistic when compared with more recent releases. However, looking past that to the humor, a lot of the jokes are still funny - some things are universal, and everyone has ridiculous dreams every once in a while.