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Resistance (Book 1) by Carla Jablonski (Illustrated by Leland Purvis)

Review by: Chris Singer

About the author:

Carla Jablonski is a novelist, performer, and playwright. She has written dozens of best-selling books for teenage and middle-grade readers.Her fiction has been translated into ten languages, and her plays have been performed in New York, Philadelphia, and Edinburgh, Scotland.  Her most recent books Thicker than Water and Silent Echoes were selected for the New York Public Llibraries “Books for the Teen Age” list.

About the illustrator:

Leland Purvis is a self-taught comics artist and writer. His major works include the anthology VOX, a creator-owned series called PUBO, and a graphic-novel biography of physicist Niels Bohr, Suspended In Language, written by Jim Ottaviani. Recent works include graphic novels in the Turning Points series from Simon & Schuster. He lives in Brooklyn, NY with his wife, a cat, and a turtle.

About the book:

Fighting on a secret front of World War II, Paul and Marie’s bucolic French country town is almost untouched by the ravages of WWII, but the siblings still live in the shadow of war. Their father is a Prisoner of War, kept hostage by the Germans. When their friend Henri’s parents disappear and Henri goes into hiding because of his Jewish ancestry, Paul and Marie realize they must take a stand. But how can they convince the French Resistance that even children can help in their fight against injustice?

Resistance is the first voulme of a trilogy written by acclaimed teen author Carla Jablonski and illustrated by Leland Purvis.

My take on the book:

This is a really good introduction for middle school readers about life during the Nazi occupation of France. The beauty of the story is Jablonski’s choice to tell the story from the point-of-view of children. She does an excellent job of portraying the characters of Paul, Marie and Henri. Though often brave in their participation with the Resistance, you also see them squabble, bicker, complain and cry — just like your average kid. It’s the realistic portrayal of the children which I really appreciated. Although the children become part of the Resistance and are taking part in dangerous activities, you don’t see them acting like mini-adults. You see their weaknesses but also see the skills they bring to the Resistance (For example, Marie has an excellent memory and is very observant while Paul is a talented artist).

Jablonski also does an excellent job of portraying the underlying tensions of life under occupation, where you’re never exactly sure who you can trust and once-trusted friends may now be your enemy. This aspect of the book is particularly compelling and I think a really good introduction for students about the idea of what exactly living under occupation is and how different lif

Fahrenheit 451: The Authorized Adaptation by Ray Bradbury (Illustrated by Tim Hamilton)

Reviewed by: Chris Singer

About the author:

Ray Bradbury is one of those rare individuals whose writing has changed the way people think. His more than five hundred published works — short stories, novels, plays, screenplays, television scripts, and verse — exemplify the American imagination at its most creative.

Once read, his words are never forgotten. His best-known and most beloved books, THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES, THE ILLUSTRATED MAN, FAHRENHEIT 451 and SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES, are masterworks that readers carry with them over a lifetime. His timeless, constant appeal to audiences young and old has proven him to be one of the truly classic authors of the 20th Century — and the 21st.

In recognition of his stature in the world of literature and the impact he has had on so many for so many years, Bradbury was awarded the National Book Foundation’s 2000 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, an the National Medal of Arts in 2004.

About the illustrator:

Tim Hamilton has produced art for The New York Times Book Review, Cicada magazine, King Features, BOOM Studios, Mad Magazine, and ACT-I-VATE. He most recently adapted Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island into a graphic novel for Puffin Graphics.

About the book:

“Monday burn Millay, Wednesday Whitman, Friday Faulkner, burn ’em to ashes, then burn the ashes.” For Guy Montag, a career fireman for whom kerosene is perfume, this is not just an official slogan. It is a mantra, a duty, a way of life in a tightly monitored world where thinking is dangerous and books are forbidden.

In 1953, Ray Bradbury envisioned one of the world’s most unforgettable dystopian futures, and in Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, the artist Tim Hamilton translates this frightening modern masterpiece into a gorgeously imagined graphic novel. As could only occur with Bradbury’s full cooperation in this authorized adaptation, Hamilton has created a striking work of art that uniquely captures Montag’s awakening to the evil of government-controlled thought and the inestimable value of philosophy, theology, and literature.

Including an original foreword by Ray Bradbury and fully depicting the brilliance and force of his canonic and beloved masterwork, Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 is an exceptional, haunting work of graphic literature.

My take on the book:

Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 is one of my favorite books and when I saw there was a graphic novel version I wanted to review it here on Book Dads.

I don’t think it matters if this is your first introduction to 451 or if you’re already a fan of the novel. Either way, you’re going to really enjoy this adaptation. For those familiar with the story, the adaptation stays

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute by Jarrett Krosoczka

Reviewed by: Chris Singer

About the author:

Jarrett J. Krosoczka is the author and illustrator of several picture books and middle grade graphic novels. His work has been short-listed by Newsweek, USA Today, The Boston Globe and The New York Times, among many others. Jarrett’s Punk Farm and Lunch Lady series are both currently in development as feature films.

About the series:

Serving justice . . . and lunch!

Hector, Terrence, and Dee have always wondered about their school lunch lady. What does she do when she isn’t dishing out the daily special? Where does she live? Does she have a lot of cats at home? Little do they know, Lunch Lady doesn’t just serve sloppy joes—she serves justice! Whatever danger lies ahead, it’s no match for LUNCH LADY!

About the book:

(For ages 8-12) Something just didn’t seem right about the new substitute teacher, Mr. Pasteur. Why didn’t he eat any of the Lunch Lady’s famous French Toast sticks? And why did his name sound so familiar? Betty and the Lunch Lady are hot on the case!

My take on the book:

My first encounter with a book by Jarrett Krosoczka was Punk Farm on Tour. I was hooked after the reading Punk Farm’s version of Wheels on the Van! After visiting Jarrett’s terrific website and signing up to participate in the 2011 Graphic Novel Challenge, I decided to read the first book in the Lunch Lady series: Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute.

I have to admit I decided to read and review Lunch Lady based solely on the fact that the series is about a lunch lady who is an undercover superhero. I was rewarded with a fun and quick-paced read that I’m almost 100% positive can get even the most reluctant reader hooked in the first few pages.

The Lunch Lady is a wonderfully designed character who not only is adept in the kitchen, but is also skilled in the use of specially designed food and kitchen gadgets like her Fishstick Nunchucks, Chicken Nugget Bombs and Spatu-Copter.

Like all superheroes, Lunch Lady has a sidekick named Betty. Betty also works in the cafeteria and is a more behind-the-scenes type of sidekick. She does a lot of the super gadget work in a hidden room under the kitchen. She reminded me of Batman’s Alfred or even James Bond’s tech guru Q.

Kids are going to have a blast reading this book and will want to scoop up the rest of the Lunch Lady series. Dads, you’ll enjoy reading these with your kids as well and will be rewarded with their excitement for more.

I will be reviewing the rest of the series over the next month. A new book in the series is coming in early September. There’s