Wolverine: Snikt!

Synopsis

Logan is whisked through time to fight a hoard of semi-robotic organic creatures called Mandates. A girl named Fusa believes the only hope for humanity is the Wolverine, with his adamantium claws seeming to be the only weapon capable of destroying these Mandates. Will Logan be enough to take on this horrifying conglomerate? Find out in this re-released limited series, Wolverine: Snikt!  

Review and Recommendation

When I stumbled upon Wolverine: Snikt! at the start of 2024, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the version I had picked up was a deluxe re-release from 2003. What immediately caught my attention was the fresh take on the iconic Marvel character, Wolverine, as the manga artist Tsutomu Nihei envisioned. The art style and plot felt like a perfect fit for Wolverine’s character. The novel is not weighed down by heavy dialogue, instead, it focuses on the action and ferocity of Wolverine with a sci-fi twist, which is beautifully reflected in the coloring of the images reminiscent of The Matrix. Overall, I thought this graphic novel was a quick and enjoyable read. I recommend Wolverine: Snikt! if you’re a  Wolverine or Sci-fi fan. 

Cautions

*Spoiler Alert* (A spoiler alert is being issued because there are mentions of specific plot points that relate to the rating of this review.) 

Wolverine: Snikt! has a rating of T+ and is recommended for older teens due to violence and gore. Several panels show Wolverine ripping apart these robotic organisms called Mandates with his adamantium claws. Other than the violence and gore in this comic, I noticed no foul language or innuendos. Based on the graphic violence and gore, I would still recommend this comic for older teen readers.

Avatar: The Last Airbender - Team Avatar Tales

Synopsis

Saddle up your air bison and plunge into the thrilling world of Avatar the Last Airbender with the captivating graphic novel Team Avatar Tales. This anthology collection follows the lives of Aang and his friends on some of their shorter adventures. Find out what life is like for Team Avatar when they’re not battling it out with the Fire Nation. Whether you're a die-hard fan or newly discovering the Avatar: The Last Airbender series, you will surely enjoy this small collection.

Review and Recommendation

With its resurgence on Netflix and my students' newfound interest in everything related to Avatar: The Last Airbender, I decided to reenter the world of Avatar again through comic book form. I had no idea a graphic novel version of Avatar existed until a few months ago when my students discovered them at our school library. I did not grow up with the Avatar series. I had heard about it throughout middle and high school, but I didn’t watch the show until I was in my twenties, when the entire series was available to stream. I thought the animated series was incredibly well crafted, with intricate world-building and a slew of loveable and fierce characters. The graphic novel series is no different. The collection has several books, some connected and others almost in a digest comic form. Team Avatar Tales is similar to a digest comic in that the stories are not strictly connected and are told in around ten pages or less. I liked this choice for this book because it showcased different art styles and stories without using the same characters throughout. Some stories are hilarious (Toph and the Boulder was the absolute best), while others have a slightly more serious tone, but there is always a meaningful message at the end. Overall, Team Avatar Tales is a great and quick read for fans or anyone just getting interested in the Avatar: The Last Airbender universe.

Cautions

*Spoiler Alert* (A spoiler alert is being issued because there are mentions of specific plot points that relate to the rating of this review.)

Team Avatar Tales is thoughtfully tailored for young readers, featuring only mild action and violence. There is a single instance where a shop owner refers to Suki and another woman as “mouthy broads.” However, this is a minor element in an otherwise perfectly suitable comic for all readers, providing a reassuring choice for parents and guardians.

Real Friends

Synopsis

Making friends and keeping those friends is more challenging than it may seem. Shannon Hale is kind, creative, and super funny. You would think these qualities would be all Shannon’s best friend. Adrienne would need to stay friends with Shannon only forever.  However, when Adrienne befriends Jen, everything begins to change. As new friends are introduced and a group called “The Group” is formed, can a great personality keep those old friendships together forever? Or are some friendships only meant to be temporary? Read for yourself in the graphic novel Real Friends. 

Review and Recommendation

Real Friends is an autobiography of the author Shannon Hale’s life, specifically during elementary school. It’s obvious this graphic novel was meant for younger audiences. The adolescent voice and tone accurately represent the author’s young life as she remembers it.  The plot unfolds smoothly and linearly, each chapter representing a new friend or friends she meets throughout her young life. The novel does a great job depicting the realities many young children face at school, struggling to find true friends that last a lifetime. The story reminded me of my struggles with friendship at that time in my life and the constant ups and downs of figuring out my identity and friendships that will keep. Overall, Real Friends is a touching and authentic portrayal of the ups and downs of childhood friendships. With its engaging narrative and relatable characters, it's a book that resonates with all readers, sparking meaningful conversations about empathy, acceptance, and the power of true friendship.

Cautions

*Spoiler Alert* (A spoiler alert is being issued because there are mentions of specific plot points that relate to the rating of this review.) 

Real Friends is a graphic novel intended for young readers. It contains some mild crude humor and depictions of bullying. However, I still recommend that this novel is acceptable for young readers. 

Space Boy Volume 3

Synopsis 

Amy has settled into her life on Earth with a small group of friends and is also a new member of the Agriculture Club, where she can enjoy playing with baby chicks. She is still secretly developing her friendship with Oliver for fear that her other friends won’t understand. Although Amy is enjoying her new life, she still misses her old friend from the mining colony. She wants so desperately to call but is afraid that her friend has changed so much that she won’t want to be her friend anymore. There’s also the matter of the Homecoming Dance and what that even means. There’s lots to catch up on in this next volume of Space Boy. 

Review and Recommendation 

Volume three of Space Boy was faster-paced than the previous volumes, but it still keeps the engagement factor. The series' theme continues to be grief and loss, but both Amy and Oliver experience a lot of joy together. They are becoming close friends and relying on each other for advice even when that advice is difficult to take. Amy is still struggling to call her best friend from the mining colony because she fears that her friend has changed to the point where she would no longer want a friendship with Amy. Oliver is there to help coax Amy into seeing the positives of reaching out to her friend and not just leaving her in the past. I like the relationship between Oliver and Amy because their dynamic is based on friendship and not a romantic relationship (although I’m sure later in the series, it will develop into a romantic one). Their relationship alone is a huge reason why I recommend this series. This represents a positive relationship between a boy and a girl, which I want to see more of in literature and other series. The pacing, characters, art, and storyline are incredible and fun to read. 

Cautions 

There is nothing to caution about in the third volume of Space Boy. There are still similar themes throughout the series of grief and loss, but nothing inappropriate for younger audiences. I still rate this series and volume as appropriate for all audiences. 

Space Boy Volume 2

Synopsis 

The flavorless Oliver and charming Amy return in volume 2 of Space Boy. Amy is still adjusting to life on Earth and enjoying almost every minute of her new life. She has made a few close friends who help her navigate high school, and she finds immense joy in all things mundane and simple. This optimistic perspective improves Oliver, and an unlikely friendship is formed. Oliver and Amy may have different views on life, but they still feel alien to their peers and find comfort in each other. 

Review and Recommendation 

Yet another Space Boy volume devoured by me. I am addicted to this series. It’s a very comforting, highly engaging story with a deep storyline. This series could have easily been a soap opera-y futuristic teen drama about the struggles of being young and surviving high school, but it is far from this narrative. There are depth and philosophical questions sprinkled throughout the story from Oliver and Amy. Even though she seems happy and optimistic, Amy struggles to find deeper connections with her peers and friends because she has had to leave her old life behind. Oliver is the only one she can confide her feelings to because of his honesty and understanding of being different from his peers. The connection these two characters have is interesting to read as they learn from each other and cope with their struggles. Space Boy is a highly addictive series that I’ve bought even more volumes. This series is a must-read for fall! 

Cautions 

There is nothing to caution about in the second volume of Space Boy. There are still similar themes about grief and loss from volume 1 to volume 2, but nothing that would be inappropriate for younger readers. I still rate this volume as appropriate for all audiences. 

Space Boy Volume 1

Synopsis 

A girl from the past who associates people’s personalities with flavors meets a boy with no flavor and a mysteriously tragic past. Amy lives an everyday life on a mining colony in deep space with her friends and family. Everything is great until her father is suddenly terminated from his position in the mine and is told he and his family must return to Earth. The move wouldn’t be so terrible if it didn’t take thirty years to reach Earth. With her friends now grown and adjusting to a new planet, Amy tries to make the best of her situation when she meets a mysterious boy named Oliver. Amy is warned to stay away from Oliver, but she can’t help but be drawn to him. Amy must figure out if Oliver truly has no flavor or if he’s hiding it deep within. 

Review and Recommendation 

I came across the series Space Boy by complete accident. I am a massive fan of Dark Horse Publishing, and when I saw the logo on the spine of Space Boy, I knew I had to read the first volume at least. It wasn’t until I finished reading the first volume that I realized this series was previously a webtoon. I have only read a few webtoons, but what I’ve read I have thoroughly enjoyed. Space Boy was no exception; this read was an incredible experience. The story reminded me of the innocence of an early Disney movie, with a realistic story about the human experience and the bitterness of coping with loss and grief. The plot blended so well with the pacing that the story had minimal lag. I found myself flipping through pages without a single dull moment. Amy and Oliver’s characters are relatable even though their circumstances seem a bit far from what an average human might experience. I felt so engaged in every new experience Amy went through, and the introduction of Oliver and his potential romance with Amy had me sold. If you’re looking for a heartwarming read with depth, I recommend you read Space Boy. 

Cautions 

The tone and mood in Space Boy shift from carefree and lighthearted to loss and grief, but it’s not so drastic that it would be triggering to read. There is nothing that caught my attention as too mature for younger readers. No inappropriate language or situations would cause me not to recommend this book to a young audience. Space Boy is an appropriate read for all ages. 

Button Pusher

Synopsis 

Button Pusher is a true-to-life novel about the ups and downs of growing up with an ADHD diagnosis and the ever-changing treatments for this condition. The story follows Tyler, a pre-teen boy who is very bright and intelligent but struggles to focus in school and control his impulses. After being misdiagnosed and mislabeled, his family and doctor discovered that Tyler may have ADHD. On top of the new medication and his body's acceptance and rejection of said medication, Tyler struggles with his parents' constant fighting at home. Button Pusher is Tyler's emotional, eye-opening, and sometimes funny journey of navigating his life with ADHD. 

Review and Recommendation 

*Spoiler Alert* (A spoiler alert is being issued because there are mentions of specific plot points that relate to the rating of this review.) 

Button Pusher was very well written and sketched. Some panels didn’t have words, but I could still see the story's progression and understand what was going on in the plot. The story is realistic (the novel is described as an autobiographical account of the author’s life) and emotional. As I was reading the book, I genuinely felt the main character's struggles and how difficult it is to have ADHD and not know why you think these impulses to do random things. I have taught multiple grade levels and seen what ADHD looks like in my classroom. I’ve read several books about ADHD, and not one has explained the impact of ADHD better than Button Pusher. I felt I could put myself in the shoes of someone with this diagnosis. I highly recommend parents, teachers, administrators, or anyone interested in understanding ADHD read this book. I believe that younger audiences would also enjoy this book. However, the jargon and themes of trauma and domestic abuse may be triggering or difficult for younger readers. I thought certain sections were written more for an older audience. For example, the story cuts between panels of a graphic novel to short blips about neurology and biology with the actual doctor's notes about the author. (The doctor's notes were an interesting touch that brought an even deeper meaning to the story's overall message.) Overall, I do recommend this book to anyone that is either struggling with ADHD or is interested in learning more about ADHD. Younger readers may want to be in middle or high school to understand the messages in Button Pusher. 

Cautions 

There are some instances in the novel that could be triggering for readers, such as domestic abuse and language. Language is a little bit harsh as the father in the story swears at his children and wife in the story. Most of the swearing is replaced with symbols to infer the offensive language used by the father. There are also scenes of domestic abuse where the father is verbally abusive and hits a wall.