(2) YA Illustrated by Jerel Dye. Color by Alison Acton. This thoroughly researched comic-format account of the world's most well-known physicist is described by its author as "not so much a biography of Albert Einstein as it is a story about him." Storytelling liberties such as a nonlinear narrative, invented dialogue, fourth wall–breaking asides (identified by square word balloons), and scenes of a teenage Einstein visualizing his quintessential white-haired self as running along a beam of light are engagingly theatrical. Complicated scientific concepts, including relativity and space time, are imaginatively portrayed at length through a blend of words and pictures. Einstein's multifaceted personal life is equally examined--including his involvement in geopolitics, experiences of antisemitic attacks, and numerous affairs. Relationships and rivalries with a large cast of world-renowned scientists, from Planck to Curie to Bohr, serve as a constant through line, underscoring the collaborative and competitive nature of early-twentieth-century scientific discourse. Strong cartooning across consistent three-tier page layouts is clear and effective. The hand-inked illustrations are rendered in an undulating black line and muted color palette, punctuated by ethereal blue thought bubbles and visual motifs representing Einstein’s inner life. This nuanced portrayal of the individual behind many of the last century's greatest discoveries is complex and confounding, much like the man himself. Back matter includes a timeline and whimsical coda regarding Einstein's death.

Reviewer: Patrick Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2022

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Jerel Dye. Color by Laurel Lynn Leake and Alex Campbell. In a magical world populated with anthropomorphized "hogfolk," plucky pig Lily Leanchops builds the flying machine that her father, renowned professor Hercules Fatchops, could not and sneaks into the fray against marauding warthogs. Beautifully illustrated in full color and skillfully paced, this graphic novel incorporates common steampunk tropes in its inventive world-building and works a large cast of characters into its complex narrative.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin