(2) 4-6 In this anthology of seven stories, comics creators take the same idea--mysterious boxes--and run with it. Each story--spooky cautionary stories, slapstick humor, tales of enchantment--fits the theme but spins its own twist: part of the fun is anticipating how each will integrate the titular box. The varied illustration styles show off the breadth of comic art.

Reviewer: Robin Brenner | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2012

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Rafael Rosado. Color by John Novak and Matthew Schenk. This winning graphic novel mixes appealing fairy-tale plots with unconventional solutions. Tiny but tough and feistily redheaded, Claudette sets out to kill the rumored local giant. While her quest is straightforward, the lessons learned along the way are suitably complex for older-elementary kids. With bright colors and a simple, caricature-heavy art style, the book reflects animators Aguirre and Rosado's honed skills.

Reviewer: Robin Brenner | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2012

(2) YA Irrepressible Mirka (How Mirka Got Her Sword), an eleven-year-old Orthodox Jewish wannabe warrior, races to rescue Hereville from a meteor strike. A witch transforms the meteorite into a Mirka-clone, and the story is off. Melding fantasy, realism, and imagination in this quirky graphic novel, Deutsch incorporates the particularities of traditional Judaism and the universal foibles of a girl who dreams big but forgets planning ahead.

Reviewer: Robin Brenner | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2012

(3) 4-6 Adapted by Dallas Middaugh. Illustrated by Niklas Asker. This effective graphic novel adapts DuPrau's popular middle-grade dystopic adventure. Middaugh smartly selects dialogue that brings characters to life, while Asker's figure designs, muted tones, and deft panel shifts suit the spirit of exploration, the gritty atmosphere, and the tale's growing tension. This incarnation will please fans of--and invite new readers into--Ember's enticing universe.

Reviewer: Robin Brenner

(2) YA Maggie starts high school after having been homeschooled her entire life. Her mother--her only teacher and the only other female in a house full of men (Maggie has three brothers)--left the family the year before. The mystery of a restless ghost is unresolved but evocative in this graphic novel. However, the strong characters and excellent art give teens a (still rare in comics) girl's slice of life.

Reviewer: Robin Brenner | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2012

(2) YA On an extended trip to Japan with his mother, Japanese American Ichiro's mixed-race heritage makes him feel like an outsider. In this satisfying and thought-provoking graphic novel, Inzana investigates the human tools of war-mongering and propaganda by interweaving mythological and historical examples. The fluid, expressive brushwork brings both the real world and the mythical Japanese creatures to life.

Reviewer: Robin Brenner | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2012

(3) 4-6 Adapted by Hope Larson. In her note-perfect graphic-novel adaptation, Larson's affection for the Murry family's first adventure is clear. She skillfully pins down the sensation of traveling through space by tessering, the changing faces of Mrs. Whatsit, and the dedicated care of Aunt Beast. This version is given enough space, panel by panel, to mark every vital plot twist and character realization.

Reviewer: Robin Brenner

(2) YA Illustrated by Randy DuBurke. This enticing historical-fiction graphic novel reminds readers that not all cowboys were white. Born a slave in 1854 Tennessee, Nat Love gains his freedom, then gains respect and acceptance as a cowboy. While the story integrates maps, letters, and longer stretches of prose, the book knows when to rely on the power of image to move the story forward.

Reviewer: Robin Brenner | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2012

(3) 4-6 Kane Chronicles series. Adapted by Orpheus Collar. Lettered by Jared Fletcher. Siblings Sadie and Carter are pulled into a globe-hopping chase seeking the truth of their family's tangled history with ancient Egyptian deities. The visuals are this graphic novel's biggest draw: Collar's suspenseful action sequences and vibrant colors leap off the page. The adaptation offers no further insight into plot and characterization, but Riordan's fans won't need it.

Reviewer: Robin Brenner

(2) YA The power, violence, and emotional outlet Jack found in the alternate world of Marbury (The Marbury Lens) have proven addictive, and he soon returns. While the first book provided glimpses of hope, here Marbury's relentless grimness is front and center, and while the story provides resolution, it offers difficult truths rather than easy comfort.

Reviewer: Robin Brenner | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2013

(4) YA Illustrated by Jonathan Hill. Reed and Hill explore one teen’s reaction when townspeople call for removal of his favorite fantasy series from the public library. The graphic novel format (incorporating excerpts from the fictional series) keeps the confrontations vivid, emphasizing the universality of Neil's struggle to be heard. Teens may relate to Neil, even though treatment of the censorship debate is simplistic.

Reviewer: Robin Brenner

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Mark Siegel. This memoir follows one girl's journey into dance in the 1970s. As Siena matures into a driven high school student, she progresses from taking classes to attending New York's School of American Ballet. Both narrative and images in this nimble graphic memoir are filled with enthusiasm and humor, chronicling Siena's strongest memories with palpable energy and enjoyment.

Reviewer: Robin Brenner | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2006