Zombie Haiku. By Ryan Mecum

Title: Zombie Haiku
Author: Ryan Mecum
Publisher: How Books
Date: July 14, 2008
ISBN: 1600610706


Critical Analysis:

This book is a mix of poetry and journal entries that document the end of the human race due to a zombie plague. This book will be very appealing to zombie fans and those that like horror poetry. The book starts with entries from Chris Lynch who acquired this journal from a zombie’s arm he severed while trapped in an airport bathroom. Chris documents his fall from human existence into a flesh-eating zombie while the poetry haikus are from another person who documented the beginning of the zombie plague and his mental state after becoming one of them.

Ryan Mecum wrote a nail-biting tale that will keep readers engaged to the very end! The text format was easy to follow and the illustrations complimented the narrations. The plot itself was very suspenseful and captivating, I could not put this book down until I finished it! Mecum’s twist of giving the reader a bird’s eye view of a zombie’s mental capacity would attract horror fans everywhere! The connection of poetry and horror was very interesting. Robert Kirkman, author of The Walking Dead and Marvel Zombies wrote, “Ryan Mecum has quite possibly found the only corner of entertainment not yet infected by the zombie plague--haiku--and made me wonder why it took this long, as the two seem to go together like zombies and brains” (retrieved from Amazon on November 22, 2009). Horror and dark poetry fans will eat this one up!

Review Excerpts:

Amazon Editorial Review:

"A thoroughly unique and entertaining experience. Ryan Mecum has quite possibly found the only corner of entertainment not yet infected by the zombie plague--haiku--and made me wonder why it took this long, as the two seem to go together like zombies and brains. I highly recommend it to fans of all things zombie." -- Robert Kirkman, author of The Walking Dead and Marvel Zombies. Retrieved from Amazon (accessed November 22, 2009).

Delaney of Wisconsin wrote:

"The Zombie Haiku embarks on a journey through a recently turned zombie, each haiku leads to another haiku, they build to tell a story. It's dark and gruesome, funny and clever, it's absolutely brilliant. I'm glad I picked it up, and I have since purchased a number of other copies for my dark and devilishly fun friends" Retrieved from Amazon (accessed November 22, 2009).

Connections:

You can access a website devoted to this book by clicking on: http://zombiehaiku.com/ (accessed November 22, 2009). This website contains information about this book and a three minute video commercial of the book itself. You can also access the author's website by clicking on: http://ryanmecum.com/ (accessed November 22, 2009).

Rapunzel's Revenge. By Shannon and Dean Hale

Title: Rapunzel's Revenge
Author: Shannon and Dean Hale
Illustrator: Nathan Hale
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
Date: August 5, 2008
ISBN: 159990070X


Critical Analysis:
This story is about a girl named Rapunzel who was taken from her biological parents by a witch named Mother Grothel. Rapunzel starts to remember her real mother and makes a startling realization when she comes face to face with her real mother who is a slave in the mines. Mother Grothel finds this out and banishes Rapunzel to live in a tree tower in the swamplands where it is impossible for her to escape until her hair grows to an extraordinary length. Later she finds that her hair can be used as a weapon against her enemies in her quest to be reunited with her real mother. Rich with humor and action sequences throughout the story, readers will be thoroughly engaged!Shannon and Dean Hale created a wonderfully fast-paced graphic novel. The reader will connect with the characters in the story and the entertaining plot. The setting takes place in the wild old west and the illustrations are a true compliment to the text. The fairy tale twist is very interesting because Rapunzel is not the damsel in distress waiting for her true prince to come save her. Tine Coleman of Booklist wrote, “This graphic novel retelling of the fairy-tale classic, set in a swashbuckling Wild West, puts action first and features some serious girl power in its spunky and strong heroine” (Booklist, Sep. 1, 2008 (Vol. 105, No. 1)).


Review Excerpts:
Tina Coleman (Booklist, Sep. 1, 2008 (Vol. 105, No. 1)):

"This graphic novel retelling of the fairy-tale classic, set in a swashbuckling Wild West, puts action first and features some serious girl power in its spunky and strong heroine. Young Rapunzel lives a lonely life, never knowing what lies beyond the high garden walls of her mother’s royal villa until one day she climbs the wall to see what’s on the other side. When she finds that the world outside is a dark place oppressed by her mother’s greed for power and uncovers the real secret of her own birth, she is imprisoned in a magic tree tower. In her years of captivity, she learns a lot about self-reliance and care for her exceptionally long hair, and eventually she is able to escape, vowing to bring down her mother’s cruel empire. Hale’s art matches the story well, yielding expressive characters and lending a wonderful sense of place to the fantasy landscape. Rich with humor and excitement, this is an alternate version of a classic that will become a fast favorite of young readers. Grades 5-8" Retrieved from the Children's Literature Database (accessed on November 22, 2009).

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Spring 2009):

"In this graphic novel, Rapunzel's a spunky, hair-whip-toting cowgirl. She joins with stolen-goose rapscallion Jack to rescue her mother and end her wicked stepmother's reign. The gutsy tale is particularly well suited to its format, with illustrations mixing the familiar and offbeat. High action, sensory thrills, and the wisecracking heroes are clearly conveyed through image cropping, text placement, and facial emotional cues. Category: Intermediate Fiction. 2008, Bloomsbury, 144pp, 18.99, 14.99. Ages 9 to 12. Rating: 1: Outstanding, noteworthy in style, content, and/or illustration." Retrieved from the Children's Literature Database (accessed on November 22, 2009).

Connections:

You can access more information about this book from the author's website by clicking on: http://www.squeetus.com/stage/books_rap.html (accessed November 22, 2009). This website contains classroom activities that can be used after reading this book. You can also access a reader's theater script from this website that can be used in a classroom or book discussion.

The Plain Janes. By Cecil Castellucci.

Title: The Plain Janes
Author: Cecil Castellucci
Illustrator: Jim Rugg
Publisher: Minx
Date: May 2, 2007
ISBN: 1401211151


Critical Analysis:

This is a story about a girl named Jane who survived a terrorist bombing outside a café in the city in which her parents decided to move to suburbia in order to get away from such dangers. Jane who is not happy with her recent move tries her best to make do. She becomes friends with three girls named Jane, Jayne and Polly Jane who she feels are just like her…outsiders. Jane recruits her friends to move about at night expressing art under the code name of P.L.A.I.N. (People Loving Art in Neighborhoods) throughout the town, which is a form of therapy for her. While their pranks are harmless fun, law enforcement does not agree!

Cecil Castellucci did a wonderful job with the plot to keep the reader engaged! The format of the text was easy to follow and the illustrations were full of detail. The reader will connect with the characters and the setting of the story which takes place in a suburban school and neighborhood. Jesse Karp of Booklist wrote, “The book has its share of stereotypes--the science geek, the psychotically overprotective mother, the irrepressible gay teen--but this is thought-provoking stuff. The art, inspired by Dan Clowes' work, is absolutely engaging” ((Booklist, Mar. 15, 2007 (Vol. 103, No. 14)).

Review Excerpts:

Jesse Karp (Booklist, Mar. 15, 2007 (Vol. 103, No. 14)):

"For the first book in a new series aimed at teenage girls, DC comics recruited novelist Castellucci (Boy Proof, 2004, and The Queen of Cool, 2005) to write this story about outsiders who come together, calling up themes from the author's popular YA novels. Relocated to suburbia after a brush with disaster in the big city (and fueled by an urge not to be terrified of the world as a result), Jane rallies a small group of outcasts into a team of 'art terrorists,' shaking the town from its conservative complacency by putting bubbles in the city fountain and wrapping objects on the street as Christmas packages. Their activities end up rallying the local teenagers to their cause and working the adults into a dither. The book has its share of stereotypes--the science geek, the psychotically overprotective mother, the irrepressible gay teen--but this is thought-provoking stuff. The art, inspired by Dan Clowes' work, is absolutely engaging. Packaged like manga, this is a fresh, exciting use of the graphic-novel format. Category: Books for Older Readers--Fiction. 2007, DC Comics/Minx, $9.99. Starred Review" Retrieved from the Children's Literature Database (accessed on November 22, 2009).

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Fall 2007):

"In Boy Proof, Jane was injured in a terrorist attack. Now her family's moved to suburbia, where Jane forms P.L.A.I.N. (People Loving Art In Neighborhoods) and plans 'art attacks' while continuing correspondence with a comatose man. The graphic novel's core is Jane's struggle to see the world's beauty. Rugg's warm gray-scale scenes convey the drama, impact, and joy of unfettered expression. Category: Older Fiction. 2007, DC/Minx, 152pp, 9.99. Ages 12 to 14. Rating: 1: Outstanding, noteworthy in style, content, and/or illustration" Retrieved from the Children's Literature Database (accessed on November 22, 2009).

Connections:

I was able to find a good group of discussion questions and classroom activities that would be great to use with this book. You can access this information by clicking on: http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:DvChSyqCXcsJ:www.misscecil.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/theplainjanes.doc+The+Plain+Janes+discussion+questions&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a (accessed November 22, 2009).

Other books that may be of interest:

Boy Proof. By Cecil Castellucci. Publisher: Candlewick Press. Date: 2005. ISBN: 0763623334.

ALT ED. By Catherine Atkins. Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons. Date: 2003. ISBN: 0399238549.