Two Graphic Novels for Young Girls

These two books have just a couple things in common, they are both graphic novels with girls as the main character and they both involve a mystery.

Claire and the Bakery Thief by Janice Poon is about a young city girl who moves to the country so her parents can start an organic bakery. Claire meets a girl who has as vivid an imagination as she does. When Claire's mom disappears with the Artificial Flavoring Salesman the girls are ready to solve the mystery. Will their sleuthing lead to danger or will the world be saved from imitation bread? As an added bonus several recipes mentioned in the book are given at the end with complete instructions so you can make them at home.

Teacher Torture, volume one in the Kat & Mouse series, is a manga graphic novel by Alex de Campi. Kat moves across the country when her father gets a teaching position in a prestigious private school. As a new student at the school, Kat soon realizes who the popular kids are, and that they mean trouble. Luckily there is one girl Mouse who she becomes friends with. When Kat's father starts receiving blackmail letters, the girls decide to solve the mystery themselves so he won't lose his job. Will they be friends with the popular crowd when they're done or will they be more disliked than ever? The added bonus with this book is the do-it-yourself instructions for dusting for fingerprints at home included at the back.

Comments

Funny Farm by Mark Teague 2009

There are things I liked about Mark Teague's newest book, Funny Farm , and things I didn't like. Where should I start? I'll do the "didn'ts" first. The illustrations show animals personified. Well, some of the animals are. The main characters, Edward, and his farm family relatives, all dogs, are humanized. They stand upright, do farm chores, eat at a table, wear clothes, knit (yes, with paws) and sleep in beds. Most everybody else on and around the farm, who are also animals, act like animals. They are outside, roll in mud, live in the barn, and require care from their owners. It struck me the most on the page spread where there are pigs playing in puddle in the rain and Edward, a black and white boxer, watches from inside the house. I thought "You're a dog! Go play with them!" But, alas, he can't, seeing as how he goes through his entire visit to the farm wearing a suit and red bow tie. Another picture that bothered me was the maple syrup pa...

Dude, That's Rude! (Get Some Manners) by Pamela Espeland & Elizabeth Verdick

If there's one book today's kids need to read, it is Dude, That's Rude! (Get Some Manners) . The authors provide a fun format for teaching etiquette to children. They discuss proper behavior at home, at school, at other people's homes and in public places. The information is completely up-to-date with cellphone manners and netiquette included. Fun, cartoony illustrations are on practically every page giving the book great visual appeal. This book is perfect for boys and girls in the fourth grade or older. WARNING: Bodily functions are discussed.

The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester 2008

J Fiction 328 pages I almost didn't finish this book. I got to Chapter 4, and was just about ready to quit (a kind of slow story about a girl, name of Piper McCloud, who discovers she can fly, parents freak out, she becomes a social outcast, yadda, yadda) but suddenly, right there in Chapter 4, the story takes a sharp turn and becomes really interesting . Piper finds herself in the company of others like her, but not "fliers", and under the care and authority of Dr. Hellion. I won't even tell you any more. Read this book. Forester does a great job of keeping you wondering who's the good guy and who's the bad? Piper is a likeable, strong, endearing character that girl readers will enjoy. But don't NOT give it to boys! The main male character is an extremely intelligent young man who is one of the ones you wonder about . . . good or bad? This is a good one, well worth your time.

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