SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Manga
  • All Ages
  • Young Adult
  • Interviews
  • News

September 16, 2010 by Snow Wildsmith

Review: Volume Two in Four Series

September 16, 2010 by Snow Wildsmith   Leave a Comment

Recently I got in volume two (and three, in one case) of several series. Since volume one of each of them had been reviewed positively here at Good Comics for Kids, I thought I’d take a look at the subsequent volumes to see if the series stayed strong.

One Fine Day, vol. 2
Sirial
Publisher Age Rating: All Ages; GCFK recommends: Ages 8+, Grades 3+
Yen Press, May 2010, ISBN 978-0-7595-3057-7
164 pages, $10.99

My colleague Lori reviewed volume one of Sirial’s sweet manhwa (Korean comic) series and enjoyed it. I also enjoyed volume one, but I wasn’t sure if the slice-of-life storytelling style would get old in volume two. I’m happy to report that it doesn’t. Readers will still have to have a high tolerance for extreme cuteness, because Sirial’s story is all blushing adorableness. It is all softened, however, by the loose, open panel art style, where the young men are handsome enough to make the title appeal to middle school girls, but the tales are innocent enough for elementary school romantics. Characters are not reintroduced in this volume, so it helps if readers have picked up the first title. But if they liked Sirial’s meandering plot and enjoyed the fairy-dust artwork, then they’ll be eager for this volume to appear on the shelves.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Natsume’s Book of Friends, vol. 2 and 3
Yuki Midorikawa
Age Rating: Teen
VIZ Media LLC
Volume 2: April 2010, ISBN 978-1-4215-3244-8
Volume 3: July 2010, ISBN 978-1-4215-3245-5
~200 pages each, $9.99 each

Takashi–a teenage boy who inherited both his grandmother’s ability to see yokai (monsters) and the notebook where she kept their stolen names–began to slowly build connections with other humans in book one (reviewed here at GCFK by me back in February). The next two volumes see Takashi building on those connections, discovering that friendship can come from the yokai also, and learning that he is not alone in his ability to see the yokai. However, not all discoveries are happy ones and just because he shares an ability with another human doesn’t mean that they will also share the same philosophies. Midorikawa’s story is not a flashy one, despite the regular appearance of creepy monsters. She’s focused more on how Takashi relates to the beings around him. Readers who are willing to allow the story to unfold at a slower pace will be rewarded. The continuing beauty of Midorikawa’s pale, sketchy line art is a bonus for fans.

Mr. Badger and Mrs. Fox #2: A Hubbub
Author: Brigitte Luciani; Illustrator: Eve Tharlet
Ages 4-8
Graphic Universe, October 2010
Hdbk: ISBN 978-0-7613-5626-4, 32 pages, $25.26
Pbk: ISBN 978-0-7613-5632-5, 32 pages, $6.95

Mrs. Fox and her daughter Ginger are settling into living with Mr. Badger and his kids…mostly. Ginger worries that her mother has too many kids now to care about her and she doesn’t understand why Mr. Badger is so strict with her. When Ginger’s father comes to visit and when mean cats take over Ginger and the Badger brothers’ clubhouse, will the stress be too much for one little fox to take? With just the right touch of understanding and realism, Luciani and Tharlet continue their sweet series about the troubles of step-family life. (Volume one was originally reviewed here at GCFK by my colleague Kate.) Though the characters are animals, young readers will sense that Ginger and her new stepbrothers share the same concerns they do. Tharlet’s softly painted illustrations glow with life, bringing a gentle humor to Luciani’s storytelling. This series continues to be a terrific choice for librarians and parents looking to address blended families in a way kids will enjoy.

Guinea Pig, Pet Shop Private Eye #2: And Then There Were Gnomes
Author: Colleen AF Venable, Illustrator: Stephanie Yue
Ages 8-11, Grades 2-5
Graphic Universe, November 2010
Hdbk: ISBN 978-0-7613-4599-2, 48 pages, $27.93
Pbk: ISBN 978-0-7613-5480-2, 48 pages, $6.95

In volume one (reviewed by me), hamster Hamisher roped guinea pig Sasspants into solving a mystery occurring at their pet shop home. But now that that’s done, Sasspants does not want to be involved with anymore of Hamisher’s problems. Hopefully he can change her mind, since the pet store now appears to be haunted! Venable and Yue’s second outing is as sarcastic and enjoyable as the first. The mystery is not really the point here. Instead, it’s about laughing at the antics of the pet shop owner who doesn’t know anything about animals or chuckling at the mish-mash of personalities that make up the store’s population. Even though Sasspants is obviously the only one with brains, readers will be rooting for Hamisher based on his cheerful, if hyper, personality. Venable takes off right where the previous story left off, so libraries will want to be sure to have volume one on hand as well.

This review is based on a complimentary copies supplied by the publisher. All images copyright © Yen Press, Lerner/Graphic Universe, and VIZ Media LLC.

Filed under: All Ages, Graphic Novels, Manga, Reviews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Snow Wildsmith

Snow Wildsmith is a writer and former teen librarian. She has served on several committees for the American Library Association/Young Adult Library Services Association, including the 2010 Michael L. Printz Award Committee. She reviews graphic novels for Booklist, ICv2's Guide, No Flying No Tights, and Good Comics for Kids and also writes booktalks and creates recommended reading lists for Ebsco's NoveList database. Currently she is working on her first books, a nonfiction series for teens.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

January 2023

My Sister, the Cat, vol. 1 | Review

by Snow Wildsmith

January 2013

Links: The Phoenix Debuts

by Snow Wildsmith

March 2023

Azuki Manga | Interview

by Snow Wildsmith

February 2023

Insomniacs After School, vol. 1 | Review

by Snow Wildsmith

January 2023

Andy Warner's Oddball Histories: Pests and Pets | Review

by Snow Wildsmith

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

One Star Review, Guess Who? (#184)

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Review of the Day – Trees: Haiku from Roots to Leaves by Sally M. Walker, ill. Angela McKay

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Review: Nat the Cat Takes a Nap

by Esther Keller

Heavy Medal

March suggestions: early Mock Newbery possibilities

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Here Be Monsters: On Horror, Catharsis, and Uneasy Truces with Yourself, a guest post by author Rebecca Mahoney

by Karen Jensen, MLS

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey Try Something New

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

First Second Launches History Comics | Stellar Panels

10 Standout Graphic Novels by AAPI Creators

10 Manga Titles for Teens Who Watch Anime

First-Person Graphic Memoirs: 17 Recommended Titles

Jarod Roselló on the Magic Behind his 'Red Panda and Moon Bear' Sequel

Commenting for all posts is disabled after 30 days.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

Follow This Blog

Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

Primary Sidebar

  • News & Features
  • Reviews+
  • Technology
  • School Libraries
  • Public Libraries
  • Age Level
  • Ideas
  • Blogs
  • Classroom
  • Diversity
  • People
  • Job Zone

Reviews+

  • Book Lists
  • Best Books
  • Media
  • Reference
  • Series Made Simple
  • Tech
  • Review for SLJ
  • Review Submissions

SLJ Blog Network

  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal
  • Neverending Search
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn

Resources

  • 2022 Youth Media Awards
  • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
  • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
  • Summer Reading 2021
  • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
  • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
  • Summer Programming Survey
  • Research
  • White Papers / Case Studies
  • School Librarian of the Year
  • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
  • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

Events & PD

  • In-Person Events
  • Online Courses
  • Virtual Events
  • Webcasts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Media Inquiries
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Content Submissions
  • Data Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Sale
  • FAQs
  • Diversity Policy
  • Careers at MSI


COPYRIGHT © 2023


COPYRIGHT © 2023