Relive Homer’s epic tale and its dangers in THE ODYSSEY – a Graphic Novel by Gareth Hinds (YA Graphic Novel)

Jul15
The sea god Poseidon emerges from the waves, trident in his right hand pointing up at stormy skies, as a bedraggled man on small raft is blown ahead of him, on book cover of The Odyssey, graphic novel adaptation by Gareth Hinds.

Hindered by the gods,
helped by the gods –
can he ever get home?

The saga of Odysseus’ years-long struggle to return to Ithaca after the Trojan War has thrilled listeners and readers for centuries. This graphic novel adaptation brings its personalities, scenery, and action to life.

Can his faithful wife continue to hold off the greedy suitors seeking to grab Odysseus’ throne?
Can Odysseus’s son convince other kings to help him find his father?
Will Zeus be persuaded to override Poseidon’s wrath at Odysseus?

Hinds has skillfully adapted the story to fit in this format, noting which passages are direct quotes from several well-respected English translations of Homer’s Greek text.

Find this stunning deluxe edition with its painted page edges showing the seas’ endless waves at your local library https://search.worldcat.org/libraries
or independent bookstore https://bookshop.org/ .

And you must also read the artist’s skillful adaptation of Odysseus’ earlier adventures in The Iliad , which I recommended long ago: https://booksyalove.com/?p=10323 – and he IS working on a graphic novel of The Aeneid, scheduled for 2027 publication.

On your own adventures, bring along Flat Odysseus (scroll down on https://garethhinds.com/for-teachers/), and post photos of his travels on the artist’s website!

What’s your favorite tale from ancient Greece?
**kmm

Book info: The Odyssey: A Graphic Novel / art & adapted text by Gareth Hinds. Candlewick Press, 2010; deluxe edition 2026. [author site https://garethhinds.com/about-me/] [publisher site https://www.candlewick.com/9781536254525/the-odyssey-a-graphic-novel-deluxe-edition/] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

He is a PRINCE AMONG PIRATES – chosen family, intrigue, love? by Katie Abdou (YA fiction book review)

Jul9
Against a background of sunset at sea with tall sailing ship, a smiling young man holds onto his fancy hat with trailing red plume. He's wearing a ruffled white shirt, embroidered sleeveless waistcoat, knee breeches & white hose. He grasps the arm of a taller young Black man who wears a gold earring, dreads bound with a blue ribbon, tall boots, and holds his longsword pointed downward. They gaze at one another above book title A Prince Among Pirates, by Katie Abdou.

Got to get away,
be himself,
become more than expected…

His university years done and an arranged marriage looming, flirtatious Christopher-Henry impulsively escapes a life of boredom in 1700 by boarding the first ship leaving England and becoming Kit.

No stateroom for Kit aboard Deliverance; luckily Captain Steele needs a clerk so the young lordling doesn’t have to work the decks.

Kit makes friends among the misfit crew as they trade at sea and in port, wonders why his father hates half-Turkish Kit so much, watches the debonair Black captain watching him…

Oh, by the way, the Deliverance is no merchant vessel – they’re all pirates! Pirates who gleefully liberate the enslaved from any and every ship they encounter.

When saving his captain and crewmates exposes Kit’s true identity to outsiders, suddenly he’s wanted by the Crown…

Why did the ship’s former clerk leave without a word to anyone?
Why does the Duke want Christopher-Henry back in England?
Why would Kit ever leave his Deliverance friends or the Captain? (especially the Captain…)

Found family, slow-burn romance, swashbuckling exploits – and a secret that the swoony book cover doesn’t reveal.

Your favorite pirate tale?
**kmm

Book info: Prince Among Pirates / Katie Abdou. Atheneum, 2026. [author site https://katieabdou.com/] [publisher site https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/A-Prince-Among-Pirates/Katie-Abdou/9781665984775] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

AMERICA’S FOUNDING MYTHS…and What Really Happened! by Christy Mihaly & Marta Sevilla (MG nonfiction book review)

Jul2
Book title Barefoot Books America's Founding Myths...and What Really Happened! in circle surrounded by collaged images of historical artworks ornamented by bright cutouts, including Jefferson with cheerleader megaphone shouting "We Declare Independence", portrait with added crown and flowers overlaid with "Columbus discovered America?", statue of Native American warrior, sailing ship with cartoon people and caption "Freedom for all?", etching of a galloping horse with cartoon rider and words "The British are coming?

“Everybody knows it’s true that…”
Nope, they really don’t –
especially about early US history!

This large-format book begins by wondering “Where does history come from?” as it calls for readers to be historians and ask questions so they can better understand the past.

Fifteen myths – from the “empty” New World and Columbus to the Pilgrims and the First Thanksgiving to the common (incorrect) belief that women, Black Americans, and Indigenous people didn’t participate in the Revolution – are questioned, each clarifying its events, identifying people and social trends, and leaving the reader with a final question to consider.

Unique is the page setup where “The Myth” is noted on a large flap covering part of the left page, with the myth’s origin on the inside of the flap and the true story told across the double-page spread. Several pages have a lift-the-flap True or False question, too.

Well-spaced blocks of text make it easy to dip into a myth and quickly encounter something interesting to consider. Many historical images are used as illustrations, collaged with vivid captions, painted cartoon people, clip art, teddy bears, and a dinosaur or two.

Readers of all ages will learn something new and begin to think more carefully before accepting any single history textbook paragraph as “the” truth.

What historical “fact” have you changed your mind about as you learned more?
**kmm

Book info: America’s Founding Myths…and What Really Happened! / Christy Mihaly; art by Marta Sevilla. Barefoot Books, 2026. [author site https://www.christymihaly.com/writing.html] [illustrator site https://www.martasevilla.es/books] [publisher site https://www.barefootbooks.com/americas-founding-myths] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher, via Publisher Spotlight.

Donor kids misheard becomes THE DOUGHNUT CLUB of brother & sister – wait, how many more half-siblings out there?! by Kristina Rahim (MG fiction book review)

Jul1
On book cover, title The Doughnut Club is written around a huge frosted doughnut in center. Above is is author's name Kristina Rahim. Below are 3 kids, a blonde girl with green eyes looking to the left with her arms crossed, a red-headed freckled green-eyed girl holding book "Do you have to be alike to be a family?" and pencil while looking straight ahead, and a darker skinned boy with brown hair and eyes looking at the redhead and waving his left hand.

Books or surfing?
Sketching or rock-climbing?
Her choices are clear!

Finally on their way to their annual shore vacation, Quinn wonders why she prefers quiet to the rest of her family’s go-go-go activity style.

She and Olly have always known they were donor-conceived – the red-headed 12 year old born by their Mama and her younger dark-haired brother by their Mom.

Never really interested in their biological dad, until Mom tells them a website shows they have 16 other donor siblings (sixteen!) but they’ll have to wait till they’re older to contact them.

Now it’s all that Quinn can think about – even after an accident sidelines her from all water activities (yay – no surfing!) and snobby rich Monika teases her (like every summer).

Can she get into that website and see more about their donor siblings?
Will she finally get to choose classes that she likes at the resort?
Why is Monika picking on her so much?

Quinn has always fainted at the sight of blood, so a crisis only she can respond to truly tests what she can do in an emergency!

Do you know folks who are donor conceived?
**kmm

Book info: The Doughnut Club / Kristina Rahim. Nosy Crow, 2025. [author site https://www.kristinarahim.com/] [publisher site https://nosycrow.us/product/the-doughnut-club/] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher via Publisher Spotlight.

BIG DIGS: Amazing Underground Constructions, by Kiko Sanchez (kids nonfiction picturebook)

Jun25
Book cover of Big Digs: Amazing Underground Constructions, by Kiko Sanchez, translated by Marc Correa shows the White House at top, with tunnels, elevators, and several rooms in the earth beneath it.

Secret rooms,
tunnels, aqueducts –
deep below the surface!

The “Tunnel of Contents” shows a wide range of underground projects, each commanding a double-page spread in this oversized book.

From the ancient Gadara Aqueduct carrying water underground for 60 miles in 2nd century Jordan to 3D-printed habitats in caverns under the surface of Mars in the future, each project has a specific purpose.

Both the 3rd century Temple of the Feathered Serpent in Mexico and Quinta da Regaieira in early 1900s Portugal held secret ceremonial sites far below the surface.

The Seoul Subway system is the world’s largest, carrying 7 million people yearly on its 200 miles of underground tracks.

The Delaware Aqueduct carries water to New York City, while the Eastern Discharge Tunnel carries flooding rainwater away from Mexico City.

Some diagrams are so large that you need to turn the book sideways to see them, like the White House Bunker, and the Drummen Spiral where the road to a mountaintop spirals inside the mountain, leaving its trees and animals undisturbed.

By the way – did you know that the Chunnel carrying trains under the English Channel is actually 3 tunnels?

Look for this fascinating array of meticulously hand-drawn scenes with lots of facts and history at your local library https://search.worldcat.org/libraries or independent bookstore https://bookshop.org/ .

How far underground have you gone?
**kmm

Book info: Big Digs: Amazing Underground Constructions / Kiko Sanchez; translated by Marc Correa. Helvetiq, 2026. [author/illustrator https://www.tormentalibros.com/en/illustrators/kiko-sanchez] [publisher site https://helvetiq.com/us/big-digs] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher, via Publisher Spotlight.

Is this place the best SPACE FOR SAFFRON, her interests, and her moms? by Rie Neal (MG book review)

Jun24
A red-headed tween girl wearing hearing aids, jeans, and backpack holds a volcano model in doorway of a bakery on book cover of Space for Saffron, by Rie Neal.

Constantly in motion,
dreaming of science,
needing her own space in the world.

Saffron didn’t plan for her volcano experiment to make such a mess up, but the mean boss fires Mama and says the 10 year old has to pay to clean up the diner!

Not many jobs in their small Iowa town, so when Gran calls to ask her moms to run the family’s cafe in California while she travels, it’s worth a try. Mimi says she can get construction work there, if Saffron is willing to move before the school science fair.

So they pack up (volcano included) and drive to Oakvale where they’ll live above the cafe (Saffron on a couch-bed for now) – wow, so much work needed downstairs to bring customers back in.

Different schedule and classes, finding new friends, explaining her hearing aids and ADHD, but the science fair at Saffron’s new school is still ahead – another chance for her volcano!

Uncle Toby helps when he can, but the cafe needs something special to compete for customers here in Silicon Valley, where Granpy worked with NASA scientists.

Oh, her classmates have planned projects with robots and coding and computers – will her simple volcano be enough?
They help her brainstorm for STEM ideas that will make the cafe stand out – will the grownups agree?
If Gran wants to run the cafe again after her vacation – where will Saffron and her moms go?

Family and friends, volcanos and space – maybe Saffron can find a space that’s truly hers!

What was your favorite science fair experiment?
**kmm

Book info: Space for Saffron / Rie Neal. Aladdin, 2026. [author site https://www.rienealwrites.com/] [publisher site https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Space-for-Saffron/Rie-Neal/9781665972529] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

Lakota teen must escape THUNDEROUS magical world! by Smoker, Peeterse & Deforest (YA Graphic Novel review)

Jun18
On book cover of graphic novel Thunderous, a Native American teen crouches on cliff top amid lightning, ready to spring upward, Behind her is gigantic silhouette of wolf's head with snarling mouth, a flying raven, and dimming sun. By ML Smoker and Natalie Peeterse.

Off the rez,
in the city –
new school! New friends?

Aiyana is happy for a new start in town, even if her grandmother recounts Lakota tales when the teen would rather be on social media.

Her younger cousin Kola loves those traditional tales and makes comics of them; for him, their South Dakota reservation will always be home.

On a field trip to sacred Black Elk Mountain, the popular girls make fun of Kola and dare Aiyana to take a selfie from the high tower as a storm approaches.

A crash of thunder and she falls into a magical place where Raven counsels that only wise Iktomi the Spider can send her home.

Uh-oh, bargaining with that trickster gives Aiyana only 2 days to get to the Badlands or be trapped here forever!

With no GPS, how will she find her way?
Can she trust any of the other animals she meets?
Does she remember enough of Grandmother’s tales to properly greet Iktomi?

This Native-created graphic novel uses color to great effect, with dark purples and blues for the storm (and Raven’s attempts to slow down Aiyana’s journey) and warm clear colors as she meets the animals long-beloved by her people. Includes an area map and Lakota glossary.

What other tricksters in traditional stories do you know?
**kmm

Book info: Thunderous / M.L. Smoker & Natalie Peeterse; art by Dale Deforest; colors by Adriano Augusto, Wendy Broome, Lisa Moore, Omi Remalante Jr. Curiosity Books/ Dynamite Entertainment, 2022. [M.L. Smoker info https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/ml-smoker] [Natalie Peeterse site https://nataliepeeterse.com/] {artist site https://daledeforest.squarespace.com/] [publisher site https://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/viewProduct.html?CAT=DF-Thunderous or https://shop.scholastic.com/teachers-ecommerce/teacher/books/thunderous-9781338877748.html] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

ALICE ECLAIR, SPY EXTRAORDINAIRE: Recipe For Trouble! by Sarah Todd Taylor (MG book review)

Jun17
A young French teen girl in red hat runs alongside a steam train at night, followed by a white cat. Above them is series title Alice Eclair, Spy Extraordinaire in a puff of pink smoke, below them is the book title A Recipe for Trouble, by Sarah Todd Taylor

Code-breaking,
puzzle solving,
spy training?

When she’s not making intricate creations of sugar and chocolate for Maman’s bakery, Alice follows mysterious messages through Paris – puzzles, secretive package exchanges. So much like the tasks set by her late Uncle Robert, gone for two years now.

The 13 year old goes undercover as a maid to retrieve microfilm from a spy and is most surprised at who she delivers it to!

Aha! The spy will be traveling on the luxurious Sapphire Express to the coast, carrying documents that will endanger brave French agents if they reach their destination – Alice must find a way to be on that train…

Her pastry-making skills get her on board, a chance encounter with a lively British teen girl gives her a potential ally, and she watches all the first-class passengers for clues – only a few days to figure it all out.

Twin dancing brothers are nervous when a fancy resort is mentioned, a glamorous woman insists that the pianist play only her sheet music, and a professor is taking mysterious notes.

Who is the spy?
Can Alice recover the papers?
Can she keep her job on the train while she tries?

As Europe watches Germany with great worry in the mid-1930s, a young spy-in-training must decide who to trust and what her true mission is. Followed by A Spoonful of Spying, A Sprinkling of Danger, and A Dash of Daring, as Alice’s amazing adventures continue.

Have you ever traveled on an overnight train?
**kmm

Book info: Alice Eclair, Spy Extraordinaire: Recipe for Trouble / Sarah Todd Taylor. Nosy Crow, 2025. [author site https://sarahtoddtaylor.com/alice-eclair-spy-extraordinaire/] [publisher site https://nosycrow.us/product/alice-eclair-spy-extraordinaire-a-recipe-for-trouble/] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

Her past lives, her SOULMATCH now, no future? by Rebecca Danzenbaker (YA book review)

Jun16
Book cover of Soulmatch, by Rebecca Danzenbaker, features a porcelain bust of a young woman with her eyes closed, elaborately adorned with many flowers, golden crown, and velvet choker with large pink jewel.

Control and power,
self-determination and destiny,
past and future…

The test must be wrong! Of course she has past lives on record, just like everyone else in these days of peace, two centuries after World War Three!

Like every 18 year old, Sivon reports for her kirling, when her soulid is matched with its past lives whose inheritance can provide a great start to this life.

Hopefully, she isn’t a Bad Soul, immediately marched to prison to finish her past self’s sentence! Or worse yet, be Flavinsky who commits suicide immediately after their kirling – 11 times so far…

Whoa, how can this be? Sivon is a New Soul, no soulid match at all, no past lives, no heritage or inheritance! She renames herself Carrefour from her new soulid, echoing the x in circle she always dreams, but others say Creature – a miracle, a messiah, a menace to all society?

The Prime Minister wants her to work on his re-election team, prompted by his nearly-18 nephew Janus, and will guard her artist mother’s safety.

Her bodyguard Shepherd’s soulmate is due to be kirled soon – their love has endured across many lifetimes. She can’t be attracted to him, she can’t!

What secrets lurk in The Fringe lands, among those who don’t trust kirling or the government?
Will she ever be safe again, ever have a soulmatch?
Are the ones calling her Creature the prophets?

Trust her instincts, guard her heart, seize her power – advice from the Institute is so hard to follow!

Do you believe in soulmates?
**kmm

Book info: Soulmatch / Rebecca Danzenbaker. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025. [author site https://www.rebeccadanzenbakerbooks.com/] [publisher site https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Soulmatch/Rebecca-Danzenbaker/9781665963701] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

Bedtime reading, if you dare… NIGHT STORIES: FOLKTALES FROM LATIN AMERICA, by Liniers (Graphic Novel)

Jun11
Book cover of Night Stories: Folktales from Latin America, shows a brother and sister in their bunk bed flying across the night sky above roads, trees, and hills, with author name Liniers and introduction by David Bowles below them.

Danger on the river,
in the town,
on the pampas!

One night in their bunk beds, a brother and sister are telling each other scary stories from folktales they’ve heard.

There’s the one about the mermaid and the pink dolphin in the Amazon River – that’s Iara, Mother of the water.

And beware the Witch-Owl of the Mexico borderlands – when this bruja calls your name, you know that your death is near!

On the pampas grasslands of South America, the Evil Light threatens to steal travelers’ souls – is it the gates of Hell opening a crack?

“As you read these stories, you will get at thrill from them. You might feel scared. But I hope you will keep in mind all the layers of meaning they contain,” says writer David Bowles in the heavily researched introduction “Why We Tell Tales” (pg. 6).

More about each folktale is found in the notes at the end of this entertaining and chilling graphic novel. Available in Spanish as Cuentos de noche: Relatos de Latinoamérica.

What’s your favorite folktale from the Western Hemisphere?
**kmm

Book info: Night Stories: Folktales from Latin America / Liniers; introduction by David Bowles. Toon Graphic, 2024. [about the author/artist https://www.lambiek.net/artists/l/liniers.htm] [publisher site https://www.toon-books.com/store/p330/Night_Stories%3A_Folktales_from_Latin_America_by_Liniers.html ] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher, via Publisher Spotlight.