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Avg. Rating: 4.5
Ah, Book Two, Where Are You?
I love graphic novels, so when I was at the Scholastic store and saw this, I had to pick one up (okay, two; one was for me, one was for my friend). First off, I like the art very much. The palette is dark, which is a good indication for what the story is like. I don't want to give too much of the story away, but the story IS a familiar one. Kids on a mission, helped along by a band of misfits. But I think that is one of the appeals of the book. The familiarity of the tale is comforting, and it affords me time to really focus on the art and HOW the story is told: through pictures, panels. And, despite its familiarity, there is a little twist to the tale that can keep you guessing.
There's something about this particular graphic novel I love. There's something epic and monumental about the art (a good "get under the covers" kind of a feeling), and if you're one for a quick read, a GOOD read, hunker down for this one. You won't be disappointed!
Fun, if lacking
Every story, whether it's being told orally, as a book, as a graphic novel, or in a kind of performance is allowed to reuse old tropes. Particularly when the story being told is appropriate for kids, there's a talent in figuring out how to use familiar images and objects in new and exciting ways. It's what distinguishes the good writing from the knock-offs. The storyline that involves a hero who finds a powerful object of some sort that could be good or could be bad is one pretty classic example. Everything from The Lord of the Rings to Harry Potter brings it up, and so when I saw that "Amulet", a new graphic novel series by Kazu Kibuishi also worked the idea in, that was pretty cool. Sadly the book ultimately disappointed me in terms of its storytelling and original content. It's not a bad graphic novel by any means, but if you're looking for a title about kids on a quest, there are certainly others I would recommend instead.
Emily and Navin's life has taken a turn for the better, or worse, depending on whom you talk to. Emily, for example, is not too thrilled that their mom has moved them into a new old house in some town called Norlen. Their mom, however, is determined to make the best of it. Ever since their father died in a car crash the kids have found money exceedingly tight and it's time for a fresh start. That fresh start, however, is complicated when Emily finds a mysterious hidden amulet in her great-grandpa's library and a big octopus-looking thing in the basement kidnaps her mom. Wait . . . what? It seems that things in this house are not what they seem, and before they know it Emily and Navin discover that they have a quest on their hands. Somebody wants their amulet. Someone else wants them to harness its power for good. Now with the help of a troop of small robots, these kids are ready to do whatever it takes to bring their family together once again.
A feeling of familiarity is usually noticed more by adult reviewers than by kid readers, but there's no avoiding the sense of déjà vu in some scenes within this book. For example, Spiderwick fans will recognize the idea of kids moving into a creepy old mansion with their mother (a mansion that used to belong to an old male relative with odd otherworldly interests). Which is not to say that there aren't new ideas as well. I don't remember ever having seen a disgusting octopus-like creature that holds living prey in its belly in a book before. And a robot rabbit. . . it sounds familiar but not so much that I can identify the source. The plot itself is a small series of adventures, one by one, like different levels. The video game elements of such a tale do come naturally out of the storytelling, but they're such static, predictable moments that it's hard not to feel like the book is just an excuse for an Xbox game or upcoming action film.
I dunno, maybe I'm being too harsh on it. There are some pretty amusing moments, after all. For example, when Navin gets to fly a plane the view of the steering wheel is quite clearly Nintendo-inspired. That's probably going to be a joke kids get more often than adults (which I appreciate). I liked the repeated images of hand clasping and then consciously letting go. The art is fine, though I think I liked the book a lot more when I read it in full-color (as hand-painted by Kibuishi's wife Amy). Generally though this isn't the strongest comic you'll find on the market for kids today. Serviceable, if not extraordinary.
Kibuishi wins again!
Kazu Kibuishi is perhaps best known as the editor of the Flight anthologies, first for Image and then for Villard, but those who actually read the table of contents know that he has also been a contributor to each installment. His short stories have always been among the best in each new edition of Flight, but his talent, both in telling a story and in drawing, seemed to be overshadowed by his role as editor. His new book, however, is a solo effort, giving him the chance to prove his mettle as both writer and artist in a longer work.
To any fan of children's literature, Amulet's plot will be very familiar; it is definitely not breaking new ground when it comes to its core concept. The book features a young girl named Emily who suffers the tragic loss of a parent and is thus forced to move with her remaining family members to a creepy old house in the middle of nowhere which has been in the family for years. Once there she discovers that someone from her family has a connection to another world, a world of fantasy and magic, and it is her destiny to continue to serve as that link between our world and theirs.
Amulet's beginnings clearly parallel many other examples of children's fare throughout the years, with everything from the Narnia books to Harry Potter following similar tropes. But even if Amulet doesn't have the most original of starting points, what is much more important for a novel aimed at children is that the fantasy world it's set in must seem unique and engages their imaginations. An audience, especially an audience of younger readers, can accept a familiar idea if it's dressed up in a new and interesting way.
It is in this regard that Amulet shines, for Kibuishi has worked painstakingly to make the world of Amulet stand out from the familiar. He has built up a world filled with intriguing creatures, like gaseous blobs which float and hover menacingly over Emily and her brother Navin, or scary, disgusting walking octopi with huge mouths and windows in their sides. Amulet also contains a number of incredibly interesting locations, such as a house with a glowing tree growing in its foyer, a dwelling which also doubles as a giant mechanoid. This kind of stuff instantly wows the audience, be they kids or adults.
Kibushi also recognizes, like most great children's authors do, that kids don't always care as much about plot exposition if they get sucked into what they're reading. He wastes no time telling us why things are happening (or even WHAT is happening) and simply chucks us into the story, knowing that once the action grabs hold, we'll stick around for the explanations later in the series. While this lack of plot detail regarding where the mysterious amulet Emily finds originated or why Emily's family is connected to this other world might frustrate older audience members, kids are sure to just go along for the ride.
Amulet wins us over with its whimsical tone, very similar to that seen in Kibuishi's earlier contributions to Flight. The character Miskit, first introduced as a hulking figure in a dark trenchcoat, intimidating and large, initially frightens the children, but this image is turned on its head as he rescues the kids from trouble and reveals his true self to them: a rabbit inside a mechanized man suit. The book charms us with its sense of wonder and makes us feel safe, so that even when the story goes to some very dark places, we feel comfortable in the knowledge that everything is going to turn out OK in the end.
Contributing heavily to that comfort is the craftsmanship Kibuishi puts into his art. The character designs mentioned above are truly astounding, and the color palette in his work is rich and textured. The fantasy world of Amulet is at times awash in grays and browns, making it seem drab or perhaps even a bit terrifying, but the most fantastic elements of it shine in bright pastels of pink or yellow, so they stand out even more from the ordinary world around them. As the main character, Emily clearly needs to be delineated from every other character, and Kibuishi clothes her in a lavender hooded sweatshirt that automatically attracts the eye on the page.
All told, while older audiences might find parts of Amulet to be old hat, the book's true audience, children, are sure to devour the book and be begging for more, and even cynical adults will be won over by the unique creatures and fantastic art. Amulet seems the kind of story that, given time to grow, could find a place amongst the ranks of the greatest fantasy series for young adults, as highly regarded as another children's comics its publisher Graphix is releasing, Jeff Smith's Bone.
Great Book
I have a 9 yr old girl who loves to read and a 7 yr old boy who likes to read but is picky about the material. Both kids loved this book and were disappointed the next book isn't out yet.
A Boy New to Graphic Novels
My 9 year old had just read Diary of a Wimpy Kid which is a book printed like a diary with stick figure pictures. He loved it. So when I saw Amulet out at the library I encouraged him to get it. (He did not want to read it.)
He finished it in two days and wanted to go back for the next one. As it has been stated in other reviews the book sort of ends without a true resolution. **Spoiler Alert** They rescue their mother but she is at deaths door. Will she live or die? **end spoiler** The books story line is dark...dead father, mother missing and lost in the dark to boot but my son is fine with it. I don't see the cliff hanger ending as a negative it is just encouraging him to read the next one.
The pictures are not at all like any comic book I ever read. The cover is very much how the entire book looks. The Editorial Reviews Amazon has posted are good descriptions of this book. We will be waiting for the next book to be published!!!
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