Title: The Color of Water
Author: Kim Dong Hwa
Illustrator: Kim Dong Hwa
Publisher: First Second (:01)
Copyright: 2009
Price: $16.95
ISBN: 978-1-59643-459-2
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Summary and Quick Thoughts: Ehwa’s story continues in this second book of The Color Trilogy. Readers follow Ehwa as she ages from about 13 to 17 and falls in love for a third time. Duksam, a young servant from another village, has stopped by Ehwa and her mother’s house looking for someone to repair his broken belt. After Ehwa is frightened by his forward comments, she fixes his belt and throws it back at him. His admiration of the stitching leads to comments about his admiration. With her gaze, Duksam feels he is able to win the wrestling match in town and thus begins the courtship of Ehwa and Duksam.
The parallels in this story of the mother and daughter continue as Ehwa continues to grow into more of a woman. The simple art still makes the story feel timeless and even have a fairy tale quality as you watch Ehwa grow from a teenager to a woman. This book includes a detailed reader’s guide that can be used for novice readers or more advanced readers.
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Will Teens Like It? This is still more of an adult title, especially with the content.
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Things to be aware of: Masturbation, sexual situations
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Further Thoughts: How can I explain what I love about this series? The illustrations, although line and in black and white evoke love, spring time, hope, and dreams. I cannot stop picking these titles up (at least while I have them) and looking over pages and scenes and smiling at how simple lines portray the strong man Ehwa loves. Issues of romance and marriage are brought up from arranged marriages to marriage for love. Lastly, it is the little details in this story that I enjoy. In prepping for this review, I picked up the book only to realize that somewhere in the story, Ehwa begins letting her hair grow, which I believe is a signal that she has become a woman in the villagers eyes.
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Bonus: First Second (:01)'s blog this week has a fantastic picture from San Diego ComiCon that features this title! Do visit the link and see what I mean. :)
An ALA Great Graphic Novel 2010
Source: Library copy.
Showing posts with label ALA-GGN-2010. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ALA-GGN-2010. Show all posts
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
The Color of Earth by Kim Dong Hwa (book 1 of 3)
Title: The Color of Earth
Author: Kim Dong Hwa
Illustrator: Kim Dong Hwa
Publisher: First Second (:01)
Copyright: 2009 (2001)
Price: $16.95
ISBN: 978-1-59643-458-5
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Summary and Quick Thoughts: In rural Korea, seven-year-old Ehwa starts learning about the differences between boys and girls, men and women. Every situation brings more questions answered the way children answer them followed by a clear explanation by her widowed mother. Ehwa continues learning about men and women as she grows and falls for her first two crushes. Her mother on the other hand, has met a traveling salesman who awakens something dormant for a long time. The Color of Water is a simplistically drawn yet detailed tale about Ehwa, her mother, and taking a moment to recognize the parallels in life. This edition provides a “readers” guide which helps the reader understand the parallels in the story.
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Will Teens Like It? Only the mature reader. This is an adult title with adult themes.
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Things to be aware of: sexual situations, nudity
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Further Thoughts: I was drawn to this title when I read a review of it in Voya ages ago. I promptly forgot about the title until the last two books were reviewed recently and then when I saw it on ALA’s 2010 Great Graphic Novels. Again, we have a title that is picked for teens but is not actually appropriate for them. It discusses a lot about sex and romance. While the romance is something everyone will understand, sex in literature is something that develops with a reader at different times, some can read it early, others can’t.
Yet, for the reader who can read this, it is a delightful and poignant read. First, Kim Dong Hwa has created art that is timeless and speaks volumes from detailed flowers to sweeping scenes on a whole page or two page spread. The black, white, and gray tones provide enough for my mind to create the colors as needed. This is a prime example of “reading a movie” for me.
Ehwa awakens sexually in this story as she learns and sees things that she does not yet understand. The seven year olds are pretending to be older, but don’t really understand how it all works. As Ehwa gets older, she starts to understand and develop appropriately. Ehwa is a character that will grow and you hope the best for her. I cannot wait for the last two parts.
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Bonus: This particular trilogy (next two posts will be the other two) has been getting a lot of interesting blog posting lately and it is similar to the whole "Twilight Feminism Thing" going on out there. Here is one example from The Manga Curmudgeon and showed up in my RSS feeder. At the end of June, there was a Manhwa Moveable Feast where you can check out essays, reviews, and comments about the trilogy (the earlier post was included). Honestly, I'm on the fence about the whole thing because while I enjoy a good love story with stereotypes, I'm not interested in having that in my life. It is escapism.
Months ago, the publisher, First Second (:01) posted this interesting blog post about the covers of The Color Trilogy and frankly, I'm glad the English covers got such a lovely makeover.
A 2010 ALA Great Graphic Novel choice
Source: Library
Author: Kim Dong Hwa
Illustrator: Kim Dong Hwa
Publisher: First Second (:01)
Copyright: 2009 (2001)
Price: $16.95
ISBN: 978-1-59643-458-5
-----------
Summary and Quick Thoughts: In rural Korea, seven-year-old Ehwa starts learning about the differences between boys and girls, men and women. Every situation brings more questions answered the way children answer them followed by a clear explanation by her widowed mother. Ehwa continues learning about men and women as she grows and falls for her first two crushes. Her mother on the other hand, has met a traveling salesman who awakens something dormant for a long time. The Color of Water is a simplistically drawn yet detailed tale about Ehwa, her mother, and taking a moment to recognize the parallels in life. This edition provides a “readers” guide which helps the reader understand the parallels in the story.
---------
Will Teens Like It? Only the mature reader. This is an adult title with adult themes.
--------
Things to be aware of: sexual situations, nudity
----------
Further Thoughts: I was drawn to this title when I read a review of it in Voya ages ago. I promptly forgot about the title until the last two books were reviewed recently and then when I saw it on ALA’s 2010 Great Graphic Novels. Again, we have a title that is picked for teens but is not actually appropriate for them. It discusses a lot about sex and romance. While the romance is something everyone will understand, sex in literature is something that develops with a reader at different times, some can read it early, others can’t.
Yet, for the reader who can read this, it is a delightful and poignant read. First, Kim Dong Hwa has created art that is timeless and speaks volumes from detailed flowers to sweeping scenes on a whole page or two page spread. The black, white, and gray tones provide enough for my mind to create the colors as needed. This is a prime example of “reading a movie” for me.
Ehwa awakens sexually in this story as she learns and sees things that she does not yet understand. The seven year olds are pretending to be older, but don’t really understand how it all works. As Ehwa gets older, she starts to understand and develop appropriately. Ehwa is a character that will grow and you hope the best for her. I cannot wait for the last two parts.
------
Bonus: This particular trilogy (next two posts will be the other two) has been getting a lot of interesting blog posting lately and it is similar to the whole "Twilight Feminism Thing" going on out there. Here is one example from The Manga Curmudgeon and showed up in my RSS feeder. At the end of June, there was a Manhwa Moveable Feast where you can check out essays, reviews, and comments about the trilogy (the earlier post was included). Honestly, I'm on the fence about the whole thing because while I enjoy a good love story with stereotypes, I'm not interested in having that in my life. It is escapism.
Months ago, the publisher, First Second (:01) posted this interesting blog post about the covers of The Color Trilogy and frankly, I'm glad the English covers got such a lovely makeover.
A 2010 ALA Great Graphic Novel choice
Source: Library
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Otomen Volume 2 by Aya Kanno
Title: Otomen vol. 2
Author: Aya Kanno
Illustrator: Aya Kanno
Publisher: Viz Media
Copyright: (Originally 2007) 2009
Price: $8.99
ISBN: 978-1-4215-2187-9
-----------
Summary: Asuka continues his double life, but is feeling better that the girl he likes is “ok” with his girly side. Volume 2 is a collection of three stories. In the first story, Asuka fights with a gang of boys to protect a smaller, weaker boy. This boy decides to adopt Asuka as his mentor, believing he is the ultimate picture perfection of manliness. The boy spies on Asuaka, so what will happen when he spies on one of the lunches Ryo, Juta, and Asuka share?! In the second story, Chritsmas comes but once a year and poor Ryo has never celebrated Christmas! The friends decide that together they will celebrate, but then a blizzard arrives possibly ruining all of Asuka’s plans for a romantic Christmas. Lastly, Asuka’s mom returns from her trip bringing news that Asuka is to be married to the cutest, girliest, rich girl so he doesn’t make any mistake and have his heart broken like she did.
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Thoughts: This volume feels more episodic than the previous volume, but it is still a fun read. Asuka is starting to come to terms with who he is until his mother comes home. He feels he has to please her in her perceptions, which provides parallels to teens who feel they have to please parents. The stories are completely over the top, but it is their craziness that makes me want to keep reading. In this volume, there is an interesting throwback to Snow White and the ideals of fairy tales.
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Will Teens Like It? Probably. It is way too wild and quirky.
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Things to be aware of: Don’t remember anything…
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Bonus: Why didn’t ALA put volume 2 in their list? It was published in 2009 but they only list volume 1. Other series have multiple volumes. If you know, please comment because I’m interested.
Source: Library.
Author: Aya Kanno
Illustrator: Aya Kanno
Publisher: Viz Media
Copyright: (Originally 2007) 2009
Price: $8.99
ISBN: 978-1-4215-2187-9
-----------
Summary: Asuka continues his double life, but is feeling better that the girl he likes is “ok” with his girly side. Volume 2 is a collection of three stories. In the first story, Asuka fights with a gang of boys to protect a smaller, weaker boy. This boy decides to adopt Asuka as his mentor, believing he is the ultimate picture perfection of manliness. The boy spies on Asuaka, so what will happen when he spies on one of the lunches Ryo, Juta, and Asuka share?! In the second story, Chritsmas comes but once a year and poor Ryo has never celebrated Christmas! The friends decide that together they will celebrate, but then a blizzard arrives possibly ruining all of Asuka’s plans for a romantic Christmas. Lastly, Asuka’s mom returns from her trip bringing news that Asuka is to be married to the cutest, girliest, rich girl so he doesn’t make any mistake and have his heart broken like she did.
----------
Thoughts: This volume feels more episodic than the previous volume, but it is still a fun read. Asuka is starting to come to terms with who he is until his mother comes home. He feels he has to please her in her perceptions, which provides parallels to teens who feel they have to please parents. The stories are completely over the top, but it is their craziness that makes me want to keep reading. In this volume, there is an interesting throwback to Snow White and the ideals of fairy tales.
---------
Will Teens Like It? Probably. It is way too wild and quirky.
--------
Things to be aware of: Don’t remember anything…
------
Bonus: Why didn’t ALA put volume 2 in their list? It was published in 2009 but they only list volume 1. Other series have multiple volumes. If you know, please comment because I’m interested.
Source: Library.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Challenges 2010 - An Intro and my first sign-up.
A few weeks ago, when I was "blog hopping," I stumbled upon the concept of reading challenges, which was semi-new to me. A friend of mine and I tried to start one last year that fell on its face. I can easily see why. It was not an issue of keeping up with the challenge ourselves. It was site organization. As I look at each site I can see a link widget is necessary, organization, organization, participation, and promotion are necessary. I know organization is listed twice. This is an important concept because it does take a massive amount of organization to keep people interested and informed about the challenge. The ones I'm seeing that have massive amounts of participation are cool looking and interesting. The ones with a few challengers, are not as active, interesting, or cool looking, although, that won't stop me.
The amount of challenges that exist are nuts. There is seriously a challenge for anything you are interested in from romance, to sci fi, to history, and Graphic Novels.
You can see where I'm going here, huh?
My first challenge announcement is that I'm signing up for the Graphic Novel Challenge. I was waiting until I was listed before I announced it, but I'm there and I'm EXCITED. I'm one of the few Experts listed and since I consider myself expert, my spin on the challenge is to work through the ALA GGNs 2010 list. You remember this post?
Yep, so that's my spin and that's the first challenge I've signed up for. I've found a few others so once I get the details figured out, I'll tell you which others I'm participating in.
The amount of challenges that exist are nuts. There is seriously a challenge for anything you are interested in from romance, to sci fi, to history, and Graphic Novels.
You can see where I'm going here, huh?
My first challenge announcement is that I'm signing up for the Graphic Novel Challenge. I was waiting until I was listed before I announced it, but I'm there and I'm EXCITED. I'm one of the few Experts listed and since I consider myself expert, my spin on the challenge is to work through the ALA GGNs 2010 list. You remember this post?
Yep, so that's my spin and that's the first challenge I've signed up for. I've found a few others so once I get the details figured out, I'll tell you which others I'm participating in.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Review: Otomen volume 1
Title: Otomen Vol. 1
Author: Aya Kanno
Author: Aya Kanno
Illustrator: Aya Kanno
Publisher: Viz Media
Publisher: Viz Media
Copyright: 2009 (2006 Japan)
Price: $8.99
ISBN: 978-1-4215-2186-2
-----------
Summary: Asuka Masamune may be the manliest man anyone knows, but he harbors a secret: he loves cute and girly objects and hobbies. When he first encounters boyish Ryo, she is facing a gang of bullies and defending a boy. Asuka immediately falls in love with her and realizes he has to face his identity while keeping his reputation intact. Enter Juta, a flirt, a playboy, and secretly one of the most popular shojo manga artists whose muse is Asuka. Juta can see the attraction between Ryo and Asuka and decides to provide a little divine intervention, while enjoying delicious bento lunches prepared by Asuka. In this volume, Asuka helps Ryo as she prepares to celebrate her manly father’s upcoming birthday. When her father discovers that he can bake, Asuka is challenged to fight with Ryo’s father.
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Thoughts: Asuka, Juta, and Ryo provide a delightful and funny group to observe in this shojo manga. Immediately from the start, you know that one of the major plot points will be about Asuka as he works through his identity crisis and learning to please himself and not others. Juta provides great comic relief in the story, causing me to laugh out loud (at least once). Also, the fact that he is secretly the author behind the parallel manga in the story provides a great plot point. This is a deeply layered shojo manga that isn’t just about romance and I look forward to reading more of this series.
-----------
Summary: Asuka Masamune may be the manliest man anyone knows, but he harbors a secret: he loves cute and girly objects and hobbies. When he first encounters boyish Ryo, she is facing a gang of bullies and defending a boy. Asuka immediately falls in love with her and realizes he has to face his identity while keeping his reputation intact. Enter Juta, a flirt, a playboy, and secretly one of the most popular shojo manga artists whose muse is Asuka. Juta can see the attraction between Ryo and Asuka and decides to provide a little divine intervention, while enjoying delicious bento lunches prepared by Asuka. In this volume, Asuka helps Ryo as she prepares to celebrate her manly father’s upcoming birthday. When her father discovers that he can bake, Asuka is challenged to fight with Ryo’s father.
----------
Thoughts: Asuka, Juta, and Ryo provide a delightful and funny group to observe in this shojo manga. Immediately from the start, you know that one of the major plot points will be about Asuka as he works through his identity crisis and learning to please himself and not others. Juta provides great comic relief in the story, causing me to laugh out loud (at least once). Also, the fact that he is secretly the author behind the parallel manga in the story provides a great plot point. This is a deeply layered shojo manga that isn’t just about romance and I look forward to reading more of this series.
---------
Will Teens Like It? Probably. The identity crisis occurring, the comedy, and the quirky story are all great points to this title.
Will Teens Like It? Probably. The identity crisis occurring, the comedy, and the quirky story are all great points to this title.
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Things to be aware of: Possibly mild language.
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Bonus: ALA Great Graphic Novels 2010
Things to be aware of: Possibly mild language.
------
Bonus: ALA Great Graphic Novels 2010
Reviewed a library copy.
ALA Great Graphic Novels 2010
It seems to me that many librarians know about YALSA's Best Books for Young Adults, but do you know about YALSA's Great Graphic Novels for Teens? As I understand, this is "the" list to go to if you want to build a "great graphic novel" collection. In the past, I have had major qualms with the lists as I glanced over them. My biggest issue was that it seemed like many titles weren't appealing to teens, but this was me. The 2010 list though certainly has a diverse selection of books and I can say that I like the diversity. I recognize many titles and manga is making more of an appearance than it used to.
Why do I bring up this list? Aside from the fact that this is a good resource for librarians, I have decided to work through as much of the list as I can. I was surprised that as I looked over the list I have yet to read a single title (as of this moment I've read one and am working on the second)! Also, a working knowledge of the literature being discussed is very useful to me.
So there you have it. I hope to read and review all of ALA's Great Graphic Novels for 2010 and give useful reviews.
Also, please pardon me as I attempt to find my voice for this blog. Today, I had my mom proof my reviews and she gave me some good feedback. I keep picturing myself "tripping" as I work through a very overgrown path. I know that the path will clear out, but it will take some time. My mom and I have been talking about blogs and identities, which is interesting if you think about it as you have to figure out boundaries, which I'm trying to do now and post reviews.
Why do I bring up this list? Aside from the fact that this is a good resource for librarians, I have decided to work through as much of the list as I can. I was surprised that as I looked over the list I have yet to read a single title (as of this moment I've read one and am working on the second)! Also, a working knowledge of the literature being discussed is very useful to me.
So there you have it. I hope to read and review all of ALA's Great Graphic Novels for 2010 and give useful reviews.
Also, please pardon me as I attempt to find my voice for this blog. Today, I had my mom proof my reviews and she gave me some good feedback. I keep picturing myself "tripping" as I work through a very overgrown path. I know that the path will clear out, but it will take some time. My mom and I have been talking about blogs and identities, which is interesting if you think about it as you have to figure out boundaries, which I'm trying to do now and post reviews.
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