queen bee

queen bee
by chynna clugston
graphic novel/ya
scholastic, inc.
published 2005

When Haley's mom finds out she'll be transferring to the city for a new position Haley decides that this is her time to shine.  She's determined to be popular at her new school and keep her psychokinetic powers under control. 

This was a cute book, but I should have known by the publisher that this would be a little too young for me.  It's very, very, young.  Courtney Crumrin is a middle schooler, but the books are a bit more mature.  This one seemed like it was written more for middle school aged kids to read.  It seems like this was also written with a sequel in mind, in fact there is a sneak peek at the next issue, but after 6 years it doesn't seem like another one is going to come out.

Oh well.

tough love: high school confidential

tough love: high school confidential
by abby denson
graphic novel/ya
manic d press, inc.
published 2006

Brian is a shy high school teenager who is exploring the idea of coming out to friends and family.  When he meets another gay teen at his school he finds a kindred spirit who he can be himself around.

The idea behind the story is great.  Brian is struggling with being gay in what seems like a small town.  Afraid of what people will say and already somewhat of a loner he's reluctant to come out to the world.  From what I understand Abby Denson first published this as comic strips in a magazine so maybe that's why I felt like there wasn't enough meat to this story.  While the story was okay, the artwork was so blah.  It just didn't feel like there was a lot of work put into this book.

courtney crumrin rocks

courtney crumrin's monstrous holiday
by ted naifeh
graphic novel/ya
oni press
published 2009

Courtney has gone along with her Great-Uncle to Romania where she does what she normally does.  Get into trouble.  But that's cool because usually she's fine or her uncle saves her. Courtney is fun and feisty and she can't stand to see injustice being done.

Ted Naifeh did the artwork for Holly Black's Good Neighbors series.  I thought I'd give Courtney a try and found I loved it way more than GN and that has everything to do with Courtney!

nightschool: the weirn books

nightschool, volume one: the weirn books
nightschool, volume two: the weirn books
nightschool, volume three: the weirn books
nightschool, volume four: the weirn books
by svetlana chmakova
graphic novel/ya
orbit/yen
published 2009-2010

Fun, fun, fun, fun!

Alex is a Weirn (a witch) who is homeschooled by her older sister.  Her sister works for Nightschool where Weirns and other supernaturals go to school to learn about their powers as well as all the other normal school stuff.  One day, Sarah disappears and Alex is the only one who remembers her sister ever existed.  Now she must get into Nightschool to find and save her sister.

While that is the beginning there is so much more that happens and so many great characters that show up.  There was so much packed into four volumes I was afraid the story wouldn't wrap up and I'd have to wait until a fifth volume was released.  But Chmakova was able to wrap it all up without rushing things and I loved it!  She did leave off with a tiny hint of more books to come, maybe another story line.  She's been working on James Patterson's Witch & Wizard series (blech) so she's a little busy, but maybe after that we'll get some more of Weirns & Hunters!

water baby

water baby
by ross campbell
graphic novel/ya
dc comics
published 2008

Eh. First of all, why doesn't anyone wear clothes in this book? Just wondering.

I'm not sure why I didn't really enjoy this book. I guess I just don't understand where she was coming from. Why drive? Why not just kick him out of the house and tell him to fuck off? I dunno.

There weren't any characters that I liked. Luisa was nice enough and a good friend to Brody, but the story was so obviously not about her that there was little character development there.

Brody was....a front. It seemed like she couldn't be honest to anyone, including herself. She wants to be a lesbian, she wants Jake, she hates Jake, she wants to drive, she wants to walk, she wants to prove something, she doesn't really want to get off her ass...

I just finished the book feeling deflated, like I should have gotten more out of it. But I guess there wasn't really that much to get??

the walking dead, volume 15

 
the walking dead, volume 15: we find ourselves
by robert kirkman (writer) & charlie adlard (artist)
graphic novel
image comics
published 2011
reprinting of issues 85-90

This was my least favorite so far.  I feel like Kirkman is running out of stuff to write about.  Really, there can only be so many hordes running around, so many tragedies, so many discoveries before it all starts to feel the same.  I think maybe this (and issue 91, cause I read that one too) is setting up for another betrayal, another death, another horde.  If not, this series is dead.  And maybe it's time to end.  There is no hope left.  They can continue to expand their community, but then it just will continue on the same, right?

I stopped watching the series because I didn't really want to see the events in the books come to life on TV.  It's just so damn depressing.  I already know what happens.  Don't get me wrong, it is a great show...I just don't need it.

Here's to hoping that the next few issues will bring back the excitement...

brody's ghost

brody's ghost, volume one
brody's ghost, volume two
by mark crilley
graphic novel/ya
dark horse comics
published 2010
 
Brody's Ghost is written and drawn by Mark Crilley who did my favorite series I read last year, Miki Falls.  It's a six volume limited series and so far the first two are out.  The third doesn't come out until May so I'm kind of regretting my decision to start reading these already.

The volumes are short (so far), only about 90-100 pages.  Basically, Brody is a slacker/loser whose girlfriend broke up with him 3 months prior.  One day while playing his guitar for change on the street he sees a ghost who tells him she needs his help catching a serial killer so that she can get into heaven.  And so goes the story from there.  The first volume was just a set up of the story, introduced characters and such.  It went by quick and I kind of felt like it was too short.

The second volume was a bit more interesting.  We got to see Brody in action, but the best part was the little cliffhanger at the end!  And now I have to wait until May to find out what's next and then it will still only be halfway through the story!!

*sigh*