Zita the Spacegirl

Title: Zita the Spacegirl
Author: Ben Hatke
ISBN: 9781596434462
Published: Feb 2010
Genre: fiction, graphic novel, fantasy
Characters: Zita, Joseph, Piper, Mouse, Randy,One
Reading Level: 2nd grade
Interest Level: 2-5th grade
Plot Summary: Zita had taken Joseph's notebook when she came across a large crater and a strange red button. Curious about how the button the got there and what it does, Zita pushes the button and a some strange creature reaches out and grabs Joseph and sucking him into another dimension. Frightened Zita takes off but then realizes she must save Joseph. Zita pushes the button again and finds herself on some strange planet. The planet is headed for it's ultimate demise as a meteor is heading straight for it but Zita is only concerned with finding the creature that took Joseph and rescuing him. Zita soon finds herself some unlikely alien allies and tries to find Joseph and maybe save this strange planet from doom.
Review: This graphic is a fun and action packed story with great characters. Zita is determined to save Joseph and despite being on a strange planet far from home she shows great bravery and determination. She has a great heart and the characters that join her are all a bit flawed and strange and unlikely heroes themselves but they seem to each help Zita along the way. Along with the action and fun is some humor. This is the first in a series, which is good since it leaves with not much of a ending. I can't wait to read the rest of the series and see what else Zita gets herself into.
Reader's Annotation: Zita is just a normal girl till one day she is zapped onto another planet to save her friend. But what happens when Zita has to save this strange planet too?
Main Themes: loyalty, bravery, friendship, quests
Read Alikes: Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon and Dean Hale
Why for Tweens? Zita is a young character with lots of spunk and determination that tweens will love. They will enjoy the humor and all the crazy creatures on the planet as well as the non-stop action as Zita tries to save her friend and the planet.

Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword

Title: Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword
Author: Barry Deutsch
ISBN: 9781419706196
Published: 2010
Characters: Mirka, Fruma, Zindel
Genre: fiction, graphic novel
Reading Level: 2nd grade
Interest Level: 3rd-7th grade
Plot Summary: Mirka is an 11 year old Orthodox Jewish girl who is being raised by her stepmother Fruma. But Mirka has a hard time staying out of trouble and bringing shame to her family, especially her sisters. Mirka dreams of being a dragon slayer, which is not what orthodox Jewish girls do. Hereville is a town of mostly other Orthodox Jewish families but one day when Mirka is out in the woods she comes across a mysterious house that she has never seen. Mirka is convinced that the women who lives there is a witch and when she eats a grape growing on the the fence she is chased down by a crazy creature. The creature it turns out is a talking pig that belongs to the women. Mirka later rescues the pig and earns a favor from the witch, who tell Mirka where to find a troll to earn herself a sword. But to get the sword Mirka must not only defeat the troll but disobey her family.
Review: Hereville is wonderful and very unique adventure. First, I really enjoy how Deutsch includes yiddish words throughout the story, thankfully he also includes what they mean. He really gives some great insight into the Orthodox Jewish culture and customs that those outside of the religion would not know or understand. Mirka is an unusual heroin but her devotion to being a dragon slayer leads her on an amazing and sometimes funny quest. The struggle between what she wants and what is expected for her is very relatable for tweens. I think it's funny that her knitting plays an important role in her earning her sword. I think it shows that the things from her culture and her family are important and that despite being an Orthodox Jewish girl she can still follow her dreams.
Reader's Annotation: Mirka is not your typical Orthodox Jewish girl, for starters she wants to be a dragon slayer. But first she must defeat a troll to earn her sword.
Main Themes: family, religion, quests
Read Alikes: Curses! Foiled Again by Jane Yolen
Why for Tweens? At 11 years old Mirka not only battles a giant pig but she defeats a giant troll to earn a sword for dragon slaying. The story is unique and fun and a wonderful adventure.

Robot Dreams

Title: Robot Dreams
Author: Sara Varon
ISBN: 9781596431089
Published: 2007
Characters: Robot, Dog
Genre: fiction, graphic novel
Reading Level: N/A
Interest Level: 3rd-5th grade
Plot Summary: Robot Dreams is a wordless graphic novel about a dog who wants a friend. So Dog  orders a robot and the two quickly become the best of friends. Dog takes Robot with him everywhere, even the beach. But when Robot goes running into the ocean things take a turn for the worse. Robot lies down on the beach to dry off and he rusts so bad that he can't move. Dog doesn't know what to do and is forced to leave his friend on the beach and when he tries to go back to help him the beach has been closed off for the winter and Dog is forced to leave his friend behind. The story then follows Robot as he lay dreaming of rescues on the beach, and Dog who tries to find a friend to take the place of Dog.
Review: The story, despite having no words, is a great read. The illustrations do a wonderful job of showing the friendship between Robot and Dog and then how they both struggle with being apart. I love seeing Dog try and find new friends and losing some of them, like Snowman who melts in the spring heat. Robots story is also interesting as Robot dreams of different ways he could be rescued as he lay abandoned on the sand. There are themes of friendship and how to deal when you lose a friend, or you are no longer some one's best friend as they move on to new friends. The ending is not what the reader expects. But I like that is shows Robot moving on to a new friend and that when the to see each other in passing they look fondly on the time they have but realize that each of them have moved on. It's interesting to see just how much emotion and story telling can be told without words.
Reader's Annotation: Robot and Dog are the best of friends. But when Robot gets stuck on the beach for the winter Dog is left to make new friends and Robot is left dreaming of a way out.
Main Themes: friendship, loss
Read Alikes: Bake Sale by Sara Varon, Owly by Andy Runton
Why for Tweens? Tweens are dealing a lot with making and losing friends as they grow up and find themselves liking different things. This story is a great example of how you can make new friends and that while you may be very close to someone for a period of time this doesn't always last. But the story shows you can move on and make new friends and that doesn't mean you dont' care about your former friends. I also think tweens will enjoy the drawings and humours aspects of the story, like Dog forcing himself to eat ants with his new anteater friends.