Booked

Juvenile graphic novel 

     Calling all Kwame Alexander fans!  Have I got a book for you!  Parents and teachers, this is one easy sell in your campaign to hook kids on books before puberty strikes, even the ones who would much rather be engaged in sports...

     ...like Nick, Alexander's protagonist in Booked.  Soccer is the language in which he's most fluent.  Unfortunately for him, his father, a linguistics professor who wrote a dictionary with footnotes called Weird and Wonderful Words has mandated that he read and learn the whole thing in pursuit of excellence.

"IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SPELLING BEE

WHEN YOU INTENTIONALLY MISSPELLED HEIFER, HE ALMOST HAD A COW.

YOU'RE THE ONLY KID ON YOUR BLOCK AT SCHOOL IN THE.ENTIRE.FREAKIN.WORLD

WHO LIVES IN A PRISON OF WORDS."

     And then there's his nemesis, Ms. Hardwick, his honors English teacher.  Her classes are such snore fests that Nick  daydreams through them.  Of course when she catches him not paying attention Winnifred, teacher's pet extraordinaire, is eager to show him up.

     But books and language aren't the only challenges Nick is facing.  The bullying twins, Dean and Dan are back at school, gunning for Nick because he has a crush on April who Dean considers his girlfriend.  They've spent time at an alternate behavioral problem, so you know they're bad news.

     Nick's parents are separating.  They still love each other; but they don't like each other, a challenging concept for an eighth grader to deal with.  His mother is moving to a place where she can get work in her field, leaving him with the word fanatic.

     And last, but not least, a ruptured appendix sidelines Nick from an important soccer tournament.

     Alexander's narrative could definitely stand on its own.  But Dawud Anyabwile's illustrations make it shine even more.  If ever there was a book that deserved to become a graphic novel, Booked is it.  An affordable paperback, it's a bargain for enticing sports loving kids who aren't yet completely sold on reading for fun.

On a purrrsonal note, apart from Black Bears Have Heart being a total success, Valentines Day was also awesome.  I'm enjoying the lovely flowers Eugene gave me Sunday.  Tobago is being good and not eating them.  In the morning Eugene left me a really cool card.  In the evening he took me to Ruby Tuesday for supper.  Then he took me to Goodwill and paid for what I picked out.  (Jules)

I am exercising extreme willpower.  (Tobago)

A great big shout out goes out to Eugene.

Tobago and Jules Hathaway 

     

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