The Golden Hour

YA graphic novel 

     Graphic novels have come a long way since my childhood when we hid our Archies and Batmans from those disproving parental eyes.  Today they tackle some historic tragedies and sensitive emotional issues in a way text only narratives can't.  Nikki Smith's The Golden Hour is a wonderful example.

     Manuel has experienced a violent incident that's somehow tied in with a teacher who is on medical leave.  Suffering from nightmares, flashbacks, and anxiety, he's pretty much isolating himself at school.  At home he doesn't see much of his mother who works long hours.

     Then he catches a break when he's assigned to work on a group project with Kaysha and Sebastian.  They begin to hang out together.  He really likes the farm Sebastian lives on and the calf his new friend is raising for a competition.  He even joins Ag-Club and decides to enter photographs in the competition.  Kaysha has some pretty funny chickens.

     At the camp where the competition is held Manuel hears gunfire from a rifle range and disappears.

     The characters' facial expressions and postures eloquently convey the emotions they're experiencing.  You can't see Manuel caught in a flashback and not sense his terror.  The combination of dialogue and visuals will help readers better grasp concepts such as anxiety.

On a purrrsonal note,

Emma's party mix

Chex party mix, both original and cheese

Chocolate chips

M & Ms (variety of kinds if possible)

Pretzels 

Raisins 

Nuts 

Popcorn (regular, cheese, and caramel)

My thoughts for additions

Golden raisins

Cranberries 

Mango

Coconut 

(Jules)

Tobago's party mix

About six flavors of cat treats.

Distribute generously to the precious cats in your life.

(Tobago)

A great big shout out goes out to Emma for inspiring the recipes.  Enjoy!!!

Tobago and Jules Hathaway 

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