Great Reading: Bookmark It!

Volume 32, Number 1, October 2004

Graphic Novels

Michelle Gorman

Mystery, Murder & Mayhem!

Grades 3-6

Courtney Crumrin and the night thing things. Ted Naifeh. Oni Press, 2002. $11.95. 1929998-60-0. When Courtney Crumrin is forced to move to the suburbs with her family into the gloomy mansion of her rich old uncle, she must find a way to deal with selfish parents, spoiled classmates and the mysterious noises that go bump in the night!

Leave it to Chance, Vol. 1: Shaman’s rain. James Robinson, Paul Smith. Image Comics, 2002. $14.95. 1582402531 . Against her father’s wishes, 14-year-old Chance Falconer is following in his footsteps as a paranormal investigator when she sets out to rescue a powerful shaman and his daughter from supernatural forces.

Scooby-Doo Vol. 1: You meddling kids! Chris Duffy, Terrance Griep, Ivan Brunetti et al. DC Comics, 2003. $6.95. 1-4012- 0177-6. “Everyone into the Mystery Machine!” The Scooby Gang is back and ready to solve a few mysteries, including the case of the haunted hospital, the alien invader and a missing monster movie.

The mystery of the missing Mini-cons (Transformers: Armada, Book 2). Ryo Motohira, Terry Klassen. Tokyopop, 2003. $7.95. 1-59182-674-8. The Mini-con Transformer Robots disappeared eons ago. When one reappears and asks for help, the Autobots spring into action to beat the Decepticons to the rescue, thereby gaining new and powerful abilities.

Zodiac P.I. Natsumi Anda.Tokyopop, 2003. $9.99. 1-59182-383-8. With the help of horoscopes and astrology, 13-year-old Lili (alter-ego private investigator Spica) follows the stars in order to solve the murder of classmate Chihiro.

Michele Gorman: Wired for Youth Librarian in Austin, TX, and author of Getting graphic! Using graphic novels to promote literacy with preteens and teens. comixlibrarian@aol.com