graphic novel – Page 8

Marshmallow reviews The Odyssey: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Gareth Hinds

Today Marshmallow reviews The Odyssey, the famed epic from about twenty-eight centuries ago attributed to Homer, in its graphic novel adaptation by Gareth Hinds, first published in 2010. Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Sprinkles: So Marshmallow, we know you are a big fan of mythology, and you have read a ton of books about Greek myths especially.

Marshmallow: You mean I read all the Rick Riordan books?

S: I guess. But besides his standard series based on Greek myths (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Heroes of Olympus and Trials of Apollo), you have also read and reviewed Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods and Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes. Those gave you quite a foundation on Greek mythology.

M: I guess you could say that. But I did not really read the myths from other sources …. until now!

S: Yes, that’s right. So when you told me your English class was reading The Odyssey by Homer, I was excited. And when I learned it was a graphic novel version, I knew you would find it absolutely fascinating!

M: That is exactly right. I really enjoyed reading about Odysseus and his adventures. I had read a lot about that world, as you said, but with the graphic novel version, I could see it!

S: So okay, maybe we can start there then. Can you tell us a bit about the illustrations and coloring?

M: Well, it is colorful. And distinct characters have distinct facial features. And there is a lot of action, and the action is depicted very effectively. I should also say though that there is a lot of nudity and graphic violence.

S: I guess it is not meant for very young bunnies.

M: No, I do not think so. For example on page 23, they are skinning an ox, and it is very much visible. And there is a scene or three when Odysseus and this lady are doing stuff. “Engaging in sexual acts”, one might say.

S: I see. I guess it is meant for more mature bunnies.

M: Yes.

Marshmallow is reading The Odyssey: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Gareth Hinds. — Marshmallow is reading *The Odyssey: A Graphic Novel Adaptation* by Gareth Hinds.

S: Okay, then, maybe let us move on to the plot. The story of The Odyssey is relatively well known in some places, but not all our readers might know or remember. Can you tell us a bit about what this odyssey is about?

M: Odysseus fought in the Trojan War, which was described in detail in The Iliad. The Odyssey happens after the wars and tells the story of Odysseus going back home to Ithaca. He meets a lot of challenges and distractions along the way, so the trip takes him about ten years, but he eventually makes it home to his wife Penelope in one piece.

S: The way you described Odysseus and his journey reminded me of one of my favorite poems, Ithaka, by Greek poet Constantine P. Kavafy. Kind of like the journey is the point, the arrival a goal set to start the action, but not really the central meaning of everything.

M: Well, I guess that fits the book I have just read. Odysseus has so many adventures, and he is sometimes quite easily distracted, experiencing and exploring and learning and so on. And the home that he is heading to appears only at the very end.

S: You had met some of the characters in this story earlier in some of the Percy Jackson books, right?

M: Yes, cyclops and the sirens, and so on, they all showed up at various points in the Percy Jackson books. So it was really neat to see where all those stories came from originally, and also to see how this one artist, Gareth Hinds, visualizes them in his head.

S: You know that he has also published a graphic novel version of The Iliad, right? Are you going to read that one, too?

M: Yes, I want to.

S: Great! So maybe you will review it for the book bunnies blog some time in the near future.

M: Probably! I’d rate this book 100%, so I am hopeful about the other one.

S: That will be wonderful! Alright, Marshmallow, this is probably a good place to wrap up our review. What would you like to tell our readers?

M: Stay tuned for more amazing reviews from the book bunnies!

Marshmallow rates The Odyssey: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Gareth Hinds 100%. — Marshmallow rates *The Odyssey: A Graphic Novel Adaptation* by Gareth Hinds 100%.

Caramel reviews Buns Gone Bad by Anna Humphrey and Irma Kniivila

Today Caramel reviews Buns Gone Bad, by Anna Humphrey and Irma Kniivila, the first book in a new graphic novel series called Fluffle Bunnies, coming out later this month. As usual, Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

The book bunnies received this book as an advance review copy.

Caramel reviews Buns Gone Bad, written by Anna Humphrey and illustrated by Irma Kniivila. — Caramel reviews *Buns Gone Bad*, written by Anna Humphrey and illustrated by Irma Kniivila.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, you got yourself a new graphic novel series.

Caramel: Yep.

S: Why don’t you start by introducing us to the Fluffle Bunnies, who are apparently going to go bad in this book?

C: These are three little bunnies. They are called Biggie, Boingy, and Flop, and they are really nice and cuddly. But then they decide to be TUFF bunnies.

S: Tell me more. What does that mean?

C: That means that they turn evil.

S: Wait, evil? I had thought this would be kind of like the Bad Guys books. So they would be bad in some ways but actually be cute deep inside.

C: This is kind of the opposite of the Bad Guys books actually. These guys start as cute little bunnies and then they go rotten. In Bad Guys, it’s the opposite; they are bad guys who turn good.

S: Well, I like cute little bunnies, and even mischievous little bunnies, after all, you are one. But evil ones? I am not sure that I like that…

C: Well, they are not really evil. So what happens is that their mother leaves for a trip, so the little bunnies are left defenseless, so the other animals try to take advantage of them, and so the little bunnies decide to toughen up. So they are not really evil, but they are tough. I said that before. They want to be TUFF. I guess they don’t know how to spell tough. Unlike me.

S: I see. So then they are not bad bunnies; they just learn to stand up for themselves.

C: Kinda. But they go a bit beyond just that. They take over the park. They go a little bit too far, maybe.

Caramel is reading Buns Gone Bad, written by Anna Humphrey and illustrated by Irma Kniivila. — Caramel is reading *Buns Gone Bad*, written by Anna Humphrey and illustrated by Irma Kniivila.

S: That is interesting. And kind of funny, I must admit. Three little bunnies taking over a park.

C: It is funny, but it is also fun. Think of it Sprinkles; you, me and Marshmallow having our own park. Wouldn’t it be awesome? Of course the three bunnies in the book are all siblings. And you are our mommy. And you have not left home to go to Brazil to learn jujitsu.

S: Well, learning jujitsu could be really awesome. And Brazil is the heart of Brazilian jujitsu so that makes sense. Remember, years ago, you and Marshmallow tried to learn Brazilian jujitsu?

C: Yes, and that was a lot of fun. So maybe, I can understand the mommy bunny. But the three little bunnies go a little cuckoo when she leaves, so maybe she should have taken them along.. Oh well. If she did take them along, this book would not be written, and I would not have had all the fun I had reading it.

S: So you enjoyed the book then?

C: Yes. It is really funny. The way the bunnies take over is really hilarious.

S: And how about the pictures? They look like they are all black and white. Or rather all grayscale. That is, there are different shades of gray, but no other colors.

C: Yes. But that’s fine. The bunnies are very funny all the same.

S: So would you read more adventures of the Fluffle Bunnies? This is the first book of a series apparently.

C: Yes. I would. But this is a very new book, so I am afraid a second book might not come out too soon.

S: I guess we will just have to wait.

C: Yes, unfortunately. I really do not like waiting.

S: I know Caramel, but sometimes waiting is worth it.

C: Yes I guess.

S: So if you were to describe the book in three to five words…

C: Funny page-turner about three scrappy bunnies. Here I am using the “North American informal” meaning of the word “scrappy”. Like in the musical Hamilton. That’s where I heard it first.

S: I guess it is good we looked that word up together, Caramel. We also looked up the word “fluffle” right?

C: Yes, it means a group of bunnies. I really like it!

S: Me too. Okay, so let us wrap up this review then. What would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel loved reading Buns Gone Bad, written by Anna Humphrey and illustrated by Irma Kniivila, and he can hardly wait for a second book in the series so he can read more about these "scrappy" little bunnies. — Caramel loved reading *Buns Gone Bad*, written by Anna Humphrey and illustrated by Irma Kniivila, and he can hardly wait for a second book in the series so he can read more about these “scrappy” little bunnies.

Caramel reviews Winter Turning (Book Seven of Wings of Fire) by Tui Sutherland and Mike Holmes

After reviewing Wings of Fire: A Guide to the Dragon World by Tui T. Sutherland last week, Caramel realized that he had not yet reviewed the graphic novel version of Winter Turning, the seventh book in Tui T. Sutherland’s Wings of Fire series even though he had read it right when it was published in January 2024. So to make up for this forgetfulness, today he is talking to Sprinkles about this book: Winter Turning: The Graphic Novel, written by Tui Sutherland, adapted by Barry Deutsch and Rachel Swirsky, with art work by Mike Holmes, and color by Maarta Laiho.

Caramel reviews Winter Turning: The Graphic Novel, by Tui Sutherland and Mike Holmes. — Caramel reviews *Winter Turning: The Graphic Novel,* by Tui Sutherland and Mike Holmes.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, I know you read this book all the way back in January; did you reread it before this review?

Caramel: Yes. In fact I am still rereading it.

S: I see. So you explained the plot of the book in quite some detail when you were reviewing the original.

C: Yep. And so maybe I do not have to go over it again.

S: Sure, our readers can go and check out that review, but let us try to make this one a bit self-contained. so why don’t you tell us just a little bit about the book? you do not have to go into too much detail. For that our readers can check out your review of the original book.

C: Well, this is about an IceWing named Winter, who is one of the students in Jade Academy. The dragonets from Jade Academy end up finding Queen Scarlet. They were searching for Hailstorm who is Winter’s brother, and they thought Hailstorm was taken by Scarlet. But it is not that simple. Hailstorm is under the influence of some magic which makes him almost worship Scarlet, so he is kind of staying willingly.

S: I see. Maybe this is a good recap that can get folks started with the book.

Caramel is reading Winter Turning: The Graphic Novel, by Tui Sutherland and Mike Holmes. — Caramel is reading *Winter Turning: The Graphic Novel,* by Tui Sutherland and Mike Holmes.

S: So tell me about the drawings. This is after all a graphic novel version of a full novel.

C: One word: amazing. I mean it is just the same crew who did the previous graphic novels, and so the drawings are familiar and they just work.

S: And I know you have read this book so much that it is already kind of worn out.

C: Kind of. But yes, I have read it a lot. And maybe we will eventually get the graphic novel versions of the eighth book, and then the ninth, and then the tenth, and I will get to read all of them!

S: Only if you promise you will review them too.

C: Of course.

S: Okay, so before we wrap up this review, can you describe this book in three to five words?

C: Sure. Colorful, hilarious, and adventurous.

S: Hilarious because your favorite character Qilbli is there?

C: Yes, I love how funny he is! But we have to wait all the way until book ten to have a whole book in his perspective.

S: That is alright though. I seem to recall it was worth the wait.

C: True, that book was awesome too, but also I don’t like waiting.

S: I know. Anyways, let us not make our readers wait further (did you see what I did there?) So what do you want to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel loved reading and rereading Winter Turning: The Graphic Novel, by Tui Sutherland and Mike Holmes, and encourages all fans of Wings of Fire to check it out. — Caramel loved reading and rereading *Winter Turning: The Graphic Novel,* by Tui Sutherland and Mike Holmes, and encourages all fans of Wings of Fire to check it out.

Marshmallow reviews Sapiens – A Graphic History: The Birth of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari, David Vandermeulen, and Daniel Casanave

Today Marshmallow reviews Sapiens – A Graphic History: The Birth of Humankind, the first volume, published in 2020, of the multi-volume graphic novelization of Yuval Noah Harari’s 2011 book Sapiens – A Brief History of Humankind. Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Sprinkles: I know you enjoy graphic novels, just like Caramel does, so I was not too surprised when you decided to pick up this book.

Marshmallow: Yep, and I actually enjoyed reading it too. And I think that, if you like books that ask deep questions or investigate human history, then this is the book for you!

S: Hmm, I see what you did there. You begin all your reviews with this kind of an invitation. I think it works well here too! So what is this book about?

M: It is basically about the entire history of humanity’s origins.

S: That sounds ambitious!

M: It is. So I think this will take him four or five volumes, but he is trying to tell in graphic novel form what he writes in his original book from 2011. It’s pretty novel I’d say.

S: I see. Tell me more.

M: So in this book, human evolution is portrayed as a reality TV show. And mass extinction becomes a crime investigation. We follow the author Yuval and his niece Zoe as they investigate the meaning of labels like “species” and “genus” with Professor Saraswati. Each character is drawn as a little caricature. Then we see Yuval and Zoe watching “The Greatest Show on Earth!”, or “Evolution!” This leads to an investigation of why and how the species of Homo Sapiens dominates the Earth today. After all, there were several other species in the human genus.

S: I can see that you are using some big words, maybe from your biology class?

M: Well, not quite. The book uses them, so I think it makes sense for me to use them too.

S: Makes sense to me.

Marshmallow is reading Sapiens - A Graphic History: The Birth of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari, David Vandermeulen, and Daniel Casanave. — Marshmallow is reading *Sapiens – A Graphic History: The Birth of Humankind* by Yuval Noah Harari, David Vandermeulen, and Daniel Casanave.

S: So I know that after reading this book, you also followed up with some reviews of it to see how it was received.

M: Yes. Because the author intends to share some possibly controversial ideas about the history of humanity, there was a lot I did not know about in the book, so it was really interesting to read. But I wanted to know if what he was saying was really correct. This is a graphic novel after all, and though some graphic novels have extensive footnotes and such, this one has none, and it has no references. So I wanted to check to see what others who know more about the topic thought.

S: So what did you find out?

M: Well, our readers can start by checking the Wikipedia article on the original book. The original book sold really well and got a lot of great reviews from well-known and highly regarded people. But it seems like some of the more scientific takes on the book are not as complimentary. A lot of them do like it actually, but there are some folks that say that there is not that much that is new in the book and whatever is new and original is not accurate.

S: I see. Now it is not terrible if there is nothing new for scientists, because no matter what they all know, their knowledge is not always accessible to the general audience.

M: Exactly. The graphic novel format is a really good way to reach a lot more people. So some apparently called it “infotainment,” but maybe that is actually not a terrible thing. I think the Lucy & Andy Neanderthal series that I read and reviewed is also kind of infotainment but I still found it extremely educational.

S: I agree with you there. Those books are a lot of fun and teach you a lot too.

M: Even our reviews are probably infotainment – fun yet informative, I hope. The accuracy concern is more difficult to dismiss though. Not being a scientist, I am not great at gauging that. So my advice for curious bunnies is to read this because it is a great story, and you will learn a lot, but still take it with a grain of salt, because if some parts of it feel really out there, maybe they are. So it might be worth double-checking things out on your own.

S: I think that is a very prudent and thoughtful recommendation, Marshmallow.

M: I’m a very prudent and thoughtful bunny. And now we are both using big words!

S: Yep, it must be this book!

M: We must be smarter or something! Maybe we are evolving.

S: Okay, okay, hold it there. Maybe this is a good place to end this review. So if you were to rate this book what would your rating be?

M: I really really enjoyed it, and I’d say 100% but then again the accuracy question makes me say 95%.

S: That’s fair. Okay, thanks for your neat review, Marshmallow. What would you like to tell our readers as we wrap it up?

M: Stay tuned for more amazing reviews from the book bunnies!

Marshmallow rates Sapiens - A Graphic History: The Birth of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari, David Vandermeulen, and Daniel Casanave, 95%. — Marshmallow rates *Sapiens – A Graphic History: The Birth of Humankind*, by Yuval Noah Harari, David Vandermeulen, and Daniel Casanave, 95%.