Book Review: Invisible Differences: A Story of Asperger's, Adulting, and Living a Life in Full Color by Julie Dachez

 

Invisible Differences: A Story of Asperger's, Adulting, and Living a Life in Full Color is a graphic novel by Julie Dachez that has been translated for the very first time in English. Mademoiselle Caroline did the adaptation, illustrations, and color, and the story was inspire by and done in collaboration with Fabienne Vaslet. The translation was done by Edward Gauvin.

Marguerite feels awkward, struggling every day to stay productive at work and keep up appearances with friends. She's sensitive, irritable at times. She makes her environment a fluffy, comforting cocoon, alienating her boyfriend. The everyday noise and stimuli assaults her senses, the constant chatter of her coworkers working her last nerve. Then, when one big fight with her boyfriend finds her frustrated and dejected, Marguerite finally investigates the root of her discomfort: after a journey of tough conversations with her loved ones, doctors, and the internet, she discovers that she has Aspergers. Her life is profoundly changed – for the better.

Invisible Differences: A Story of Asperger's, Adulting, and Living a Life in Full Color is a wonderful book that can help people understand what dealing with Asperger's can feel like, both before and after diagnosis. It can also help readers that have Asperger's see that they are far from alone. I could empathize with Marguerite right from the first page, and my connection only grew through the entire read.I could understand her frustration and disappointment when those around her dismissed her needs or concerns, even after she made the effort to meet them halfway or try to explain. I was angry on her behalf through a good part of this book. I think the artwork does a very good job of capturing the details and emotion in each panel. I especially liked the use of red in the noise and problematic aspects of the world. I thought the addition of facts about Autism in general, and Asperger's specifically, in the endpages of the book. Offering further details to readers is always a good thing to me. I think this is a book that young adults and older will be able to get a great deal out of, whether they are on the autism spectrum or not, it is for anyone interested in learning more about how others think and feel. 

Early Book Review: Science Comics: Solar System: Our Place in Space by Rosemary Mosco, John Chad

Solar System: Our Place in Space, written by Rosemary Mosco and illustrated by John Chad, is another grand installment of the Science Comics series and is currently scheduled for release on September 18 2018. In this book readers start with a Big Bang and learn about space and the solar system in this volume of Science Comics, an action-packed nonfiction graphic novel series for middle-grade readers!

Solar System: Our Place in Space is another addition to the Science comic series. I still like the combination of amusing story and science information. The set up story of a friend trying to entertain a sick and home bound friend with a story that also teaches them about space is good. The information included is well paced and interesting.  However, I did not enjoy this one as much as I have some of the others. I liked the set up and the ideas. I just could not get as engaged with the space exploration story as much as I did the story in the Brain or Bats books. The art does a good job of capturing the story and adding details, it just is not a style that I enjoy as much as those utilized in the series previously. There is nothing wrong with it, this is just personal preference rather than anything related to quality. 

Solar System: Our Place in Space is part of a well done series, and I would recommend the series as a whole for school and public libraries. I think purchases for personal libraries should depended on the interests and favorite topics of the readers. 

Book Review: The True Death of Billy the Kid by Rick Geary

The True Death of Billy the Kid is part of a series of historical graphic novels by Rick Geary.  The cover proclaims the book to be the first true and accurate graphic novel telling the story of the death of the wild west's outlaw, Billy the Kid.  One of the great folk legends of the Wild West, William H. Bonney went from cowboy and rancher's gunslinger to a pure outlaw, forever dodging justice in New Mexico before it was even a state. On the one hand, he was charming, fun-loving, often present at social events, quite appealing to the ladies. Also conversant in Spanish, “Billito” was popular with the Spanish speaking crowd. On the other hand, he had no compunction to coldly kill a man, a sheriff, a deputy—anyone who got in the way of his rustling cattle or horses for an illicit living. He also proved hard to keep in jail once he was caught. It is probably his daring escapes from jails that made him most famous, and this is the main subject of this biography, which traces his story up through his death by a gunshot in the pitch darkness, fired by lawmen obsessed with getting rid of him. 

The True Death of Billy the Kid is a black and white graphic novel detailing the life and death of Billy the Kid. While some of the details are not well documented, so Geary clearly had to speculate and fill in the gaps as best he could. The art work is neat and very detailed. It is visual pleasing and does a good job of telling the tale and enhancing the text. The labeling and explaining text were done well, and I felt like I have a little better of an understanding of what Billy was like, and how he lived. I have watched more than my fair share of movies and documentaries that cover Billy the Kid, and found this graphic novel to do a really good job of entertaining and informing readers about his life. Again, I know that Geary had to make some leaps, because we just do not know all the answers. However, I found that the choices he made in this respect seemed to be on point.

The True Death of Billy the Kid is a good graphic novel for those looking to learn more about Billy the Kid. 

Early Book Review: Science Comics: Robots and Drones: Past, Present & Future by Mairghread Scott, Jacob Chabot

Science Comics: Robots and Drones: Past, Present & Future is a nonfiction graphic novel written by Mairghread Scott and illustrated by Jacob Chabot. This new volume in the Science Comics series is currently scheduled for release on March 27 2018.

From tea-serving robots in feudal Japan to modern rovers exploring Mars, robots have been humanity's partners, helpers, and protectors for centuries! Join one of the world's earliest robots, a mechanical bird named Pouli, as he explores where robots came from, how they work, and where they’re going in this informative and hilarious new book! Ever dreamt of building your own best friend? It might be easier than you think!

Science Comics: Robots and Drones: Past, Present & Future is another great addition to the Science Comics series. The art style and the combination of story and information works well to capture and keep the attention of readers from all age groups. I am admittedly a fan of the formula, but how can you argue with something that works to teach and entertain so well. I like that the information is given in short bursts, giving readers time to digest and understand before piling more on, and I really enjoyed getting more information on early robots. Automatons are such a staple in some of the steampunk that I have read that it was interesting to see them in historical context rather than as something fantastical. The explanations of the technology of robots and drones, and the differences between some devices that people often refer to interchangeably but are not, is very accessible and I learned quite a bit. 

Science Comics: Robots and Drones: Past, Present & Future is a book that will engage the mechanically inclined, and the not so adept. The information and story are fun and well paced, as I have come to expect. If this is the first of this series you have seen, I highly recommend checking out the entire series, or at least the volumes that touch on topics that might interest you and the children in your life. 

Book Review: California Dreamin': Cass Elliot Before the Mamas and the Papas by Penelope Bagieu

California Dreamin': Cass Elliot Before the Mamas and the Papas by Penelope Bagieu is a biography in graphic novel format. Before she became the legendary Mama Cass―one quarter of the mega-huge folk group The Mamas and the Papas―Cass Eliot was a girl from Baltimore trying to make it in the big city. After losing parts to stars like Barbra Streisand on the Broadway circuit, Cass found her place in the music world with an unlikely group of cohorts. The Mamas and the Papas released five studio albums in their three years of existence. It was at once one of the most productive (and profitable) three years any band has ever had, and also one of the most bizarre and dysfunctional groups of people to ever come together to make music. Through it all, Cass struggled to keep sight of her dreams―and her very identity.

California Dreaming: Cass Elliot Before the Mamas and the Papas was an interesting read. I did not know the story behind Cass, or the Mamas and the Papas- and I think many people that have enjoyed their music are equally as ignorant of this information as I was. I was glad to see how things came about, and while not happy that there was so much struggle on Cass’s part to find her place in the world, it was enlightening. I think that this information could also be encouraging to young people with big dreams, and big troubles, to see that others have been there, that others have made it, and than they are not alone. Seeing other people facing similar feelings or struggles through life, especially in people that are admired, can help those struggling see that it is possible to get through it all. Thew art work was well matched to the story, and it drew me in. It is not the style that I normally like the best, but it grew on me as I read.  

Book Review: Stickman’s Guide to the Oceans in Layers by Catherine Chambers, Venitia Dean (Illustrations), John Paul de Quay

Stickman’s Guide to the Oceans in Layers, written by Catherine Chambers and illustrated by Venitia Dean and John Paul de Quay, offers readers of all ages a look beyond the surface of the ocean. Dive deep into the ocean to explore what each layer from the surface to the ocean floor contains. Discover the animals and geography of each layer as you descend. Current stressors on our oceans are included along with the basic information on each layer of the oceans. 

Stickman’s Guide to the Oceans in Layers offers a pretty perfect balance of illustrations, humor, and information. The information is delivered in small chunks, but offers some facts and information that I had not already seen in all the children’s nature books that I have read with my animal obsessed daughter. It was nice to learn something new, in a way that was fun and well paced. I think this would new a hit in home, school, and public library collections. I think I am going to have to revisit the Stickman’s Guide series and see what other titles would be well received my my own readers. Fun and information, what a great combination.

Stickman’s Guide to the Oceans in Layers is a wonderful resource for readers that want more information about the world they live in. I like that current issues that are affection the ocean environments, such as climate change and oil spills, are included in the book. Will the balance of illustrations, information, and silliness I think that just about everyone that picks up this book will learn something, and greatly enjoy it.