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August Moon
The townspeople of Calico believe in family. In fact, some say that the souls of dead ancestors watch over this town, and on a clear night, you can see their "Soul Fires" dancing through the sky.
But when young Fiona Gan comes to town with her father, she finds that the Soul Fires are just the beginning of Calico's mysteries. Strange graffiti appears all over town, a huge rabbit-like creature is found in an alley, and a peculiar street boy named Jaden claims to come from the moon.
Now time may be running out, because Fi and her dad are not the only newcomers to Calico. As the Soul Fire festival approaches and a creepy corporation starts to bulldoze the nearby forests, she finds herself drawn into Jaden's battle for the soul of a community.
But when young Fiona Gan comes to town with her father, she finds that the Soul Fires are just the beginning of Calico's mysteries. Strange graffiti appears all over town, a huge rabbit-like creature is found in an alley, and a peculiar street boy named Jaden claims to come from the moon.
Now time may be running out, because Fi and her dad are not the only newcomers to Calico. As the Soul Fire festival approaches and a creepy corporation starts to bulldoze the nearby forests, she finds herself drawn into Jaden's battle for the soul of a community.
320 pages, Paperback
First published November 6, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
November 24, 2013
A rather lovely graphic novel that's essentially a quirky tribute to My Neighbour Totoro and Miyazaki's other works. The artwork's unusual and a little rough, but very evocative, and I found myself enjoying it a great deal.
September 19, 2012
A mysterious group of corporate thugs are looking to turn Calico’s forest into a developer’s playground and since the people of Calico are fierce in their protection of the woods, they must go about its destruction in a devious manner. The forest’s extinction isn’t their only target, but the annihilation of the “vermin” as well—mythical creatures ala Totoro who are solid enough to take a bullet, yet folkloric enough to remain unseen by most adults.
After witnessing one of these creatures up close, a scientist is asked to come to Calico to consult. He brings his 11-year-old daughter Fiona “Fi” Gan back to the place where her late mother was born and raised. Staying with her maternal Uncle while her father becomes increasingly endangered by his hunt for the rabbit-bear-like creature (aka the find of the century), Fi encounters a strange creature all her own, a peter-pan-like boy named Jaden.
Diana Thung writes and illustrates a solid magically-real adventure. The gangster-corporate figures are literally looking to destroy the heart and soul of Calico by destroying the forest and the Soul Fire. The question is: can Fi and Jaden stop them? There are other conflicts in August Moon, too: Science vs. Mystical (Fi’s father’s staunch and starchy science’s inability to cope with the loss and grief haunting their family); Law vs. Free-spiritedness (the comically stressed Sheriff trying to maintain some order amidst the whimsical graffiti and rebellious cart owners). Can the “old ways” help heal old wounds? Are they still of value to the imagination of the young and old? [And what do we do with the belief that the lanterns these creatures carry are the souls of ancestors? And what are these creatures anyway?—a mystery I am still working out—my knowledge of lore in this geographic region is limited.]
August Moon has much the humor, magic, and adventure we’ve come to expect from the offerings of Studio Ghibli, whom the author acknowledges for Totoro. It is less sweeping, however, the panels tighter of focus. Thung metes out sound effects, silence, text, and perspective with patience. She is conservative with exaggerative expression (in any way), grounding the magical in a real like a dark mystery adventure (or super hero) story might be grounded. In keeping with the shutter-bug Fi, Thung includes finely drawn Polaroid snap-shots to divide up the story—again, a nod to the modern and the real; it also a really nice touch for the comic and artist. August Moon isn’t a Saturday morning cartoon lacking that kind of pacing or energy, but it works as any day fare, one easy to recommend to the school-going set as well as its adult audience. The villains look mildly ridiculous in their suits and monkey-ish faces and the heroes are urban children, wise grandmas and cool uncles.
The black ink on white, the sinister corporation, the gun-violence, and the moving around at night lend a dark edge to the story, but I didn’t feel much of that weight. [Maybe I needed the weight of holding the book and flipping pages?] The silences, the moments of deceptive calm, the mother’s notebook, the strange Jaden-figure and the telephone booth lend a secretiveness which is great in peaking the reader’s curiosity and promoting Fi’s discoveries, but I guess I didn’t grasp the thrilling shiver of those elements either. The only sense of urgency to know the outcome or secret of anything was whether certain characters were going to survive the story and how victory over the corporation was going to be handled. And yes, I am not so heartless as to hope warmth would be restored to Fi and her father’s relationship—or that maybe she could move in with her Uncle. Maybe I wasn’t smart/educated or patient enough to figure out the answers to the mysteries I wanted to know more about from the story—the “vermin” in particular. Maybe the title holds a clue, but I missed that one, too—damn my ignorance (and my impatience)!
Overall, I found the story charming enough, the artwork a nice match, and the idea of it satisfying enough to give it another go in November as well as recommend everyone else make the time to find a copy of August Moon, and keep their eyes out for more from Diana Thung.
recommendations… NetGalley has categorized under Fiction—Adult: action/adventure, and while I think adults should and will enjoy August Moon (perhaps enjoying the conflicts and mysteries tucked here and there or have patience for some of the sequences), the story could really appeal to a smart younger set. Also, I used the word “solid” to describe August Moon deliberately; it doesn’t feel exceptional nor smooth and I do not say this meanly; the comic is good. So sure, grown-ups, check this one out, those interested in lore familiar to Asia will probably find the stronger interest/enjoyment and/or those who like magical realism in the modern landscape. August Moon is easy to recommend to any age group middle-grade and up. And it is easy to follow structurally for new or non-comic readers.
of note: August Moon has me hungry for stories of this kind set in North America—maybe some ewok-sasquatch-wolf sort of woodland spiritual creature? Nothing that emigrated with us from European roots, yet something less creepy than the Stick People (of the tribal NW). Something drawn in the styling of August Moon, and not some naturalist or non-fiction sketchery.
L (omphaloskepsis)
http://contemplatrix.wordpress.com/20...
After witnessing one of these creatures up close, a scientist is asked to come to Calico to consult. He brings his 11-year-old daughter Fiona “Fi” Gan back to the place where her late mother was born and raised. Staying with her maternal Uncle while her father becomes increasingly endangered by his hunt for the rabbit-bear-like creature (aka the find of the century), Fi encounters a strange creature all her own, a peter-pan-like boy named Jaden.
Diana Thung writes and illustrates a solid magically-real adventure. The gangster-corporate figures are literally looking to destroy the heart and soul of Calico by destroying the forest and the Soul Fire. The question is: can Fi and Jaden stop them? There are other conflicts in August Moon, too: Science vs. Mystical (Fi’s father’s staunch and starchy science’s inability to cope with the loss and grief haunting their family); Law vs. Free-spiritedness (the comically stressed Sheriff trying to maintain some order amidst the whimsical graffiti and rebellious cart owners). Can the “old ways” help heal old wounds? Are they still of value to the imagination of the young and old? [And what do we do with the belief that the lanterns these creatures carry are the souls of ancestors? And what are these creatures anyway?—a mystery I am still working out—my knowledge of lore in this geographic region is limited.]
August Moon has much the humor, magic, and adventure we’ve come to expect from the offerings of Studio Ghibli, whom the author acknowledges for Totoro. It is less sweeping, however, the panels tighter of focus. Thung metes out sound effects, silence, text, and perspective with patience. She is conservative with exaggerative expression (in any way), grounding the magical in a real like a dark mystery adventure (or super hero) story might be grounded. In keeping with the shutter-bug Fi, Thung includes finely drawn Polaroid snap-shots to divide up the story—again, a nod to the modern and the real; it also a really nice touch for the comic and artist. August Moon isn’t a Saturday morning cartoon lacking that kind of pacing or energy, but it works as any day fare, one easy to recommend to the school-going set as well as its adult audience. The villains look mildly ridiculous in their suits and monkey-ish faces and the heroes are urban children, wise grandmas and cool uncles.
The black ink on white, the sinister corporation, the gun-violence, and the moving around at night lend a dark edge to the story, but I didn’t feel much of that weight. [Maybe I needed the weight of holding the book and flipping pages?] The silences, the moments of deceptive calm, the mother’s notebook, the strange Jaden-figure and the telephone booth lend a secretiveness which is great in peaking the reader’s curiosity and promoting Fi’s discoveries, but I guess I didn’t grasp the thrilling shiver of those elements either. The only sense of urgency to know the outcome or secret of anything was whether certain characters were going to survive the story and how victory over the corporation was going to be handled. And yes, I am not so heartless as to hope warmth would be restored to Fi and her father’s relationship—or that maybe she could move in with her Uncle. Maybe I wasn’t smart/educated or patient enough to figure out the answers to the mysteries I wanted to know more about from the story—the “vermin” in particular. Maybe the title holds a clue, but I missed that one, too—damn my ignorance (and my impatience)!
Overall, I found the story charming enough, the artwork a nice match, and the idea of it satisfying enough to give it another go in November as well as recommend everyone else make the time to find a copy of August Moon, and keep their eyes out for more from Diana Thung.
recommendations… NetGalley has categorized under Fiction—Adult: action/adventure, and while I think adults should and will enjoy August Moon (perhaps enjoying the conflicts and mysteries tucked here and there or have patience for some of the sequences), the story could really appeal to a smart younger set. Also, I used the word “solid” to describe August Moon deliberately; it doesn’t feel exceptional nor smooth and I do not say this meanly; the comic is good. So sure, grown-ups, check this one out, those interested in lore familiar to Asia will probably find the stronger interest/enjoyment and/or those who like magical realism in the modern landscape. August Moon is easy to recommend to any age group middle-grade and up. And it is easy to follow structurally for new or non-comic readers.
of note: August Moon has me hungry for stories of this kind set in North America—maybe some ewok-sasquatch-wolf sort of woodland spiritual creature? Nothing that emigrated with us from European roots, yet something less creepy than the Stick People (of the tribal NW). Something drawn in the styling of August Moon, and not some naturalist or non-fiction sketchery.
L (omphaloskepsis)
http://contemplatrix.wordpress.com/20...
March 7, 2013
What a purely beautiful book! Fi and Jaden are wonderful characters, and the art is gorgeous, the pacing quick and elegant. I don't know how to describe the success of this other thing -- good storyboarding? When a sequence of panels conveys meaning seamlessly through an economy of word, image, and their organization on the page. Anyway it has that.
The only part where I felt it was on shaky ground was with how one-note the villains are. What I love about Miyazaki's portrayal of Forest v. Industry conflicts is that he recognizes that there are things good and beautiful and worthy on each side; Princess Mononoke shows that the ingenuity of Irontown's Lady Eboshi has given everyone in the town, especially the women, a better life, and better prospects, even while showing how impossible it is to reconcile that better life with the damage she's doing to the world around her. Similarly, something like Gunnerkrigg Court, which is also very Miyazaki and Mononoke inspired, doesn't portray Court and Forest as Evil and Good, but as a conflict of morally neutral interests with morally non-neutral results.
All this to say, the Monkeys were definitely threatening (and the scene where they are vacuuming up the trees was SO AWFUL!), but I wanted something more from their depiction, some backstory or illumination as to why they couldn't get along with the forest dwellers.
That aside, this was a wonderful read, and I'll definitely look out for whatever Diana Thung does next.
The only part where I felt it was on shaky ground was with how one-note the villains are. What I love about Miyazaki's portrayal of Forest v. Industry conflicts is that he recognizes that there are things good and beautiful and worthy on each side; Princess Mononoke shows that the ingenuity of Irontown's Lady Eboshi has given everyone in the town, especially the women, a better life, and better prospects, even while showing how impossible it is to reconcile that better life with the damage she's doing to the world around her. Similarly, something like Gunnerkrigg Court, which is also very Miyazaki and Mononoke inspired, doesn't portray Court and Forest as Evil and Good, but as a conflict of morally neutral interests with morally non-neutral results.
All this to say, the Monkeys were definitely threatening (and the scene where they are vacuuming up the trees was SO AWFUL!), but I wanted something more from their depiction, some backstory or illumination as to why they couldn't get along with the forest dwellers.
That aside, this was a wonderful read, and I'll definitely look out for whatever Diana Thung does next.
July 28, 2014
A very interesting, somewhat Totoro like, adventure story. The story centers around Fiona, a young girl who recently lost her mother and has come to stay with her uncle while her scientist father researches sightings of strange rabbit-like creatures in the neighborhood. Calico, the town, was her mom's hometown and Fiona is torn between her uncle, who wants Fi to fondly imagine her mother in heaven, and her father who wants his daughter to be rational and scientific.
Fi shuts both influences away by putting on headphones and gazing at the sky...where she sees a mysterious figure leaping around the rooftops. She discovers a hidden magic world, where bunny creatures float above it all holding glowing lanterns. She also discovers that the hidden world is not all fun and games, but quite dangerous as well.
The graphic novel deals with a lot of real world issues, grief, loneliness and family relationships are only the tip of the iceburg. There are also environmental themes with both the evil monkey corporation and Fi's dad's scientific studies.
Overall the messages however was a great story with wonderful characters brought to life by beatutiful artwork. Thung did a great job melding this fantasy adventure with realistic themes.
Fi shuts both influences away by putting on headphones and gazing at the sky...where she sees a mysterious figure leaping around the rooftops. She discovers a hidden magic world, where bunny creatures float above it all holding glowing lanterns. She also discovers that the hidden world is not all fun and games, but quite dangerous as well.
The graphic novel deals with a lot of real world issues, grief, loneliness and family relationships are only the tip of the iceburg. There are also environmental themes with both the evil monkey corporation and Fi's dad's scientific studies.
Overall the messages however was a great story with wonderful characters brought to life by beatutiful artwork. Thung did a great job melding this fantasy adventure with realistic themes.
March 4, 2013
When Fiona Gan and her father come to the town of Calico for a summer month in Diana Thung's graphic novel August Moon, she spends her days and nights exploring the deserted rooftops and wandering in the forest, meeting the magical creatures who live in the places grownups never see.
From the Totoro-like rabbit creature on the cover to the Studio Ghibli namecheck in the author's acknowledgements, August Moon proudly and openly acknowledges its debt to the anime of Hayao Miyazaki. If the book doesn't quite manage to anchor its idiosyncratic fantasy world against believable and poignant family relationships as successfully as Miyazaki's My Neighbour Totoro does, it is nonetheless an intriguing and occasionally wonderful debut from a new voice in comics.
From the Totoro-like rabbit creature on the cover to the Studio Ghibli namecheck in the author's acknowledgements, August Moon proudly and openly acknowledges its debt to the anime of Hayao Miyazaki. If the book doesn't quite manage to anchor its idiosyncratic fantasy world against believable and poignant family relationships as successfully as Miyazaki's My Neighbour Totoro does, it is nonetheless an intriguing and occasionally wonderful debut from a new voice in comics.
November 3, 2015
I picked this book up at the library based solely on the cover. I had no idea what the story was about or what kind of adventure it would take me on. Boy am I happy I judged this book by its cover. Fiona, Jaden, and the wonderful creatures in the forest will keep you turning page after page. Often I found myself getting up to do something but finding myself immediately sitting back down to flip another twenty pages in this book. I really enjoyed the sketchy style of art and the lack of color actually fit well within the universe and magical story it depicts. I didn't hesitate to give this story 5 stars and plan to purchase a copy for myself in hopes we will see more awesome tales from Diana Thung.
October 6, 2013
I picked up this title for two reasons. One, I like graphic novels. Two, the cover reminded me of some Japanese animated movies I liked, with the strange round animal with large eyes.
Yet I couldn't finish it. I struggled to get to page 120, where I finally gave up. The artwork is unappealing to me. The layout of the panels confused me at times; I couldn't tell what was going on. The storyline, while fairly whacked, was too whacked for me to appreciate, I guess. Odd animals. Evil men, precocious children, and the souls of dead ancestors. Meh.
Yet I couldn't finish it. I struggled to get to page 120, where I finally gave up. The artwork is unappealing to me. The layout of the panels confused me at times; I couldn't tell what was going on. The storyline, while fairly whacked, was too whacked for me to appreciate, I guess. Odd animals. Evil men, precocious children, and the souls of dead ancestors. Meh.
April 10, 2016
This book opens on a street in a town with a bakery, some kids, a VW Bug, a person sweeping the floor of what presumably the bakery. It's a four panel page with one big panel and three small ones underneath it, and in the big panel floats a word bubble that hasn't yet attached itself to a character. Inside we find musical notes, and the words, "Lilliput! Lilliput!"
On the next page we meet a group of kids, wearing robot costumes made of already-been-used cardboard boxes. They sing, "doot, doot" and "lilliput, lilliput."
The invocation of Lilliput confused me for a while. I was trying to understand if this was an invocation of Gulliver's Travels, and if so, why. I still don't know, and if you decide to pick up this book, I don't recommend focusing on that because it's not helpful. Clearly the book is influenced by Miyazaki (the author says as much) and perhaps this is a more important link to explore? I haven't seen "My Neighbor Totoro" and I suppose it's about time I have.
The group of kids, singing "lilliput" and "doot doot," visit Simon, the proprietor of the bakery. He is revealed to be a beloved person in the neighborhood and in the town of Calico in general. This is a town in which everyone seems to know each other -- a town with a touch of magic, that borders on a beloved forest in which some magical bunny-bear creatures live.
Jaden, a magical kid who can do some pretty cool stunts, including defying gravity as if he were on the moon (he insinuates that the moon is his home, so maybe that has something to do with his fantastical jumping abilities), is a friend of the bunny-bears and arrives in the story before it's main protagonist, Fiona, also known as Fi. Fi doesn't come in until nearly thirty pages into the book, after there is a dramatic assassination attempt on some bunny-bears and Jaden jumps in (though not up) to try to help the creatures and figure out who the bad buys are.
Fiona's father, a scientist, hears of these mystery bunny-bear creatures after they've been shot, and decides to study them. He and Fi come to Calico. Simon is Fi's uncle -- Fi's father's brother-in-law. Fi's mother has been dead for some time and her relationship with her father isn't too clearly drawn, but it seems he's not too aware of or concerned with her emotional life.
So, Fi and her father come to this place and stay with Simon. Meanwhile, the bad guys gradually come into focus. They are a group of noirish corporate thugs in great pin-striped suits trying to decimate Calico's magical and beloved forest. Fi's father is in danger because he is searching for the magical creatures just as the bad guys are trying to assassinate them. Jaden is in danger because he is trying to help the bunny-bears, save the forest, and stop the bad guys. Fi is soon in danger because she is trying to help Jaden and also trying to protect her father. Meanwhile, Simon and Fi's father are bickering about whether there's such a thing as heaven.
So, we have the good nature against the bad corporations. One gr reviewer said the book reminded her of the Lorax and I cansee why. But in this book we don't see the world become a smoggier, lifeless place. We don't get the point of view of the corporation's leaders or cronies. We do, however, see some deforestation and the attempted execution of bunny-bears. Basically, one of the big messages of the book is corporate models of production (especially those that involve the destruction of forests and other ecosystems) are bad and magical forests and bunny-bears are good.
Thung also raises the question of belief in magic and faith versus belief in science and rationality. Why not a little of both? Perhaps that is the message here, but it's a barely addressed side-note and still somehow manages to be a little heavy-handed.
It's interesting to have read Fox Bunny Funny and August Moon on the same day. It wasn't an intentional pairing, but both books do have bunny type creatures and in both books the messages are on the heavy-handed side. This one is a much longer, in-depth story with more mystery to it. Both have black-and-white art. August Moon is not stylized to the degree of Fox Bunny Funny and the art doesn't jump off the page in the same compelling way. Each book offers a completely different experience, so I don't know if it is fair to compare. I didn't always love the art in this book it's pretty cool, and I love the intertextuality. Fi is often taking photographs and Thung renders them beautifully in the book. Also there's graffiti art, signs and posters. And while the messages are a bit heavy-handed and oversimplified, the inter-character relationships are more complicated and rich.
The ethereal quality of this book reminds me of "Children of the Sea." Also, in both this book and Children of the Sea, there is an earthling hanging out with a magical kid, and there is a question hanging in the air about whether the earth kid might not also be a bit magical themselves. Connected to the magic in a deeper way than they know.
August Moon feels like the work of someone who is still honing their skills, but I appreciate the themes and the complex relationship dynamics and her rendering of place and movement is skillful and filmic.
I recommend this book to those who might want to see something of a meeting between the Lorax and Totoro with a sweet gender-free-type friendship and some cool special effects. It's a bit clumsy in places, but there's a lot going on artistically and thematically, with thoughtfulness about folklore and identity that I appreciate. I look forward to checking out more of Thung's work.
On the next page we meet a group of kids, wearing robot costumes made of already-been-used cardboard boxes. They sing, "doot, doot" and "lilliput, lilliput."
The invocation of Lilliput confused me for a while. I was trying to understand if this was an invocation of Gulliver's Travels, and if so, why. I still don't know, and if you decide to pick up this book, I don't recommend focusing on that because it's not helpful. Clearly the book is influenced by Miyazaki (the author says as much) and perhaps this is a more important link to explore? I haven't seen "My Neighbor Totoro" and I suppose it's about time I have.
The group of kids, singing "lilliput" and "doot doot," visit Simon, the proprietor of the bakery. He is revealed to be a beloved person in the neighborhood and in the town of Calico in general. This is a town in which everyone seems to know each other -- a town with a touch of magic, that borders on a beloved forest in which some magical bunny-bear creatures live.
Jaden, a magical kid who can do some pretty cool stunts, including defying gravity as if he were on the moon (he insinuates that the moon is his home, so maybe that has something to do with his fantastical jumping abilities), is a friend of the bunny-bears and arrives in the story before it's main protagonist, Fiona, also known as Fi. Fi doesn't come in until nearly thirty pages into the book, after there is a dramatic assassination attempt on some bunny-bears and Jaden jumps in (though not up) to try to help the creatures and figure out who the bad buys are.
Fiona's father, a scientist, hears of these mystery bunny-bear creatures after they've been shot, and decides to study them. He and Fi come to Calico. Simon is Fi's uncle -- Fi's father's brother-in-law. Fi's mother has been dead for some time and her relationship with her father isn't too clearly drawn, but it seems he's not too aware of or concerned with her emotional life.
So, Fi and her father come to this place and stay with Simon. Meanwhile, the bad guys gradually come into focus. They are a group of noirish corporate thugs in great pin-striped suits trying to decimate Calico's magical and beloved forest. Fi's father is in danger because he is searching for the magical creatures just as the bad guys are trying to assassinate them. Jaden is in danger because he is trying to help the bunny-bears, save the forest, and stop the bad guys. Fi is soon in danger because she is trying to help Jaden and also trying to protect her father. Meanwhile, Simon and Fi's father are bickering about whether there's such a thing as heaven.
So, we have the good nature against the bad corporations. One gr reviewer said the book reminded her of the Lorax and I cansee why. But in this book we don't see the world become a smoggier, lifeless place. We don't get the point of view of the corporation's leaders or cronies. We do, however, see some deforestation and the attempted execution of bunny-bears. Basically, one of the big messages of the book is corporate models of production (especially those that involve the destruction of forests and other ecosystems) are bad and magical forests and bunny-bears are good.
Thung also raises the question of belief in magic and faith versus belief in science and rationality. Why not a little of both? Perhaps that is the message here, but it's a barely addressed side-note and still somehow manages to be a little heavy-handed.
It's interesting to have read Fox Bunny Funny and August Moon on the same day. It wasn't an intentional pairing, but both books do have bunny type creatures and in both books the messages are on the heavy-handed side. This one is a much longer, in-depth story with more mystery to it. Both have black-and-white art. August Moon is not stylized to the degree of Fox Bunny Funny and the art doesn't jump off the page in the same compelling way. Each book offers a completely different experience, so I don't know if it is fair to compare. I didn't always love the art in this book it's pretty cool, and I love the intertextuality. Fi is often taking photographs and Thung renders them beautifully in the book. Also there's graffiti art, signs and posters. And while the messages are a bit heavy-handed and oversimplified, the inter-character relationships are more complicated and rich.
The ethereal quality of this book reminds me of "Children of the Sea." Also, in both this book and Children of the Sea, there is an earthling hanging out with a magical kid, and there is a question hanging in the air about whether the earth kid might not also be a bit magical themselves. Connected to the magic in a deeper way than they know.
August Moon feels like the work of someone who is still honing their skills, but I appreciate the themes and the complex relationship dynamics and her rendering of place and movement is skillful and filmic.
I recommend this book to those who might want to see something of a meeting between the Lorax and Totoro with a sweet gender-free-type friendship and some cool special effects. It's a bit clumsy in places, but there's a lot going on artistically and thematically, with thoughtfulness about folklore and identity that I appreciate. I look forward to checking out more of Thung's work.
September 30, 2018
I read “August Moon” for a summer reading challenge. It is not a book I would have picked up for my own reading interest, but I do enjoy graphic novels so I thought that I could afford to take the chance.
“August Moon” is a story that Thung wrote after becoming inspired by Asian folklore. I do not know Asian folklore and I found the story really confusing. I was not sure where the main little boy came from, why he kept singing, or what the little ‘hamsters’ were meant to symbolise. I did read the afterword that explained how the author drew from Asian folklore and the story is supposed to be about the spirits of the deceased watching over people. Again, I found it confusing. I did not know where the characters where from, what they represented, or what their purpose was.
I think that the story would have been really good if I had understood it. They drawings were interesting and the little that I did understand intrigued me. It was an alright story, it just needed to be made more clear for people who are not familiar with Asian folklore.
“August Moon” is a story that Thung wrote after becoming inspired by Asian folklore. I do not know Asian folklore and I found the story really confusing. I was not sure where the main little boy came from, why he kept singing, or what the little ‘hamsters’ were meant to symbolise. I did read the afterword that explained how the author drew from Asian folklore and the story is supposed to be about the spirits of the deceased watching over people. Again, I found it confusing. I did not know where the characters where from, what they represented, or what their purpose was.
I think that the story would have been really good if I had understood it. They drawings were interesting and the little that I did understand intrigued me. It was an alright story, it just needed to be made more clear for people who are not familiar with Asian folklore.
November 26, 2017
Občas nepochopitelné a překračující rámec mého běžného chápání, ale přesto napínavé a zejména milé vyprávění o odvaze a jednom fantaskním světě.
December 5, 2017
I'm still not too sure what this book was about? I understood the general plot but I was a little bit confused in parts
April 12, 2018
A little weird, but good.
A girl and her father come back to home town and meet some fantastic creatures and an usual boy.
A girl and her father come back to home town and meet some fantastic creatures and an usual boy.
February 27, 2022
loved this book sooo much
May 8, 2023
Quirky, fun characters & good vibes. If you can get into the distinct art style, the story is great.
March 3, 2026
this was a very interesting book and it was also good aswell
October 22, 2012
August Moon. Will Eisner Meets Manga
A very fascinating and magical graphic novel that expertly and easily parts back and forth between the serious and senseless flowed into my life recently. And very early on I realized why I experienced joy with this volume. It reminded me of Will Eisner meeting Manga.
The story is called August Moon and it is written and drawn by talented newcomer Diana Thung. She tells the tale of a small town called Calico who are frequently visited by the Soul Fire, orbs of light that are rumoured to be dead ancestors. What they really are, and how the beings behind them are being hunted by some mysterious corporation, is part of the backbone of this story. These benevolent creatures, and their leader, the boy who might be from the moon, met a young girl. She is in town with her dad, who is investigating these creatures, and running afoul of the evil men in suits. Together they strive to save the day, and help nurture the healing process for all.
What struck my sensibilities immediately was how deftly Thung melds two styles together so seamlessly.
Providing a Manga drawing style for the characters and some set designs gives the story a lyrical spark that packs quite a lot of emotions into each panel. Now I am extremely limited in my Manga and Anime reading, but the expressiveness of the artform always struck me as a bonus, and Thung has used her special strength in this area quite well here. Seeing the myriad facial pains and joys the young girl Fiona goes through speaks volumes about the character and her dealing with immense inner turmoil. Fiona needs a hug sometimes, and we know this thanks to Thung’s talents.
The second style she draws upon is the storytelling mastery of Will Eisner. The late comics genius would make pages sing his wonderful song and bend the rules of the genre to suit his message. Cityscapes, buildings, and living spaces of all types would integrate into the narrative and the characters. Very early on the town of Calico and it’s numerous denizens are blended together and pulled the story into a whole. Thung provides a splash page, lovingly sprinkled with several smaller inset panels, that sets up the stage of the where and the who of our local scene. We now know so much so quickly, which allows her to plunge into the meat of her story. The girl Fiona coming to town and meeting the supposed moon child, the boy named Jaden.
Early on in August Moon, we find out the awful truth that Fiona’s mother had passed away some years prior, and that her father is emotionally shut off from that reality. The subtext here, of learning and processing grief and loss, is played out against the larger story of saving the magic. We know what the outcome of both stories will be, but our senses and feelings still want and need to see these resolutions. And as the stories progress and intertwine, we are treated to complete and almost totally satisfactorily endings. I say almost because of two dangling plot threads which leaves the door open a crack for a possible sequel. One thread does not bother me, but the other causes some melancholy. When you finish August Moon, you will know which part I am going on about.
August Moon has the unique position of blending two wonderful old styles, all to create a backdrop for a fascinating character arc punctuated with action packed adventures. Ideas and concepts for all, equaling to the wonderful read of August Moon.
Scoopriches
A very fascinating and magical graphic novel that expertly and easily parts back and forth between the serious and senseless flowed into my life recently. And very early on I realized why I experienced joy with this volume. It reminded me of Will Eisner meeting Manga.
The story is called August Moon and it is written and drawn by talented newcomer Diana Thung. She tells the tale of a small town called Calico who are frequently visited by the Soul Fire, orbs of light that are rumoured to be dead ancestors. What they really are, and how the beings behind them are being hunted by some mysterious corporation, is part of the backbone of this story. These benevolent creatures, and their leader, the boy who might be from the moon, met a young girl. She is in town with her dad, who is investigating these creatures, and running afoul of the evil men in suits. Together they strive to save the day, and help nurture the healing process for all.
What struck my sensibilities immediately was how deftly Thung melds two styles together so seamlessly.
Providing a Manga drawing style for the characters and some set designs gives the story a lyrical spark that packs quite a lot of emotions into each panel. Now I am extremely limited in my Manga and Anime reading, but the expressiveness of the artform always struck me as a bonus, and Thung has used her special strength in this area quite well here. Seeing the myriad facial pains and joys the young girl Fiona goes through speaks volumes about the character and her dealing with immense inner turmoil. Fiona needs a hug sometimes, and we know this thanks to Thung’s talents.
The second style she draws upon is the storytelling mastery of Will Eisner. The late comics genius would make pages sing his wonderful song and bend the rules of the genre to suit his message. Cityscapes, buildings, and living spaces of all types would integrate into the narrative and the characters. Very early on the town of Calico and it’s numerous denizens are blended together and pulled the story into a whole. Thung provides a splash page, lovingly sprinkled with several smaller inset panels, that sets up the stage of the where and the who of our local scene. We now know so much so quickly, which allows her to plunge into the meat of her story. The girl Fiona coming to town and meeting the supposed moon child, the boy named Jaden.
Early on in August Moon, we find out the awful truth that Fiona’s mother had passed away some years prior, and that her father is emotionally shut off from that reality. The subtext here, of learning and processing grief and loss, is played out against the larger story of saving the magic. We know what the outcome of both stories will be, but our senses and feelings still want and need to see these resolutions. And as the stories progress and intertwine, we are treated to complete and almost totally satisfactorily endings. I say almost because of two dangling plot threads which leaves the door open a crack for a possible sequel. One thread does not bother me, but the other causes some melancholy. When you finish August Moon, you will know which part I am going on about.
August Moon has the unique position of blending two wonderful old styles, all to create a backdrop for a fascinating character arc punctuated with action packed adventures. Ideas and concepts for all, equaling to the wonderful read of August Moon.
Scoopriches
December 16, 2013
I had been wanting to read this graphic novel for a while. It ended up being a very good story, the illustration is okay as well but nothing spectacular.
Fiona Gan comes to town with her father who is there to research some strange unknown rabbit-like creature that has been found in the City. When Fiona arrives she meets Jaden (who says he came from the moon), sees Soul Fires, strange graffiti on the walls, and meets some gentle rabbit/bear-like creatures. However, Fiona isn’t the only new arrival in town, an evil corporation set on taking down the forest has set up shop as well. Jaden enrolls Fiona’s help in stopping this evil entity.
This graphic novel does a great job of telling a fairly complex story through pictures and dialogue. There are some neat ideas here and a lot of magical realism. Also some commentary on saving the environment, the importance of family, friendship, and the evil of corporations. There is also some discussion about religion versus science and whether or not heaven exists. I found the story to be very enjoyable and engaging.
I wasn’t a big fan of the illustration style though. At times it was a bit hard to tell what was going on and hard to distinguish characters from each other. The illustration is all black and white, the pictures get a bit crowded and hard to follow. This is a case where the illustration of this graphic novel didn’t add much to the story for me, it does help with telling the story...it just didn’t add anything special to it.
This graphic novel is appropriate for all ages, but given the nuances behind the corporate politics, I would recommend for middle grade or older readers. I think younger readers will just be confused about what is going on. Also there is some violence, one of the characters get shot.
Overall a decent graphic novel full of magical realism. The story is very engaging and quite good, it was more complex than I thought it would be and touches on a lot of interesting issues while weaving in some magic as well. I was disappointed in the illustration though, it was hard to follow at points and didn’t really add anything special to the story. Tentatively recommended to graphic novel fans, especially fans of fantasy graphic novels.
Fiona Gan comes to town with her father who is there to research some strange unknown rabbit-like creature that has been found in the City. When Fiona arrives she meets Jaden (who says he came from the moon), sees Soul Fires, strange graffiti on the walls, and meets some gentle rabbit/bear-like creatures. However, Fiona isn’t the only new arrival in town, an evil corporation set on taking down the forest has set up shop as well. Jaden enrolls Fiona’s help in stopping this evil entity.
This graphic novel does a great job of telling a fairly complex story through pictures and dialogue. There are some neat ideas here and a lot of magical realism. Also some commentary on saving the environment, the importance of family, friendship, and the evil of corporations. There is also some discussion about religion versus science and whether or not heaven exists. I found the story to be very enjoyable and engaging.
I wasn’t a big fan of the illustration style though. At times it was a bit hard to tell what was going on and hard to distinguish characters from each other. The illustration is all black and white, the pictures get a bit crowded and hard to follow. This is a case where the illustration of this graphic novel didn’t add much to the story for me, it does help with telling the story...it just didn’t add anything special to it.
This graphic novel is appropriate for all ages, but given the nuances behind the corporate politics, I would recommend for middle grade or older readers. I think younger readers will just be confused about what is going on. Also there is some violence, one of the characters get shot.
Overall a decent graphic novel full of magical realism. The story is very engaging and quite good, it was more complex than I thought it would be and touches on a lot of interesting issues while weaving in some magic as well. I was disappointed in the illustration though, it was hard to follow at points and didn’t really add anything special to the story. Tentatively recommended to graphic novel fans, especially fans of fantasy graphic novels.
November 27, 2012
Fi, a young girl who likes to take pictures, accompanies her professor father to the small hamlet of Calico. Something mysterious is going on in the forest and Fi, along with her new-found friend Jaden, are caught up in saving the town from the strange men in the forest who are also leasing an empty storefront in town.
AUGUST MOON, a graphic novel by Diane Thung, considers the legend of the Soul Fire; floating lights in the sky that supposedly represent the souls of departed ancestors. It took awhile to really get into the feeling of the drawings but once I got a sense of it, it became somewhat magical. Thung relies on facial expressions and action scenes rather than lengthy conversations to convey a message. Her use of line is just sufficient to render emotion - sometimes deep emotion - that I felt along with the character.
My favorite ‘characters’ are the floating ‘animals’ carrying lanterns. I’m not sure what they’re called but they sure are floaty, ethereal, and otherworldly. I’m a sucker for floaty things. Especially if they glow like the lanterns these animals hold at the end of poles
Not everything is revealed, which left me thinking things over after I’d finished the book. It stuck with me. I’ll be thinking about this story for awhile. There are some things that go unanswered that kind of bugged me. What exactly IS going on in the forest? How can a group of men eat that many biscuits? What is with that Lilliput song?
Thung does a great job in making each character an individual personality, although the fact that every major villain held a cigarette was pretty funny to me. Does smoking make one a villain?
Generally an interesting book, AUGUST MOON is a quick, enchanting tale.
This review was written after reading an advance copy loaned to me by the publisher. No money was paid to me for this review.
AUGUST MOON, a graphic novel by Diane Thung, considers the legend of the Soul Fire; floating lights in the sky that supposedly represent the souls of departed ancestors. It took awhile to really get into the feeling of the drawings but once I got a sense of it, it became somewhat magical. Thung relies on facial expressions and action scenes rather than lengthy conversations to convey a message. Her use of line is just sufficient to render emotion - sometimes deep emotion - that I felt along with the character.
My favorite ‘characters’ are the floating ‘animals’ carrying lanterns. I’m not sure what they’re called but they sure are floaty, ethereal, and otherworldly. I’m a sucker for floaty things. Especially if they glow like the lanterns these animals hold at the end of poles
Not everything is revealed, which left me thinking things over after I’d finished the book. It stuck with me. I’ll be thinking about this story for awhile. There are some things that go unanswered that kind of bugged me. What exactly IS going on in the forest? How can a group of men eat that many biscuits? What is with that Lilliput song?
Thung does a great job in making each character an individual personality, although the fact that every major villain held a cigarette was pretty funny to me. Does smoking make one a villain?
Generally an interesting book, AUGUST MOON is a quick, enchanting tale.
This review was written after reading an advance copy loaned to me by the publisher. No money was paid to me for this review.
December 5, 2012
Reason for Reading: Simply sounded intriguing!
This is such a unique book and story that I'm quite literally at a loss to review this one. I enjoyed it immensely. It is a simplistic story, yet there is so much that is not said, that is implied, that is shown in the eyes of the characters. At first glance with the cute bear-bunny characters and the abundant children one may assume this is a children's book, but it's not. There is the use of language not appropriate for under young adults and the theme of coming to terms with death, and coming of age are not light. The story looks cute on the surface, until one sees the guns, and perhaps notices a cute bunny creature gets killed. It is cute in parts, the songs the children sing are catchy. I had soon given the Lilliput song a tune and sang it in my head every time it came up. The night adventures of the Jaden and the creatures are whimsical. But overall, the story surpasses cute; it is poignant, slightly frightening, powerful yet subtle. A read that made a big impact on me.
Another thing of note is that having the manga look I first assumed the book was set in Japan, but then noticed customs that appeared Chinese and so I started looking carefully to see where the story was supposed to be set. I was feeling towards China and yet there were characters who had a distinct islander flavour to them, that I could not place the story at all. So I found myself looking up the author to find that she is Indonesian, lived in Singapore and now lives in Australia. She has certainly included her own diverse background along with others to create a uniquely Asian world that combines many cultures to purvey an Asian centric world built of her own imagining. Very intriguing. Recommended!
This is such a unique book and story that I'm quite literally at a loss to review this one. I enjoyed it immensely. It is a simplistic story, yet there is so much that is not said, that is implied, that is shown in the eyes of the characters. At first glance with the cute bear-bunny characters and the abundant children one may assume this is a children's book, but it's not. There is the use of language not appropriate for under young adults and the theme of coming to terms with death, and coming of age are not light. The story looks cute on the surface, until one sees the guns, and perhaps notices a cute bunny creature gets killed. It is cute in parts, the songs the children sing are catchy. I had soon given the Lilliput song a tune and sang it in my head every time it came up. The night adventures of the Jaden and the creatures are whimsical. But overall, the story surpasses cute; it is poignant, slightly frightening, powerful yet subtle. A read that made a big impact on me.
Another thing of note is that having the manga look I first assumed the book was set in Japan, but then noticed customs that appeared Chinese and so I started looking carefully to see where the story was supposed to be set. I was feeling towards China and yet there were characters who had a distinct islander flavour to them, that I could not place the story at all. So I found myself looking up the author to find that she is Indonesian, lived in Singapore and now lives in Australia. She has certainly included her own diverse background along with others to create a uniquely Asian world that combines many cultures to purvey an Asian centric world built of her own imagining. Very intriguing. Recommended!
November 18, 2012
In writer and illustrator Diana Thung's graphic novel, August Moon, there are both adventure and mischief. The two main characters are Fiona and Jaden. Jaden seems to be the village's child. Jaden is always into some sort of trouble, speaking in riddles and jumping everywhere he can. Fiona just came to town to stay with her Uncle while her scientist father researches a sighting of a new animal species in town. An elusive rabbit bear. Fiona lost her mother many years ago and does not want to hear about her from her Uncle. Her earphones keep all the memories at bay. Or so everyone thinks.
She notices things are strange in town and get stranger when she befriends Jaden. Jaden speaks in songs and riddles. He clearly knows that something is wrong in town, lately. He and Fiona quickly discover, along with a motley crew of mystery creatures and other neighborhood kids, that the people who are opening an ice cream shop are really there for something else.
I really challenged myself by reading this graphic novel--I am not really a fan of them. While, quick to read, I had a hard time caring about the characters or the story. Even after I adjusted to reading word bubbles I still thought pieces were missing and I did not connect. The really interesting thing about the story was that the writer/illustrator uses traditional black and white comic style illustrations but also uses realistic drawings at two points in the book. I found it to be a pleasant surprise! I think this book is more suited towards a younger YA reader, male or female.
She notices things are strange in town and get stranger when she befriends Jaden. Jaden speaks in songs and riddles. He clearly knows that something is wrong in town, lately. He and Fiona quickly discover, along with a motley crew of mystery creatures and other neighborhood kids, that the people who are opening an ice cream shop are really there for something else.
I really challenged myself by reading this graphic novel--I am not really a fan of them. While, quick to read, I had a hard time caring about the characters or the story. Even after I adjusted to reading word bubbles I still thought pieces were missing and I did not connect. The really interesting thing about the story was that the writer/illustrator uses traditional black and white comic style illustrations but also uses realistic drawings at two points in the book. I found it to be a pleasant surprise! I think this book is more suited towards a younger YA reader, male or female.
December 3, 2013
The book, August Moon, by Diana Thung is a book about the people of Calico town and their beliefs. They believe in family and say that the souls of their dead ancestors keep an eye on them through the skies, and that they are able to see the “soul fires” of them dancing in the skies on clear nights. The story revolves around a girl named Fiona Gan who loves taking pictures and her father who is a scientist. They both moved to the town of Calico to live with her uncle. Fiona’s mother passed away many years ago and she does not want to hear anything uncle tells her about her. She figures that the “soul fires” is just one of the beliefs of the people in that town. There also appears weird graffiti all through the town, and there are big creature that look like rabbits in the alleys, and a street boy how says he has come from the moon. There wasn’t enough time, Fiona and her father was not the only newcomer in that town. As the Festival of the soul fire began, a weird corporation stared to destroy the forest nearby, and Fiona found herself for the spirit of the community, fighting in Jaden’s battle.
This book was named one of the greatest Graphic Novels for teens in YALSA's. I think this is a great book. I am not a graphic Novel fan but after reading this book, I think I will continue reading more graphic novels for many reasons. The illustration are well done and organized, clear understandable pictures and words, short and easy to read in one day, nice and attractive cover picture. A really well written graphic novel I would suggest everyone to read.
This book was named one of the greatest Graphic Novels for teens in YALSA's. I think this is a great book. I am not a graphic Novel fan but after reading this book, I think I will continue reading more graphic novels for many reasons. The illustration are well done and organized, clear understandable pictures and words, short and easy to read in one day, nice and attractive cover picture. A really well written graphic novel I would suggest everyone to read.
December 5, 2013
August Moon by Diana Thung, published 2012.
Modern fantasy.
Comic.
Grades 9-12.
Found via School Library Journal, reviewed by Lisa Goldstein.
In the town of Calico, the forest has always been held to be special, safe from developments or other attacks by humans wanting to modernize things. This changes when a new company enters Calico with the goal of tearing down the forests and bringing in big business. It's up to the withdrawn Fi and the mysterious Jaden, who claims to come from the moon, to figure out how to save the forests from modernization. This comic is heavily influenced by Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, and anime fans may be drawn to this volume for that reason. Readers will be rewarded by nuanced characters and an intriguing intersection of nature and humanity, but this book also has some heavy themes. Reviewer Goldstein stresses that, while "[t]he whimsical creatures and spirited young characters will appeal to children, but the dynamic action scenes (which include some gun violence) and themes of community activism, environmental devastation, and the limits of rationality make it more suitable for older teens and adults." Readers should be warned about the gun violence and environmental themes before reading this volume and expecting a younger fantasy story like My Neighbor Totoro.
Modern fantasy.
Comic.
Grades 9-12.
Found via School Library Journal, reviewed by Lisa Goldstein.
In the town of Calico, the forest has always been held to be special, safe from developments or other attacks by humans wanting to modernize things. This changes when a new company enters Calico with the goal of tearing down the forests and bringing in big business. It's up to the withdrawn Fi and the mysterious Jaden, who claims to come from the moon, to figure out how to save the forests from modernization. This comic is heavily influenced by Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, and anime fans may be drawn to this volume for that reason. Readers will be rewarded by nuanced characters and an intriguing intersection of nature and humanity, but this book also has some heavy themes. Reviewer Goldstein stresses that, while "[t]he whimsical creatures and spirited young characters will appeal to children, but the dynamic action scenes (which include some gun violence) and themes of community activism, environmental devastation, and the limits of rationality make it more suitable for older teens and adults." Readers should be warned about the gun violence and environmental themes before reading this volume and expecting a younger fantasy story like My Neighbor Totoro.
December 16, 2012
Disclosure: I received an e-book ARC via NetGalley.
How can I describe August Moon? It has a fanciful, folk-tale quality with mysterious happenings, magical creatures, and strange, monkey-like enemies that are attacking for unexplained reasons. It throws in a little science, a very multi-cultural environment, and a little bit on death and family relations. I think "quirky" would definitely apply.
The artwork, rendered in black and white, is very suited to the story, with lines very loose and whimsical in nature. I wasn't a huge fan at first but the more I read, the better I liked it. (Side note: I LOVE Fi's hair when it's down. So adorable.) You can definitely see the nod to Studio Ghibli and Totoro, no question.
I'd recommend this for maybe... 11 or 12 and up? There is some violence in the story and the bad guys really like pointing guns at people.
How can I describe August Moon? It has a fanciful, folk-tale quality with mysterious happenings, magical creatures, and strange, monkey-like enemies that are attacking for unexplained reasons. It throws in a little science, a very multi-cultural environment, and a little bit on death and family relations. I think "quirky" would definitely apply.
The artwork, rendered in black and white, is very suited to the story, with lines very loose and whimsical in nature. I wasn't a huge fan at first but the more I read, the better I liked it. (Side note: I LOVE Fi's hair when it's down. So adorable.) You can definitely see the nod to Studio Ghibli and Totoro, no question.
I'd recommend this for maybe... 11 or 12 and up? There is some violence in the story and the bad guys really like pointing guns at people.
June 9, 2016
With art reminiscent of Taiyo Matsumoto and characters straight out of a Ghibli film, I expected great things from this book. Perhaps I expected too much. After all, Matsumoto and Miyazaki are big names to live up to, and Thung makes a good effort. There are magical moments in the work, but they don't feel as organic as those in a Matsumoto book or a Ghibli film. Still, the photographs throughout the book help to develop Fi's view of the world and show us the beauty in everyday images like cobblestone paths and graffiti. This is a pleasant read with heart and a good message, but I believe it appeals more to a younger audience. Older readers may find the work too derivative and poorly paced to be swept up in its sweeter moments.
November 22, 2012
A graphic novel heavily influenced by Hayao Miyazaki's films in general and My Neighbor Totoro in particular, though it's rather like Princess Mononoke crossed with the latter, as there are bad guys with guns. There's also a little bit of Lorax. It's cute and sweet and has likeable protagonists, but I found it harder to read visually than it had to be. For example, there would be multiple panels of a character facing different directions when they were only supposed to be moving in one direction--this was disorienting. It could also be a factor of many small panels per page. I would probably give it three stars but for the visual storytelling.
December 21, 2013
I did like this graphic novel, however I think it will be difficult to find the right audience for it. Young children will not understand the subtleties and might grow bored with it. Teens and some adults I think would be the best audience, though they might be turned off by the main characters being young children. If one were to just read the text they might not get the full scope of the story either, the pictures do a lot to enhance the tale and bring it to the reader. It is also fairly lengthy which will deter some readers. But aside from all of that, the magical events are intriguing and the bad guys creepy!
July 28, 2013
This one sort of snuck up on me. For the first 40 pages or so I was all eh, cute kids and bouncy bunny things, what's the big deal? But it was a pretty big deal, about the magic of childhood, and doing the right thing even when it's pretty tricky, and just the coolness of this mysterious little town where the story takes place. Thung builds a full and strange world, and I really enjoyed getting to know it and it's inhabitants, and following the perilous adventure to its semi-thrilling conclusion! Hooray for small towns in real life and fantasy, and for their human-and-otherwise heroes!
August 18, 2012
I'm not sure if this is teens or kids or adult... but I believe all will have fun with this adventure story. Bad guys, fun creatures, a kid who's not quite just a kid, and a girl with a camera will keep all ages entertained. (I personally think the creatures look a bit too much like Totoro. Maybe the ears could have been longer? I just kept thinking of the Miyazaki film and that pulled me out of the story.)
April 28, 2013
This is one of the first graphic novels I have read so it took me a while to get into the plot since I wasn't used to the style of the book. However, once I got into the story I enjoyed reading about Fi and Jaden fighting to save the forest from the evil monkey-men who want to bulldoze it. This book will appeal to readers who likes adventure and action.
Publication Date: 2012
Age/Grade level: 9th grade to 12th grade
Format: Print Book
Publication Date: 2012
Age/Grade level: 9th grade to 12th grade
Format: Print Book
May 6, 2013
This book is incredibly okay. That isn't a slight against it, but I can't help but feel that okay is all it could accomplish. A very intriguing story, it has elements of folklore weaved throughout, but for the sheer volume of the book, it is very light on content. The dialog is far too sparse, and portions of the story could have been delved into more at the expense of extraneous panels. Cute creatures though.
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