Spiral-Bound: Top Secret Summer

by Aaron Renier

With an ensemble cast straight from a box of Animal Crackers, this is a delightful tale of ambition, morality, and self-discovery drawn in a decidedly beautiful fashion reminiscent of Richard Scary and Lewis Trondheim, yet utterly unique. Renier's fully-realized and compellingly adventurous narrative is at once both achingly naive and profoundly worldly. A remarkable debut, this tightly crafted novella is the real deal, and will charm your socks off.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Young Adult, Childrens, Middle Grade, Adventure, Juvenile

144 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2004

About the author

AARON RENIER is the author of three graphic novels for younger readers; Spiral-Bound, Walker Bean, and Walker Bean and the Knights of the Waxing Moon. He is the recipient of the Eisner award in 2006 for talent deserving of wider recognition, and was an inaugural resident for the Sendak Fellowship in 2010. He teaches drawing and comics when he is not working on his own comics and illustration projects.

Reviews

[Raina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the holistic approach of this graphic novel. The cover, the end papers, the author's note. Very cool presentation. An extremely anthropomorphized (and rather sci-fi) town of animals ride out a mystery involving a mysterious monster, a summer art class for kids (which seems to be free), and a truly underground newspaper. The illustration style is a little overly cute for my taste, but it's fun to see Renier's ideas of humanized animals (the goth giraffe is a highlight for me). An interesting mix of realism and imagination. One I'm marking down for that Jr. Pageturners Graphic Novel kit I'm eventually... planning on putting together.

[Jane Keranen · Rating 5 out of 5]

very absurd and very sweet. really feels like summer when u read it -- dark and green. my favorite graphic novel ever

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of a mess, but pretty fun. Just like childhood. Overall, I'd probably give childhood about three stars out of five, so I'd say this all works out.

[Eva Mitnick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gr 4 and up

In the graphic novel world, this 2005 title is practically a golden oldie by now. It’s a terrific one, though, and well worth spotlighting.

In a small town populated entirely by anthropomorphized animals, a young and shy elephant named Turnip meets an outgoing young dog named Stucky, who urges him to join a sculpture camp where kids can make things out of clay, stone, wood, and metal. Meanwhile, a rabbit girl named Ana becomes a cub reporter for a top-secret underground (literally) newspaper, where her bird friend Emily is the photographer. In 178 densely illustrated pages, Turnip discovers his artist talent, Ana and Emily try to figure out the secret of a fabled monster in the town pond, the grown-ups of the town try to run the sculpture teacher out of town, and Ana gets eaten – or does she?

Renier must have spent a long time on this book. Each of the 178 pages has anywhere from 6 to 13 panels on it, each one featuring close-ups of the very expressive main characters or crowd scenes in the street or local hang-out featuring handfuls or dozens of townsfolk (fish in small water-filled spheres-on-wheels, giraffes with spiked collars, turtles wearing glasses, butterflies in bowler hats). Despite the fact that every character is an animal, the kids look like kids and the grown-ups look like grown-ups – this is achieved not by size and scale (because a young giraffe is pretty big, after all) but by details of dress, facial features, expressions, and body language. Turnip’s eyebrows are thin and often raised in a rather woeful and timid expression, while his dad has bushy eyebrows and the tusks of an adult elephant. Ana the rabbit is a particularly beguilingly drawn character, with her long ears spilling down her back under the bandanna she wears on her head, her scrunched-up leggings, and her exaggerated and very “tween” body language.

And the plots, which all revolve around the mythical monster in the pond? They are intriguing and loads of fun. I guessed the secret of the monster fairly quickly, but there was still a plot twist or two to catch me up short. Turnip’s slow and painful quest toward acknowledging his own creative gift is touching, as is his relationship with his loving but difficult father. In fact, even bit characters are given tiny but deft strokes of detail, enough to bring them to our attention and make the whole book shine all the brighter.

Renier hasn’t produced any more graphic novels that I know of since this one. Let’s hope he’s working on another one right this moment!

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Spiral-Bound: Top Secret Summer' by Aaron Renier follows around an adorable cast of animal characters as they follow different pursuits.

In a town full of all kinds of animals (including whales that roll around in giant aquariums), we meet a series of younger animals that are looking for things to do for the summer. Little elephant Turnip wants to go to art school to create a sculpture based on Viola, the girl he's got a crush on. His friend Stucky, a dog, wants to finish up a submarine he's making. A little bunny named Carrot Flower may have a chance to join and underground newspaper. There are also concerts and town conspiracies.

The story was a bit confusing at times, but the black and white drawings are what kept me turning the pages. Every frame is filled with details, and the animals that inhabit the pages are cute beyond measure. It's a perfectly appropriate graphic novel for kids, and I enjoyed it.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Top Shelf Productions, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

[Parry Rigney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although very fun, at times the plot is a little convoluted, with a couple of "huh?" moments...but no biggie because the characters and the world are really what I liked about it. Aaron Renier does a real sweet job of conveying both the urgent excitement and painful awkwardness of being a kid.

And Turnip. Turnip is a shy, awkward elephant who doesn't know his gifts yet. And he eats when he gets nervous. I loved how Turnip's new friendship with Stumpy Hound (and the rest of the gang) is a total universal fantasy (at least for shy kids?). Who didn't want to meet someone who just immediately introduced you to a whole new world of friends, excitement, music, art - all while being totally encouraging and completely accepting of you?

Anyway, my review tipped to four stars just because of that last panel when Turnip loses his self-consciousness and really gets down - so sweet. I stared at that one all stupid smiley like for a while.

I think older elementary school kids and middle school kids would like this one, kids who like quirky characters and settings.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun graphic novel, but I found it lacking in some respects. Parts of it really shine -- moments of awkwardness between the teenage animals in the book (an elephant named Turnip, a rabbit named Ana, an ambitious and popular dog named Stucky), occasional wild flights of imagination -- but overall I found that the plot was needlessly confused, and I often felt that there was too much information and too much action packed into very small panels. So I didn't feel it was a wholly successful effort, but it's definitely worth a read.

[Reggie_Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute children's graphic novel about an animal city that fears a monster in their city pond. The town-animals lose their shtako when an art teacher wants to turn the area around the pond into a park. Obviously that means feeding their children to the monster. I only had access to the first half of the story due to it simply being a preview on netgalley, but I definitely plan on borrowing it from the library to discover the truth of the evil monster! Anyone with munchkins or who wants to enjoy a simple story with interesting characters should enjoy this.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charming, twee yarn set in a (beautifully realized) town full of cute animal characters. Lots of offbeat humor, comic surrealism, mystery, and adolescent social drama. Like the Harry Potter books/movies, SB is focused on a group of kids who do a lot of unauthorized exploring via secret passageways. SB appears to be aimed at adults, but could easily be enjoyed by kids.

[Lisa Boyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a super good book sand I would love to read the next installation. One of the ways I could describe it would be if the Richard Scary Busytown animals were modernized, but it is a really great story about things that 8-13 year olds would love to read.

Thanks to Diamond Book Dist and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

[Maia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, fun, all-ages comic set during the summer vacation in a world of anthropomorphic animals. Ana, a rabbit, is interested in investigative journalism. What luck that her town not only has a literal underground newspaper but also a series of tunnels connecting important landmarks! Not only that, it also has a ghost story- the pond is said to be haunted by a terrible monster. But what is the real story?

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute and quirky comic set in a world populated by a wide variety of animals. I appreciated how creative the author got with some of the characters, such as the whale who navigates the world above sea level by piloting a huge robotic fishbowl.

I agree with other reviewers who noted the choppiness of the story in places--at times it seems as if crucial panels might be left out and I found myself checking to see if my copy was missing pages.

[Lily Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute and creative graphic novel that my dad recommended. He suggested it after we were both disappointed with Shady Hollow, and this book definitely has a more cozy and imaginative world that shady hollow struggled to achieve.

Loved the unique setting and illustrations as well as the element of mystery and detective work! Fav character was Ana Rabbit’s mom she was an icon <3

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imagine a bunch of cool, social justice teens in Portland, night they’re animals. That is this book.

Other thoughts:

The backgrounds in this graphic novel are lush.

It’s not often that the sculpture teacher is the hero of the story!

This dog loves rockabilly.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute!

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rediscovered this goated book

[Magda · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a start I'd like to mention that the publisher did not provide me with the full book, I received about a half of it. Unfortunately, it wasn't mentioned in the description on Netgalley since I tend to avoid partial reads. You can't really get a full image from simply glancing at it. But, on the other hand, I wasn't really much into the story anyway. It only just started to be interesting when the sample ended and I was left hanging.

This story is designed for kids and yet I have a feeling a kid would get lost here and quickly get bored. Characters are fun, but a bit chaotic. You don't really know what's going on most of the time. Until, finally, you're getting some explanation, some hint of a character's destination, what they need to do and who will be actually doing it.

The book does look like fun it certainly has a potential. I did like the variety of character portrayed as animals. All of them walking, flying and driving in big aquariums around the town. I liked that part.

With a story like this book could really use some colors. Especially with the audience, it was intended. The simple black and white drawings were nicely done, but I still wished for some colors at least in some places. Or maybe some textures here and there.

To sum it up, the novel seems fine and a good ending might add a point or two, but, for now, I can only tell you I did not enjoy it much.


I received a preview copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
check my reviews at maginibooks.wordpress.com

[the Skrauss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am fortunate enough to have seen Renier's initial ideas of this world in a comic strip called "Bluewater" which I had the privilege of publishing in Milwaukee's UWM Post back in 1999. It was very different. The elephant was an undersea adventurer named Aether who at one point looses his crew to giant lady bugs. He follows them to an undersea cave, which he dons a deep diving suit to explore. As I watched him emerge from the water into the cave I experienced my most haptic moment in comics readership. From the shadows someone shoots Aether in the faceplate. "Plink!" goes the glass. That was Renier's final episode. The UWM's forward-thinking socialist editor in chief cancelled the comics section.

But this book, Spiral bound, retains all Of Renier's sense of adventure and mystery and expands it into everything you love, undergorund cities, reporters, sea monsters, ceramic submarines, self-loathing chumps who turn, in the end, into salf-assured heros, and of course rock bands with 2 complete musical numbers.

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a graphic novel that is full of delightful, detailed black and white illustrations and a lot of action. There were times that as I read this, I was a little confused about what was going on, but it pulled together. In the town populated by animals the young ones are trying to fill their summer. The story opens with Turnip a shy elephant who meets Stucky the dog with a lot of friends. Stucky immediately invites him to join in the fun and go listen to the local band. There we meet more of the friends including Ana. Ana spends her time reporting for a secret underground newspaper with her photographer friend Emily. Turnip and Stucky head off to sculpture school each day where Turnip tries to make a life size sculpture of Viola, his secret crush, and Stucky is making a submarine to see what it in the pond. Lots of adventures, destruction, disappointments and fun ensue in this story. Kids will enjoy it.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nowadays, I'm increasingly enjoying all-ages comics as an alternative to the more "mature" works that are unrelentingly grim (and overly similar to each other). Maybe I'm just getting old and grumpy.

Regardless, I loved Spiral-Bound. It has a fun sense of adventure and a welcome unpredictability to the storytelling. The characters are given ample room to breathe without sacrificing the pacing of the escapade.

Cute and charming, but not cloying. Undeniably hip, but more unabashedly sincere than a hipster poseur would approve, Spiral-Bound is highly recommended by me.

"Impeccable," as the rabbit, Ana, would say.

[Elisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to stop reading this less than halfway through. The artwork is ADORABLE. The animals are so cute and every panel was incredibly detailed. But I could not follow the story for the life of me. It kept jumping around and yet nothing really happened. The only reason I'm giving it two stars instead of one is because of the art.

As a middle school teacher, I like recommending graphic novels to struggling or reluctant readers. Unfortunately, I can see me students trying to read this and just getting frustrated and confused.

I received a copy of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[puck · Rating 5 out of 5]

from my blog"OH! this is the thing i really wanted to tell you about. i just finished reading this book, aaron renier’s spiral bound. i would like to recommend it to everyone, as, i imagine, would the author. it’s a deliciously drawn graphic novel with a fantastic group of characters, and an impeccable storyline. please, please, try to find a copy. especially if you like indie culture, or food, or children, or any combination of all of the above. or vegetables. no, not vegetables, anthropomorphized animals."

[Bobby Simic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one's super-cute and fun. In this all-animal universe, a vicious monster supposedly lives in a pond and a young, aspriring rabbit reporter is on the case. Also, a self-conscious elephant sculptor grapples with the creative process. It doesn't sound like it, but it all comes together in this imaginitive, hip graphic novel for kids.

As a kid, I would have dug the world of secret passage ways and underground roller-coasters Renier has created. Who am I kidding? As an adult, I dig this universe. Here's hoping there will be more adventures featuring these characters.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful...grade 3 and up would enjoy this story. Renier does a great job capturing that exuberance and excitement of childhood (perfectly balanced with the awkward and embarrassing moments). Turnip the elephant is such a fully realized character -- all the animals, for that matter, have a great depth that Renier is able to subtly create. Will definitely grab a copy of this for my classroom library.

[Johnny · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, cute book--think Scott Pilgrim for younger kids. The plot seems like it could be a little thick and jumpy for kids at times, and the whimsical sometimes takes hold of the wheel too hard (this book has little grit--I guess that's the Portland rubbing off on it). But, regardless, enjoyable, with good, kid-friendly but complex art to boot.

[Alexa · Rating 3 out of 5]

So super charming and adorable! A giraffe named Shorty, a whale who lives in a rolling aquarium named Ms. Skrimshaw; the elephant family eats peanut stroganoff??? So cute. I had a tough time following the story but it sucks you in and the detailed black and white drawings kinda make you not care so much.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

An endearing little adventure story packed with charm and heart that's somewhat reminiscent of Richard Scary's work. It's aimed at children but the characters are adorably designed, have relatable problems, and there's a decent imagination behind the whole thing so it was a thoroughly pleasant way to spend an hour or so.

[Jen Abounader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and very funny. My only fault with it was that it was a little bit busy at times, and was sort of tiring to read. This was negated by the cuteness factor, however, and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys comics.

[Libby · Rating 3 out of 5]

A group of teenagers find outlets for artistic expression and solve a mystery a uniquely whimsical world. The art is too busy on most pages, which diminishes the effect the truly fantastic double-page vistas, but overall, a unique story delightfully told with good design and solid art.

[E. Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is absolutely adorable. The story of a group of art-making, rabble-rousing animal friends who are set on revealing the mystery of the monster in the lake. Highly recommended for children ages 1-101.