Archie, Vol. 1: The New Riverdale by Mark Waid

Pages: [176]

Intended Audience: Teens

Genre: Graphic novel

Notes for Parents: Some mature content

The Back Cover

Welcome to the new Riverdale! America’s favorite teenager, Archie Andrews, is reborn in the pages of this must-have graphic novel collecting the first six issues of the comic book series that everyone is talking about.

Meet Riverdale High teen Archie, his oddball, food-loving best friend Jughead, girl-next-door Betty and well-to-do snob Veronica Lodge as they embark on a modern re-imaging of the beloved Archie world. It’s all here: the love triangle, friendship, humor, charm and lots of fun—but with a decidedly modern twist.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

In December 2014, Archie Comics announced that its flagship series Archie would relaunch with a new first issue in July 2015. The new series would be a modern take on the Archie characters by writer Mark Waid and artist Fiona Staples, featuring serialized storylines. After the first three issues, Annie Wu drew an issue, followed by new regular artist Veronica Fish. The new title received IGN's "Best New Comic Series of 2015" award.

Volume One is a collection of issues #1-6. It includes bonus content including scripts, sketches, variant covers and the full first issue of the all new Jughead series by writer Chip Zdarksy and artist Erica Henderson.

What’s good?

1)    The artwork in the first three issues is awesome.

2)    The characters look and feel fresh, updated, and their backstory and relationships are dynamic.

3)    The dialogue was witty and the plot was simple and easy-to-follow.

Best Part: Jughead Jones.

What isn’t good?

1)    The artwork in the next three issues is disappointing when compared to the first three.

2)    Veronica and Archie very difficult to like.

3)    The story was juvenile, boring, and quite cheesy.

Worst part: Veronica Lodge.

Recommendation ☺☺☻☻☻ (2/5)

This gets a two out of five for two big reasons – the jarring change in the artwork after issue three, and the very bland plot. Why update the look and the characters if you’re not going to update the story? Now, don’t get me wrong, it was entertaining, but in the same way the original was entertaining when I was twelve. This is fluff. Fans of the original Archie will likely enjoy the modern update. Fans of the CW series will likely be disappointed with the lack of murder and mayhem. I’m only willing to recommend this to die-hard fans.

Waid, Mark. Archie, Vol.1: The New Riverdale. [New York]: Archie Comic Publications, 2016.

A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron

Pages: 319

Intended Audience: Teens and up

Genre: Real world from a dog’s perspective

Notes for Parents: Some mature content

The Back Cover

Surprised to find himself reborn as a rambunctious golden-haired puppy after a tragically short life as a stray mutt, Bailey’s search for his new life’s meaning leads him into the loving arms of eight-year-old Ethan. During their countless adventures, Bailey joyously discovers how to be a good dog.

But this life as a beloved family pet is not the end of Bailey’s journey. Reborn as a puppy yet again, Bailey wonders—will he ever find his purpose?

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This was made into a movie and released in January 2017.

What’s good?

This is a simple story about the importance of relationships and every living creatures need for purpose. Told from a dog’s perspective, it’s an emotional tale filled with sadness, suspense, excitement, and plenty of incidental humor as the dog interprets human behavior while trying to figure out his reason for being. While thought-provoking, the plot is straightforward, and the characters are uncomplicated. With this being the dog’s narrative, the writing is unpretentious, but it still includes some beautiful imagery. While there are plenty of moments to laugh and cry about, the author manages to avoid being overly sentimental until just near the end. The end was expected, but heartwarming and very satisfying.

Best Part: I love how the dog only really understood a few human words (e.g. “car ride”) but often correctly deduced what was happening based on the actions and emotions of the humans around him.

What isn’t good?

I’m sure there are all kinds of things critics could point out as lacking in this story – it’s not sophisticated, the narrative voice is childlike, the plot is simplistic, etc. But none of those things bothered me. In fact, I found it made the story stronger. This is not great American literature; it’s a sweet little story that offers an explanation as to why we can connect with dogs so deeply.

Worst part: None.

Recommendation ☺☺☺☺☺ (5/5)

This is not a book I would recommend to everyone, but I couldn’t find fault with anything so I had to give it five out of five. It’s emotional, perceptive, exciting, funny, and very easy to read. This book doesn’t suggest that dogs are like people – but maybe they’re better, more in tune with emotion, more resilient, more perceptive, more open to love, more trusting. If you’ve ever loved a dog, then you should read this book. Even if you just believe we have something to learn from our animal friends, consider giving A Dog’s Purpose a chance.

Cameron, W. Bruce. A Dog’s Purpose. New York: Tom Doherty Associates, 2010.

Velocity by Chris Wooding

Pages: 325

Intended Audience: Teens

Genre: Post-apocalyptic action/adventure

Notes for Parents: Violence and scenes of graphic violence, drinking, corruption.

The Back Cover

Cassica and Shiara are best friends. They couldn’t be more different, but their differences work to their advantage—especially when they’re racing. Cassica is fearless and decisive, making her the perfect driver for daring, photo-finish victories. Shiara is fiercely intelligent, able to build cars out of scrap and formulate gutsy strategies from the passenger seat.

Now they’ve set their sights on the Widowmaker: the biggest, deadliest race of the year, a three-day off-road rally through bombed-out cities and irradiated wastelands. The winners get a pass to a life of luxury and fame. The losers, more often than not, die in fiery explosions. And even if Cassica and Shiara survive to cross the finish line, their friendship might be roadkill along the way.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

The story is described as the author’s “blistering vision of the future” where he “re-imagines NASCAR by way of Mad Max and The Hunger Games.”

What’s good?

Copious amounts of race action, scary creatures, and suspenseful moments thrust this post-apocalyptic adventure into overdrive. The main characters—Cassica, the ambitious, daredevil driver, and Shiara, the reserved, genius mechanic—are well-drawn, with strong personality traits that develop throughout the story. Their friendship is a key theme that becomes tumultuous as their situation becomes dire. The pace is fast and furious, the plot is simple but exciting, and the end is very satisfying.

Best Part: The end.

What isn’t good?

I was confused by the premise that Shiara can’t open her own shop because she’s a woman, but she’s completely accepted as a racer. Or the rule that says you can’t use weapons against the other competitors but you can still kill them. Lots of small but significant inconsistencies bothered me throughout the story. And I loved the ending, but I totally saw it coming.

Worst part: Editing mistakes.

Recommendation ☺☺☺☻☻ (3/5)

This story was dark, violent, and fast-moving, but the small contradictions and general predictability were distracting. The writing was a bit weak and the world-building could have been stronger, but regardless, it was exciting, easy to read, and I enjoyed it. If you find the book’s description enticing, then go for it.

Wooding, Chris. Velocity. London, UK: Scholastic, 2015.

Heartless by Marissa Meyer

Pages: 449

Intended Audience: Teens and mature tweens

Genre: Fantasy / Fairy Tale

Notes for Parents: Some violence and scary scenes.

The Inside Cover

Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland and a favorite of the unmarried King, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, she wants to open a shop and create delectable pastries. But for her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for a woman who could be a queen.

At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the King’s marriage proposal, she meets handsome and mysterious Jest. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into a secret courtship.

Cath is determined to choose her own destiny. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is intended as a prequel to the classic Alice in Wonderland, telling the story of Catherine, the possible future Queen of Hearts. It also incorporates the story of Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater, and Poe’s poem, The Raven.

What’s good?

The author has created a prequel with a wonderful balance of the classic story and new, imaginative elements. It also seamlessly blends Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater and Edgar Allen Poe’s The Raven into the Wonderland lore. Characterization is strong, especially with charismatic Jest, and the delightfully impish Cheshire Cat. Heartless retains the “nonsense” tone of the original story (magic hats, talking animals, hatter’s tea party) but includes some scenes with action, violence, and dark, creepy moments. Both the dust jacket and the cover of my hardcover copy were beautiful.

Best Part: the Cheshire Cat

What isn’t good?

The plot is odd, but simple and easy to understand, but becomes predictable after a while. Unfortunately, the story takes a long time to unravel which dilutes the limited action scenes and makes for many drawn out chapters. I found the protagonist, Cath, to be likeable but weak, and Peter Peter sadly underutilized as an antagonist. The end was sudden and dark, not reflecting the lighter, less bloody tone set in the rest of the novel.

Worst part: The pace.

Recommendation ☺☺☺ ☻☻ (3/5)

This book can’t seem to decide whether it’s a whimsical romance or a dark adventure. However, this is not a bad book. The writing is clean; the setting is fun; the characters are well-drawn; and the story is quite enchanting. The slow pace and lack of action robbed it of its full potential.

Meyer, Marissa. Heartless. New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2016. (hardcover)