Americus by M.K. Reed Art by Jonathan Hill YP FIC REED

Life in a small town like Americus is tough for a lonely freshman nerd that loves books in a town that seems to hate them.  Neil Barton loses his best (and only) friend to military school after his friend’s mom discovers he SHUDDER reads fantasy books.  Now Neil is all alone in the frozen wasteland that is a Small Town America high school with only his favorite fantasy series, Apathea Ravenchilde, to keep him company, but when his best friend’s mom takes her war against Neil’s favorite books to the city council, he faces losing his only source of joy and hope.  Can he take inspiration from Apathea and fight the forces of darkness?

This is a sweet, funny look at growing up and coming of age in a small town.  The fact that it sort of elevates libraries and young adult librarians to a heroic status didn’t figure in my positive review at all.* The art has a simple, cartoony appeal and I loved the Apathea Ravenchilde fantasy interludes. Americus takes a close and hilarious look at censorship, alienation, the power of literature and imagination, and dark side of unquestioning certainty.  The villains of the piece aren’t the dragons and orcs of Neil’s fantasy series, but the small-mindedness that seems to follow teenagers everywhere. A great read for fans of realistic, slice-of-life comics.  I also think that fans of the Harry Potter books could really enjoy this skewering of anti-Harry Potter hysteria.

*Okay, maybe it did a little tiny bit.

Hatter M: Volume 2: Mad with Wonder by Frank Beddor with Liz Cavalier Illustrated by Sami Makkonen YP FIC BEDDOR

You think you know the story of Alice and her adventures in Wonderland? Well you have no idea. Alyss is really the Princess of wonderland but her aunt has taken over and her mother’s bodyguard the deadly Hater M took her to our world. Now they are separated and Hatter must travel the world and try to find her before it is too late. In this volume Hatter goes to the circus, fights in the midst of the Civil War, and ends up in a madhouse all in his quest for Alyss.

The Hatter M series is a unique graphic novel series. The art has a distinctly European influence and everything has a grimy and faded look that goes well with the themes of madness and obsession that define the Hatter character. This is a dark and gritty adventure series with a good amount of wit and a cool main character. If you like knives then Hatter is your man. If you have read Beddor’s The Looking Glass Wars you will enjoy this new look at Hatter’s journey. If you haven’t then these books are a good introduction to Beddor’s characters. To read volume one of Hatter M or The Looking Glass Wars novels grab them from J FIC BEDDOR.