From Follett Titlewave:

Rutherford, Dawn. "Amulet: The Stonekeeper (Book Review)." School Library Journal. (2008) 20 Nov. 2009

Thomas, Kaylia. "Amulet: The Stonekeeper (Book Review)." Library Media Connection (2008) 20 Nov. 2009

"Amulet: The Stonekeeper (Book Review)." Booklist. Vol. 104, No.7 (2007) 20 Nov. 2009

"Amulet: The Stonekeeper (Book Review)." Kirkus Review (2007) 20 Nov. 2009

(http://www.flr.follett.com/search?SID...) ( )

Great high interest reading for lower level readers. Beautiful graphics. ( )

This is one of the better Graphic Novels for teens that I have read. The pictures are wonderful and the dialog is easy to follow. Reminds me of the breathtaking work of Studio Ghibli, which has won academy awards for their animation. Appropriate for any age level. after the book I was more than ready to read the next installment. ( )

Merideth says: Kibuishi, who I know primarily as the creator of the Flight anthologies, turns in a well-paced, tightly plotted adventure story here. However, for me, the draw was the jaw-droppingly beautiful artwork. The fantasy/steam-punk/alternate world setting lets Kibuishi create both fantastic monsters and mechanical marvels, all rendered in beautiful soft tones. One quibble is there is not much character development here, but as this is only the first volume in the series, I'm sure the characters will be more fleshed out. ( )

Reviewed by Michaela Pallante aka "Mickey" for TeensReadToo.com

After the tragic death of their father, Emily and her brother, Navin, move with their mother to a new town to start a brand new life. Their new house is very old and has been in their family for years. Emily is very interested by this old house, particularly one room upstairs in which she finds a beautiful necklace with a very pretty stone in it.

Emily's cool find is soon overshadowed by a very strange first night in the house. After hearing noises in the basement, their mother is kidnapped by a strange creature.

Emily and Navin, with the help of Emily's stone necklace, now have to find their mother and figure out what is going on in this strange new town.

THE STONEKEEPER, the first in the AMULET series, is a quick yet enjoyable read, set up in graphic novel form. The main characters are easy to relate to, and the supporting characters are serious but amusing at the same time. The storyline is interesting and leaves you wanting to know more.

Kids will love seeing people their own age as strong and independent main characters. Emily and Navin are definitely role model material. ( )

Bought this as the Book Fair Warehouse sale for my elementary school, read it tonight and while I liked it, I think I'll pass it on to the middle school, seems more like a 6th and up story to me. It was really well done, quality illustrations and a plot that progressed quickly but effectively, and characters with depth, even in this short format. Reminded me of a Spiderwick for the 12 and up crowd.

After Emily's father is killed in a car crash (dramatic opening pages), she and her brother and mom move into the old family homestead. Turns out it's a bizarre kind of a place where mom gets snatched by a huge octopus creature. So, it's Emily to the rescue with the help of a magic amulet. Gorgeous color, action frames, and clear storyline make it a hit. The ending demands that we read book two which may be annoying to some.

My advice:check it out from a library instead of buying it. It's an okay book, but not one you'll read again and again

This book was really visually beautiful and had an adventurous feel to it. It's the start of a series and I can't wait to see how it progresses. ( )

Great artwork, nice story. ( )

A girl is sucked into an adventure when she is given a mysterious amulet. Her and her brother must set out on a quest to save their mother, and perhaps the world. This was a really good graphic novel that kept the attention of even my nephew, which is sometimes a hard thing to do. He's already asking for the rest of the series.

Amulet opens with a riveting car crash scene that takes the life of Emily and Navin's father. Emily and her mother must watch as the car teeters near the edge of a cliff, her father's feet stuck under the dashboard. Her mother tries in vain to wrench him free, but can only watch as the vehicle's wheels rise off the ground, then fall to the earth stories below.

Some years later, the mother needs a fresh start, picks the family up and moves them out to the country into an old family home that could be described as a Victorian fixer-upper. Soon thereafter, Emily and Navin happen upon an amulet, upon which Emily takes an immediate hankering. Yes, hankering. Unfortunately, she's not the only being that desires the long lost amulet. It isn't long before mother is swept away by a tentacled creature, and Emily and Navin must begin a journey to rescue her.

I enjoyed Amulet, which ends on a cliffhanger - leaving you wanting for the second book. That alone makes me question whether it can stand on its own. The animation (graphic novel) is nice, but nothing earth shattering. The story is nothing new - formulaic - I suppose is the word. ( )

it was ok ( )

While this graphic novel reads front to back, the manga influence is evident. In this first installment of a planned series, brother and sister, Emily and Nevin, find their way into another world and embark on a quest to save their mother's life. ( )

Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi is a new series. My ten year old son and I each recently read Book One, The Stonekeeper. I read the book first and then he picked it up and devoured it shortly thereafter. The story begins with a dramatic and tragic car accident that apparently kills Emily and Navin's father. Two years later, depleted finances force the family to move into a home that has been empty ever since Great Grandpa mysteriously disappeared. It is not long before the children find themselves on a desperate quest to save their mother from a tentacled creature she encounters in the basement.

My son and I both enjoyed the book - he more than I. The author/illustrator does a terrific job of setting up further adventures. He leaves many questions unanswered and will undoubtably draw readers to subsequent books in the series.

I feel I would be remiss if I did not comment on the death scene midway through the book. Neither of my sons (aged 10 and 12) found the illustrations of a dying and then dead man remarkable. I'm not sure what that says about their de-sensitization thanks to movies and video games. Anyhow, I was surprised to see the man, eyes wide open, followed by another frame wherein a character closed his eyes and a third frame where his dead body was covered with a sheet (pages 110 - 112 in my copy). My boys were very matter of fact about the illustrations.

Hooked by prologue, got goosebumps reading first few pages to the blank white page before chapter 1. Story of a girl losing her father, then her mother (she's out to rescue her), and having to hold the family together.

As an aside, caught the author at ALA conference and already read Daisy Kutter. He spoke of book 2, influences of Star Wars and pop culture, so that inticed me to pick it up.

Continue to see strong female characters (praise God!) and can see Emily's determination sketched out subtly and not so subtly in each frame. May be good reading matter for reader adjusting to many changes in their lives but having to wait for book 2 is torture... ( )

Amulet is about a girl named Emily who lost her father in a car accident. Emily, her brother Navin, and their mother had just moved to a new house in the woods. One creepy night Emily hears a
KABOOM! She wakes up Navin and her mother and tells them that she hears something. Emily's mother goes to take a look.....and there it is a huge drooling creepy creature. Emilys mother says get but instead of getting out it eats Emily and Navin's mother!!! Can Emily and Navin save the world and their mother with the help of Emily's amulet........? Read the book yourself to find out !!!!! ( )

I was definetely impressed by this book. Emily loses her father in a car crash a while ago. Her mother then goes missing by a mysterious monster. Emily tries to bring back her mother with her brother and a few friends she meetes along the way. ( )

The opening panels chronicle an intense scene of a car crash in which everyone escapes except the dad. Two years later Mom and the two kids, Emily and Navin, are moving to an ancestral home in a small town because of financial hardships. It is an old rundown, creepy place but they settle down for the first night until they hear strange noises. As they follow the noises down to the basement the mom is attacked and kidnapped by a strange bulbous tentacled creature. A door in the basement opens and the children follow it into a strange alternate world. Emily finds an amulet with a strong power and they meet up with other creatures who want to help them but all the while an dark figure is trailing them. This is a beautifully illustrated story with an anime feel to it. It is cute and fun but on the dark side and atmospheric. The plot is very entertaining and I really enjoyed this quick read. I'd recommend this for middle grades as the intense death scenes (one of a parent) would not be appropriate for the very young. Book 2 isn't out yet but I'll be interested to see where the story goes when it is published. ( )

This is the first graphic novel in Kazu Kibuishi's 2 volume series The Amulet. It is a quick read and has a very similar feel to viewing anime. The story follows the adventures of a teenage girl who is drawn into another world where she must act to protect her family and take on unexpected responsibilities. She learns about her grandfather who mysteriously disappeared and becomes the keeper of a stone with remarkable powers. The images are beautifully composed and are every bit as important to both the plot and the atmosphere of the story as a the words are. There are plenty of mysteries to be solved so readers will have to wait for the next book to discover the hidden motivations and meanings of the intriguing world in which the characters find themselves. Although it involves mystery and adventure and is not for very young readers this represents the lighter side of anime/manga with loveable characters and less of the conflicted personalities that are found in some of the darker manga aimed at adult and adolescent readers. ( )

This is a great little j-graphic novel. Younger readers will be all over this story that is soon to be turned into a live action movie. Fast pased and full of adventure, magic, and suspense, it will have your younger graphic novel fans (and older ones) quickly turning those pages. Hopefully this is not the end of the Amulet Adventures.

A 'Normal Kids go to Strange Fantasy World' graphic novel. Very well written with amazing art. Tad scary from time to time, and the opening sequence is quite sad (dad dies in car accident)
MIDDLE SCHOOL ( )

As a big fan of Kazu Kibuishi, I was excited to see him extend his talents to graphic novels for younger readers. Amulet is a new series. In Book One: The Stonekeeper, Emily, Navin, and their mother move into an old family home after a family tragedy. After their mom is kidnapped, the children set out on a quest to save her. Along the way, Emily becomes the keeper of a powerful amulet. The artwork is spectacular! I'm ready for the next book in the series. ( )