ND Stevenson

Recommended:
For a great example of how much story and building can be included in a graphic novel, for a story that grows in scope imperssively, for unexpectedly deep bonds and betrayals

Thoughts:
I found this as part of a reading challenge to read a book someone else rated five stars. And you know what? I wholeheartedly agree with that person. A surprise at it developed, I did NOT anticipate what this story would grow into. Laughter? Justice? Vengeance? Tears? It's brilliant y'all.

I was a show more little iffy on the art style when I started it, but it did end up growing on me. Around halfway through I started appreciating the little details and style tics, plus one particularly impressive character that actually gave me goosebumps when revealed. (You'll know who.)

The story itself was much more dynamic than I thought I'd get! I figured it would be a pretty simple job of good v. evil with some quirky characters, but no! Nimona has some issues which is maybe not a surprise given her aggressive joy in death and mayhem. But still... you can't help but love her and Blackheart. My poor little heart by the end... a tear may have rolled down my cheek. :(

I totally get why this was someone else's 5-star read. Now I can be that person for you, too. If it sounds like it might be your kind of thing, give it a shot!!  show less

Cute, subversive, and clever
9:00 am 2 November 2016
Nimona - Noelle Stevenson
This is adorable, and I love both Nimona and Ballister Blackheart. I'm only saddened that this is over: I would read the further adventures of either one of these characters, or even better, both together. Or prequels. Anything with them, to be honest. But this, like vision, is a complete story: It had a clear beginning, middle, and end, and it went no further than the ending. How many times have I wished for show more something to continue only to regret getting more? Sometimes a story has a perfect ending and it shouldn't go further, no matter how much I want it to.

This is one of those stories, and while I yearn for more, it ended right where it should:. At that bittersweet, perfect ending.

And this has more than a villain with a sidekick. It's politicized in how it questions what the authority of the Institute can get away with and what it's morally - and legally - right for it to do. Given the current election and polarized times we're living in, well, this was a perfect read. It subverts who's good and evil and it does so in way that forces people who are more middle ground to look at and question what they've done and who they've been. It does it all with a wink and a line or a panel that makes you go 'awww!' The worst moments get their gravitas, true, but there's an overall optimism and adorableness that underlies all the seriousness. It's, in the end, an odd mix of morality, subversiveness, cuteness, and the tragedies of life that ultimately work because each one is balances. If the morality doesn't work in a particular sequence that calls for cute, Stevenson drops that element, and visa versa. She balances, and while she has enough elements in this - and quite frankly a low page count, and even word count to work with here - she does so with what seems to be an expertise of a much mature author. (This may be her first book, although she might have written one or two before this. Still, I would expect this of a more seasoned author but not necessarily from someone starting off in her career. Which is to say: she does far more brilliantly with all this than I'd expected, even after reading Lumberjanes.)

It's also incredibly quick to read. There are a couple reasons for this: the art is fairly simple, but always gorgeous and expressive. While I lingered on some pages, some I found I could take in more easily and even with lingering, it didn't feel like it took as long as the more complicated illustration styles. And just so we're clear: I like complicated, I like simple, it all depends on what the story calls for. The art in this matches the story perfectly. As mention in a parenthetical comment, there's a fairly low page count and word count. Many comics that tackle half these issues can do so in far more pages and still not quite nail it like this story does. Add to that the fact that some pages are background sounds but no dialogue. Then the dialogue itself is fairly straightforward: it's not something I had to ponder over. And again, I like both styles, depending on what the story calls for. This worked along with the art. Something mysterious would have been too much. Instead, Stevenson balances all these elements as well: for something so packed, she cleaned up a lot - the simplistic art style, the straightforward dialogue - instead of overwhelming us. The content was critical and it brimmed with content; she held back elsewhere to give that content the spotlight it deserved.

Lovely! And it fits my teen sidekick slot on my general comics card.
Graphic Novel favorite character read in 2016 show less

Lumberjanes takes the stereotypical shenanigans that boys at summer camp might imagine getting into but its with a crew of totally badass girls. I didn't know what to expect coming into this but was absolutely delighted at what I found. Laced within the silliness and paranormal is very real lessons that every young girl should learn from the Up All Night badge (conquering the unknown) to the Pungeon Master badge (never take life too seriously). I can't wait to read more of these girls' show more adventures! show less

1. A richly illustrated, middle grade adventure novel by the author of the top-tier graphic novel Nimona
2. Featuring an amazing cast of mostly pirates on ships at sea
3. On a fantastical, hardscrabble world in which some mysterious past event has turned most of the ocean to salt
4. That is slowly, epistolarily revealed to have way more of an eldritch horror vibe than initially anticipated

Are you imagining that Vince McMahon meme? Because that's absolutely what I'm trying to get across here. show more This book was remarkable, fantastic, and wonderful to experience. It held all my attention for the duration. I couldn't put it down! A top book of the year, for any reading level. show less