Kean Soo

Jellaby might be the most adorable monster/dragon ever created. His every nod or wide-eyed stare had my daughter and I melting in our seats. But this graphic novel isn't just about an irresistible critter and all his (?) cute, funny antics. It is also about a girl whose daily companion is loneliness -- caused by the inexplicable loss of her father at a young age and the social chasm that separating a weirdo like her from the rest of the kids at school. JELLABY is about family and loyalty, in show more whatever shapes they come in. And be prepared because, most heartbreakingly of all, it is a cliff-hanger of a story.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. show less

When we last saw Portia, Jason, and Jellaby they had just left the train that they were travelling on to the city and are now wandering down the train tracks, continuing to their destination. Portia and Jason have fallen silent and are not currently speaking to each other. And Jellaby is hungry, as always, but also sad that his new friends are fighting. As they reach closer to their destination though they will all be forced to confront difficult choices, leading them to discover that show more sometimes what you want isn’t always what you need. And that sometimes, maybe you have what you were looking for to begin with. But what monsters lurk in the darkness and what dreams will they be forced to confront before the end?

I really, really enjoy this series and I wish there were more books in it I mean seriously how can you not like a female character that's bright, intelligent, and just wants to have a couple of friends without demeaning her own intelligence? And then you get Jellaby who doesn't talk at, but communicates through the shaking of his head and other non-verbal queues. He's just so much fun to watch and wonder what he's going to do as he figures out the world around him, including eating some flowers. Kean has created engaging characters that feel like you could step out your door and run into them in your neighborhood. Even the bullies that Portia encounters aren't crude half portrayed characters, but they have depth to them. Overall the writing reminds me a bit of Hayao Miyazaki, with the depth to the characters.

While the artwork appears simple in nature, with thick lines delineating the characters and a few colors giving them depth, they are stunningly beautiful. I mean seriously drawing a lovable purple monster that doesn't look like Barney is difficult, but Kean pulls it off. Jellaby is one of those types of monsters that you just want to take home with you and keep him safe. And seeing the human characters interact with each other reminds me a bit of Peanuts, just those simple lines giving depth to the characters and making them feel alive. Like they'll walk off the page and come over and talk to you. I love it.

Sadly this is the last in the series. I really wish Kean would would write a third or even a fourth book to tell us more about the world of Jellaby! But I don’t think it will happen anytime soon. If you’re looking for other stories like Jellaby I would recommend Andy Runton’s Owly series and Kazu Kibuishi’s Amulet series. show less

Portia’s having a hard time making friends at her new school — perhaps, in part, because she’s so much smarter than the other kids — when she forms an instant bond with an impossibly adorable purple dragon-like creature she finds shuffling around in the fallen leaves outside her bedroom window one night. The “monster,” whom she later names Jellaby, looks lost and frightened. It’s the nightmare that Portia just woke up from that is scary. So, naturally, Portia takes the creature show more home and gives him something to eat. Not too long after they’ve become pals, Portia is compelled to stand up for a kid who’s being bullied, and this kid, Jason, completes their trio of misfits. The plot heads in the direction of helping Jellaby find his way home, which requires a trip to Toronto. The book ends on a cliffhanger as the three are approaching the city, so interested readers will have to continue the series. It’s likely most kids will be. From the way he’s drawn, to his irresistible name, Jellaby is one of those characters you fall for. And Portia, with her absent-father issues and pretty terrifying nightmares, is a complex heroine. Jason provides the comic relief. The characters are drawn anime-style, with plenty of expression. The drawings are detailed but crisp, allowing the reader to move easily through well-organized panels, drenched in the color purple, the color of Jellaby himself. The text is accessible to even early elementary readers (although the nightmares may scare young children), and the narrative is also successfully conveyed in panels without any text. Jellaby’s appeal crosses reading levels, from elementary-age readers to teens and adult fans of the graphic-novel genre. show less

W found Jellaby himself on a recent visit to the library, so we took it home. I found it reminiscent of A Monster Calls in theme, but more accessible for W both graphically and in its storytelling. W finished reading it with my Other Reader, unprecedented and a sign of how taken he was with the book, so R & I read it together. W wants the second book and so do the rest of us!