The Dam Keeper

When Pig's mother died, his father stayed around only long enough to teach him how to run the dam. Then he committed suicide by walking out into the fog and Pig became the dam keeper. He keeps the windmill running that keeps Sunrise Valley from being overcome by the toxic black fog outside its walls. His only friend is Fox, who insists on trying to make him befriend the local bully, Hippo. Pig is haunted by the tragedies in his life and the suspicion that he might be getting as crazy as his father. But then disaster strikes and Pig finds himself - and Fox and Hippo - stranded outside the walls with the toxic fog coming on. Can they work together to survive? Will Pig discover the truth about his father? Or is there more going on than show more meets the eye?

The art will strongly appeal to fans of Shaun Tan. Soft, earth colors are spread across the pages showing a small, plump pig with an air of aching grief, a cheery orange fox, and a clumsy, huge hippo who sometimes seems to be trying to make friends, but just can't communicate outside of hitting or yelling. The landscapes are haunted, with a looming horizon of black fog rising over the towering structures of the dam, a strange and frightening frog who could be alive or could be a zombie, and the constant company of Pig's father, a shadow that blows into ash whenever he looks too closely.

The story ends on a huge cliffhanger and I want to find out what comes next - but I admit that I'm skeptical about audience for this one. Reviews put it at the middle grade level, roughly ages 9-12, but this is an intense story with a lot of death, grief, and very dark moments. On the other hand, it has a child-like quality in the interactions of the three main characters that seem to point it at a younger audience. The publisher puts it at ages 7-11, but it would have to be a very special seven-year-old that I handed this to! It's based on the Oscar short of the same name and ultimately I'd say the audience is really adults - it's one of those books that isn't really directed at a specific audience, but a gatekeeper, parent or librarian, will know which children will appreciate it.

Verdict: Basically, I want to know what happens next and it's a beautiful book, but it's creepy and sad as all get out, you have been warned. I've had one kid read it have much the same reaction.

ISBN: 9781626724266; Published 2017 by First Second; Borrowed from another library in my consortium; Purchased for the library show less

This is a perfect storm of a graphic novel: hauntingly beautiful artwork, relatable characters, an intriguing and mysterious plot, and, oh, the atmosphere! Everything is so well done, and the images match and accentuate the text, which is very well written, perfectly. The scary bits are scary, the funny bits are funny, and the sad bits? They’ll make you misty.

Dam Keeper tells the tale of school-aged Pig, who is charged with maintaining the dam/windmill that protects his town from the deadly fog surrounding it. It’s a position he’s inherited from his missing/vanished-presumed-dead parents and a legacy he takes very seriously -- to the detriment of his social standing. He’s the only one that seems to realize that the fog is show more beginning to behave erratically, and when Pig, along his best friend, Fox, and not-so-best-friend, Hippo, finds himself lost on the other side of the dam, he may just begin to unravel the fog’s mysteries.

The story ends abruptly, as so many middle-grad graphic novels are want to do, so expect many an enthralled patron to come in anxious search of the next installment. A good pick for fans of the Amulet series, I think.

ARC provided by NetGalley. show less

This was the first volume in this well done middle grade fantasy graphic novel series. The illustration is unique and beautiful and the story is engaging. I really enjoyed it and would recommend to those who enjoy beautiful and deliberate fantasy graphic novel.s

The story is about a young pig (named Pig) who keeps the windmills running on the border of Sunrise Valley to push back a deadly black fog. When Pig’s dad ventures into the fog and dies, Pig is left on his own to protect the town. However Pig is very misunderstood at school and only his friend Fox makes things better. When Pig realizes the pattern of the black fog is changing: Pig, Fox, and Hippo end up on an accidental adventure.

I loved the soft and beautiful illustration show more throughout the story; it’s easy to follow and fun to look at. The story was imaginative and well done as well. I think my only complaint would be that things move a bit slow. My 11 year old son wasn’t a huge fan of this graphic novel; he said it was too creepy and moved to slow.

Overall this was a beautiful and magical story set in a fantasy world of talking animals and deadly black fog. This is just the beginning of the story but I enjoyed it. My 11 year old was not a fan, so this may be something adults enjoy more than kids. show less

A little too weird and yet simultaneously pedestrian. In a world where an ebbing and flowing black killer fog is kept at bay by a dam and some big fans, a group of young animals with generic personalities find themselves whisked far, far into the desolate foreshore (it's a real word I just learned today) with only a few days to get home to their protected village. Colorful characters, unexpected detours and strange discoveries lie ahead, which would be fine if the pace and tone weren't so slow and morose. The art might be nice if it weren't so murky and purply most of the time.

Ho-hum.

I love the title of this book and how the art tells most of the story. I grabbed this because I'm going into Civil Engineering, and this book was a fun mix of the reader and the intellect within me. The ending is a cliff-hanger, but I hope the series stays fairly simple. The content within this book is clean and engaging, I'd recommend giving it a try.

teen graphic novel (mental health, almost finding a dead body, fighting monsters, running from darkness and unknowns)
Don't be thrown by the cuddly looking animal characters, this story is more serious than it appears. You'll want to read the second one right afterwards, because nothing gets resolved.

I loved this graphic novel. It was beautiful, stunning and super intriguing. The artwork is to die for and the story is simple but now I want to know more.

Pig lives in Sunset Valley which is only saved from the horrible fog because of the dam Pig's father built. He's already lost his mother and now he has lost his father to death by suicide. Will Pig be able to save the town? What lies within the fog?

A great quick read and I really want to read the next one. Super cute!