Downer, Denise. Tombstone Twins: Soul Mates.

Downer, Denise.   Tombstone Twins: Soul Mates.  Capstone/Stone Arch     2013  48p  ISBN 978-1-4342-2248-0  elm/ms  Hardback  VG    Graphic novel

Upon opening this humorous graphic novel, young readers immediately know they are in pun heaven.  They are introduced to Dedbert, Skully, Rotto and Mr. Mortis; all names are tied to death in its various forms.  Illustrator Otis Frampton’s creations are enticing, and the colors, ranging from mauves to drab grays and greens, are deadly.  The story begins with a bully and his victim;  Rotto pushed Dedbert into a toilet and that is how he died.  Supporting characters range from the shock jocks and the hackers to the flat Stanleys and the little princesses, each one described according to the means of their demise.  When Skully joins the underworld, she finds a friend in Dedbert, and together they must try to save their underworld graves from an upper-world bulldozer that is threatening their above-ground graveyard.  With stringent laws in place, if Skully and Dedbert hope to stop the town from destroying the graveyard, they can’t touch or look anyone in the eye, or they will be seen.  Author Denise Downer champions reading when she states that Dedbert knows all of these tidbits of information because he reads a lot.  Aboveground, they begin to sabotage the bulldozer in clever ways.  The plot thickens, the students realize that they need to come together to save their homes, and the resolution is easy to figure out but fun. 

This book is all about empowering youngsters, even dead ones!  Younger readers, especially those who love puns, fast action and wonderful clarity in their graphic novels will enjoy this one.  Very young readers might not understand the puns, but the book is fun for them anyway.   It’s even short enough to read in one sitting, it provides questions for a good class discussion, and it teaches new vocabulary words.  What a nice collaboration this turned out to be!

Capstone’s graphic novel series offers other selections besides Tombstone Twins: Soul Mates.  Other titles include Tiger Moth: Attack of the Zom-Bees!, Pete Bogg: King of the Frogs, and Lucka Lizards: Chameleon Cage Match!  Added features include stellar graphics, creative plots, and fast-paced action. Young children will read these books.  An elementary school library’s graphic novel section should include a set of them.  Tombstone Kids is as entertaining as possible, with its puns, powerful design and unique plot. 

Summary: Dedbert joins the underworld when he dies by drowning in a toilet.  As macabre as that sounds, the author uses humor by having Dedbert develop a friendship with a fellow sufferer.  The two must try to save their community when a bulldozer threatens to dig up their graves.          

Humor-Graphic novels, Death-Graphic novels                  --Martha Squaresky