Bowen, Carl, Michael Dahl, & Louise Simonson. Gods and Thunder: A Graphic Novel of Old Norse Myths

Bowen, Carl, Michael Dahl, & Louise Simonson.  Gods and Thunder: A Graphic Novel of Old Norse Myths   Capstone Publishers      2017  208p  $14.95  ISBN 978-1-62370-848-1      elem/ms  Graphic novel  VG

This fascinating book presents a retelling of the original Viking tales of Asgard, Thor, Loki, Odin, and Baldur in a graphic-novel format. The Old Norse myths come to life through the text and graphics. The legends are exciting and written in present-day language, ensuring full comprehension and engagement by the reader.

In addition to the great writing and retelling is the visual appeal of the book. Full-color, detailed graphics enhance the text and add suspense and excitement. Overall, illustrators use darker shading that reinforces the darker side of the myths. The facial expressions of the characters and the action pictures bring the stories to life.
                 

Summary: This is a retelling of the original Viking tales of Asgard, Thor, Loki, Odin, and Baldur in graphic-novel format.

Norse Mythology                                                   --Virginia McGarvey

Bowen, Carl, Michael Dahl, & Louise Simonson.  Gods and Thunder: A Graphic Novel of Old Norse Myths.  Capstone Publishers  2017  208p  $14.95  ISBN 978-1-62370-848-1      all ages    Graphic novel  VG-BN   

This graphic-novel retelling of the stories of Thor, Loki, Odin, and Baldur will engage fans and reluctant readers alike. The illustrations are vibrantly drawn and the dynamic penstrokes portray action to keep moving the story forward. It is a good starting point to introduce young readers to classic literature.  It includes a glossary of Norse mythology.            

Summary: Readers will experience legends of mighty Thor, cunning Loki, all-seeing Odin, beloved Baldur, and many others as their deeds spring to life in this gripping, full-color graphic novel.

Norse Mythology                                                   -- Linda McNeil

Bowen, Carl. Bone Yard. (Firestormers.)

Bowen, Carl. Bone Yard.  (Firestormers.)  Capstone Publishers  2017  112p  $25.99  ISBN 978-1-4965-3306-7  elem/ms  Adventure  VG                                

Upper-level-elementary and middle-school students who enjoy learning about natural disasters will appreciate this new title in the Firestormers series.  Written in an easy-to-comprehend manner, students meet Sergeant Amalia Rendon and the rest of her Firestormers, an elite firefighting crew who are battling a tremendous wildfire in Denali National Park in Alaska.  With over twenty thousand acres of wilderness to worry about, the Firestormers are facing a huge undertaking.  While most of the wildfires are uncomplicated and can be contained, Sergeant Rendon and her team realize that there’s a small village in the path of the wildfire.  As eleven thousand acres of wildfire are approaching it, Sergeant Rendon is desperate to get the people in the village to leave their land so that they will be safe.  The houses and people live very modestly, without any form of electricity and with only basic necessities found on the land.  When the people from the village don’t want to move, Sergeant Rendon takes them to the fire scene and shows them what is coming.  After seeing the blaze for themselves, the village people decide it is best to relocate after all.  Students will cheer for the Firestormers as they try to save the homes from destruction.

The author includes a glossary of terms, firefighting equipment, and wildfire facts.

As of this review, four titles have been published in this new series.  Each title features the elite crew of heroes battling wildfires.

Wildfires have increased in number, size, and severity, and only the Firestormers are equipped to take on these immense infernos.  "When they are assigned to create a fire break to contain a wildfire burning near Denali National Park in Alaska, Amalia Rendon's crew of elite Firestormers runs into a problem--a small village of stubborn people living off the land who do not want to leave their homes and are too ready to dismiss the danger to their lives.”  This book would make a good addition to an elementary or middle-school collection for casual reading. 

           

Wildfires-Fiction, Denali National Park and Reserve-Fiction         --Charleen Forba-MacCain   

Bowen, Carl. Elite Firefighting Crew. (Firestormers.)

Bowen, Carl.  Elite Firefighting Crew.   (Firestormers.)  Capstone Publishers  2016  223p  $8.95  ISBN 978-1-62370-756-9  ms  Conflict  E-BN            

This is an exciting action story with elite firefighters and two or more story threads.  It is a compilation of at least two shorter titles in the Firestormers series.  One involves the story of Sgt. Rendon, a female crew chief who needs to convince a group of people to leave their homes for safety.  A second major thread is the rescue of Sgt. Rodger’s brother and his crew.  These two story threads are printed in the separate titles of Bone Yard and Hot Spot.  The story lines about Lt. Garrett and Chief MacElreath may also have been published in the smaller editions.  The various story lines alternate through the chapters.
 

The story is exciting and includes lots of danger, firefighting strategies, and descriptions of equipment.  Middle-school readers will love this title.        

Summary: Fighting a wildfire in Klamath National Forest, one crew chief must convince a group of people to leave their home in the face of the fire.  Another team must perform a search-and-rescue mission for a missing crew of local firefighters.  Grades 4-8.

Fire-fighting-Fiction                                                                                                    --Joan Theal

Scooter in the Outside

  Bowen, Ann    Scooter in the Outside        

Holiday House     2012  unp   $16.95

978-0-8234-2326-2       elem    VG    Animal stories   

Geared toward elementary students, this title introduces young readers to Scooter, a big dog who loves being outside and going for walks with his friend Lucy.  The two friends take walks through the neighborhood, share precious moments together in the house, and love being with each other.  When Lucy goes to school one day, she fails to close the front door and Scooter sees the opening and goes outside to explore all the things he loves outside.  Even though Scooter is excited to be outside at first, he soon realizes that the outside world is scarier than being with Lucy.  Scared and lonely, he lies beneath a tree and is relieved when Lucy comes along and brings him back to his safe, loving home. 

The illustrator uses beautiful watercolor paints and black pencil to convey a loving story of a girl and her dog.  The author uses easy-to-comprehend text, dog sounds, and humor that young readers will enjoy.  There is an Accelerated Reader quiz for this book, quiz #149501.  

     

VG    Charleen Forba-Mayer    Dog stories, Easy readers

 

Bowe, Brian J. The Clash

Bowe, Brian J. The Clash
Enslow 2010 112p 31.93
978-0-7660-3232-3 ms/hs E-BN
Rebels of Rock (Enslow)
Punk rockers “The Clash” changed music history. Their lives, the people who influenced them, the history of the band and the political statements they made with their music are dynamically presented. Numerous quotes give immediacy. Grades 7+ Just as rock music changed the course of music history in the 1950s and 1960s, punk rockers changed the course of music history in the 1970s and 1980s. The Clash, an English band, was a prime mover in the punk rock scene. Their lives, people who influenced them, the formation of the band and their political statements through their music are all chronicled in dynamic terms. Numerous quotes give an immediacy to the telling and make the book seem more like an interview than a staid recounting of the group’s history. Political events in England that influenced their music and allowed their music to change over their fifteen year history included the influence of reggae and African rhythms into their music. The drug influence is glossed over but still a potent force in the dissolution of their band. Colorful photos show the band in their youth and follow through to their induction into the Rock and Roll Music Hall of Fame. A timeline, discography, glossary, numerous source notes for the quotes, index and further reading complete the book. Sure to be a great source for reports as well as pleasure reading for rebellious youth who admire the antiestablishment attitudes expressed by The Clash. Grades 7-12. Recommended wherever punk music is appreciated. The dynamic telling of the founding of the group, their political statements through music and their sheer joy of communicating through music will appeal to all young rebels wanting to be in a band. McNicol(3),Lois
Punk Rock Musicians

Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book.

Bowen, Carl. Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book.
Capstone Publishers 2009 63p 25.32 9781434215840 elm/ms
A graphic novel retelling of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle book. When Mowgli was a small child a wolf found him wondering in the jungle and the child, Mowgli followed the wolf back to the wolf’s den. He was raised by the wolves but was always hunted by the mean tiger Shere Kahn. The story takes us through some of Mowgli’s adventure as he takes advice from his great friends Baheegra the panther, Baloo the great bear and Kaa the snake. The story illustration are very good and kids will enjoy reading this book. There might be some concern for the big knife Mowgli carries but it is explained that he carries that knife in the jungle because he has no claws or fangs to defend himself. Includes Law of Jungle, about the author, about the retelling author, about the illustrator, Glossary, Discussion questions and writing prompts. Diaz, Magna