Capstone Publishing has released six new books in their classic fiction graphic novel series. Each book is a comic retelling of classic adventure stories, retold and illustrated by talented people. They are a great addition to any library collection due to the authors’ storytelling techniques, the illustrators’ creative artwork, and extra facts and activities based on each story.
This collection of graphic novels include classic tales of action and adventure. There is Homer’s The Iliad (retold by Diego Agrimbau and illustrated by Marcelo Zamora), the story of the nine year Trojan War and the gods who intervened. It is followed by Homer’s The Odyssey (retold by Diego Agrimbau and illustrated by Smilton Roa Klassen), the epic Greek tale of Odysseus’s tiring and dangerous journey home from the Trojan War. Next up is H.G. Wells’ The Island of Dr. Moreau (retold by David Rodriquez and illustrated by Pietro), the early science fiction story of an Englishman who discovers a mad doctor creating a cross species of humans and animals. Another tale of amazing discoveries is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World (retold by David Rodriguez and illustrated by Pietro), where a group of scientists and adventurers discover a new world where dinosaurs still roam. Then it’s time to set sail in Herman Melville’s Moby Dick (retold by David Rodriguez and illustrated by Ignacio Segesso), with Ishmael and the revenge driven sailor Captain Ahab as they search for the infamous white whale Moby Dick. And lastly, there is another sailing adventure in Edgar Allan Poe’s The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym (retold by Manuel Morini and illustrated by Enrique Alcatena) where a young man survives a mutiny but discovers a mysterious island with a frightening history.
These graphic classics are written and illustrated very well. The authors have adapted each tale into a simple to read version, appropriate for middle school readers. Since these are adventure tales, there is plenty of action to keep even reluctant readers’ attention and focus. As for the illustrations, the artists are capable of capturing each authors’ vision of the tales with detailed landscapes, creative creatures, and characters with expressive appearances and actions. They each provide their own specific artistic skills in each graphic novel, which coincide very well with the text. But each title does not just include a retelling. At the end of each story, there are a number of activities and extra information for the reader, as well as teachers and librarians. These include an illustrated cast of characters (which can be found in the beginning of each book), biographies of the original authors, the retellings’ authors and illustrators, a glossary of terms, background information on each title, discussion questions, writing prompts and a brief history of the original story or the author’s impact on pop culture.
Due to each story’s length and storylines, it is best to purchase this collection for a public library’s young adult collection or a middle and high school’s library collection. Middle schoolers, grades 5th-9th, will enjoy these stories and many other retellings like them. Librarians should also encourage teachers to use this collection, along with other graphic classic fiction titles from Capstone Publishing, for their lessons, especially when children are assigned the original classic story.
Classic Fiction series
The Iliad
By: Diego Agrimbau
Art by: Marcelo Zamora
ISBN: 9781496555786
The Island of Dr. Moreau
By: David Rodriguez
Art by: Pietro
ISBN: 9781496555748
The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
By: David Rodriguez
Art by: Pietro
ISBN: 9781496555755
Moby Dick
By: David Rodriguez
Art by: Ignacio Segesso
ISBN: 9781496555731
The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym
By: Manuel Morini
Art by: Enrique Alcatena
ISBN: 9781496555762
The Odyessey
By: Diego Agrimbau
Art by: Smilton Roa Klassen
ISBN: 9781496555779
Capstone Publishing, 2018
Publisher Age Rating:8-12
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