Module 13: Graphic Novels and Series Books

Kin, the first book in Holly Black's Good Neighbors series is the story of a young girl named Rue whose mother disappears and father is accused of murdering one of his students. Rue also begins to see strange looking people in the place of normal ones--people with wings, and horns, and long unearthly fingers. Soon Rue learns that she has the second sight, a gift given to her by her faerie mother. This is only the beginning of Rue's complicated journey into finding her true self and accepting what's in her blood--faerie.

Black, H. (2008). The good neighbors book #1: Kin. New York: Graphix.

Picture Credit: http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/holly-black/kin.htm



Impressions:
This graphic novel is a beautifully illustrated book. It not only tells the story of Rue and her journey to understand herself but also incorporates a great deal of old folklore and mythology. Black has done her research and this lends a feeling of well-known truth to the story. The art by Ted Naifeh is beautifully done and some of the fairy illustrations are reminiscent of older fairy drawings by renowned fantasy artist Arthur Rackham. This book was my first experience with Holly Black and I was a little hesitant to jump on the Black bandwagon. I actually really liked this book and I think it it has a lot to do with the fact that Black obviously knows her stuff. She doesn't drop older myths or folklore but uses them to her advantage.

Reviews:

“Readers meet Rue Silver at a pivotal time in her life-on the day she starts seeing things for what they truly are. Her ethereal mother has disappeared, and there is a possibility that her professor father has had something to do with it. Further complicating her situation, the people around her begin to resemble creatures from another world. When her mother's strange family takes her under its wings, she realizes and tries to reject her ties to the fairie world, but the gift of sight that is awakening in her will prove too seductive to refuse. The story ends at the beginning of Rue's acceptance of her supernatural birthright and her determination to solve the mystery of her mother's disappearance. Black's provocative characters and story line blend perfectly with Naifeh's shadowy black-and-white illustrations. The melding of high school reality and the fairie existence that is taking over Rue's world is skillfully done, and the story's themes of family and how it is perceived and of how one see the world are profound. Black is no stranger to the fairie realm, and her first foray into graphic novels is a ringing success.”—Lehner, L. (2009). No title. [Review for the book Kin by H. Black]. Voice of Youth Advocates. Retrieved from Bowker’s Books in Print.

“After her mother suddenly disappears, Rue Silver finds out that the woman was a faerie. Rue's father, Thaddeus, a human, is suspected of murdering her, as well as one of his students. As Rue solves these two mysteries, she also finds out more about her parents' relationship, and her own relationship with them. Willowy, brooding Rue and her Goth punk friends don't look too different from the glamorous, aloof faeries, and this sophisticated tale is well served by Naifeh's stylish, angular illustrations. This book will appeal to readers of Holly Black's fiction and fans of intelligent, otherworldly stories such as Neil Gaiman's "Sandman" series (Vertigo).”—Goldstein, L. (2008). No title [Review of the book Kin by H. Black]. School Library Journal. Retrieved from Bowker’s Books in Print.

Suggestions:
Although I only read the first book, this series would be great for a book group focusing on fairy tales or old folklore. It could also be used as an example of newer books that incorporate older mythologies.