Elizabeth Miyu Blake's Blog: My current work on a graphic novel

The Faint of Heart

The Faint of Heart by Kerilynn Wilson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A bit sci-fi, some speculative fiction, and also a cautionary tale of morals and how feelings and emotions relate to how we behave in life. The premise is that having a heart causes people to have emotions and feelings. Someone opens a service to remove hearts and/or give them something to dull their feelings. It somewhat reminds me of movies and stories years ago about people in institutions that were given drugs to dull their emotions and feelings. The ending was satisfying for the protagonist and her friend. It opened my mind about what we expect of humans in regard to hiding emotions and not feeling in general.



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Frizzy

Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is a sweet story of Marlene who does not like her very curly hair. She must endure salon treatments because her mother was taught that people with straight hair are more respected than those with Black ethnic curly hair. She has an insightful aunt who is an independent thinker and helps Marlene understand that some family assumptions just are not true and you can be exactly who you are. I think that not liking something about yourself is universal and that middle grade readers will relate to this story no matter what type of hair they have. It is also joyful and affirming of individuality and pushing back against racism. Highly recommended.



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The Librarian of Auschwitz

The Librarian of Auschwitz: The Graphic Novel by Salva Rubio

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Wow! The true story in graphic novel version of a book written by Salva Rubio. A story of evil and triumph with the immense pain and loss that happened during WWII in this story of a teenage girl, Edita, who lived with her family in Prague and were sent to Terezin then to Auschwitz and finally to Bergen-Belsen. It's full of tragedy of the Holocaust and what people endured and so many perished in these camps. It was very engaging, quick moving, with excellent illustrations. Even details such as she liked the Czech book, The Good Soldier Svejk, which I'm familiar with. The second protagonist was a real person too, Fredy Hirsch. I found so many details that were in images that tie well with history. In the appendix there is also a history of the major characters in the story and some photographs. A well-told.



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Things in the basement

Things in the Basement by Ben Hatke

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Another fun book by Ben Hatke. This one has the feared basement and a young brother looking a lost sock of his baby sister. It starts out to look like a usual basement that becomes a museum, a castle, a cave inhabited with interesting creatures. One is a very large translucent green jelly-like monster with people and things inside him that show through. It reminded me a lot of "No Face" in Miyazaki's Spirited Away. There were also very cute little mushrooms that were constantly cleaning and working around the floor. The sock is finally found. No spoilers on that. A very fun story and not terribly scary.



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Children's Book Events in WA

There are so many really good children's book authors and illustrators in Washington State which has spawned many events this Fall.

At Washington State Convention Center, there is a display in the corridors of children's book illustrations. Some of these are already in published books, others are by illustrators who are in the process of getting published. If you are in downtown Seattle, try to catch this event before it ends on September 29, 2016. In addition, on September 17th, from noon to 2pm, Draw With Illustrators will be a fun time for children and their parents to paint and draw together.

You can also use the app, StQry to find book events and learn more about the illustrators and their books at the Convention Center.

On Saturday October 15th, Behind the Books conference for librarians will take place in Des Moines, Washington. At this event, authors and illustrators will present their books with a chance for librarians to talk with them about their books and see them first hand.

We are so lucky to have SCBWI to help coordinate these events that help readers and book creators come together. Happy reading!

Event: Northwest Bookfest

NW Bookfest in Kirkland, WA is being held November 2-3. Sessions today were lively and offered great tips for authors about social media. The thing that resonated with me was making postings on social media sites that you really enjoy, as life it too short to make work of postings.