Tuesday, June 18

Amulet:The Stonekeeper - Kazu Kibuishi

 
Kibuishi, K. (2008) Amulet: The Stonekeeper, Graphix, USA.
 
Amulet: The Stonekeeper was written and illustrated by Kazu Kibuishi and is the first of 5 graphic novels in the Amulet series. In addition to The Stonekeeper, there is The Stonekeeper's Curse, The Cloud Searchers, The Last Council and Prince of the Elves. Amulet is on the Premier's Reading Challenge Years 6-9. 
 
A tragic accident claims the life of Emily and Navin's father. In her grief and due to financial worries, their mother leaves the family home and instead seeks refuge in a house owned by her great-grandfather. The house is very dirty and in a state of disrepair. There is so much work to be done to clean it up and make it livable for the family but together they tackle the mess.
 
While they are looking around their new home, we are introduced to mysterious creatures looking through vents and creeping around the house (image accessed 18/6/13). During their investigations, Navin and Emily find a beautiful stone necklace which Emily immediately puts on and claims as her own.
 
Throughout the night, the necklace awakens and warns Emily that her family is in danger. True to its word, Emily's mum is swollowed by a monster in the basement. In a race against time, Emily must accept the power of the Amulet bestowed on her by her great-grandfather. Can she harness the power and accept the help she needs from her great-grandfather's friends (image accessed 18/6/13) to save her mother's life?