Amulet:The Stonekeeper - Kazu Kibuishi

Image accessed 18/6/13

 

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?

 

 

 

 

 

 



Twisted Journeys #2: Escape from Pyramid X - Dan Jolley

Image accessed on 11/4/13

Jolley, D. (2007) Twisted Journey #2: Escape from Pyramid X, Lerner Publishing Group, USA.

Twisted Journey #2: Escape from Pyramid X was written by Dan Jolley and illustrated by Matt Wendt. There are another 21 graphic novels in this series, the first four are: #1 Captured by Pirates, #2 Escape from Pyramid X, #3 Terror in Ghost Mansion and #4 The Treasure of Mount Fate. It is on the Premier's Reading Challenge Year 6-9.

The series is called Twisted Journeys because the reader is the one who chooses what happens next. When you get to the end of a chapter, you get to choose between 2-3 different storylines to see where the story will take you next, image accessed 11/4/13.

The story starts by explaining how 6 students from around the world have been chosen for a wonderful opportunity to visit Egypt and see Pyramid X on a tour with the famous Professor Emil Snackport!

The Professor starts the tour by entering Pyramid X with the children. He mentions on page 6 that there are many rumours flying around about the pyramid, like the presence of ruthless evil creatures, image accessed on 11/4/13 and strange wizards.  By the time you as a reader are walking down the dark and mysterious passageway, you are faced with your first two choices. What will you choose? The rest of the story is up to you!

If you like this author visit, other books written by Dan Jolley. 

And for more choose your own adventure books, visit the Twisted Journeys series. 




Ghostopolis - Doug TenNapel

Image accessed 3/4/13

TenNapel, D. (2010) Ghostopolis, Graphix, USA.

Ghostopolis is an exciting and adventurous graphic novel written and drawn by Doug TenNapel. It is on the Premier's Reading Challenge Year 6-9.

Frank Gallows is a tired and lazy investigator for the Department of Supernatural Immigration Task Force. He is charged with making sure that there are no ghosts among the living! When he finds rogue ghosts here on Earth, he uses a machine to send the ghosts back to their rightful home, Ghostopolis.

While chasing a ghost horse lead, Frank accidentally sends both the horse and a terminally ill teenager called Garth Hale to Ghostopolis. Unfortunately for Garth, the only way for the living to get to Ghostopolis to rescue him is via a machine called a Chronoplasmere - which needs 3 days to charge with enough power to travel!

Still living and wanting to stay that way, Garth finds himself in this strange and dangerous afterlife. With the skeleton horse, image accessed 5/4/13, that he affectionately names Skinny by his side, Frank must negotiate this new world called Ghostopolis.

Follow Garth's journey as he flees dinosaurs, fights mummies and giant killer flying insects and tries to save Ghostopolis from their evil leader, the Bone King. Will he save Ghostopolis? Will he get home?

To see other graphic novels written by this author, visit Doug TenNapel's web page.