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Kita–Part I: Princess of Orith
Kita
Art and story by William Brenner
The protagonist of Kita is Tommy, a boy full of imagination. He fantasizes about the Kingdom of Orith. After school one day, he and his stuffed friend, Mr. Bear, head to the imaginary Green Root where they become involved in a conflict with wolves who are trying to take over the town. Mr. Bear is the last living Keeper, and Tommy is the last member of the King’s Guard. Their roles are to locate the rightful heir to Orith’s throne.
The divisions of the novel are:
Chapter 1: Kingdom in Crisis—attacks and a council meeting to determine Orith’s future
Chapter 2: Royal Lineage—Thaddius, Chief Librarian of the archives, leads the team on an adventure to prove there is a descendent of the previous leaders
Chapter 3: Adoption—the warrior princess Kita needs a home.
Kita is a graphic novel written and illustrated by the very talented Will Brenner. The story is told with an appropriate combination of drawings and text; sometimes only illustrations are needed to move the story forward. The graphics are very detailed and show well the expressions and moods of the characters. The story moves between Tommy’s real life and the life he creates in his dreams and in his imagination. Although those worlds are very different, they also overlap. For example, the wolves bully the other animal characters, and Tommy’s cousin Ricky and some of Tommy’s classmates bully Tommy. Some of the characters are likable, and others are villains. Kita’s original owner is a prime example of an uncaring pet owner. Tommy’s parents want to be supportive, but are not always successful at trying to understand him. Perhaps they are just overstretched in their responsibilities. I base that perception on the dinners served—mom brings home takeout for their meals.
This is a fun graphic novel that lets the reader escape into a fantasy world. I think middle graders, teens, and young adults would particularly enjoy this trip to Orith. The Epilogue has a great hook to attract readers to return to the series for Kita: Part 2 which is still in the preparation stages.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Graphic Novel, Fantasy
Notes: Middle Grades (ages 10+)
Publication: April 7, 2025—Great Bellows
Memorable Lines:
“Many things aren’t as they should be. But hang on to hope, young Guard of the King. It will be made right, even if it looks different than you expect. And how exciting that you may yet play a part in that.”
Stowing Away with the Vikings–learn history from a graphic novel
Stowing Away with the Vikings
written by Linda Bailey
illustrated by Bill Slavin
Author Linda Bailey takes us back in time to the Age of the Vikings in her graphic novel Stowing Away with the Vikings. The Binkerton children have been avoiding the Good Times Travel Agency ever since their surprise trip to Ancient Egypt, but a hailstorm leads young Libby to shelter near the shop door, owner Julian T. Pettigrew offers a guidebook to the Vikings, and the rest, as they say, is history. Stowing Away with the Vikings is a delightful way to learn things about the Vikings that Hollywood will never tell you. Part fiction (the Binkerton storyline) and part nonfiction (clearly delineated explanations accompanying the storyline), this graphic novel is all fun and fascination. Bill Slavin’s pictures in comic style are perfect for entertaining, moving the story along, and illustrating the facts.
This book will delight children as they immerse themselves in history. Just as children reread comic books until the covers fall off, kids will want to reread this book absorbing the information about a culture that no longer exists but has affected our own. Although the author honestly discusses the violence of the Viking way of life, there is no depiction of murder. The Binkerton storyline contains a lot of humor that children and adults will appreciate. I learned a lot from this graphic novel and had a great time reading it. I recommend it for homes, classrooms, and libraries.
I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Kids Can Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Children’s Fiction, Comic & Graphic Novel
Notes: Grade level—3-7
Age Range—8-12 years
The Time Travel Guides as a series is being republished by a new publisher. Upcoming books to be released are: On the Run in Ancient China and Game on in Ancient Greece
Publication: October 2, 2018—Kids Can Press
Memorable Lines:
Does it seem a bit smoky in here? Hazy? Dark? Look around. There are no windows—just a hole in the thatched roof to let out the smoke. The only light comes from oil lamps. P.S. I hope you like fishy smells. The oil in those lamps comes from fish or whales.
Viking laws aren’t written down, so somebody has to remember them. That’s why they have the law-speaker, a man who memorizes all the laws and shouts them out loud for everyone to hear.
The word “berserk” means bearskin. Berserkers are the most feared of all Viking warriors. Before going into battle, they get into a fighting rage. They howl like wolves. They leap like dogs. They grind their teeth and bite the edges of their shields…Have you ever heard the expression “going berserk”? Where do you think it came from?
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