Monstress Vol 1: Awakening

Liu, Marjorie. Monstress Volume One: Awakening. Image Comics, 2016. 192 pages. Tr. $9.99, ISBN 978-1632157096

VOYA Evaluation

Grade Level Interest: S; NA; A/YA

Quality: 4Q

Popularity: 3P

Truth be told, this is my first time reading a comic book or graphic novel. Even though I loved watching shows like Dragon Ball Z and Pokemon as a kid, it never appealed to me to pick up a comic/graphic novel from the stacks.When I saw that there was a comic on the syllabus, I decided to take a chance and read something different. Although I was confused at first on the order in which the dialogue is read, when I finally got a hang of it, I was captivated by the story line and use of color in the images.

Although one could argue that the images and language used in Monstress Volume One: Awakening are a bit vulgar (nudity, bloodshed, and profanity), I would gladly add this title to my teen collection. The images and spoken dialogue align with the characters expression and personality, which would help teen readers follow the story line easier. The main protagonist, Maika Halfwolf is also relatable to teens as she is ambitious, loyal, ruthless, and a teen herself. If I introduced her to a teen reader as someone with strong magic, determination, and share those qualities mentioned before, I think Monstress could be enjoyed by teens and adults alike.

Houser, Jody. Mother Panic. Vol 1, A Work in Progress. DC Comics, 2017.176 pages. Tr. $16.99, ISBN 978-1401271114

If you really enjoyed the first volume of the Monstress series, I’m sure you would continue to read the entire series (there are 12 issues currently). However, if you are looking for another graphic novel series, I would recommend Mother Panic. Vol 1, A Work in Progress. Like Maika, Violet Paige has a tough exterior displayed through her rage and assaults against their enemies. However, both characters also have a soft side to them as well; wanting to save others who were held hostage by captors.  Maika and Violet are also looking to their past to drive the story line to what looks like an adventurous future.

Below are the shared appeal terms Novelist identified between the two titles:

Genre: Graphic Novels

Character: Strong female

Subject: Revenge

Diversity is Key to a Successful Teen Collection

After completing the assigned readings for this week, I couldn’t help but play “connect the dots” with what I’ve learned so far (in both life and academically). Reflecting back on my youth, I can’t remember the last time I  read any books with Chinese characters in the story line. I can’t even remember reading any texts that had minority or female characters in school except for Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God . I do remember however reading Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and Voltaire’s Candide; texts that had White, male, and heterosexual protagonists. While I was not conscious of the intersections between race, class, and/or sexuality at that time, I can see it very vividly now. I can also see why it is important for us to read texts that have characters from different backgrounds and experiences; so we may immerse ourselves in their footsteps and walk with him/her as their journey begins.

As a future teen librarian, I would first analyze the stacks to see how diverse the collection is. As mentioned before, it is not only important for us to see ourselves in the characters portrayed in the text, but it also helps us identify with who we are as people and allows us to reflect on the representation of ourselves in society. Aside from looking for racial diversity in teen literature, I would also look through the collection to ensure that they contain an array of characters, genres, and plots that situate story lines in different contexts.

In addition to the analysis, I would also use resources online that specializes in teen literature. I found that Bookriot (https://bookriot.com/) is a really useful for staying in the know about new, upcoming and/or trending teen literature on the market. Their website also has podcast recordings and a section on comics for those who love manga and anime. Subscribers also get daily newsletters from Bookriot with headlines of new articles posted.

Saving the best for last, I would also ask the teens themselves for what to buy. It’s not only important to ask them what they like or what’s trending in their social circles, but having their voices heard will show them that they are valued and appreciated. The creation of a teen advisory board for creating displays or selecting good reads would be a great way to start this partnership.

While not discussed in this week’s readings, I would also avoid placing unnecessary stickers and labels on materials that refers to one’s private lifestyle or situation. Naidoo-Campbell (2013) and Robinson (2016) found that some libraries were placing labels of broken homes and rainbows on books to identify LGBTQI literature. Not only is this uncalled for, but also disturbing to say the least. Teens will be forced to read in privacy and possibly ridiculed by their peers. Removing this practice from collection development procedures and policies will well be worth it if it means creating a safe space for teens.

References

Campbell-Naidoo, J. (2013). Over the rainbow and under the radar: Library services and programs to LGBTQ families. Children & Libraries: The Journal Of The Association For Library Service To Children, 11(3), 34-40. Retrieved from: http://web.a.ebscohost.com.queens.ezproxy.cuny.edu:2048/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=9679496a-5c81-416e-b005-a67f8420678d%40sessionmgr4006&vid=5&hid=4204

Robinson, T. (2016). Overcoming social exclusion in public library services to LGBTQ and gender variant youth. Public Library Quarterly, 35(3), 161-174. Retrieved from: http://www-tandfonline-com.queens.ezproxy.cuny.edu:2048/doi/pdf/10.1080/01616846.2016.1210439