By Jan Pease
When I think about author Richard Paul Evans, I
think of books
such as “The Walk,” or “Miles to Go,” or“The Christmas
Box.” However, he also
writes a young adult series
in a very different genre. “ Michael Vey: Storm of Lightning” is
the fifth in a
series of books about a
boy with amazing
electrical powers. These
books are very
popular, especially with boys who enjoy reading about strong
characters who experience
lots of action.
When I think about the author James Patterson,
series such as
the “Alex Cross” novels or “Women’s Murder Club” mysteries come to
mind. He has also
published popular young
adult and juvenile books: the “Maximum Ride” series, “Witch and
Wizard” series,
the “Middle School” series, The
“I Funny”
series, and others. I
really don’t know
how he does it. He has
also introduced a
series about a treasure-hunting family, the Kidds, who have
incredible adventures. The
books in the series are “Treasure Hunters,”
“Treasure Hunters: Danger
Down the Nile,”
and “Treasure Hunters:
Secret of the Forbidden
City.” They are highly
illustrated in
black and white, full of silly jokes and plot twists. This is a fun one!
When I think about the Bible, I think about,
well, the
Bible, the Jewish and Christian Scriptures.
We just received a most interesting version, “The
Unofficial Holy Bible for Minecrafters.” I have
never played “Minecraft,”
a video game that is popular world-wide, but I’ve seen young
gamers fascinated
by it. "The Unofficial
Holy Bible for Minecrafters"
is a respectful re-telling of well-known Bible stories with
illustrations
straight from the world of “Minecraft.” I
wasn’t sure we needed this, but we have it and I think fans of
“Minecraft” will
love it.
Finally,
I don’t know
what to say about a series of graphic novels I added to the
library collection
because of a request from a young person. I didn’t look into “Lucky Luke”
very
thoroughly, not a good idea. The books present a funny look at the Wild West in the USA as envisioned by the cartoonist, Maurice De Bevere, better known as Morris. Morris worked with Harvey Kurtzman,
Jack Davis, and
Wally Wood, all of “Mad Magazine.” “Mad Magazine” has been an
equal opportunity
offender since 1952, so it might be expected that the series is
part tribute to
the mythic American west, part parody, and full of western
stereotypes. The
“Lucky
Luke” series is a Belgian comic book originally written in French,
later translated
into English and published in Great Britain. Lucky Luke is “the man who
shoots faster than
his own shadow.”
Here is my problem with “western” stereotypes. I’ve been weeding the
collection to get rid
of books that give an inaccurate view of Native Americans, not in
an effort to
be “politically correct,” but in an effort to bring the collection
up-to-date
and to portray other cultures fairly. The
“Lucky Luke” comics bring the 1970’s stereotypes roaring back! However, somehow I’m not as
offended when he
takes on the French Canadians in “The Beautiful Province.” So much for fairness.
Get hooked on a series.
You’ll be glad you did.
