72 Juve nil e F i c ti o n
Juvenile Fiction Amulet. Book 1, The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi
JF KIBUISHI, K.
This graphic novel series begins with a shocking car crash and death on a mountain cliff one dark, stormy night. After the tragedy, Emily, Navin and their mom relocate to an old family house in the middle of nowhere, hoping to recover. Once there, however, Emily discovers a powerful amulet, and it turns out there’s also something dark and perilous lurking in the basement. When a strange creature suddenly abducts their mother, things get really creepy, and a lengthy chase to rescue her begins. They follow the monster down into the depths of the basement and suddenly emerge into a completely new world filled with mystery and magic. Excitement abounds in this strange place, but danger is never too far behind. Life for this family may never be the same again. Amulet is surprisingly realistic and deals with some pretty heavy topics, but there are definitely kids out there who can relate. The fantasy aspect of the story is intriguing and full of adventure. Kibuishi’s imagination breeds an unusual yet interesting storyline and cast of creature characters. This is a great pick for late elementary to middle school, especially for reluctant readers. – Heather Cunningham