RaveBooklistPerhaps because of this lingering relevance, it’s fitting that this graphic novel adaptation holds fast to its source material, providing an unwaveringly faithful visual representation. Fordham’s adaptation relies almost entirely on dialogue, a wise choice, considering Lee’s careful use of southern dialect. His naturalistic artwork, meanwhile, is beautifully understated—graphic and expressive when needed but ultimately delicate enough to never render the narrative overdramatic. This illustrative restraint is the perfect counterpoint to the weighty subjects at play and the exceedingly complex yet nuanced characters. Like Lee’s spare novel, Fordham’s graphic adaptation leaves us to ponder what is unsaid, what is unseen, what lies in the subtext. A moving new take on a familiar story.
Anne Frank
RaveBooklistThis adaptation is first and foremost a remembrance of that Anne who, despite living a life marred by tragedy, tried by indignities, always held true to herself. Light touches of historical context, woven in through diary entries, provide necessary background without coming across as overly didactic. The whimsical nature of Polonsky’s illustrations, which play upon Anne’s active imagination during her time in hiding, are unexpectedly moving; though we never lose sight of the gravitas of Anne’s story, these forays into fantasy, which show Anne escaping from the harsh present into a future that will never come, serve to remind us of the truly human face of genocide. This is an exceptionally graceful homage to a story that deserves to be told for years to come.
Don Brown
RaveBooklistAn unflinching look at the Syrian refugee crisis ... Brown’s illustrations are equally stark and evocative. Faces lined with anguish stand in sharp relief against barren landscapes and the impassive stares of guards and politicians. Brown manages to craft an impressive portrayal that is informative but not impersonal, allowing room for both facts and emotion, despair and hope. Brown sheds light on an ongoing humanitarian crisis with worldwide repercussions, but this is no elegy; rather, it’s a call for action and acknowledgment the world over.
