I'm Reading Comeeks

Hereville: How Mirka Caught a Fish; part of the Hereville series about young adventurer and member of an Orthodox Jewish family.  These two things don't always go hand in hand.  She doesn't want to stay at home and sometimes questions the lessons of Fruma, her step-mother.

In this volume Mirka is left to take care of her younger sister Layele, who's personality is always at odds with Mirkas.  While Layele wants to follow Fruma's every direction and stay inside and clean, Mirka wants to march off into the forest to have adventures.

The two get into trouble when Layele discovers a magical fish and makes some unfortunate wishes.  Mirka's rash decisions and Layele's naive wishes land the pair and Fruma in deep trouble.

Lessons abound here, but they don't stop the story from being fun and suspenseful.  The fact that I'm not Jewish (let alone Orthodox) doesn't stop me from both being entertained by and educated by the graphic novel.  I'd highly recommend this to any Middle-School aged kid.

Comics Squad Vol. 2 Lunch: This collection of many different comic artists follows the theme of school lunch and was highly entertaining and nostalgic for me.  I loved it.  This would be a great introduction to kids comic artists, such as Jeffrey Brown, Jennifer Holm Sara Varon and Cece Bell.

I would not be surprised at all that, if they'd not heard of these artists before, after reading this comic readers will run to the library to read El Deafo, Star Wars Academy, Baby Mouse and Bake Sale among others.

From the origins of the Lunch Ladies to archaeological dig sites, these comics are hilarious, diverse and absolutely unputdownable.