Review: The Little Prince Graphic Novel by Joann Sfar

For over sixty-five years Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Princehas captured the hearts and minds of its readers. The whimsical story with a fairy tale touch has sold over 80 million copies in 230 languages. This exciting graphic adaptation features beautiful, new artwork by Joann Sfar. Hand-chosen by Saint-Exupéry's French publishers for his literary style and sensitivity to the original, Sfar has endeavored to recreate this beloved story, both honoring the original and stretching it to new heights. A vibrant, visual gift for longtime fans and those experiencing the story for the first time.

My Thought
After travelling to some planets, the Little Prince finally arrived on Earth. He landed in a desert. Snake was the first creature that he met. Few days later, he found an aviator with his broken plane. To the man, who could not draw well, he told about his little planet. How conceited the Rose that he kept. The Baobabs trees that he cleaned every day. Even about the Volcano. He also shared his story about some adults whom he met in another planets. In few days, the Aviator learnt many things about the boy. The bond between them knitted and got stronger day by day.

The little Prince, I never get bored reading this book over and over again. This is one of my favorite books. The more I read it, the more I understand what the author tried to say. The first version that I read is in Indonesian. I think I have lost my count how many times I read this book. Now the paper is not as neat as the first time I bought. The English version, I read through the web. I was so glad that I could find my favorite quotes in English. The French was also available, but I gave up. I know no words in its original language. When I checked Net Galley and found its graphic novel. I was so eager to read it, although I remembered how the story was. But I must have slipped my mind that the publisher has approved my request. Because it took me more than a month to finish it.

I could not help myself but comparing this book and its novel. Since the original book also got the illustration. However I still prefer the original novel, there were some parts in graphic novel that I loved. Let's say when The Little prince met the snake in the desert, or his quality time with the Fox. Even when he talked to his rose. Joann Sfar drew it very well. I could see how arrogant that flower was. I also got many new things that I might have missed in the original book. It looks like that Joann Sfar added something in the story. Some of his artworks also made me giggling. A same emotion remained when I was in the last page.

Reading this graphic novel made me wanted to read the book especially when The Little Prince traveled to one planets to another.

From Goodreads, I saw another graphic novels of Joann Sfar. I'd love to read them all.

I recommended this graphic novel to all readers who adored The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

4/5

Favorite quotes

"Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves"

"Perharps It's my fault that you didn't understand. You are as foolish as I am"

"You'll always be responsible for what you've always tamed."

"There's a risk you might cry sometimes, if you allow yourself to be tamed"

~~

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 112 pages
Publisher: HMH Books (October 18, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780547338026
ISBN-13: 978-0547338026
Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.4 x 0.7 inches
Source: Net Galley
Buy The Little Prince Graphic Novel at Amazon.

Review: The Wind in The Willows - Kenneth Grahame

The Wind in the Willows, buku yang pertama kali terbit tahun 1908 ini bercerita tentang petualangan Tikus Tanah, Tikus Air, Luak dan Katak. Semua petualangan mereka tertuang dalam 12 bab. Bermula dari pertemuan kedua tikus di tepi sungai, petualangan mereka di hutan belantara sampai bagaimana kisah perebutan kembali Puri Katak dari tangan Rase yang jahat.

Dari semua karakter utama, yang paling saya sukai adalah sosok sang Katak. Bawaannya yang riang namun sombong, ceroboh, bahkan sering lupa diri membuat saya menikmati setiap kisahnya. Lihat saja bagaimana ia mengendarai mobil balap ataupun ketika berusaha kembali ke kediamannya dengan menyamar sebagai tukang cuci. Rasa gemas, kesal sampai kasihan bercampur aduk setiap kali bab tentang si Katak berakhir. Kisah katak menutupi beberapa bagian yang sedikit membosankan di buku ini.

Buku yang diterbitkan dalam format hardcover ini juga dilengkapi dengan ilustrasi. Gambar-gambar di setiap bab yang menyajikan ekspresi setiap karakter, sangat mempermudah saya untuk membayangkan bagaimana situasi yang terjadi. Bagaimana takutnya Tikus Tanah saat tersesat di Hutan Belantara ataupun beberapa seringai jahil dari si Katak.

Walau sempat membuat saya bingung karena merasa ada bagian yang hilang, kisah Tikus Tanah, Tikus Air, Luak dan Katak ini tetap mengalir.

Cover

Saya suka gambar dan pilihan warnanya. Sosok katak digambarkan dengan sempurna. :D

3/5

~~~

Judul Indonesia: Embusan Angin di Pohon Dedalu

Penulis: Kenneth Grahame

Penerjemah: Rini Nurul Badariah

Peyunting: Nadya Andwiani

Ilustrasi dan Pewajah Sampul: Ella Elviana

Cetakan I: April 2010

Penerbit: Mahda Books

Sumber: Hadiah dari editor

Review: Incredibly Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Get ready to start your own incredible, amazing life…right?

Alice McKinley is standing on the edge of something new—and half afraid she might fall off. Graduation is a big deal—that gauntlet of growing up that requires everyone she’s known since forever to make huge decisions that will fling them here and there and far from home. But what if Alice wants to be that little dandelion seed that doesn't scatter? What if she doesn’t have the heart to fly off into the horizon on the next big breeze? And what if that starts to make her feel like staying close to home means she’s a little less incredible than her friends—and her boyfriend Patrick?

Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is be honest with yourself—and sometimes the most incredible thing you can do is sneak a little fun into all this soul-searching.

My Thought

I am a big fan of Alice books. I have read many of them. From The Agony of Alice until Including Alice. Thanks to Gramedia Pustaka Utama, the local publisher, who has published and translated the series. However they did not publish all books and skip some number but I still could keep the track. There was nothing missing. But when they finally decided to stop publish the next book, I was so sad. I still want to read all about her. So that was why I was so thrilled when I saw Incredibly Alice was available in March Grab Galley.

However, at first I was little bit afraid that I missed many part. Because the last book that I read, Alice was in her first semester of 10th grade. From Wikipedia, I found about six books between them. But when I jumped into the chapters, I could catch up. I did not miss many things. Some stuff were retold here. Although many things has happened to Alice and the other characters, I still recognized them. Let's say Elizabeth and Pamela - her best friend, Patrick-her boyfriend, Lester - her gorgeous brother, even Mr McKinley- her father and Silvia. There were still some characters that I did not mention.All characters were developed well. It was nice to see all of them appeared one by one. And all

In Incredible Alice, she was already in second semester of senior year. It was also her last year in high school. Many things happened in this semester. I liked all those various events. The plan to spend summer holiday, School's Drama,Graduation party till the college application announcement that almost drove her emotions. From all of them, my favorite was her story about his brother, Lester.There was not many changing in Lester. He was still sweet. I enjoyed all time that Alice spent with him. I could see Alice and Lester took care of each other. Something that surprised me was her relation with Patrick. They have moved to the next level.

When I was in the last page, all I wanted was reading the next book. Unfortunately this is the newest series so I have to wait till Ms. Phyllis write the next one.

For the one who have not read any book of Alice series, they might find it difficult to blend with the story.

Cover
I did not get used to with this kind of cover of Alice. Because all of her book that published in Indonesia was drawn. But I still like it.

~~~

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Author: Phyllis Reynolds Naylor | Blog
• Hardcover; 288 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum (May 10, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416975535
• ISBN-13: 978-1416975533
• Source: Simon & Schuster Galley Grab

Buy Incredibly Alice at Amazon

In My Mailbox #15

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that hosted by Kristy from The Story Siren

For Review

• Mishap & Mayhem (Volume 1) by M.M. Shelley

 Thanks to M.M Shelley who has sent me this book


Bought


I think this week I bough too many books.

• Iron King by Julia Kagawa | Kubika

• Darkest Hour by Meg Cabot | Gramedia Pustaka Utama 

• A History of Violence by John Wagner and Vince Locke | Graphic Novel | Gramedia Pustaka Utama

• Different Ugliness, Different Madness by Marc Males| Graphic Novel | Gramedia Pustaka Utama

• Heroes of The Valley by Jonathan Stroud | Gramedia Pustaka Utama

• Bec (Demonata #4) by Darren Shan | Gramedia Pustaka Utama

I also bought some manga  

• Topeng Kaca Deluxe #10, 
• Otoboke Section Chief 9, 
• Otoboke Section Chief 10, 
• Kariage Kun #41

How about you? What you get in your mailbox this week?

Feel free to leave your link. I'd love to see what you get.

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Cover Reveal: Sapphire Battersea by Jacqueline Wilson

This is the second story of Hetty Feather, who was given her name when she was left at the Foundling Hospital as a baby. But Hetty always longed to be called Sapphire, after her sapphire-blue eyes. When she is reunited with her mother, she hopes her new name, Sapphire Battersea, will also mean a new life! But life doesn't always go as planned...
Follow the twists and turns of Sapphire's adventure as she goes out to work as a maid for a wealthy man. She longs to be reunited with her childhood sweetheart Jem - but also finds a new sweetheart, Bertie the butcher's boy, who whisks her away from her household chores to experience the delights of the funfair!
But Hetty's life may also take a darker path.Can she cope with the trials ahead?

Jacqueline Wilson, she is one of my favorite children's authors. It's been so long since I read her books. I like both of the story and its illustration.

After Tracy Beaker, now she has another series. I hope Gramedia Pustaka Utama will also buy the rights of this book and translate it. So I get the chance to read it. :)

From the newsletter that I received, this book will be released on September 29th.

Review: Stolen Dreams by Stacey Kennedy

Tess Jennings has the ability to see and talk to spirits. On a daily basis, they harass and annoy her to save their souls. Sometimes she helps, other times she ignores them, but one ghost will give her no choice. Kipp McGowan, a cop with the Memphis Police Department, uses his ghostly charms to gain her attention and forces her to expose herself to his partner.

As she’s pulled into the five year old cold case of Hannah Reid she wants no part of, she finds herself in more than one precarious situation. But that’s the least of her worries―Tess begins to have a serious problem on her hands. Kipp might be dead, but he’s drop-dead gorgeous and she’s beginning to forget that he’s a ghost.

Murder and corruption has brought Tess and Kipp together. But as her feelings for Kipp deepen, she suspects she just signed herself up for a one-way ticket to the nut house, and can only hope, straitjackets come in a size four.

My Thought
Before writing this review, I did not read its synopsis. So I have no idea what Stolen Dreams told about. I just wanted to discover the story myself. I did not wish for something good since the cover has made me disappointed in the first place. Then what I got? This is one book that reminded me not to judge the book by its cover. I did not have to read many pages to jump to the story. Tess, Kipp and their story grabbed my attention only in a short time.

It was so easy to like Tess.Not only her unusual ability, even all those silly things she did pleased me. Kipp himself also become my favorite character. It was not because of the description of his physical appearance that Tess kept saying in some chapters. It is more about the way he treated Tess. From the first time they met, the way she attract Tess, teased her and when he confessed everything. No need to be genius with all Tess reactions. I did enjoy all the conversations between them. Especially in few last chapters. some of them almost made me cry.

The relationship between Tess and Kipp is not the only one thing that made me reading this book till the last pages, the murder case also become interesting part in this book. When the investigation was started again, I kept wondering how Tess would help this Police Department find the murderer. The plot was great. It brought me something really good from the beginning till end.

I think I have to put Stacey Kennedy into the list of my favorite authors. Out of the adult scene that she mixed with the story inside, she written everything very well. I do want to read another books of hers especially with Tess and Kipp inside.

Cover
I think it is not fair for Tess, Kipp and all the characters inside for this kind of cover. They deserved a better picture. I have noticed that Stacey has written many book and printed it in good cover but this one. All I can say ,forget about the cover, the story inside was too good to left behind.

4/5

Ebook: 260 pages
Publisher: Stacey Kennedy (February 21, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0986593141
ISBN-13: 978-0986593147
Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.9 inches
Buy Stolen Dreams (The Lingering Spirit Book One) at Amazon

~~~

Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of the Book Lovin' Bitches Ebook Tours and a copy was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Book Lovin' Bitches Ebook Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review nor was there an obligation to write a positive one. All opinions expressed here are entirely mine and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.