Hale, Shannon & Hale, Dean. 2010. Calamity Jack. Ill. Hale, Nathan. New York, NY: Bloomsbury. 9781599900766
Plot Summary:
After Jack is forced to leave Shyport, thanks to the golden goose he stole from Blunderboar, he returns home with his new friend Rapunzel in an effort to try and right his wrongs. When Jack arrives back in his home town nothing is as he left it and he is determined to find out why. After meeting Freddie, the trio (Jack, Rapunzel & Freddie) work to uncover Blunderboar's evil plan to take over the city; it is up to them to stop Blunderboar.
Critical Analysis:
The three main characters in this book (Jack, Rapunzel, and Freddie) are quite interesting. Jack is definitely my favorite character because of the way he matures throughout the graphic novel. In the beginning of the story, we often see Jack acting on a whim, as though with no thought or care at all. Later in the story Jack begins to have a more developed way of thinking and actually thinks before he acts. When Jack meets Rapunzel he realizes how good of a person she is and this thought leads him to realize that the choices he made in the past were not good ones. Freddie is quite an interesting character as well! The best way to describe Freddie is to say he is a polite, steampunk-like, mad scientist; Freddie is the comic relief among the trio.
The plot of the story is attractive and enticing, even though it is a little slow to start in the beginning. Once Jack meets Rapunzel and they head back to his home town, the story starts to unfold and draws readers in. Readers will find it difficult to stop moving forward in the story because they will be curious about what the odd trio will do next. From Jack's seriousness, to Rapunzel's kind, but strong heart, down to the humor surrounding Freddie's constantly failing inventions - readers won't be able to put the book down.
Have you noticed the odd twist on the classic fairy tales? Which ones are they? Jack and the Beanstalk and Rapunzel, of course! This re-creation of the classic tale of Jack and his well known beanstalk offers readers an interesting twist, especially with the addition of a steampunk element. Readers will find familiarity when Hale & Hale incorporate some tidbits from the classics such as: Rapunzel's long and magical hair, Jack, a beanstalk, and even a golden goose. The authors add their own details to the classic characters to make them different, for instance you will notice Rapunzel's hair is red rather than blonde (golden). Readers familiar with steampunk will be able to pick out certain key features generally associated with steampunk fiction such as: Freddie’s crazy inventions, Jack’s bowler hat, blimps, clocks, the trench coats, and more. While there is only a small element of steampunk included, those interested in steampunk will not be disappointed in this story.
The authors did a great job incorporating an intense story line into comic strip format. It can be difficult, at times, to portray realistic emotions in a comic strip while also maintaining a good storyline, but these authors managed to do so very well. Also, let me mention the artwork! I found the level of detail in the book to be quite impressive. The small details are what caught my eye such as, when the artist incorporates the rubble which is often associated with a dilapidated town. The artist drew buildings caving in on themselves, bricks strewn about, planks sprawled at random and layers of dirt everywhere. The artist's work does a great job of setting the scene for this story.
This graphic novel is recommended for children ages 12 and up.
Review Excerpt(s):
- Kirkus Reviews (2009) “Readers will relish this gleeful mix of fairy tale, adventure and romance.”
- School Library Journal (2010) “It should satisfy readers who enjoy adventure, fairy tales, and anyone who loves a rogue.”
Connections:
- Pair this title with other great graphic novel favorites such as:
Lunch Lady and the Bake Sale Bandit by Jarrett Krosoczka
Babymouse: Queen of the World by Jennifer Holm & Matthew Holm
Squish: Super Amoeba by Jennifer L. Holm - Some children are more comfortable reading graphic novels and that is okay! Encourage the child(ren) to share their favorite graphic novel. Generate basic questions to ask each child such as: Who is your favorite character? What do you like about this story? What do you like about the artwork?
- Incorporate reading and art by encouraging the child(ren) to select their favorite classic fairy tale and create their own exciting comic strip based on the fairy tale.
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