Anne Szabla

I loved the first volume in the Bird Boy series and was excited to read the second book in the series. This is a fantasy middle grade series that has a Native American feel to it and reminds me a bit of the Princess Mononoke movie. This book was just as wonderful as the first one and I enjoyed it a lot.

I love the illustration throughout this graphic novel. The drawings are detailed and full of rich color. The landscapes pictured are amazing and magical. I enjoyed the mask theme throughout; many of the characters and animals wear totem-like masks that are both beautiful and at times eerie.

I can’t help but be drawn to Bali and engage with him; he is a little boy trying so hard to make his family proud of him. He is small for his age but has a large heart and too much courage for his own good sometimes.

In this installment we venture into the Liminal Wood, a place that is forbidden to Bali’s people. We meet a number of interesting creatures and learn a lot more about the Rook men. I thought the relationship between the Rook men and the forest creatures was interesting and am curious to see where future installments lead us.

My 10 year son reads these as well and absolutely loves them. He started bugging me about when the second book was going to be released as soon as he finished the first book. So he would also highly recommend them!

Overall this was a fantastic graphic novel that I think all ages will enjoy. There is action and adventure, beautiful illustration, fun and engaging characters, and a wonderful storyline. I am excited to see what future books hold.… (mer)

This was a really well done middle grade graphic novel. I loved the illustration style; it’s detailed and beautifully done. I loved the color throughout and the slightly cartoony look to it. The artwork has a bit of a tribal feel to it because of the Northern tribes clothing and masks but also a very mythological feel to it because of what Bali finds in the forest.

The story is cute, slightly scary and very unique. My nine year old son and I both read and loved it. My son commented that he loved the illustration and thought the story was “very cool”.

It’s a quick read but one I think anyone middle grade and older will enjoy. The artwork has a very neat style of its own and I loved the story. I also loved that everyone; including the animals wore masks. I was constantly wondering why they all wear masks. Additionally that fact that everything wore a mask meant that their actions had to be super expressive (which was very successfully done).

Overall a fantastic start to this new middle grade fantasy graphic novel series. I adored the art style and the blending of tribal and mythological themes. The story is cute, adventurous, and magical all at once. The story immediately draws the reader in and is completely engrossing. I can’t wait to see what future volumes of Bird Boy hold for us.… (mer)