2026 REREAD:
WELCOME TO SEPTEMBER MOON!
We have now arrived, way back at the beginning, of 'Sailor Moon' before Sailor Moon - 'Codename: Sailor V' (I know for certain now there's a colon in that title).
Wow is 'Codename: Sailor V, Vol. 1' - translated into English by Kodansha Comics - silly, cartoony, chaotic and OTT. It is rather messy, rough and repetitive. I wouldn't say it's derivative, since, while the sentai formula in Japan had been established for twenty years up until the manga's release in 1991, it was unusual at the time for the genre to star a female protagonist. Even keeping in mind that you are clearly not supposed to take 'Codename: Sailor V' seriously in the slightest, and it is mostly a comedy, the comedic elements don't always land well.
You can definitely tell Naoko Takeuchi was getting started on the writing and art departments, and that she would iron out her flaws, and refine her craft, through continuous practice - in time to create 'Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon' as we know it.
Both 'Sailor Moon' and 'Sailor V' star very flawed young heroines. Usagi is academically lazy, sensitive, and a crybaby, and Minako is almost like Harley Quinn, in how OTT, jokey, outrageous, selfish, and athletic she is. She is also not bothered with schoolwork, in a devil-may-care kind of attitude, and is unabashedly and unashamedly lovesick and boy crazy - not shy at all. One big difference between the girls is that Usagi is nice, friendly, genuine, and unselfish when she needs to be, while Mina is... not so much. She is much more self-centred, rude, and borderline mean, and even as narcissistic as you'd expect someone connected to the goddess Venus would be. Mina is not above cheating and stepping over and on people to get what she wants. She can be obnoxious, which I understand can be a turnoff for some readers. But these are flaws she is working on herself, slowly but surely, as realistically as a modern thirteen-year-old can - for her to be the future responsible leader of the Inner Solar System Sailor Guardians. Through all her faults, Mina/Sailor V can be legit funny sometimes, too. Many of her disguises are hilarious.
The noticeable things the two Sailor protags have in common are their gender, age, hair, eye colour, hatred of studying, and love of video games.
The manga is sexist and problematic for its time, even though Mina/Sailor V does subvert a lot of gender norms and stereotypes. There is the obsession with feminine beauty and upholding conventional attraction standards. One notable feature in 'Vol. 1' that holds up, however, is the entirety of the second chapter, 'Minako in "Game Center Crown"', which is about incels, and the toxic, exclusionary male gamer community. Over twenty years later, it would have been a great response to #GamerGate. The chapter depicts so many areas of misogyny in gaming culture, and other mediums in pop culture, and the internet, back when the internet was barely a thing. It is deeply tragic and depressing how much it still resonates today, in current year 2026.
Other notes:
Takeuchi-sensei would reuse characters designs and draw characters too similarly, especially for her light-haired human males. Mina's best friend Hikaru looks exactly like Ami/Sailor Mercury, and Amano is Umino, pretty much. None of Mina's friends are seen or mentioned in 'Sailor Moon'. How much of her old life disappears or doesn't matter in the sequel series?
Usagi and Naru make a couple of cameo appearances, as schoolgirls who go to the arcade. Rei appears once as well. I can't believe I didn't remember that. Takeuchi-sensei really did plan ahead. She must have always intended Sailor Moon to be a thing, with this manga's moon theme; such as Sailor V's crescent moon mark on her forehead, and her crescent moon-shaped, mirror-true-form compact, that shoots out a "Crescent Beam", and her "Moon Power: Transform" and communicator pen.
Furuhata, the arcade guy who nearly all the Sailor girls have a crush on, has been working there even back in 'Sailor V'.
Mina - and the manga and Takeuchi-sensei - are/were obsessed with video games and pop idols, and they are the primary source of inspiration and conflict in the whole manga volume.
However, there are parody elements when showcasing both subjects, and when it comes to idols, we get this pointed and relevant line from the villain Fluorite: "Using idols... to brainwash the people is the perfect method! We can suck out nearly limitless energy... and rake in the money at the same time." It's an accurate way to describe capitalism.
It is established early on that Mina's number one ambition is to be an idol, which doesn't change throughout 'Sailor V' and 'Sailor Moon'.
A major repetitive element and pattern is the villains - who we know nothing about at this point, other than they are called "the Dark Agency", and are aliens (?) - and their plots-of-the-week. It's all about draining human energy and brainwashing them into slaves, in hopes of taking over the world. It's similar to the first arc of 'Sailor Moon', only it's much more egregious, hectic, predictable and poorly planned out in 'Sailor V'. Who are Danburite and Fluorite? Why is Kunzite mentioned? Is the Dark Agency related to the Dark Kingdom after all? How, exactly? Do we find out for sure in the next volume?
Toshio Wakagi, a cute but angry and serious young police detective, has it in for Sailor V, for making cops look bad. And he's suspicious of her overall. He's the Chase Devineaux to Sailor V's Carmen Sandiego. His boss, who is just called Inspector General, is a capable and enthusiastic woman, and a secret fangirl of Sailor V. Lots of comedic potential is met in this area of the manga. Plus it's a sign of how Sailor V is exposed and open to the public, not only in how she has fans, but in how the law enforcement in Tokyo would be on her case. This doesn't carry forward to 'Sailor Moon' in the least. Police barely exist in the sequel series.
Mina has both parents who are present, and she never seems to get along with her family.
When Artemis first explains to Mina that she is Sailor Venus, and is destined to be a Champion of Justice on Earth, he actually shows her, from space, both Earth and Venus. He also shows her she has her own castle floating around Venus, called "Magellan". I recall this only ever coming up again at the end of the Dead Moon Circus arc in 'Sailor Moon', which is ages away. This much comes back, huh?
Is Artemis's "Boss" Queen Serenity? Is that where this is going? Was planned from the beginning?
After Sailor V defeats her first enemy in the first chapter - a guy she had a crush on who turned out to be a literal monster to girls - she cries. Art comforts her. It's a brief but human moment for her.
In the particularly silly, chaotic, yet still pretty funny seventh chapter, 'Sailor V on Vacation--Desire for Hawaii!', Mina ends up in Greece by accident, and finds she likes it there. The ruins, the temples, the air, she describes it as a recollection, or "a memory of a previous life", as Artemis puts it. And a tourist tells Sailor V that a temple suits her, like she belongs to the place. This is clearly meant to be a part of Mina/Sailor V's connection to the goddess Venus, as she was "born under the protection of the Goddess of Beauty" (Art again, in the first chapter). But was it intended to be foreshadowing her future role as Sailor Venus, the reincarnated Sailor Guardian, Protector and Princess of the planet Venus? The goddess Venus herself is hardly mentioned, if at all, throughout 'Sailor Moon'; where does she fit into the planetary Guardian and Princess business?
I quite like the eighth and final chapter, 'Love on the Boulevard--Full Throttle Turbo'. It contains smatterings of sincerity and character development. Except, Sailor V describes the female villain-of-the-week as: "An evil woman who pollutes the world of duty and obligation felt by the manliest of men!" There are so many things wrong with that line, and how it has not aged well, I don't even know where to begin. So I won't. Moving on. But at least it then demonstrates how the male juvenile delinquents in question continue to be violent even when they are no longer under the woman's control, so all the blame cannot be placed on her. It's toxic masculinity, male entitlement, and the enabling, condoning and encouraging patriarchal system that favours men and hates women that are the true cause of men ruining the Earth, for themselves as well as others.
Mina uses her transformation pen to disguise herself as a male idol at one point. Girls crossdressing as guys has always been a recurring feature in this franchise of Takeuchi-sensei's. Down with gender norms, and the gender binary!
Yeah, 'Codename: Sailor V, Vol. 1 ' is a stupid mess, that's like a Saturday morning cartoon from the '80s to the early '90s. But it is a guilty pleasure for me. There are genuinely funny moments here and there, and I am forever for unconventional and "unlikeable" heroines; from the early '90s and beyond.
It's reasonable to assume that 'Codename: Sailor V' never grew in popularity, nor received an anime adaptation, nor helped define a generation and practically create and influence a whole genre of manga and anime, like 'Sailor Moon' did, because it is unserious, unfocused and haphazard. 'Sailor Moon' has its unserious, comedic, light breather moments, too, but not to the extent of taking over everything; over the parts that should be taken seriously, in high stakes situations. 'Sailor Moon' also has much better, more refined artwork, to aid in its success.
Read my original review below for further thoughts and points of discussion.
Welp, on to 'Codename: Sailor V, Vol. 2' next, where we might see glimpses of the Minako/Sailor Venus we know and love from 'Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon', even if it'll take a while. She will eventually mature, while remaining goofy and a little selfish and self-centred, and become someone who has rightfully earned the titles of Champion of Love and Justice, and Sailor/Planetary Guardian. It requires patience, experience, learning and confidence - for both her and her creator.
FYI, don't put so much pressure and expectations on a thirteen-year-old's shoulders.
Happy September Moon.
Final Score: 3.5/5
Original Review:
Before Sailor Moon, there was Sailor Venus, or Sailor V as she was called back in her old adventures (I'm not sure why, personally).
'Codename: Sailor V, Vol 1' (really, why the codename? She already has a superheroine alter ego. I guess one less syllable to her name would make her more marketable). Anyway, 'Sailor V, Vol 1' was where Naoko Takeuchi started off in what would become her biggest, most phenomenal hit about cosmic girls in cute sailor outfits fighting the forces of pure evil and darkness. Despite being a 'Sailor Moon' fan, I'd been reluctant to buy the prequel, because I never thought much about Sailor Venus as a character. But the manga ended up being a very entertaining and hilarious read, where almost nothing makes sense and concepts such as logic and prioritizing are Sailor V-kicked right in the crotch.
Sometime in the future, I plan to write a review of each of the renewed manga volumes of 'Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon'. The prequel volumes seem like a good place to start. It won't be much, since 'Codename: Sailor V' isn't deep at all, but I'm excited to get started.
The first thing to talk about regarding this manga is Sailor V herself. Minako "Mina" Aino is a thirteen-year-old Japanese middle school student. She's beautiful, but isn't a typical girl of the late eighties: She's athletic but lazy in the brain department; she likes to sleep and eat and go shopping; but above all she loves video games and the arcade. For even back when video games were not such a globally-recognised medium, girls made up a lot of their players and fanbases. Mina faces scrutiny for being so unlike a girl because she is tough and good at games, and a few people even accuse her of being a boy (gender stereotyping at its finest!).
One day Mina is met by a talking cat named Artemis, and her life changes overnight as she reluctantly becomes the Champion of Justice - and the protector of the Earth and Venus - Sailor Venus!
Minako is an absolute hoot in this manga. We get to see what she was like before she became the brave, smart and competent Sailor warrior we know her from 'Sailor Moon'. She was a fairly normal teenage girl who liked to goof off a lot. People like to point out her similarities to Usagi Tsukino. But I don't think they're that derivative of one another. Mina is an athlete; confident, graceful, and very silly. She rarely cries, and when she does she is ashamed of showing weakness and learns to overcome it. Usagi is much more clumsy and less confident; with no obvious talents or restraints. She is the sort of person to let all her feelings out and cry on the spot.
Reading 'Codename: Sailor V' definitely made me like Sailor Venus a whole lot more than in 'Sailor Moon'. I just love Mina's ridiculousness, and her screwed-up priorities.
Examples of said screwed-up priorities include:
- After taking a shower, she finds a cat. The cat talks to her. Her first reaction to this is kicking it out of the window... because it's a "pervert".
- She wears a red ribbon in her hair because a boy she'd known was a villain-of-the-week had suggested it to her.
- She spends most of her time in the game center instead of studying and training to fight her enemies (quite ingeniously, Mina's cat mentor Artemis turns the 'Sailor V' arcade game into a means of training for Sailor V herself).
- She transforms into Sailor V to stop some kids bullying other kids on the street... because they'll make her be late for school. (She gives the bullies possible concussions with her V-kicks - in the words of Little Kuriboh, "Our protagonist, ladies and gentlemen!").
- She cares more about bands and pop idols than potential (meaning: bloody obvious) threats from monsters out to brainwash and suck her hometown and the people she loves dry.
- She exclaims that brainwashing people of all demographics is... Immoral? Sick? Evil? A violation? Nope - she says it's greedy!
- She wants to go on a trip to Hawaii... when there is the certain matter of evil space aliens in Japan who she must fight.
There are other case-and-points of Minako's exploits (and no doubt she takes after her hypocritical mother). But my point is that they make this thirteen-year-old all the more fun and enjoyable to read about.
'Codename: Sailor V' has a parody element to it that I did not expect. It came out at a time in Japan when computers, video games, pop idols and teenage delinquents really were a big thing, and it shows. But not in a way that looks dated through today's lenses. Naoko Takeuchi took popular Japanese pop culture references and both celebrated and made fun of them (to the point where "otaku-ism" is rather shamelessly targeted). Even American icons such as Jason Voorhees and the Terminator are referenced at one point. However, structurally Takeuchi-sensei never forgot to just write a silly, episodic and cool Sentai manga - which happens to have a female hero.
It seems a bit meaningless to talk about the negatives, when of course nothing in 'Codemane: Sailor V' is meant to be taking seriously. But specifically I'll mention the main weakness: Its repetitiveness. The first six chapters are very formulaic and even a few of them revolve around evil pop idols doing the exact same thing (they even look alike and have similar names) - and yet Minako, even excusing her dimwitted-ness, is given no incentive not to catch on. I know villain-of-the-week plotlines are basically what made Sentai manga and anime what they are, but a different setting and varied villain plan would be called for at least. However, things really start to pick up in chapters seven and eight; where, respectively, Sailor V is in Greece, and crushes on a street delinquent.
Another negative is that the villains - of the "Dark Agency" - have no origin or backstory whatsoever. We know nothing about them, nor why they want to take over the world and make human slaves and drain their energy. At least we are given a hint of the Dark Kingdom's motivations in the first volume of 'Sailor Moon'. And Artemis's purpose is vague at this point in the saga as well. He mentions a "duty" which Sailor V has to get ready for, and there's a "Boss" who talks to Minako through her transformation pen. 'Sailor V, Vol 1' is just that: the first volume. So withholding information from the protagonist (and hence the reader) is forgivable. Plus it leads to another funny Minako moment where - after being dropped into the lair under the 'Sailor V' arcade game - she tries to persuade the Boss (a computer) to tell her what is going on. She cries - but it's only fake tears, and it doesn't work.
Also, there are quite a few grown men and creepy guys in this manga who are far too interested in Sailor V and her short skirt. I remind you that she is meant to be thirteen-years-old...
But back to the positives. The artwork in 'Codename: Sailor V' is great. Like in 'Sailor Moon', the style is stunningly graceful but very expressive and anime-esque - a perfect fit for a comedic and action-packed series revolving around a heroine who's related to the Greek goddess of Venus.
Usagi and her friend Naru - and Rei Hino - make cameo appearances in this volume, and the appearances of the Inspector General, Mina's best friend Hikaru, and her nerdy friend Amano, all show how Takeuch-sensei will develop her story in the future (the Inspector General looks like Sailor Mars, Hikaru like Sailor Mercury, and Amano is whom Umino will become an expy of). Even the game center owner, Furuhata, is in this.
The panels involving the police force are very funny as we get to see how angry the head of the police department is at Sailor V. For she always stops criminals before he arrives at the scene of the crime. And she gets into big trouble for screwing up and causing property damage.
The last chapter - about Minako's "first love" - is quite touching. That is, if you throw logic right out the window.
Really, 'Codename: Sailor V' is such an adorable, side-splitting and colourful read. And it is nice to see how everyone's favourite Moon princess in a sailor outfit came to fruition. It's plain silly fun, and just what a comic book from the golden years is like. I have a new-found respect for Sailor Venus, and I look forward to reading her final lone adventures in Volume 2.
Final Score: 4/5
Friday, 25 April 2014
Thursday, 24 April 2014
Book Review - 'Brave: One Perfect Day' by Steve Purcell (Writer), Matt Nolte (Illustrator)
Maybe I'm being too generous with my rating because I love the film, but overall 'Brave: One Perfect Day' is another nice picture book for children.
'One Perfect Day' is written by one of the writers of Pixar's 'Brave', Steve Purcell (also known as the creator of 'Sam & Max'). It doesn't really have a plot, nor does it follow the events of the movie (it's like a first-act book, in truth). Its 33 pages consist mostly of Pixar's top princess, Merida, going out with her horse and exploring the medieval Scottish highlands, making POV observations along the way. One story similarity to 'Brave' is the rift between Merida and her strict, overbearing but kindhearted mother, Queen Elinor.
While at first the book may seem not to have a point, there are underlining messages in the end (that are similar to the film's messages). They include: stick to your family; be generous and considerate but also never give up who you are; all teachings will at some point in your life help you; and if you are to go out on adventures, make sure to bring home souvenirs.
There's also a very subtle theme of birth and rebirth, when Merida finds bird eggs, touches the powerful waterfall, and watches animals taking care of their young. She discovers new things; and not just from an old, dark kingdom she comes across...
The artwork is perhaps 'One Perfect Day''s main highlight. The use of watercolours is simple but lovely, and it especially makes Merida and her red hair stand out superbly with the green, blue, brown, purple and grey of DunBroch and its castle and far-off lands. The style shows off both her spirit and the spirit of the Scottish moorland setting.
And that cover. Merida is drawn with her amazing hair blowing in the wind, punching her fists in the air - whilst holding her bow - and shouting with jovial confidence - no doubt happy to have one day of freedom to do whatever she likes. Now THAT'S the Merida I know and love - not the sparkly, mild, make-up-and-shoulderless-dress-wearing petite princess Disney is marketing her as. Except: What's that stick protruding from under her dress? Is it meant to be her leg? Funny, considering that her father is the one with the peg leg. But joking aside, the cover is an eye-catcher (have I mentioned already that Merida's hair is something for sure!)
'Brave: One Perfect Day': Tame but beautiful in its own way; which makes it a fair companion to what I consider to be Pixar's most under-appreciated film. The book delivers what it promises from its title. I'm sure people who liked the film will find something to like in it. Or more specifically, kids who liked it will find something to like in it.
Well, I for one am glad to own the wee title. It is, to quote Merida's last line, "never, ever typical."
Final Score: 3.5/5
'One Perfect Day' is written by one of the writers of Pixar's 'Brave', Steve Purcell (also known as the creator of 'Sam & Max'). It doesn't really have a plot, nor does it follow the events of the movie (it's like a first-act book, in truth). Its 33 pages consist mostly of Pixar's top princess, Merida, going out with her horse and exploring the medieval Scottish highlands, making POV observations along the way. One story similarity to 'Brave' is the rift between Merida and her strict, overbearing but kindhearted mother, Queen Elinor.
While at first the book may seem not to have a point, there are underlining messages in the end (that are similar to the film's messages). They include: stick to your family; be generous and considerate but also never give up who you are; all teachings will at some point in your life help you; and if you are to go out on adventures, make sure to bring home souvenirs.
There's also a very subtle theme of birth and rebirth, when Merida finds bird eggs, touches the powerful waterfall, and watches animals taking care of their young. She discovers new things; and not just from an old, dark kingdom she comes across...
The artwork is perhaps 'One Perfect Day''s main highlight. The use of watercolours is simple but lovely, and it especially makes Merida and her red hair stand out superbly with the green, blue, brown, purple and grey of DunBroch and its castle and far-off lands. The style shows off both her spirit and the spirit of the Scottish moorland setting.
And that cover. Merida is drawn with her amazing hair blowing in the wind, punching her fists in the air - whilst holding her bow - and shouting with jovial confidence - no doubt happy to have one day of freedom to do whatever she likes. Now THAT'S the Merida I know and love - not the sparkly, mild, make-up-and-shoulderless-dress-wearing petite princess Disney is marketing her as. Except: What's that stick protruding from under her dress? Is it meant to be her leg? Funny, considering that her father is the one with the peg leg. But joking aside, the cover is an eye-catcher (have I mentioned already that Merida's hair is something for sure!)
'Brave: One Perfect Day': Tame but beautiful in its own way; which makes it a fair companion to what I consider to be Pixar's most under-appreciated film. The book delivers what it promises from its title. I'm sure people who liked the film will find something to like in it. Or more specifically, kids who liked it will find something to like in it.
Well, I for one am glad to own the wee title. It is, to quote Merida's last line, "never, ever typical."
Final Score: 3.5/5
Graphic Novel Review - 'Rapunzel's Revenge' by Shannon Hale, Dean Hale, Nathan Hale (Artist)
Have you ever seen a film - or read a book - and thought, "This has everything"? In hindsight it is an absurd and childish phrase. Because no story that has ever been told has "everything" in it, for nothing is so varied and good that it could please everyone. Even the word "epic" means different things to different people. But after finishing 'Rapunzel's Revenge' - created by the wife-and-husband team Shannon and Dean Hale - I found myself thinking exactly that, while also dealing with a tidal wave of emotions.
'Rapunzel's Revenge' has it all - action, adventure, drama, comedy, romance, a strong female lead, magic, animals, a diverse cast of characters (including strong little people), a mother-and-daughter/son theme, redemption, slavery, starvation, kidnapping storylines, prison breakout storylines, and of course, a revenge plot. Tell me if I'm missing something, because it could be that this comic book has a little something for everyone. Even though it looks to be a Western with a fairy tale twist, it could easily earn a place in any number of genres.
Before I get into the characters and their roles in this fairy tale retelling, I'll talk about the Rapunzel tale itself and its impact on popular culture.
It seems that it is only recently in the 21st century that Rapunzel has begun to shine as brightly and continuously as her long locks. In Kate Forsyth's brilliant 2012 novel, 'Bitter Greens', we are taken back to the fairy tale's origin in Italy in the 17th century; in a story called 'Petrosinella' by Giambattista Basile. This is later retold by Charlotte-Rose de Caumont de la Force in France. Hence was spawned other retellings.
In most versions of 'Rapunzel', a witch kidnaps the poor peasant girl as a punishment to her father who, three years previously, took rapunzel leaves from the witch's garden to feed the girl's mother, who was pregnant and craving greens at the time. The witch locks Rapunzel in a tower and lets her hair grow to about twenty feet or more. A prince or male traveller will come to the tower when Rapunzel is in her teens, and whether he dies or is saved by Rapunzel's tears once she's free depends on the retelling. In Disney's popular 2010 film, 'Tangled', Rapunzel is a princess who is kidnapped from her parents as a newborn, because her hair contains magical properties from a flower which Mother Gothel had used to stay young (or attractive middle-aged at least). Inside a hidden tower, Mother Gothel lets Rapunzel's hair grow in order to use its magic to keep herself immortal, for if the hair is cut the magic will be lost forever. Rapunzel's love interest, who climbs her tower prison/home on his own, without her hair, is a redeemed thief.
So interest in this particular fairy tale has perked up over the years. I myself have caught the bug, especially since it seems that many good stories and adaptations have come out of it. And as a result it's become one of my favourite fairy tales. Thus, when a certain comic book based on the tale came up on my reading radar (plus hearing its good reviews), I knew I had to get my hands on it. I never liked the Western genre (I find its entries to be very samey and dry and overtly hyper-masculine), but I was nevertheless willing to give 'Rapunzel's Revenge' a try, and I kept my expectations fairly low.
I regret nothing.
(Except stupidly getting orange juice all over my copy of 'Bitter Greens', but in hindsight that's got nothing to do with this review.)
'Rapunzel's Revenge' is one of the best graphic novels - one of the best reading titles, period - I have ever read. I know my range in reading comic books isn't very wide, but it's the truth. The fact that I'm not even a fan of Westerns but still think highly of this comic says an awful lot. I should give more titles a chance.
The protagonist herself is, obviously, Rapunzel. I love her to bits. She's sheltered, kind, shy, anxious, but also curious, adventurous, brave, bold, daring, thoughtful, selfless, funny, and very adaptable - she's all the things that make human beings so complex and awe-inspired. Aside from her red hair she isn't conventionally attractive and is never sexualised (although that might be because she's supposed to be only sixteen).
Rapunzel in this retelling starts out as a rich girl living in a lush, fertile castle with Mother Gothel. But when she turns twelve, she climbs the wall surrounding her home and finds out that Gothel has slaves working in mines. One of the slaves is her real mother. Rapunzel discovers the truth behind Gothel's business - the witch uses her growth magic to suck the lands dry of vegetation, and the inhabitants are at her mercy. The young girl, when she refuses to go back home after seeing all this, is sent to live in a tall tree prison in a forest as a punishment by Gothel. Growth magic provides Rapunzel with food and also makes her hair grow at a fast rate (probably unintentional on Gothel's part... or is it?). Four years later, the heroine is finally able to escape by using her hair to swing to another tree, and then climb (well, fall actually) back down to earth. Her journey begins and she's on a mission to stop Mother Gothel's tyranny and rescue her birth mother.
So in this version, not only does Rapunzel not need a man to climb her tower and be used as a plot device to help free her, but she has a set goal in mind once she is free. And that goal is to grant the same freedom for her real, living mother, and bring justice to the witch's evil reign over a country. Rapunzel is not just a cowgirl, she is an all-around action girl with hair plaits for lassos (developed through doing activities in her tree prison out of boredom and loneliness) . She does pretty much everything by herself.
Except she also gains a travelling companion.
Jack is a crossdressing thief looking for money to fix his mother's house. He has magic beans. And a goose he claims can lay golden eggs (this hasn't been proven yet). I was wary of this guy at first, because it seemed like he was just another bumbling male sidekick character, who exists sorely to make the action-oriented female lead look competent by comparison. Feminism is supposed to help both genders display equal amounts of strengths and weaknesses, after all. But he is hilarious, and has excellent dialogue exchanges with Rapunzel. Jack is her opposite in every way, including them coming from different backgrounds. He has wonderful character development, and he and Rapunzel are sweet together, so I don't mind that their relationship ends up being romantic.
I knew the romance was coming, but not necessarily because they're opposite-gendered partners and so must be a couple. No, it is because they are genuinely good together and change each other for the better. Rapunzel learns about trust and that there are good people in the world through Jack, and vice versa.
There's just one thing that is worth putting into question: How old is Jack anyway? He looks considerably older than Rapunzel's sixteen years.
Jack's goose Goldy doesn't do much, and Mother Gothel as a villain is pretty one-note, due to her not appearing in the comic much. However, she is very intimidating when she does appear on-panel, and we are told her backstory in the middle of the story. She does more with her growth magic than just make plants grow and die; she can make other things - even people - grow too... Even Gothel's soldiers and henchmen are given distinctive personalities and likeable traits.
I've already mentioned that 'Rapunzel's Revenge' is very diverse in its cast, and their dialogue - as well as the artwork - clearly shows they are in a wild west setting. However, it seems that Rapunzel, the main character, is the only Caucasian-looking person in the graphic novel. I guess what would make 'Rapunzel's Revenge' any better is if Rapunzel had the same ethnicity as any of the other characters (does a retelling featuring a Black Rapunzel exist anywhere? If not, I might write it in one of my own stories, because wouldn't it be awesome?). But oh well, her personality more than makes up for this (and who doesn't love red hair, seriously?).
All in all, I freaking love 'Rapunzel's Revenge'. Fun, touching, sad, thrilling, witty, and should be used as a teaching guideline on how to write what is called a "strong female character" (hint: in a way you would write any hero who is also a human being). Spread the word! Have it more well known!
The artwork by Nathan Hale (no relation to the authors) also fits very well with the setting. It is just cartoony enough that - like the mishmash of genres - it makes the book appealing to a variety of audiences.
A beautiful, five-star masterpiece, and I look forward to lassoing the sequel, 'Calamity Jack'.
(Will Jack be as interesting a main character as Rapunzel, however?)
Final Score: 5/5
'Rapunzel's Revenge' has it all - action, adventure, drama, comedy, romance, a strong female lead, magic, animals, a diverse cast of characters (including strong little people), a mother-and-daughter/son theme, redemption, slavery, starvation, kidnapping storylines, prison breakout storylines, and of course, a revenge plot. Tell me if I'm missing something, because it could be that this comic book has a little something for everyone. Even though it looks to be a Western with a fairy tale twist, it could easily earn a place in any number of genres.
Before I get into the characters and their roles in this fairy tale retelling, I'll talk about the Rapunzel tale itself and its impact on popular culture.
It seems that it is only recently in the 21st century that Rapunzel has begun to shine as brightly and continuously as her long locks. In Kate Forsyth's brilliant 2012 novel, 'Bitter Greens', we are taken back to the fairy tale's origin in Italy in the 17th century; in a story called 'Petrosinella' by Giambattista Basile. This is later retold by Charlotte-Rose de Caumont de la Force in France. Hence was spawned other retellings.
In most versions of 'Rapunzel', a witch kidnaps the poor peasant girl as a punishment to her father who, three years previously, took rapunzel leaves from the witch's garden to feed the girl's mother, who was pregnant and craving greens at the time. The witch locks Rapunzel in a tower and lets her hair grow to about twenty feet or more. A prince or male traveller will come to the tower when Rapunzel is in her teens, and whether he dies or is saved by Rapunzel's tears once she's free depends on the retelling. In Disney's popular 2010 film, 'Tangled', Rapunzel is a princess who is kidnapped from her parents as a newborn, because her hair contains magical properties from a flower which Mother Gothel had used to stay young (or attractive middle-aged at least). Inside a hidden tower, Mother Gothel lets Rapunzel's hair grow in order to use its magic to keep herself immortal, for if the hair is cut the magic will be lost forever. Rapunzel's love interest, who climbs her tower prison/home on his own, without her hair, is a redeemed thief.
So interest in this particular fairy tale has perked up over the years. I myself have caught the bug, especially since it seems that many good stories and adaptations have come out of it. And as a result it's become one of my favourite fairy tales. Thus, when a certain comic book based on the tale came up on my reading radar (plus hearing its good reviews), I knew I had to get my hands on it. I never liked the Western genre (I find its entries to be very samey and dry and overtly hyper-masculine), but I was nevertheless willing to give 'Rapunzel's Revenge' a try, and I kept my expectations fairly low.
I regret nothing.
(Except stupidly getting orange juice all over my copy of 'Bitter Greens', but in hindsight that's got nothing to do with this review.)
'Rapunzel's Revenge' is one of the best graphic novels - one of the best reading titles, period - I have ever read. I know my range in reading comic books isn't very wide, but it's the truth. The fact that I'm not even a fan of Westerns but still think highly of this comic says an awful lot. I should give more titles a chance.
The protagonist herself is, obviously, Rapunzel. I love her to bits. She's sheltered, kind, shy, anxious, but also curious, adventurous, brave, bold, daring, thoughtful, selfless, funny, and very adaptable - she's all the things that make human beings so complex and awe-inspired. Aside from her red hair she isn't conventionally attractive and is never sexualised (although that might be because she's supposed to be only sixteen).
Rapunzel in this retelling starts out as a rich girl living in a lush, fertile castle with Mother Gothel. But when she turns twelve, she climbs the wall surrounding her home and finds out that Gothel has slaves working in mines. One of the slaves is her real mother. Rapunzel discovers the truth behind Gothel's business - the witch uses her growth magic to suck the lands dry of vegetation, and the inhabitants are at her mercy. The young girl, when she refuses to go back home after seeing all this, is sent to live in a tall tree prison in a forest as a punishment by Gothel. Growth magic provides Rapunzel with food and also makes her hair grow at a fast rate (probably unintentional on Gothel's part... or is it?). Four years later, the heroine is finally able to escape by using her hair to swing to another tree, and then climb (well, fall actually) back down to earth. Her journey begins and she's on a mission to stop Mother Gothel's tyranny and rescue her birth mother.
So in this version, not only does Rapunzel not need a man to climb her tower and be used as a plot device to help free her, but she has a set goal in mind once she is free. And that goal is to grant the same freedom for her real, living mother, and bring justice to the witch's evil reign over a country. Rapunzel is not just a cowgirl, she is an all-around action girl with hair plaits for lassos (developed through doing activities in her tree prison out of boredom and loneliness) . She does pretty much everything by herself.
Except she also gains a travelling companion.
Jack is a crossdressing thief looking for money to fix his mother's house. He has magic beans. And a goose he claims can lay golden eggs (this hasn't been proven yet). I was wary of this guy at first, because it seemed like he was just another bumbling male sidekick character, who exists sorely to make the action-oriented female lead look competent by comparison. Feminism is supposed to help both genders display equal amounts of strengths and weaknesses, after all. But he is hilarious, and has excellent dialogue exchanges with Rapunzel. Jack is her opposite in every way, including them coming from different backgrounds. He has wonderful character development, and he and Rapunzel are sweet together, so I don't mind that their relationship ends up being romantic.
I knew the romance was coming, but not necessarily because they're opposite-gendered partners and so must be a couple. No, it is because they are genuinely good together and change each other for the better. Rapunzel learns about trust and that there are good people in the world through Jack, and vice versa.
There's just one thing that is worth putting into question: How old is Jack anyway? He looks considerably older than Rapunzel's sixteen years.
Jack's goose Goldy doesn't do much, and Mother Gothel as a villain is pretty one-note, due to her not appearing in the comic much. However, she is very intimidating when she does appear on-panel, and we are told her backstory in the middle of the story. She does more with her growth magic than just make plants grow and die; she can make other things - even people - grow too... Even Gothel's soldiers and henchmen are given distinctive personalities and likeable traits.
I've already mentioned that 'Rapunzel's Revenge' is very diverse in its cast, and their dialogue - as well as the artwork - clearly shows they are in a wild west setting. However, it seems that Rapunzel, the main character, is the only Caucasian-looking person in the graphic novel. I guess what would make 'Rapunzel's Revenge' any better is if Rapunzel had the same ethnicity as any of the other characters (does a retelling featuring a Black Rapunzel exist anywhere? If not, I might write it in one of my own stories, because wouldn't it be awesome?). But oh well, her personality more than makes up for this (and who doesn't love red hair, seriously?).
All in all, I freaking love 'Rapunzel's Revenge'. Fun, touching, sad, thrilling, witty, and should be used as a teaching guideline on how to write what is called a "strong female character" (hint: in a way you would write any hero who is also a human being). Spread the word! Have it more well known!
The artwork by Nathan Hale (no relation to the authors) also fits very well with the setting. It is just cartoony enough that - like the mishmash of genres - it makes the book appealing to a variety of audiences.
A beautiful, five-star masterpiece, and I look forward to lassoing the sequel, 'Calamity Jack'.
(Will Jack be as interesting a main character as Rapunzel, however?)
Final Score: 5/5
Wednesday, 23 April 2014
Book Review - 'Legend' by Marie Lu
2023 EDIT: Part of my 2023 clear-up, of books I no longer like, or am no longer interested in, or remember well as standing out, or find as special anymore, or I otherwise will not miss.
Final Score: 3.5/5
Original Review:
Like with most novels - particularly from the YA demographic - that are what I classify as "thrill-rides", this review will most likely just be me typing up whatever, and seeing what comes up. Because, even though 'Legend' is a dystopian novel and is not shallow (the very opposite, in fact), I think a short and precise review would be fitting. For it is very fast-paced.
'Legend' - I was extremely busy the week I was reading this, so it took me the whole week to finish it. Shame because I might have zipped through it in under three days. It is a very exciting and touching roller coaster ride, with enough thought put into it that it didn't feel like Marie Lu was merely jumping on 'The Hunger Games' bandwagon when writing this YA series. The only fair similarity I can make between the two series is that they're both told in first-person and in the present tense. This type of writing style is fitting when you want the action to move forward and with urgency.
Besides 'Legend''s thrilling action and its main characters doing awesomely ridiculous, death-defying stunts, there is the characters themselves. 'Legend' contains such great and memorable characters that I feel I should talk about each and every one of them. I'll start with the two leads - a girl and a boy, June and Day.
June Iparis has all the warning signs of a Mary Sue - she is a rich child prodigy who is the only person in recorded history to get perfect marks in her Trial (what the future society of America tests children on on their 10th birthday to determine their labour). She's an orphan, and she's beautiful and more than three guys are in love with her. Yet somehow, I didn't mind this. Maybe because she is just an awesome female lead with a firm head on her shoulders. She genuinely kicks arse and doesn't need to be saved constantly by the male characters. She always has her priorities straight even when she might be falling in love - such a huge plus for a YA heroine. She is always determined to seek justice for her brother's murder and she never forgets him; after all, he did raise her and love her dearly. Yeah she is beautiful, but she knows it and doesn't think anything of it. Because again, priorities, and this is a dystopia story. Her dog Ollie is also adorable. People might say June's supposed intelligence is unfounded due to her being unaware of the Republic society's corruption and quite obviously dark secrets. But I think it's because she was raised in that very society; she's become so used to it that she just doesn't feel the need to question it. Also, as our politics clearly show, having excellent grades and degrees doesn't necessarily mean a thing when it comes to common sense. What also makes June stand out from other typical YA female leads is that she doesn't hate other girls for showing confidence (because apparently in YA, confidence (in sexuality) = slutty). In fact, towards the end of 'Legend', Junebug looks to be making new friends with girls and isn't always surrounded by men...
Day, the boy, is a street criminal. The Republic has been hunting him for years, and he's so well organised and reflexive that the authorities don't even know what he looks like. I simply adored him, and his family. He's not really a bad boy (though he gets around) and he has that misunderstood quality and confidence to him that make him nearly every girl's dreamboat. His determination to protect his family - his mother and two brothers - makes him admirable, and it sets up his path as a true hero and not just a typical rebel of society. Day has a tragic past, and a truly horrifying future ahead of him if/when he gets caught by the Republic. His token is a seemingly plain pendent that he takes care of but then loses at the worst moment. These traits add to his appeal. I love that he isn't a loner and already has both female and male friends before meeting June, and vice versa.
Now with the protagonists out of the way, I'll talk briefly about the side characters. Metias is a lovely and well-developed big brother to June, even though he dies very early on; making the story's tragedy element all the more effective. Commander Jameson is a military leader you'll love to hate, and I love that she's a woman in charge and this is never questioned or even brought up in the entirety of the book (for yes, women can be ruthless sons-of-bitches like men can be). Thomas is a friend of Metias and June, and whom the author introduces as acting like a military amateur with a conscience. But my god do his true colours and intentions shine throughout the course of the book, especially after Metias's death. He may in fact be as heartless and corrupt as his commander. Tessa, Day's street partner-in-crime, is sweet and cute but not a pushover. She's a dear friend who plays a small-yet-vital part of the story. Kaede is another action girl who's a less-rational, more-violent-but-fun version of June, and that's all I'll say about her. And about the characters.
In the world-building aspect of 'Legend', I agree that it isn't wholly plausible or even original. It's another "oh-a-big-bad-political-party-has-taken-over-after-natural-disasters-had-destroyed-everything" dystopia. The poor are ignored and are separated from the overly privileged rich folk, a mysterious plague (again, original huh?) is keeping the two classes further apart (only the rich get immediate vaccines), children and other innocents are beaten and killed in public places by policemen and nobody does anything about it, etc. However this backdrop does play an important part, and the author never forgets certain details and remains consistent. Marie Lu leaves little clues to the mystery throughout the story and keeps the plot going, never straying from the important stuff.
Even if the romance between June and Day is as transparent as a tornado, it is written in gradually and realistically. June and Day might both be smart fighters, but they're fifteen-years-old as well. They always think of their families first in the terrible regime they live in. At times I thought they were really sweet together (and I have a soft spot for rich-and-poor divided couple stories), but at others I was cringing slightly. There's even a line from June where she compares Day to an angel, specifically a broken one. Urgh.
But as I said, their love doesn't feel as shoehorned-in as in other books of its kind, so in the very least it is tolerable.
Back to the setting. Once and for all I'd like to ask this simple question:
Why, oh why are so many dystopian novels set only in America? And I'm not just talking about YA Lit dystopias either. It's like American writers think that their homeland will be the only country on earth worth telling about in the future. Heck America might as well be the whole earth, when readers are not told what's happening outside of Chicago or Los Angeles or wherever.
But politics aside, this is forgivable, because 'Legend' is an addictive, fun and intense book, and a good example of YA dystopian fiction. It's no masterpiece, but I really like it, mostly for the characters and action. One other noteworthy positive is that the author never forgets when one of her characters has been injured. No one heals quickly or easily, thus making the fight scenes and torture scenes very effective, and raising my sympathy level with these guys.
However, I'm not sure if I'll read the sequel, 'Prodigy', as it does take A LOT for me to want to continue a book series. I've heard that it has a shock-twist-cliffhanger ending that has made people cry in a good way. And something about a bathtub scene as well. But we'll wait and see.
Final Score: 4/5
Final Score: 3.5/5
Original Review:
Like with most novels - particularly from the YA demographic - that are what I classify as "thrill-rides", this review will most likely just be me typing up whatever, and seeing what comes up. Because, even though 'Legend' is a dystopian novel and is not shallow (the very opposite, in fact), I think a short and precise review would be fitting. For it is very fast-paced.
'Legend' - I was extremely busy the week I was reading this, so it took me the whole week to finish it. Shame because I might have zipped through it in under three days. It is a very exciting and touching roller coaster ride, with enough thought put into it that it didn't feel like Marie Lu was merely jumping on 'The Hunger Games' bandwagon when writing this YA series. The only fair similarity I can make between the two series is that they're both told in first-person and in the present tense. This type of writing style is fitting when you want the action to move forward and with urgency.
Besides 'Legend''s thrilling action and its main characters doing awesomely ridiculous, death-defying stunts, there is the characters themselves. 'Legend' contains such great and memorable characters that I feel I should talk about each and every one of them. I'll start with the two leads - a girl and a boy, June and Day.
June Iparis has all the warning signs of a Mary Sue - she is a rich child prodigy who is the only person in recorded history to get perfect marks in her Trial (what the future society of America tests children on on their 10th birthday to determine their labour). She's an orphan, and she's beautiful and more than three guys are in love with her. Yet somehow, I didn't mind this. Maybe because she is just an awesome female lead with a firm head on her shoulders. She genuinely kicks arse and doesn't need to be saved constantly by the male characters. She always has her priorities straight even when she might be falling in love - such a huge plus for a YA heroine. She is always determined to seek justice for her brother's murder and she never forgets him; after all, he did raise her and love her dearly. Yeah she is beautiful, but she knows it and doesn't think anything of it. Because again, priorities, and this is a dystopia story. Her dog Ollie is also adorable. People might say June's supposed intelligence is unfounded due to her being unaware of the Republic society's corruption and quite obviously dark secrets. But I think it's because she was raised in that very society; she's become so used to it that she just doesn't feel the need to question it. Also, as our politics clearly show, having excellent grades and degrees doesn't necessarily mean a thing when it comes to common sense. What also makes June stand out from other typical YA female leads is that she doesn't hate other girls for showing confidence (because apparently in YA, confidence (in sexuality) = slutty). In fact, towards the end of 'Legend', Junebug looks to be making new friends with girls and isn't always surrounded by men...
Day, the boy, is a street criminal. The Republic has been hunting him for years, and he's so well organised and reflexive that the authorities don't even know what he looks like. I simply adored him, and his family. He's not really a bad boy (though he gets around) and he has that misunderstood quality and confidence to him that make him nearly every girl's dreamboat. His determination to protect his family - his mother and two brothers - makes him admirable, and it sets up his path as a true hero and not just a typical rebel of society. Day has a tragic past, and a truly horrifying future ahead of him if/when he gets caught by the Republic. His token is a seemingly plain pendent that he takes care of but then loses at the worst moment. These traits add to his appeal. I love that he isn't a loner and already has both female and male friends before meeting June, and vice versa.
Now with the protagonists out of the way, I'll talk briefly about the side characters. Metias is a lovely and well-developed big brother to June, even though he dies very early on; making the story's tragedy element all the more effective. Commander Jameson is a military leader you'll love to hate, and I love that she's a woman in charge and this is never questioned or even brought up in the entirety of the book (for yes, women can be ruthless sons-of-bitches like men can be). Thomas is a friend of Metias and June, and whom the author introduces as acting like a military amateur with a conscience. But my god do his true colours and intentions shine throughout the course of the book, especially after Metias's death. He may in fact be as heartless and corrupt as his commander. Tessa, Day's street partner-in-crime, is sweet and cute but not a pushover. She's a dear friend who plays a small-yet-vital part of the story. Kaede is another action girl who's a less-rational, more-violent-but-fun version of June, and that's all I'll say about her. And about the characters.
In the world-building aspect of 'Legend', I agree that it isn't wholly plausible or even original. It's another "oh-a-big-bad-political-party-has-taken-over-after-natural-disasters-had-destroyed-everything" dystopia. The poor are ignored and are separated from the overly privileged rich folk, a mysterious plague (again, original huh?) is keeping the two classes further apart (only the rich get immediate vaccines), children and other innocents are beaten and killed in public places by policemen and nobody does anything about it, etc. However this backdrop does play an important part, and the author never forgets certain details and remains consistent. Marie Lu leaves little clues to the mystery throughout the story and keeps the plot going, never straying from the important stuff.
Even if the romance between June and Day is as transparent as a tornado, it is written in gradually and realistically. June and Day might both be smart fighters, but they're fifteen-years-old as well. They always think of their families first in the terrible regime they live in. At times I thought they were really sweet together (and I have a soft spot for rich-and-poor divided couple stories), but at others I was cringing slightly. There's even a line from June where she compares Day to an angel, specifically a broken one. Urgh.
But as I said, their love doesn't feel as shoehorned-in as in other books of its kind, so in the very least it is tolerable.
Back to the setting. Once and for all I'd like to ask this simple question:
Why, oh why are so many dystopian novels set only in America? And I'm not just talking about YA Lit dystopias either. It's like American writers think that their homeland will be the only country on earth worth telling about in the future. Heck America might as well be the whole earth, when readers are not told what's happening outside of Chicago or Los Angeles or wherever.
But politics aside, this is forgivable, because 'Legend' is an addictive, fun and intense book, and a good example of YA dystopian fiction. It's no masterpiece, but I really like it, mostly for the characters and action. One other noteworthy positive is that the author never forgets when one of her characters has been injured. No one heals quickly or easily, thus making the fight scenes and torture scenes very effective, and raising my sympathy level with these guys.
However, I'm not sure if I'll read the sequel, 'Prodigy', as it does take A LOT for me to want to continue a book series. I've heard that it has a shock-twist-cliffhanger ending that has made people cry in a good way. And something about a bathtub scene as well. But we'll wait and see.
Final Score: 4/5
Tuesday, 22 April 2014
Book Review - 'Frozen: A Sister More Like Me' by Barbara Jean Hicks (Writer), Brittney Lee (Illustrator)
2022 EDIT: Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful, and magical and adorable and sweet.
Sisterly love FTW.
Final Score: 4.5/5
Original Review:
The artwork is gorgeous.
Lovely, colourful. Seriously, even ignoring the film it's based on, 'Frozen: A Sister More Like Me' is worth looking at for its style alone.
But it's not just that that makes it a beautiful and fun little picture book. 'A Sister More Like Me' follows the story of the hit 2013 Disney flick 'Frozen', but with the two leads, the sisters Elsa and Anna, as the only focus as we see the growing pains (and triumphs) of their relationship. No other character from the film appears here, except for Olaf the snowman, who's in a couple of pages (which makes sense since he does play a key part in the sisters' complex bond).
I really liked 'Frozen' - in its finished product it's a positive step for Disney when representing women and their relationship with one another to a family audience. With showstopping songs, spectacular animation, and its deconstructing the Disney fairy tale formula - like the many ways the "true love" notion can be interpreted - quite a lot of the movie's praise is deserved, in my opinion. So I wanted to check out 'A Sister More Like Me', despite its target age group.
Told in verse from the perspectives of both Elsa and Anna, the book is such a joy to read that I don't feel embarrassed to own something for kids which is also a product of the Disney corporation.
The two girls are polar opposites: Elsa is neat and poised and repressive of her gifts, while Anna is fun-loving and optimistic and fearless. In order for the reader to tell them apart, Elsa's verses are in purple and Anna's are in orange (although on a few pages this doesn't show well - with different background colours and all - so it can get confusing. But the girls' voices are relatively easy to differentiate anyway, so it didn't bother me much).
Anna is a clumsy and often lazy goof - traditionally not how a princess should be - but she has a big heart, and her love for her sister is as wonderfully presented in this book as it is in the film. She doesn't care what others might think of her. Unlike the regal Elsa, the future queen of Arendelle who, due to her snowy magic, has shut herself away from everyone, including her own sister. She remains aloof even after becoming queen; in fact more than ever this makes it even more crucial that she not let people in her life. Anna tries to get her big sister to come out of her "perfect" shell and play with her, unaware of Elsa's potentially dangerous power over ice and snow.
Elsa is my favourite character in the movie - a queen who isn't evil but only misunderstood? Epic win. She is just a fantastically-written, multi-layered character; a true study of an introvert and someone suffering from depression and anxiety. To see Queen Elsa drawn in fascinating artwork, and to read her viewpoint in purple verse, was great fun.
I want to talk a bit more about the artwork. The illustrator, Brittney Lee, is a visual development artist at Walt Disney Animation Studios. She had worked on 'Frozen', and it shows - shows what an awesome companion 'A Sister More Like Me' is to the highest-grossing animated film of all time. The cover in particular is attention-grabbing, with the smiling Anna hanging upside-down and Elsa looking up a little distance away with both love and pain. This symbolises the division in their personalities and their relationship, with one sister wanting to understand the other and their common wish for closeness if not for one's "curse". Their contrasting colour schemes and character designs make this more apparent. I also like how Anna is just hanging in the air like magic, while Elsa is shown to be much more grounded; funny considering that she's the one with icy powers.
In terms of story, 'A Sister More Like Me' is a nice representation of how two siblings wish the other could be more similar to themselves, so that they'll feel less lonely. Anna wishes for a sister who is also a friend (as a youngest sibling myself, I could relate to this, especially when the older sibling suddenly stops playing with and seeing the younger one: a very real part of growing up). Elsa may look like she prefers isolation with her secret, but perhaps deep down she wishes for a sister with a gift like hers, so that she'll not be alone in the world and would less likely hurt a friend with her powers.
But there is an important lesson taught to children here: That what you already have might be the best thing you could ever wish for. Change is scary, especially when it happens in the family. However it can be a good thing, like a learning curve in understanding how other people feel and act. Anna's and Elsa's differences are what will make them love each other all the better, for in one sister's eyes the other is interesting and special in her own way. They can get along side-by-side. Love is born out of understanding and dedication, and warm hugs!
'Frozen: A Sister More Like Me' - overall an adorable and magical title with fantastic art that focuses on the relationship between two awesome sisters who also happen to be princesses. Recommended for fans of the film - young and old - and parents looking for a read-along book with a unique and powerful message.
This is not something that children will forget anytime soon.
Final Score: 4.5/5
Sisterly love FTW.
Final Score: 4.5/5
Original Review:
The artwork is gorgeous.
Lovely, colourful. Seriously, even ignoring the film it's based on, 'Frozen: A Sister More Like Me' is worth looking at for its style alone.
But it's not just that that makes it a beautiful and fun little picture book. 'A Sister More Like Me' follows the story of the hit 2013 Disney flick 'Frozen', but with the two leads, the sisters Elsa and Anna, as the only focus as we see the growing pains (and triumphs) of their relationship. No other character from the film appears here, except for Olaf the snowman, who's in a couple of pages (which makes sense since he does play a key part in the sisters' complex bond).
I really liked 'Frozen' - in its finished product it's a positive step for Disney when representing women and their relationship with one another to a family audience. With showstopping songs, spectacular animation, and its deconstructing the Disney fairy tale formula - like the many ways the "true love" notion can be interpreted - quite a lot of the movie's praise is deserved, in my opinion. So I wanted to check out 'A Sister More Like Me', despite its target age group.
Told in verse from the perspectives of both Elsa and Anna, the book is such a joy to read that I don't feel embarrassed to own something for kids which is also a product of the Disney corporation.
The two girls are polar opposites: Elsa is neat and poised and repressive of her gifts, while Anna is fun-loving and optimistic and fearless. In order for the reader to tell them apart, Elsa's verses are in purple and Anna's are in orange (although on a few pages this doesn't show well - with different background colours and all - so it can get confusing. But the girls' voices are relatively easy to differentiate anyway, so it didn't bother me much).
Anna is a clumsy and often lazy goof - traditionally not how a princess should be - but she has a big heart, and her love for her sister is as wonderfully presented in this book as it is in the film. She doesn't care what others might think of her. Unlike the regal Elsa, the future queen of Arendelle who, due to her snowy magic, has shut herself away from everyone, including her own sister. She remains aloof even after becoming queen; in fact more than ever this makes it even more crucial that she not let people in her life. Anna tries to get her big sister to come out of her "perfect" shell and play with her, unaware of Elsa's potentially dangerous power over ice and snow.
Elsa is my favourite character in the movie - a queen who isn't evil but only misunderstood? Epic win. She is just a fantastically-written, multi-layered character; a true study of an introvert and someone suffering from depression and anxiety. To see Queen Elsa drawn in fascinating artwork, and to read her viewpoint in purple verse, was great fun.
I want to talk a bit more about the artwork. The illustrator, Brittney Lee, is a visual development artist at Walt Disney Animation Studios. She had worked on 'Frozen', and it shows - shows what an awesome companion 'A Sister More Like Me' is to the highest-grossing animated film of all time. The cover in particular is attention-grabbing, with the smiling Anna hanging upside-down and Elsa looking up a little distance away with both love and pain. This symbolises the division in their personalities and their relationship, with one sister wanting to understand the other and their common wish for closeness if not for one's "curse". Their contrasting colour schemes and character designs make this more apparent. I also like how Anna is just hanging in the air like magic, while Elsa is shown to be much more grounded; funny considering that she's the one with icy powers.
In terms of story, 'A Sister More Like Me' is a nice representation of how two siblings wish the other could be more similar to themselves, so that they'll feel less lonely. Anna wishes for a sister who is also a friend (as a youngest sibling myself, I could relate to this, especially when the older sibling suddenly stops playing with and seeing the younger one: a very real part of growing up). Elsa may look like she prefers isolation with her secret, but perhaps deep down she wishes for a sister with a gift like hers, so that she'll not be alone in the world and would less likely hurt a friend with her powers.
But there is an important lesson taught to children here: That what you already have might be the best thing you could ever wish for. Change is scary, especially when it happens in the family. However it can be a good thing, like a learning curve in understanding how other people feel and act. Anna's and Elsa's differences are what will make them love each other all the better, for in one sister's eyes the other is interesting and special in her own way. They can get along side-by-side. Love is born out of understanding and dedication, and warm hugs!
'Frozen: A Sister More Like Me' - overall an adorable and magical title with fantastic art that focuses on the relationship between two awesome sisters who also happen to be princesses. Recommended for fans of the film - young and old - and parents looking for a read-along book with a unique and powerful message.
This is not something that children will forget anytime soon.
Final Score: 4.5/5
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