Get Graphic Review: Giants Beware

 

Giants Beware is written by Jorge Aguirre and Rafael Rosado, both are veterans of animation in writing and storyboarding. This is very must in evidence throughout the graphic novel. The pacing and flow of the story mirrors that of a TV series. This could almost be a whole season with the story being wrapped up neatly but with sprinkles of story lines that could be expanded on in the next season.

Claudette is a bold and energetic girl who wants nothing more than a life of adventure and fame but to do this she must kill the baby feet eating giant that lives on Giants Peak. She enlists the help of her brother Gaston and her best friend Marie with false promises of their hearts desires to make them come with her on the wild hunt. Gaston wants to prove he can handle making swords with his blacksmith father and make the best pastries in the land. Marie wants to be a princess and believes that this quest will give her credit in the fake Princess Certification Board.

They march off into the wild with their parents hot on their heels. The must get through the Forest of Death and cross the Mad River in order to get to Giants Peak but nothing is what it seems when they reach each place. It takes the courage of Gaston and the quick thinking of Marie in order to achieve their goals. Claudette must also face her fears and learn that friendship might be more important that fame.

This is a great graphic novel for all ages. Teens will enjoy the fantasy elements that Rosado and Aguirre create and the way that there seems to be more going on than meets the eye. Some might find it a bit young and it does seem more for the tween set but I believe there is an audience for this in the teen library. It would go well with Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke and The Three Thieves series by Scott Chantler. This is a fun romp through a fantasy world where dragons and giants live but not all is what it seems.

Review by Karen D, one of our new kids on the blog. Learn more about her here.

Filed under: Book Reviews, Graphic Novels