Small Volcanoes

March 1, 2013

Gr 3-5-Nancy is only eight years old here, and her skills are not exactly honed yet; this might make her more relatable to a younger audience. She appears to be a clumsy, silly girl who gets herself into many predicaments, though she is touted as being smart and clever by her friends and family. This case involves missing science projects. Nancy, Bess, and George have a suspect, but will they solve the case? Goldberg has colored for Marvel and has worked on "Archie" comics, and this art definitely has an "Archie" look to it. The drawings are clear and the colors are vibrant. Unfortunately, the word bubbles are sometimes directed toward the wrong character. A few lines are groan-worthy, and even though some readers will see past that, the ending is so implausible that they will be highly annoyed by the cute wrap-up. Though this graphic novel might be picked up by Nancy Drew's many fans, it is not a strong choice.-Mariela Siegert, Westfield Middle School, Bloomingdale, IL

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2012
Grades 2-5 When all of her class' science fair projects disappear from the elementary school, Nancy Drew and her friends Bess and George know it's time for the Clue Crew to catch the culprit. Nancy Drew's exploits remain perennial favorites, but readers eager to solve along with Nancy may be frustrated that the mystery doesn't even appear until halfway through the slim volume. However, Goldberg's cheerful art is a big plus. His background as an Archie Comics artist shows to great effect, giving the illustrations a timeless, all-American feel brought to vivid life by bright but never garish or dated colors. There aren't a ton of graphic-novel mysteries available, so, despite the lightweight plot, this title will likely circulate well, helped by an eye-catching cover.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)