Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery"

Starred review from September 15, 2016

A well-known short story often assigned in literature classes, Jackson's "The Lottery" slowly unveils the grim details of a yearly ritual in a small community in rural America. The ritual's origins are forgotten, and other towns have given it up, but these villagers keep the tradition out of habit, superstitious expectations for a better harvest, and paradoxical benefits of group cohesion despite a deadly outcome. How much cruelty, asks Jackson rhetorically, do we cause out of habit or peer pressure? The Salem witch hunts, pogroms, "queer-bashing," and Internet bullying all have commonalities with this odd lottery that seems to draw more from ancient practices than from the modern world. Hyman (The Black Dahlia), Jackson's grandson, imbues realistic characters with a blocky stoicism in full-color panels flooded with sun-parched orange light. Much of the rendition is wordless, the art carrying this tale of quiet horror. VERDICT This standout work featuring a violent and inhumane tradition within a mundane setting will get readers thinking about causes and effects of our actions. For general readers as well as educators and librarians working with teens and adults alike.--MC

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2016

Gr 9 Up-Jackson's famous short story has been adapted into graphic novel format by her grandson. Hyman illustrates in lush detail the terrifying ritual known as the lottery. The artist includes a compelling foreword about the intimidating prospect of creating this work. Readers familiar with the original short story will not leave petrified, but they will enjoy exploring this offering. This adaptation is enhanced by the quality of illustrations. Hyman will have readers curious to explore nuances such as the imagined ritual origins or the town people's absolute trust in the lottery. The visual country atmosphere and realistic portraits are slightly reminiscent of Norman Rockwell's paintings. While this is definitely a great tribute to Hyman's late grandmother, it may not have the same impact as the original. VERDICT For fans of Shirley Jackson as well as newcomers planning to read alongside the prose tale.-Jessica Bratt, Grand Rapids Public Library, MI

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2016
Grades 9-12 Shirley Jackson's short story The Lottery gets graphic treatment by the author's grandson in this adaptation of her most well-known work. Using an effective combination of striking visual images and pithy snippets of dialogue, the story, about an annual ritual of sacrifice in a small town and the dangers of blindly following tradition, is distilled to its brutal core. The story is well served by the bold illustrationsintensely saturated color work seems at first incongruous with iconic images that hearken back to the mid-twentieth century, but it lends intensity to the panels. Hyman has a keen eye for composition and creates strong visual interest with unusual angles, using a variety of panel sizes and perspectives to pull the reader in as the scenes unfold from different viewpoints. Lonesome street scenes and empty fields only heighten the sense of isolation and unease delivered by the text, and deliberate visual pacing during a pivotal scene focuses all the reader's attention on the drama swiftly unfolding. One of the strongest graphic adaptations of a classic work to come along in some time.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)