Bad Island

May 2, 2011
Two very different dysfunctional families try to reconnect in an exciting alien adventure by TenNapel, graphic novelist and creator of Earthworm Jim. Long ago, in a distant part of the galaxy, a race of giant, machinelike people battle their enemies to keep the small inhabitants from being condemned to slavery, and a young prince is determined to prove his worth in battle. On modern Earth, teen football player Reese wants little to do with his family, and nothing to do with the family vacation. When a storm hits the family boat trip, Reese, his annoying younger sister, and his parents wash up on an island filled with bizarre, dangerous creatures. A mysterious consciousness on the island helps defend themâand as the family struggles to survive, they have the chance to heal not only their own broken relationships but also a family torn apart in that long-ago war. The stylized art suits the weirdness of the alien creatures, and the human faces are so expressive that TenNapel shows arcs of emotional journey without the characters having to say a word. Though geared toward young readers, the adventure features sympathetic adult characters as heroic as the children, and parents should enjoy the tale as well. Ages 10â13.

Starred review from November 1, 2011

Gr 5 Up-One glance at the cover depicting ominous clouds overhead and a landmass with a glaring red eye informs readers that the author of Ghostopolis (Scholastic, 2010) has created another exploration of the bizarre. Dad has decided to take Reese, who is too cool for family outings, and his sister, Janine, on a fishing trip. The vacation takes an unexpected turn when their boat capsizes during a storm and they find themselves marooned on a strange island. To their horror, the family slowly realizes that the island is the submerged body of a giant creature, escaped from another world. The story alternates between the shipwreck survivors and the faraway world that created this "island." Both stories feature conflict between an adolescent son and his father. Clever touches highlight the dawning pubescence of both son and monster: small whiskers sprouting on the giant monster, Reese's flippant response when his mother wonders about his ability to make her nervous. "No problem mom. It's a gift." Ultimately, both rebellious adolescents grow up and find their place as young men. The vibrant color palette used in the family's story contrasts with the grays and browns of the monster world. Both places are punctuated with red, yellow, and black to emphasize the scenes of conflict, while silhouettes add a striking visual touch. Expressive wide-eyed faces perfectly capture emotions while the effective use of humor (a dead pet snake plays an important role) keeps the tension from becoming overwhelming. TenNapel has crafted another rip-roaring adventure with wide audience appeal.-Barbara M. Moon, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from March 15, 2011
Grades 6-10 *Starred Review* If you thought Lost had cornered the market on fun stories that balance relationship dynamics with the adventure of being stranded on a mysterious island, please direct your attention to TenNapels latest. Fresh off Ghostopolis (2010), the quirky cartoonist tells a story of a family that winds up stuck on a mysterious and deadly-creature-filled island that hides, quite literally, a huge secret. Families have been getting stuck in danger-infested environments since Journey to the Center of the Earth, but TenNapel grafts on a sci-fi element right out of Transformers to give it some zing, and his creatures, which harken back to his early work on Creature Tech (2002), have a cool biological ickiness to them. Though father, mother, teenage son, and tween daughter face the various dangers like a gang of Indiana Joneses, their family stresses are believable, particularly those of the son, who must renew his commitment to a family he had been about to abandon before they all landed hip-deep in weird. A clever, old-fashioned adventure with some modern twists and a lighthearted tone, this, like TenNapels previous work, is not to be missed.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)