Monday, September 24, 2012

Cardboard by Doug TenNapel

This colorful, action-packed graphic novel drew me in and I finished the book in one sitting. It features an underdog kid named Cam with a down-and-out father. Together they create a cardboard man that comes to life. Bill, as he is called, is a good character (as far as cardboard men go) and helpful to have around. The problems arise when Cam's nasty friend Marcus figures out how to create his own cardboard army of evil creatures. The cardboard creatures rage out of control and Cam and Marcus must fight them off. This alone is a great plot for middle school kids, but what made it compelling for me was the subplot of Cam's unemployed dad dealing with the grief of losing his wife and feeling like an inadequate father. The art and the story work together perfectly to tell a story that will have great appeal to kids intermediate and middle school kids. Recommended for readers from 4th grade and up.

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