Title: The Spider Moon
(Book 1)
Author: Kate Brown
Publisher: David Fickling Books (Random House)
Category: Graphic Novel, YA
Release Date: 2010
Source: Given to me by Random House
Hardback : 78 pages
Summary from Amazon:
They tell a prophecy of our homelands being crushed by a falling sky. That fate has been a shadow over our people ever since. The end has begun ...in my lifetime. Bekka and her people are facing the end of times. They must do all in their power to save themselves from the fate they believe is theirs. But destiny is like a tightly coiled snake. Which Bekka must unfurl without getting bitten ...
~~~~~~~~
I don't read a lot of graphic novels, but I love reading fascinating stories with great illustrations. It took me one glance to fall for this graphic novel, the cover is *gorgeous*. The colours just make me want to dive in the sea!
The story centres around a fantasy world which is about to end (hello environmental theme!) and the need to find another place and another way to live. The main character is a young girl named Bekka who has her own personality and doesn't let herself get chewed on by anyone else. She has a pet - a Dodecapod named Fii - which follows her everywhere. From the beginning of the story, you know that something big and frightening is about to happen to this world, and it makes you even more passionate about it when you discover its beautiful landscapes (and especially underwaterscapes) and its inhabitants.
The style is very original, you can clearly spot some manga influences in there. I love the fact that the characters change expressions all the time which makes the story so much more vivid. The way the pages are organised is also - I find - very original, and it changes from the graphic novel pages divided in equal squares.
I absolutely loved the underwater illustrations and colours, it is simply wow. By the way, Bekka's people have this physical thing called webbed fingers which enables them to swim easily underwater. Which is awesome. (And yes, I secretly want webbed fingers myself)
I can't wait to read the new adventures of Bekka and the Prince Kaliel, because I can feel a romance building up there, where they travel to new places and try to find a way to save their world. Prince Kaliel comes from another people than Bekka and has other physical features specific to his people, which are equally awesome!
The story centres around a fantasy world which is about to end (hello environmental theme!) and the need to find another place and another way to live. The main character is a young girl named Bekka who has her own personality and doesn't let herself get chewed on by anyone else. She has a pet - a Dodecapod named Fii - which follows her everywhere. From the beginning of the story, you know that something big and frightening is about to happen to this world, and it makes you even more passionate about it when you discover its beautiful landscapes (and especially underwaterscapes) and its inhabitants.
The style is very original, you can clearly spot some manga influences in there. I love the fact that the characters change expressions all the time which makes the story so much more vivid. The way the pages are organised is also - I find - very original, and it changes from the graphic novel pages divided in equal squares.
I absolutely loved the underwater illustrations and colours, it is simply wow. By the way, Bekka's people have this physical thing called webbed fingers which enables them to swim easily underwater. Which is awesome. (And yes, I secretly want webbed fingers myself)
I can't wait to read the new adventures of Bekka and the Prince Kaliel, because I can feel a romance building up there, where they travel to new places and try to find a way to save their world. Prince Kaliel comes from another people than Bekka and has other physical features specific to his people, which are equally awesome!
Anyways, this is a very quick read which offers beautiful images and a very promising story, you will definitely fall for Bekka and her world.
Here is an interview I found on YouTube of the amazing Kate Brown, where she talks about The Spider Moon, her work as a graphic novel artist as well as her tips on becoming one:
Thank you so much to Random House for making me discover the talented Kate Brown and the adventures of Bekka!
Hello Caroline! Thank you for such a lovely review :) I'm so glad you enjoyed the book!
ReplyDeleteKate x
I've barely read any graphic novels, but this one sounds so sweet! I'm a little bit obsessed with the sea, so I'm loving the themes here too. Thanks for bringing this one to my attention.
ReplyDeleteOoh this sounds delightful - fantastical and yet ecological. Lovely review.
ReplyDelete