Cullen Bunn | Musings of the Monster Librarian

Graphic Novel Review: Harrow County Library Edition Volume 1 by Cullen Bunn, art by Tyler Crook

Harrow County Library Edition Volume 1: by Cullen Bunn, art by Tyler Crook

Dark Horse, 2018

ISBN: 9781506710648

Available: Hardcover, Kindle edition, comiXology edition

Hester Beck is hung and burned for being a witch on the strange, crooked oak tree that stands on the Crawford farm. Emmy experiences recurring dreams about things under the earth. Emmy always knew that the woods surrounding her home crawled with ghosts and monsters. The day before her eighteenth birthday, she learns more than she expected. Emmy discovers secrets her father kept from her, and faces the repercussions of his deception. Through her journey, she uncovers her deeper connection to the creatures in the woods, and to the land itself. Her perceived connection and ability to communicate with them makes her a target by the members of her formerly friendly and loving community.

This is my first delve into Harrow County, and frankly, I am kicking myself for waiting so long to read it. I love Emmy and her desire to live side by side with what the others in her community think are pure evil and dangerous. The reader sees her growth through finding herself and becoming aware of the past of the land and people in her midst, as well as her interaction with the creatures in the woods. Bunn’s storytelling left me wanting more of Emmy’s story—thankfully I have access to the next volume.

It is clear Tyler Crook puts a lot of time and effort into his artwork. Some of his panels are beautiful and terrifying at the same time. Characters’ emotions were palpable. I found myself, upon my second read of the volume, taking the time to really look at the background landscapes and architecture. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Harrow County Library Edition Volume 1. I recommend it to readers who, of course, read graphic novels, but also to readers who like Southern Gothic literature.

Harrow County Library Edition Volume 1 collects the first two volumes, Countless Haints and Twice Told, in a deluxe hardcover and includes essays, sketchbooks, and more. Highly recommended

Contains: blood, execution, gore

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

MonsterLibrarian.com’s Top Picks for 2011- Young Adult and Children’s Books

So here we are- part two of the Top Picks list for 2011.

Each book on the list below was reviewed in the past year, although not all the books were published in 2011. If the book made a Top Picks list in the past, it won’t be on this year’s list (Wintergirls, by Laurie Halse Anderson, was first reviewed in 2009 and made the list that year, so it’s not on this year’s list).

Books that made this list were chosen by our reviewers as exceptional examples of compelling writing, creativity, and original illustration or presentation. Many of them provided considerable food for thought as well as entertainment value. The choices were made only from books reviewed for the site, so there are many fine titles that do not appear here. The Monster Librarian’s Top Picks for 2011, listed below, have not been ranked in any order(although I tried to list them alphabetically). We created lists for adult books, young adult books, and kids’ books. I previously posted the Top Picks for Adult Fiction in 2011. You’ll find the Top Picks booklists for young adults and children below. Enjoy!

Note for librarians and readers: As with all recommended reading lists, not all of The Monster Librarian’s Top Picks for 2011 will be appropriate for or appreciated by every reader. Please take the time to check out reviews of these titles at MonsterLibrarian.com before making a decision about reading them or recommending them to others.

The Monster Librarian’s Top Picks for Young Adults, 2011

A special mention goes to Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs, chosen as a top pick by four different reviewers independently of each other.

Abarat series by Clive Barker (Abarat, Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War, and Abarat: Absolute Midnight)

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Cryer’s Cross by Lisa McMann

Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst

Ghost Town (Morganville Vampires, Book 9) by Rachel Caine

Ink Exchange (Wicked Lovely) by Melissa Marr

Lockdown: Escape from Furnace 1 by Alexander Gordon Smith

Mercy by Rebecca Lim

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Nickel Plated by Aric Davis

Red Moon Rising by Peter Moore

Shiver (Wolves of Mercy Falls) by Maggie Stiefvater