Review of Scotland Bound, Charlie Brown!

Cover

A new adventure from the Peanuts Gang!!!! I remember sitting with my grandpa, sister, and cousins on a Sunday morning and he would read us Peanuts. I also remember curling up on the couch as my dad read the strips to my sister and I. Not only the comics but watching the Peanuts movies was a large part of my growing up. My family watches A Charlie Brown Christmas every year, at least once! So, when I saw that there was a new adventure, I picked it up immediately from the library where I work. Partly because I love Peanuts but a lot has to do with it being a rough summer and well why not see what “good ol’ Charlie Brown” is up to these days. 

Background to the Book 

A Warm Coo

This book did not disappoint, while not written by Charles Shulz readers can feel his ways in the comic. I love the interactions of the characters and the feeling of ‘being’ there the text and images bring. Though this may be nostalgia and my need for an easy familiar escape it was a delightful book. The story is based on an old storyboard for an unfinished movie that Schulz was a part of (McDonald, 2021; Peanuts, 2021). According to Craig McDonald (2021) in an article for the Sunday Post the work was adapted from a movie inspired by Schulz trip with his wife to Scotland. The spirit of Schulz is honored in the way the writer adapted the book. One of
many references to other works by Schulz is when Lucy is hugging a Coo and says “Forget Puppies, Happiness is hugging a warm coo!” in reference to the work titled Happiness is a Warm Puppy.  

The Story 

Pen-Crush

For once Charlie Brown isn’t acting very “Charlie Browny,” what could be the cause? Why is he so happy? Turns out he has a friend in Scotland that he’s been writing to and she makes him happy. While Charlie Brown is sharing with Linus, Lucy shows up and starts asking questions. In a series of Panels, it is revealed that not only are they friends but Charlie Brown has, according to Lucy, a “pen-crush!” After hearing about a talent contest in the pen pal's home town, the gang decides they should raise money to go. They hold a carnival to be able to attend, and actually get enough to go. 

 

So, things are looking up, that is until Charlie Brown opens a letter from his pen pal on the plane that explains she won't be in Scotland when they arrive. Now we see the familiar Charlie Brown we know and love, sad, upset and ready to give up. However, after a chat with Linus and the gang Charlie Brown is once again alright and they get off the plane in Scotland. Here they are greeted by their tour guide who takes them to her family Coo farm, as well as famous places in Scotland including Loch Ness to see Nessy! 

You ARE Someone

During these outings Charlie Brown is once again down and talks with their host. During this chat, while Lucy is hugging a Coo, he asks why no one likes him and if a girl might like him. The little girl gives him advice to be happy with where he is and that it should be a thing to be happy about, after all he is in a beautiful place with friends “...and Sheep” (Peanuts, Unnumbered, 2021). This leads her to say, “I am and you are someone a nice
country girl would like to get to know” (Peanuts, Unnumbered, 2021). The next panel shows them looking at one another, she with a happy smile and Charlie shocked. 

The story ends happily with them attending the show and performing, though not exactly as planned. Each panel is full of fun and excitement, until they leave for home and say goodbye to their new friend. 

Final Thoughts 

This ‘new’ adventure is for anyone who loves Peanuts but not just them anyone will find excitement and joy in this simple story. We can all relate to Charlie Brown and his luck, when nothing ever seems to go right. I found it delightful and familiar even without the true hand of Schulz, the team did a wonderful job. I recommend this book as a good read for Peanuts fans young and old, or just anyone looking for a good read! 

References 

Peanuts (2021). Scotland bound, Charlie Brown. McAllen, TX: Kaboom Comics. For more information see: Peanuts: Scotland Bound, Charlie Brown by Charles M. Schulz | Goodreads  

McDonald, C. (2021, March 20). Charlie Brown gang on how legendary cartoonist’s Scots trip inspired new book. Sunday Post. https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/charlie-brown/  

Images of Cover, Lucy Hugging the Coo, and You ARE Someone are taken by me of the book.

The image of Lucy talking to Charlie brown was featured in the Sunday Post article cited above. 

Review of Page by Paige by Laura Lee Gulledge

Screen shot from Libby of Page by Paige

In the Graphic Novel Page by Paige Laura Lee Gulledge explores the life of a young introverted artist who has moved to the big city. The story follows Paige as she explores both the city and her views of her own life. 

Paige’s Story 

Paige looking at painting

Paige is a young artist who has a very vivid imagination which colors her world in a vastly different way than many people see. In one set of panels Paige is looking at a painting in the MET of a young woman painting and says “And she’s an artist. I wonder...did she live in her head like I do?” (Gulledge, unpaged). 

Paige is unhappy in her new environment but has been challenged by her grandmother, also an artist, to draw something every day.  This challenge starts with Paige drawing about how she feels but expands out as she meets new friends in school.  

Paige joins a group of other ‘misfits’ as she feels that are also artists and musicians. They each see the world in a unique way. One becomes her best friend and other her boyfriend with the fourth member of the group becoming her art partner in many of their escapades. Over the course of the book the four friends learn to trust each other sharing their art and music with one another. Paige even lets them see her art, which she never shows anyone. This leads them to start doing street art to make other happy, one such is a tree with messages of encouragement in bottles for anyone who might need them. 

Along the way Paige learns to be herself and that life isn’t all bad or lonely. The drawings in her book while private help her to learn about herself and show others how her world feels to her. One day she even choses to let a woman on the subway see her portfolio, the woman encourages her to continue drawing and see the world as she can. Toward the end of the story Paige choses to show her mom. When her mom sees her drawing, she accepts her as she is, this begins to help Paige to accept herself and mom as they are. Paige even states “I hate to admit it, but we are more similar. If I can’t accept my faults if I can’t accept hers...” (Gulledge, unpaged). This realization

Paige shows her mom her art

 leads to a better relationship between Paige and her mother. The growth seen in Paige brings happiness to her life and better relationships. 

The Lessons 

Page by Paige shares the many hard lessons about growing up and accepting yourself and others. The lessons learned by Paige through the story share that it is ok to be different and to see the world in your own way. Learning to accept yourself and others is important. Paige is seen as a typical teen with anxieties that not only teens but adults can relate to. Everyone has felt different and insecure at some point in their lives. Growing up involves change and that change is not just where you live and what you do but can also be who you are or how you see yourself. Gulledge brilliant words and illustrations detail the growing pains everyone has as they figure out who they are and what they want to do in life. 

Review 

The detailed black and white illustrations draw readers into the life of Paige, showing her world not only externally but inside her head. The story is well written and relatable in many ways. Gulledge illustrates what many people feel or have felt in life. The book shows how hard it is to accept yourself as you are and that it is ok to be different. The depression and then happiness that Paige has is relatable to many who do not quite fit into the norm or expected role of those around. Paige feels like a failure at the being and is lost and alone but by the end she has grown, better understanding herself and her world. The character development and flow of the story is well done and enhanced by the illustrations in each panel. Gulledge’s handling of a coming-of-age story shows what many have gone through and is a good read for teens and adults alike.  

Reference 

Gulledge, Laura Lee. (2013) Page by Paige [Libby edition].  New York: Amulet Books. 

Images are screen shots from Page by Paige from the Libby app from the book by Laura Lee Gulledge. 

 

Star Wars Doctor Aphra Vol. 1 Review

Cover Image

Well, not my typical reading but seeing as I had just put up my Library’s Star Wars day display and the book caught my eye, I decided to read it. Doctor Aphra is a graphic novel by Kieron Gillen, illustrated by Kev Walker. The graphic novel follows the life of Chelli Lona Aphra after she leaves the service of Darth Vader. Though this will not be her most difficult task.  

'Victory' for Aphra and her father

No, that will be when she runs into her father, a man obsessed with a long dead race who were “related” to the Jedi (also now missing). The story is not just about the action that you consider normal for Star Wars but also a relationship between father and daughter. Aphra must confront her father in order to have her Doctorate, which she cheated to get (a long segue into her personal history), reinstated by the counsel. During this confrontation she learns more about why her father did what he did to ‘protect’ her and even why her mother took her to the outer rim. The conversation is all the more dramatic because they are in a life-or-death situation which requires them to each use their respective knowledge and skills to save the day.   

I found the novel easy to read completing it in a single setting, but am not sure I’ll continue reading the story. Though if I had the book and nothing else, I would read the next in the series. Over all the book is well executed with interesting and exciting graphics and poignant text. The elements come together to create a spectacle that anyone can enjoy, even if they do not fully know Aphra’s backstory (like me), or if they are a dedicated fan of the franchise. 

Reference 

Gillen, K. (2017). Star wars: Doctor Aphra. New York: Del Rey.  

Images take by me of the graphic novel, drawn by Kev Walker.