Module 10: The Good Neighbors: Kin

Citation:

Black, H. & Naifeh, T. (2008). The good neighbors: Kin. New York: Graphix.  

Summary:

Rue’s mother has been missing for more than three weeks, and she happened to hear her parents arguing the night her mother disappeared. Rue sometimes “sees” strange things out of the corner of her eye. People that look like fantasy creatures with leaf patterns on their skin and horns on their head. She always assumed that her mind was playing tricks on her. But lately, the sightings have been increasing in frequency and detail. When Rue’s father is arrested one night on the charge of murder, she learns that one of his students has been found dead, and now there’s question as to whether he murdered both his student and his wife. Her father’s long-time friend Amalia Vailia takes the liberty of helping Rue stay afloat in her father’s absence. In the meantime, Rue is beginning to learn that her visions are not just tricks of the mind after all, but actual evidence of a world most cannot see. When Rue talks to an actual faery in the hallway of her school, she begins to wonder if her mother’s disappearance has more to do with this world she does not understand, and less to do with her parents’ disagreement. Rue’s grandfather insists on taking temporary custody of her and thinks it’s time that she get to know her real family now that she’s beginning to “see.”  Rue decides to do a little research of her own. Aubrey and his sidekick Tam trying to keep Rue locked up; but, she manages to escape and begin exploring her new found powers. Rue’s mother unexpectedly turns up at home again, alive, but apparently ill. She manages to get Rue’s father released from jail and the charges dropped. It seems like things should be returning to normal; but after talking to her mother, Rue knows this figure she is conversing with is not the mother she grew up with. When she finds out her father’s friend Amanda has more to do with her mother’s disappearance that she thought,  she confronts her. So many questions, so few answers… Is her mother really sick? Why did her mother raise her as a normal child rather than the faery she was? Why did Tam tell her that she was the only person that could bring her grandfather down? Rue must find the answers to her past, but will she stay alive long enough to uncover the mysteries surrounding all her questions?

Impressions:

This is actually my very first graphic novel, and I’m thankful that I chose it, because I just might be willing to read more. I am NOT naturally drawn to graphic novels, and never cared for comic books as a child. As a reader I gravitate toward text rather than pictures, which means I often miss pertinent information in this type of read since the drawings are often just as important (or more important in some cases) than the text itself. Overall, I managed to follow along fairly well, and really enjoyed the storyline. I look forward to reading more in the series.  

Usage in a Library:

This could be used as part of a visual literacy lesson in which you display artwork from all different types of books, and ask students to discuss the different approaches to illustrating. This would not have to be a verbal discussion at a formal program if you did not have time for it. Instead you could facilitate a poster dialogue. Displaying a handful of different large-scale illustrations in one space of the library, you could invite students to leave comments on large tablet sheets about whether they like the illustration, what merit it holds, how it may add to a story, etc. A poster dialogue is always a safe and anonymous way for students to share their thoughts on a topic, and can be accomplished very easily and quickly. Hopefully if you can draw in students with the large illustrations, you can also get them to check out books from a nearby graphic novel display.

Review:

Rue isn’t sure how she will cope with a mother who has disappeared and a father so beaten down by depression that he may as well have. Life only gets worse, however, when her father is arrested for the murder of one of his students (suspiciously, he never reported his wife’s absence). Add into the mix the fact that Rue is now seeing faeries where no one else can, and it is little wonder that she feels as though her life is in crisis. This graphic novel, the first in a series, is primarily an introduction, offering portraits of characters who will undoubtedly be explored further in future volumes: the imposing but loving grandfather who clearly only sought to protect his faerie daughter from the fickle love of humans, Rue’s inadequate parents, who have failed her by not being present (emotionally or physically) in her life, and Rue herself, clearly overwhelmed and heartbroken but struggling to retain the defiance and independence that mark her personality. The searing and exceptionally well-written examinations into each of these individuals more than compensates for the comparative paucity of action. The rich illustrations, stunning contrasts of dark and light wherein shadow competes with blinding brightness, supplement Rue’s own straightforward (and deceptively cool) narration by hinting at depths of turmoil not present in her recounting. The dramatically rendered faeries, all consisting of sharp points and otherworldly elements, will captivate fantasy fans, who will find it intriguing to see Black’s always evocative descriptions transformed into pictures. The dramatic cover, the provocative premise of a faerie mother yanked back to her own world because of her philandering husband, and, of course, the memorable Rue herself, will all draw in readers, who will certainly anticipate future novels in this series. 

Review Citation:

April S. (2008, November). The good neighbors: Kin (review). Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, 62(3), 111. doi: 10.1353/bcc.0.0506