 | Teen Titans : Raven (Teen Titans (Young adult graphic novel series)) Author: Garcia, Kami | |
| Price: $13.93 | ||
Summary:
When a tragic accident takes the life of the only family she's ever known, 16-year-old Raven is sent to New Orleans to start over. She soon discovers that she can hear the thoughts of others around her ... and another, more disturbing, voice in her head. In graphic novel format.
| Illustrator: | Picolo, Gabriel |
| Sommariva, Jon | |
| Kubert, Emma |
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG+ Reading Level: 3.10 Points: 1.0 Quiz: 505141 |
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 06/01/2019 Gr 7 Up–Seventeen-year-old Raven grieves the loss of her foster mother, but she can't remember her at all—the car wreck that took her mother's life took Raven's memories, too. Raven moves to New Orleans to live with her foster mother's sister, Natalia, and Natalia's daughter Max. At school, Raven is overwhelmed by the deafening anxieties of her classmates. Not only can she sense their emotions but when she wishes ill on the school mean girl, she discovers that her dark thoughts actually come true. Raven and Max must learn what's causing these strange abilities. Meanwhile, Natalia knows a sinister force is operating on Raven and seeks the counsel of the spirit world. Garcia's ambitious origin story of a Teen Titan is funny and unequivocally feminist. Her Raven is curious and kind, but the star of this tale is Max, whose fierce loyalty, unending patience, and strong moral compass make her the best friend we all wish we had. Raven's romance with the all-too-perfect Tommy Torres initially feels tacked on but ultimately finds a place in the increasingly complicated plot. In Natalia's appeals to the spirit world, Garcia presents an empowering representation of New Orleans African American spiritual life. Picolo's gorgeous illustrations are dynamic and nuanced. Particularly lovely is the New Orleans scenery; the ornate balconies and crumbling graveyards evoke the gritty beauty of the city. Raven's style (a chic, violet-tinged bob; dark hair and nails; combat boots) will appeal to budding punks. VERDICT Lovers of superheroes will appreciate this complex origin story.—Anna Murphy, Berkeley Carroll School, Brooklyn - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 06/01/2019 After a terrible car accident, Raven loses nearly all her memories, including everything about her life with her foster mom, Viv. Viv's sister, Natalia, takes the 17-year-old in, and with the help of her strong-willed cousin, Max, Raven starts to regain a sense of herself, even if she still can't remember anything. But odd things start happening: Raven hears voices, her thoughts make bad things happen, and a bird-shaped shadow looms over her. Plus, a new boy at school seems a little too interested, too quickly in Raven. It isn’t until prom night that all is revealed, and Raven remembers her life before in a traumatic way. Garcia makes great use of teenage emotion and drama in this origin story, and it's nicely carried out in Picolo's expressive artwork, largely in black, white, and gray. Calderon uses cool color washes, featuring lots of purple, for Raven, which emphasizes her powers and keeps the focus of the story on her. Superhero fans are the natural audience, but hand to teens who like moody, character-driven fiction, too. - Copyright 2019 Booklist.
