Horrendo's Curse: The Graphic Novel

Gr 4–6—On the day he was born, Horrendo was cursed by an old sea hag and doomed to always be polite to everyone. Now a young boy, he may know how to make delicious banana bread, but he has no idea how to stand up to the pirates who repeatedly raid his town and kidnap boys for their crew. Sure enough, Horrendo and his classmates are abducted during one such attack. Now, in order to survive, he must use both cunning and courtesy to escape the pirates and save his friends. The story is linear and has a predictable ending, but the unique name-calling and taunts are funny and make for an entertaining read. Simard's characters are drawn simplistically, but bright colors and sleek panel variation make this story stylish and add to the adventure. Some mild violence may be inappropriate for younger children, but the sleek layout and charming story will be good for older, reluctant readers.—Peter Blenski, Greenfield Public Library, WI