Wild Ocean

Nominated for a Harvey Award for Best Anthology Wild Ocean is a work of fiction about a non-fictional topic, which makes it an ideal way to introduce readers to a subject without throwing reams of data at them. It takes an entertaining approach to the subject matter and encourages further study. You can't beat a non-fiction book that pulls off that particular feat. -- Mike Hall, The Comics Book Librarian Blog This anthology offers a quick overview of twelve different oceanic species, each with a different scope of interactions with humans and within the ocean itself. Plots range from serious--capturing illegal fishermen who are doing it to survive--to lighthearted--a kid playing with a blue whale toy while his dad goes to a conference. Overall, the stories end happily, but the long-term prognosis for our oceans is grim, and that isn't left out. Given that the point is to raise awareness, there's no reason why it should be. -- Write Lies Blog Gr 7 Up-- A dozen veteran and first-time comic-book writers and graphic novelists appear in this collaboration. Separate chapters introduce readers to wonders of the ocean under threat from overfishing, global warming, and other man-made dangers. From seahorses made into keychains to monk seals losing their birthing and pup-rearing grounds, kids encounter beautiful creatures that need humans to undo the damage they have caused to the environment. Each story opens with a textual explanation of the section's topic. The graphic styles vary widely, with some, like the story of the manatee, looking like traditional Sunday comics, while others, like the description of the coral reefs of the Maldives, appearing much more realistic. Some of the entries include allusions to ocean-focused mythology, while others are practically wordless and let the illustrated panels speak for themselves. Back matter includes not always age-appropriate further reading, but also very informative websites for in-depth research. Passionate students would enjoy this colorful, informative look into different aspects of sea life, and teachers could use the book to introduce marine biology or ecology units, making this a wise purchase for middle school libraries and beyond.-- School Library Journal Nominated as as a Best Young Adult Graphic Novel by the Cybils Awards (Children's and Young Adult Bloggers Literary Awards) One of Publisher's Weekly's "14 Best Environmental Comics." "The goal is to show the value of comics in the education process. It doesn't matter what tool you use to help students learn--podcasts, iPad, textbooks, comics, etc.--the point is to find what helps students make a connection with content."-- Michael Cavna, The Washington Post