As far as inheritances go, an all-powerful amulet and a house filled with robots who call you Master is pretty sweet.
Amulet: Book One – The Stonekeeper
Publisher: Scholastic (Graphix)
Writer: Kazu Kibuishi
Artist: Kazu Kibuishi
Summary: After the tragic death of their father, Emily and Navin move with their mother to the home of her deceased great-grandfather, but the strange house proves to be dangerous. Before long, a sinister creature lures the kids´ mom through a door in the basement. Em and Navin, desperate not to lose her, follow her into an underground world inhabited by demons, robots, and talking animals.
Eventually, they enlist the help of a small mechanical rabbit named Miskit. Together with Miskit, they face the most terrifying monster of all, and Em finally has the chance to save someone she loves.
Review: Considering the new series by Kazu Kibuishi (Flight, Daisy Kutter) is intended for youngsters, you can imagine my concern for the children after finding myself teary-eyed within the first twelve pages. Then again, what classic children’s adventure doesn’t evoke such emotion? The Neverending Story, The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter, all succeed because life isn’t always sunshine and lollipops and it’s overcoming challenges and adversities that make us who we are. Amulet: Book One – The Stonekeeper starts us down such a road but there’s still a long way to travel.
Two years after their father’s passing and their mother’s need to move them out of the city and into the middle of nowhere, the Hayes children seem to be fairly well adjusted. Even though Emily is carrying some obvious trauma on her shoulders, she and her brother Navin make cleaning their new residence fun and, like most kids, are extremely curious. The house used to belong to their great-grandfather Silas Charnon, a puzzlemaker who mysteriously disappeared years ago, and holds a great many of his inventions. Emily soon discovers a special necklace that quickly informs her of it’s magical abilities by verbalizing that her family is in grave danger. And it’s not kidding. A giant, slimy, tentacled creature ingests their mother, dragging her away to a land deep beneath the house. Emily and Navin have no choice but to chase after her. Down the rabbit hole they go.
Navin, the younger of the two siblings, is skeptical as the amulet seemingly keeps them out of danger but leads them further and further into this strange new world. They eventually find themselves at Charnon House, the home of their great-grandfather. He’s deathly ill and being cared for by several of his robotic creations including a scrappy rabbit named Miskit and a grumpy engineer named Cogsley. He informs the siblings that the amulet grants the bearer the power to rule the land they are now standing in called Alledia and much more. Dear old Silas may not be the most respectable member of the family however. He uses Emily’s emotions to coerce her into taking on what is bound to be a very dangerous role – keeper of the stone. The journey to find their mother and an encounter with a vicious elf prince demonstrates she’s gotten way in over her head. In fact, the name of Book Two, The Stonekeeper’s Curse to be released in September, proves it.
The Stonekeeper ends just as the story starts to pick up it’s pace. True, this is the first in a series, but if I had to give one critique it would be that not enough of the story was told in this first book. Not much normal home life is given before we are whisked away to a world we know nothing about and will not learn much more of before the book is through. From the looks of things it’s a very large world indeed. I didn’t feel there was a definitive ending to Stonekeeper, not even a “to be continued,” more like turn the page and keep reading. However, what we are given is dynamic, emotional and full of wonder and adventure. The art is simply delightful. Kibuishi has a knack for cute and imaginative. I dare you not to give an audible “aww” when you see the robot vacuum or poor Miskit’s mishap. Kibuishi has certainly embarked on what is likely to be a grand quest that children will be rereading for years to come.
Not only is Amulet: Book One – The Stonekeeper nominated for Best Publication for Kids at this year’s Eisner Awards in San Diego, the series has already been optioned for a film. Will Smith intends to produce Amulet for his two children, Willow and Jaden, to take on the roles of Emily and Navin.
Rating: 3/5
July 13th, 2009 at 3:58 am
What ages would you say that’s target for? I know a lot of kids read Harry Potter and there are some pretty tense parts in it.
July 13th, 2009 at 5:45 am
This sounds great. Might be a great introduction for kids to the wonderful four-color world of comics.
July 13th, 2009 at 10:09 am
According to Scholastic, the reading level is 9 yrs and up.
July 13th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Life isn’t always sunshine and lollipops?! Nuuuuuuu!
He’s a puzzlemaker. That totally explains things.
Rabbot, yessss!
This book sounds like it’s worth a read. If anyone’s seen Howl’s Moving Castle (one of my favorite movies), it’s cutesy but so well-done and awesome. I totally agree, Jill—just because it’s geared towards a younger age doesn’t mean it’s not a good story that adults can enjoy, as well.
July 13th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Looks cute!