When Pine Point high school closes down, 50 new students and a handful of new teachers arrive at the steps of Riverdale High School. Archie and his friends find themselves in the midst of a number of rivalries and shenanigans as a result. Veronica is troubled by a new fashion diva and the rumor of another rich kid attending Riverdale High; Betty is repeatedly scooped at the school's Blue And Gold paper by a new photojournalist; the tables are turned on Reggie as he becomes the subject of a number of pranks; Jughead finds himself being followed by a trio of girls who know everything about him; and Archie can't seem to appease anyone as he tries to make the new crew feel welcome. Even Principal Weatherbee is troubled by a new teacher who seems to be gunning for his job.

To be completely honest, I've never really been a fan of Archie comics. I could never understand what was so amazing about Archie that he had two girls constantly fighting over him, and in general, representations of women in the comics' history have been abysmal. The new TV show based on Archie characters has been good enough that I was willing to pick up this book when I passed by it at the library. Unfortunately, I found it more in line with the comics than the show. The book is a light and quick read, but some of that is because its storylines are so cheesy and the characterizations are completely one note. If you're a fan of the comics, you'll probably enjoy this book. If you haven't read an Archie comic before, this book may not be for you as it jumps right into the middle of the action with the expectation that readers already know the main characters and their personality quirks. Personally, I found it to be the usual Archie universe nonsense.

Representation of women continues to be an issue for this series, even in this book written in 2012. At one point, a male high schooler angrily yells at a female student passing by, "You don't have to be a snob. I winked at you, and you didn't smile back!" Archie then steps in to 'save' the day but explaining that the girl in question is blind and didn't see the wink. No mention whatsoever of how women aren't obligated to respond to every leering male they encounter. At one point during Betty's rivalry with the new student on the paper staff, she is upset because the new girl gets a choice assignment where "she gets to photograph the best looking boys in school!" Girls in the Archie universe only have one real concern -- finding a cute date. Actual career considerations don't really matter, huh? And, of course, at multiple points throughout the book, Archie is jealous when Betty or Veronica show interest in any guy other than him, and both girls throw a fit when he seems to be only welcoming the new female students. This is all despite none of these characters actually being in a romantic relationship with another at the time this comic is set.

There are attempts in this book at being inclusive such as the aforementioned blind student, as well students of numerous ethnic backgrounds/races, but some of it is done in such a way to feel as though the creators are just trying to hit a diversity quota. For instance, one student is immediately described as "of Native American descent" upon introduction, while other students are described by things like what clubs they participate in, what musical instruments they play, etc. In other words, most students are defined by their actions, while this student is defined by his ethnic background.

Overall, I was mostly disappointed in this offering, although I have to admit it made for some pretty brainless reading material, which was kind of nice for a change of pace from some of the heavier books I read.… (mehr)

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sweetiegherkin | May 10, 2018 |

Mysteries of the Past von Alex Simmons

This book is about historical pieces or events that are peculiar. It covers several places from around the world.
This is a good historical fiction because they are all true and real things that happened. This is also a good chapter book because it splits up each section accordingly but flows with the same themes and ideas.
Media: photographs and maps
Age Range: Upper Elementary

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MadisonShawA | Mar 21, 2017 |

Blackjack: Blood and Honor, The Graphic Novel von Alex Simmons

Arron Day is the soldier of fortune you want on your side. Follow him to Asia in 1935 as he tries to protect the only politician in Japan who is calling for peace, and an end to Japanese military aggression. Throughout his mission, Arron Day flashes back to his experiences with Asian people during his childhood in Mongolia, where his was the only African American family in an American company town. Not only are Alex Simmons' illustrations top notch, but his writing is positively lyrical.

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kivarson | Mar 28, 2011 |

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