The Amulet, Part One: The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi.Bibliography: Kibuishi, K. (2008). The amulet: Book one, the stonekeeper. New York: Graphix. ISBN: 978-0439846813
SUMMARY
Two years after Emily's father dies in a tragic car accident, she, her mother and brother, Navin, move to the creepy, former home of her mysterious Great Grandfather Silas Charnon, who disappeared years earlier and left the house to her family. Once there, Emily and Navin quickly discover not only the robots and toys that Silas built, but also monsters and gremlins lurking inside. While in the library, Emily accidentally activates a secret mechanism that reveals a stone pendant that communicates messages and warnings of danger to Emily. A tentacled monster eats (but doesn't kill) their mother and Emily and Navin chase after it to save her. With the help of the magic stone pendant, they reach Charnon House, a place where Silas has been hiding and building creatures to keep him company. Silas informs Emily that the pendant grants the wearer the power to rule the land of Alledia, the alternate version of Earth. He urges Emily to master the stone's abilities, and then he dies, leaving Emily and Navin in the hands of a motley band of characters: Miskit the rabbit, Cogsley, Theodore and Ruby, the robots. Together they battle terrifying monsters, survive epic adventures and face off with an evil elf, who wants Emily to kill his father, the Elf King. Emily and posse rescue her mother, but she is in a poison-induced coma. The series continues with them trying to heal her mother (and getting into more adventures.)
MY IMPRESSIONS
The Amulet was a highly entertaining book. The opening section was especially effective in capturing my attention and creating a very dramatic start to the story. During the accident, the panels were irregularly shaped, with sharp edges and larger font, and the characters had expressive faces as the action took place. Important or tense scenes used large (sometimes full page) panels and the muted color palette helped to ramp up the dreamy, otherworldly quality to the book. (It also made the pink of Miskit and the amulet that much more striking.) Gutters were usually consistent and the panels easily flowed from one to the next, making it a fast and addictive read. The monsters and strange creatures were the best part of this graphic novel. The Rakers, tentacled, sharped tooth squid-like beasts, were terrifying! But because of the magical, cartoony quality to the human characters, it would be easier for younger readers to recognize that this book was a fantasy story and not based in real life. However, the 2-D or elongated style of drawing the human characters does not diminish the emotional impact of the dialogue or plot line at all. Emily, Navin and their mother convey such strong, evocative feelings and this helps to develop them as characters and draw readers into the story.
Overall, the text and illustrations worked well together and match in terms of tone, style and age appropriateness. Emily, her family and Silas's creations were all compelling characters. It was impossible not to feel emotionally involved in their lives after Emily's father and Silas died, and I found myself rooting for them over and over again as they battled in this strange world of Alledia. Readers will be chomping at the bit to read part two, especially with the ending of book (when Silas's house sprouts legs and walks away, with everyone inside, to search for a cure for Emily's mother.) Plus, they'll be thrilled to know that Will Smith and Akiva Goldman have optioned The Amulet, combining the first two books into a movie. Screenwriters have been hired but it has not been greenlit yet.
ACTIVITIES
This book would be appropriate for a discussion with grades four and up.
Pretend you are Silas Charnon. Draw a creature you would like to create. What abilities does he/she have? Describe the creature's personality, characteristics and limitations. Next, draw a monster that could exist in Alledia. What does it look like? How does it act?
What would you do if you found a magic amulet? Write a short story with yourself as the hero. Explain the powers included with the amulet, the conflict you faced and the outcome.
Compare and contrast the magical abilities and alternate worlds of The Amulet and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. How are Emily and Harry alike? How do they differ? Which world would you rather inhabit?
2010 Rhode Island Children's Book Award
Eisner Award nominee
Children's Choice Book Award
2009 Best Books for Young Adults nominee
"Gorgeous illustrations with great color bring light to this gloomy tale. Filled with excitement, monsters, robots, and mysteries, this fantasy adventure will appeal to many readers, but it does have some truly nightmarish elements."
School Library Journal
"Almost too clever and poignant, Amulet is, on the surface, about navigating the murky waters of adolescence and beneath that, an exploration of abandonment and survival. Emily and Navin are lost children, literally lost in a dark, new world and struggling to save their mother, who has been kidnapped by a drooling, tentacled beast. With stellar artwork, imaginative character design, moody color and consistent pacing, this first volume's weakness lies in its largely disjointed storytelling. The most frightening element of Amulet is the sense of insecurity we feel for Emily, fighting her way through uncharted terrain with no guide and no support system."
Publishers Weekly, January 28, 2008
"Tragedy leads to high adventure in Kibuishi's latest creation, which is guaranteed to follow in the footsteps of his previous award-winning title, Daisy Kutter (Viper, 2005). The artist's use of color, moving from the poignant warm blues and whites of comfort and family to the smoky browns and blacks of tragedy and mystery, is subtle but highly effective. This artwork, coupled with Kibuishi's distinctive onomatopoeia and tight frames, help to lock the reader into the action and keep pages rapidly turning toward protagonist Emily's fate.
Voice of Youth Advocates, December 1, 2007
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