Bibliographic Information:
Title: Graceling
Author: Kristin Cashore
Illustrator: Gareth Hinds
ISBN: 9780358250470
Publisher: Clarion Books
Copyright Date: 2021
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Graphic novel
Reading Level/Interest Level: 14+
Plot Summary: You can tell Katsa is Graced by the color of her eyes; like others in the Seven Kingdoms, she has augmented natural abilities. Unlike others, her Grace means she can kill anyone, and so she is used by the king to threaten and intimidate. But strange things have been happening; a queen in a far-off realm has locked herself away, children and animals have been dying mysteriously, and a handsome prince with a similar Grace turns up at Katsa’s court. Together, they decide to find out what is happening in the neighboring kingdom and test the far range of their abilities.
Author Background: A self-professed “nerdy kid who drew all the time,” Gareth Hinds went to art school but ended up working in the video game industry as an artist for many years (Hinds, n.d.). In his spare time, he made a graphic novel version of Beowulf that he self-published, and it proved so popular that he has since gone on to create many critically acclaimed versions of classics such as King Lear, The Odyssey, and Romeo and Juliet. His friendship with Kristin Cashore, author of the modern classic fantasy Graceling, led to their collaboration on this book (Hinds, n.d.).
Critical Evaluation: This a beautiful graphic novel that will make Cashore’s novel more accessible to visual learners and reluctant readers. (Full disclosure, I have not read the original book, although you can bet I will now!) Cashore’s story is full of emotional complexity; the story is about consent, self-control, power, and their impacts on love. Hinds’ classic illustrations are a perfect fit with the story, like medieval tapestries come to life. He has talked about how he changes his artistic style depending on the project, and he chose brilliantly here (Hinds, n.d.). He varies panel size to convey emotion and urgency, exquisitely detailed maps give context, and the text is well-chosen to match the images. Long silences stretch out so that the emotional resonance of the story can settle. All in all, this is a beautiful object on its own that will also lead readers to the original for more.
Creative Use for a Library Program: Great fantasy books always have a fabulous map to ponder, from Middle Earth to Earthsea Hinds’ maps are real treasures and add to the story. A map-making workshop at the library for fantasy fans will allow them to lose themselves in worlds of their own making.
Speed-Round Book Talk: Katsa’s Grace means she has power over everyone, and yet she’s under the thumb of a king. Will love, no matter how reluctant, open her eyes to the true nature of her power? Will she be able to use it to pursue justice, no matter the danger?
Reason for Inclusion: This is a classic fantasy story, with a powerful message about standing up to someone manipulating the truth. It is more resonant than ever in the age of fake news and the spread of misinformation. It’s a beautifully illustrated book that makes that message even more accessible than the original.
Want more? Here’s Gareth Hinds showing his workflow for the Graceling book:
References
Arch, Jenny. “CASHORE, Kristin. Graceling.” School Library Journal, vol. 67, no. 10, Oct. 2021, pp. 97+.
Hinds, G. (n.d.) About me. Retrieved from https://garethhinds.com/wp/about-me/
Kirkus (September 15, 2021). Graceling — the graphic novel. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/kristin-cashore/graceling-graphic-novel/
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