Amulet: The Stonekeeper

Amulet: The Stonekeeper
Kazu Kibuishi
Scholastic, 2008
Grades 3-Up
Graphic Novel
Amulet series volume 1

This popular series starts out with a bang as young Emily's father is killed in a car accident while she and Mom are also in the car, yet survive. Forward fast to early teen years as Mom, Emily and younger brother Navin move into an ancestral family home with the hope of a new start. The house is creepy and dirty with mysterious noises. Emily discovers an ancient amulet in the dusty library that must have belonged to her grandfather. The amulet seems to grow with power. Meanwhile, Mom gets kidnapped by a mysterious creature and Emily and Navin fall into a distant land while trying to save her. This new land has strange beasts and hidden dangers. A helpful rabbit named Miskit leads them to their long-lost grandfather, who is on his deathbed. It is now up to Emily to carry the mantle by accepting the amulet's power and trying to save the kingdom. She accepts, if only to try to save Mom. A rescue attempt ensues and the gang must battle other unusual creatures, including an evil elf, in order to bring Mom to safety.

The release of the eighth Amulet installment, Supernova, has set my library on its ear. It seems that all of the kids in Fair Lawn are rediscovering this series and are clamoring for the latest book. I would love to read Supernova, yet the waiting list is too long. In the meantime I thought I would give the original volume a second look since it’s been ten years since I read it. Certainly, it holds up and I remembered why the series is so awesome. Perfect for fantasy fans with a manga vibe, Amulet is a great suggestion for smart kids looking for a graphic novel with a bit of bite. The mysterious world is fully realized, the characters are interesting and strangely believable, and the action never stops. There is an element of mystery to the series that will keep the reader rolling from volume to volume to see how it is resolved and the characters become more developed as the series continues. I heard an interview with the author who said that you don't have to read at least the first few Amulet books in order, but I do think that they build and I would recommend doing just that. When we first created our graphic novel section I placed the books under the series title, thinking that the author is unknown and that kids would have a hard time locating them. This has changed and Kazu Kibuishi is force to be reckoned with as one of the best in the industry for both his Amulet series and other work. I would highly recommend this series to all serious graphic readers.