Bone Volume 1: Out from Boneville by Jeff Smith

Book Summary
Fone Bone's cousin Phoney Bone has gotten himself in trouble again. In an effort to help Phoney escape the angry mobs in Boneville, Fone Bone and his other cousin Smiley Bone all run from Boneville. After traveling for some time, they realize they are completely lost. They find themselves caught in a storm of locusts which separates them all from each other. Fone Bone makes his way into a forest where he befriends many of the creatures. He also realizes that a dragon is watching over him and protecting him from the evil rat creatures who want nothing more than to eat him. Fone Bone also meets Thorn, a very attractive young girl who lives with her grandmother, a famous cow racer. Even with his newly found happy life in the forest, Fone Bone doesn't give up hope that he will find his cousins and return to Boneville.

My Thoughts
The story of Fone Bone and his adventures is truely a great read for anyone from elementary school students and up. Jeff Smith's expressive characters are illustrated so simply yet with so much emotion. This is a graphic novel series that I will continue to read and will recommend to friends and patrons.

Library Usage
This graphic novel is a great tool getting relectuant readers to start reading. I would use it on a display for graphic novels in the young adult section of the library as well as in a readers advisory pamphlet. It could also be used to help launch a library program or contest based on graphic novels.

Journal Reviews
School Library Journal
"A whimsical journey, cunningly told. It combines fable with American legend in a tale of greed, friendship, and struggle." Scott La Counte, Anaheim Public Library, CA


Publishers Weekly, February 07, 2005
"The story is something like a Chuck Jones version of The Lord of the Rings: hilarious and action-packed, but rarely losing track of its darker subtext about power and evil. This volume is the most lighthearted of the bunch, though, featuring some of the wittiest writing of any children's literature in recent memory-a few of Smith's gags are so delicious that he repeated them for the rest of the series. This is first-class kid lit: exciting, funny, scary and resonant enough that it will stick with readers for a long time."