Explorer: The Hidden Door

Gr 4–8—Readers are once again presented with an array of stories created by a cast of comics authors and illustrators smartly assembled by Kibuishi. With a balance of styles, sensibilities, and palettes, the work showcases seven unique approaches to the central theme of finding a hidden door. Most of the entries hinge on a kid facing an emotional or physical peril. In "Asteria Crane," Kibuishi delivers a cinematic tale of experimental dream therapy that could easily be at home as a sci-fi film. In "Luis 2.0," Jen Wang shares a sweet vignette about wanting to become someone else, only to find it's better being one's authentic self after all. The range in this slim volume is expansive. From funny to deep and fantastical to refined, all of the stories have a compelling narrative arc. The colors are just as varied, and are universally dynamic and nuanced. Consider this (and previous series installments) as a necessary addition to any graphic novel collection.—Jenna Lanterman, formerly at The Calhoun School and Mary McDowell Friends School, New York City