Matt Phelan sets his graphic retelling of “Snow White” in 1920s New
York, with both its Ziegfeld Follies glamour and its impoverished
Dead End Kids.
—The New York Times Book Review
The visuals are deeply effective: entire sections are wordless,
propelling the reader through dramatic scenes and inviting
reflection during quiet, contemplative spots...Pencil, ink, and
watercolor illustrations break out of loose panel structuring;
sharp lines and shadow heighten tension and expanses of open white
space sometimes draw the eye to a specific scene. This graphic
novel will find a welcome home with fairy-tale fans who have
outgrown the Disney version (or, less likely, the Grimm version)
but still find the tale compelling.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)
Phelan (Bluffton) delivers a spectacular 20th-century update of
“Snow White,” transplanting the story to Jazz Age and
Depression-era New York City, where themes of jealousy, beauty, and
power find a comfortable home...Moody gray and sepia panels carry
the story forward, punctuated by splashes of lurid red—for an
animal heart, procured at a butcher’s shop, or an apple tainted
with a syringe. Snow’s affectionate relationship with “the Seven,”
a group of street children, is among this adaptation’s most potent
elements. The boys are hesitant to tell Snow their names, but
readers will want tissues on hand when they finally do.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Spanning the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression, Phelan’s
noir-esque adaption of the classic fairy tale is atmospheric,
clever, and touching...Especially resonant are the relationships
that the heroine builds with her young protectors. The last few
colorful pages will tug at heartstrings as Snow, the Seven, and an
intrepid Detective Prince get their happy endings. A stunning,
genre-bending graphic novel for all middle grade and middle school
collections.
—School Library Journal (starred review)
Phelan masterfully shifts a tale heavily reliant on magic and
fantasy into a realistic and historical setting without
compromising plausibility. Creating sweeping and dreamy watercolors
that play with emotion and color, Phelan is an exquisite visual
storyteller, and he lets expressive, wordless sequences carry a
large portion of his interpretation. With a keen historical slant,
a bit of action and intrigue, high visual interest, and the
fairy-tale leaning, this will awe a wide readership. Brilliant.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Pencil, ink, and watercolor images (in mostly sepia tones, with
occasional spots of color: red for the poisoned apple, for example)
move readers’ eyes across each page, providing an appropriately
cinematic noir sensibility. This cinematic effect is further
enhanced by the feel of constant movement, the varied panel sizes,
and a judicious use of text. Some scenes are wordless; for others,
Phelan uses varied fonts to enhance the drama. By the final
wordless all- color sequence (spoiler: there is a happy ending), it
is clear that this is an original and darkly beautiful take on the
classic tale.
—Horn Book
In a series of silent-movie-like vignettes, Phelan puts a Jazz Age
spin on the classic tale of Snow White...Readers hungry for graphic
adaptations of fairy tales will find their appetites slaked
here.
—Booklist
I don’t think I’ve ever actually enjoyed the story of Snow White
until now. Hand this book to graphic novel fans, fairytale fans,
and any kid who’s keen on good triumphing over evil.
—A Fuse #8 Production (blog)
Fans of Snow White will enjoy this new take on the beloved tale—a
graphic novel set in Depression-era New York...All of the
illustrations are full of emotion, propelling the story forward
quickly with minimal dialogue.
—School Library Connection
How Phelan manages to tell this nail-biter of a story with so few
words in comic-strip panels is a testimony to his great talent, and
his murky pencil, ink and watercolor artwork elegantly captures the
ominous mood. Dark, gorgeous and ultimately heartening.
—Shelf Awareness for Readers
Phelan’s wonderfully expressive and realistic faces do most of the
storytelling, and readers will linger on the dynamic structure of
each page, as the artist’s characteristic soft edges contrast with
interesting page layouts...Fans of Brian Selznik’s books will enjoy
this one.
—VOYA
With atmospheric, largely monochrome watercolors, Mr. Phelan
reworks the old story with chilly elegance but also tenderness of
heart:
—The Wall Street Journal
Film noir and fairy tales each offer their own unique escapes into
worlds that dramatize our fears and fantasies. In Snow White: A
Graphic Novel, Phelan draws from the best parts of each form to
create both a hardcover hideout and an artful homage to be read and
revisited panel by panel, frame by frame.
—Boing Boing
Nowhere is Phelan's combination of drawing prowess and storytelling
ability more on display than in his 2016 graphic novel Snow White,
which is sparing in its use of text, conveying most of the story
solely through its artwork.
—Drawing magazine
Featured/recommended in Holiday Gift Guide
—Publishers Weekly
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