Matt Phelan is the author-illustrator of three previous graphic novels: the Scott O'Dell Award-winning The Storm in the Barn, Around the World, and Bluffton, which was nominated for three Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, including Best Graphic Album. He is the author-illustrator of Druthers and the illustrator of many books for young readers, including Marilyn's Monster by Michelle Knudsen and The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron, winner of the Newbery Medal. Matt Phelan lives in Pennsylvania.
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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