Into The Volcano - Hardcover

Wood, Don A.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0439726719 ISBN 13: 9780439726719

Publisher: The Blue Sky Press, 2008

Synopsis

Caldecott Honor Illustrator and international bestseller Don Wood creates his first full-color graphic novel, filled with action, drama, and adventure.

Sumno and Duffy pugg (brothers) are told they must travel to a volcanic island to help an aunt they have never met. When they arrive on the island, they soon discover that their mysterious auntie is up to no good. They are sent on an expedition that take them on a wild boat ride straight into an errupting volcano. Facing extreme danger, they hike inside the volcano and eventually escape--after Sumno saves Duffy's life. Here is an action adventure that will immidately hook young readers.

About this title

About the Author:

Don Wood is the internationally beloved illustrator of numerous classics such as IT'S DUFFY TIME!; THE NAPPING HOUSE; KING BIDGOOD'S IN THE BATHTUB; and JUBAL'S WISH. He recently wrote and illustrated his brilliant graphic novel, INTO THE VOLCANO (now in paperback, 2012). He and his wife, Audrey, live in an off-grid, untamed area of Hawaii with their three dogs, two goats, and a flock of chickens.

Review:

From School Library Journal
WOOD, Don. Into the Volcano. illus. by author. 176p. map. Scholastic/Blue Sky. Oct. 2008. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-0-439-72671-9. LC number unavailable.
Gr 5-8-This intense mystery-adventure coming-of-age chapter book is done in comic-book style-something of a departure for Wood. Two brothers, Duffy and Sumo, are sent to Hawaii to visit their mysterious aunt, who hustles them off on a perilous expedition into the bowels of an erupting volcano, accompanied by strangers whose skills are obvious, but whose trustworthiness is not. The dangers the boys face are terrifying, especially an interlude during which Sumo, wracked by guilt and indecision after he thinks his brother has fallen to his death, is trapped in the dark on an underground cliff and is visited by the specter of Death. That the children, who appear to be 10 or 12, have been exposed to such peril knowingly by an adult who has been entrusted with their care is a dark vein running through the story. Wood's vividly colored artwork brings the perils the siblings face into startling focus. Keenly observed depictions of the Hawaiian landscape and geological processes lend an impressive veracity to this exciting and unusual offering. It is a rare example of a graphic novel for young people that is neither manga nor mainstream.-Paula Willey, Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, MD --School Library Journal

Brothers Duffy and Sumo Pugg embark on an adventure when their eccentric aunt invites them to come
see the island of Kocalaha, their mother s birthplace. Duffy, excited to get away from the gloomy winter in
their home town, jumps at the chance, but Sumo is worried: a lot of things could go wrong so far away
from home. The boys are taken into the heart of a volcano to explore and learn more about their heritage,
but the problem is that the dormant volcano is in the midst of waking up. The situation quickly becomes
increasingly deadly, and between the family s secrets and the volcano s power it appears neither will make
it out alive. With such a thrilling story, Wood scores points for both pacing and characterization. The
action moves along at break-neck speed, and through all of the twists and turns the reader is left
wondering if the boys will survive. The art is beautifully rendered in thick bold lines and a rich color
palette, and is a nice break from the mainstream comic style. While this adventure may be a little too scary
for younger readers on their own, it makes a fun book for parents and children to share together.
Tina Coleman --Booklist

From Caldecott Honoree Wood comes an inventive and imaginative graphic adventure. Brothers Duffy and Sumo Pugg are mysteriously pulled out of class one day and sent to the island nation of Kokalaha to stay with unfamiliar family members. The boys meet Auntie, the shady matriarch of the household (who resembles Ursula from Disney s Little Mermaid), who sends the boys and their newfound cousins on an expedition into a volcano. Danger ensues, and the boys must fight for their survival, and, ultimately, discover the truth propelling their quest. For the first time, the boys must work together and make their own choices outside of adult supervision. Wood s illustrations of the fictional Kokalaha are particularly clever and lush, though his world-building is somewhat lacking in its development and could leave its readers with questions. The narrative moves along swiftly and incorporates elements of fantasy, demanding that the audience suspend disbelief and roll with the punches. Those who do will find a rollicking, fast-paced story that resolves itself nicely an overall creative yarn of greed, family and survival. (Graphic fiction. --Kirkus Reviews

About this edition

• Publisher: The Blue Sky Press
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0439726719
• ISBN 13: 9780439726719
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 176