Graphic Novel Review – Finding Gossamyr TP Vol 1 by by David Rodriguez, Angela Nelson, Sarah Ellerton (5/5 stars)

Reading Level: Middle Grade
Genre: Graphic Novel/Fantasy
Length: 132 pages
Publisher: Th3rd World Studios
Release Date: October 1, 2013
ISBN-13: 978-0983216162
Stand Alone or Series: 1st book in the Finding Gossamyr TP series
Source: Borrowed from Library
Rating: 5/5 stars

I saw this in the library and was immediately drawn to the absolutely stunning artwork. This ended up being both a wonderfully creative story and an incredibly beautiful visual experience, that is a great read for all ages.

Jenna has her hands full trying to take care of her genius, but troubled, younger brother Denny. When Denny gets a chance to work for an elite company Jenna is excited but nervous about what they want from Denny. As a test Denny is supposed to solve a very difficult theorem. Denny can solve anything, however against his nature he stops because he is worried about what might happen if he does solve this theorem (a theorem that has driven many people insane). When Denny is forced to solve it him and Jenna end up in the fantastic world of Gossamyr. In Gossamyr you only have to solve a theorem in the air to make magical things happen. This is easy for Denny…too easy…and him and Jenna draw the attention of enemies better left unseen.

This was a wonderful book in so many ways. First I will comment on what drew my attention to the book, the illustration…which is more artwork than meer illustration. The colors are lush and beautiful, the drawings soft and detailed. I was absolutely in love with the the illustration in this book.

Then you have kids traveling to an amazingly magical land where magic is controlled by mathematical theorems…I love math! I love magic! This was such a fun and creative idea, I really enjoyed it. The concept can be a bit abstract (ha ha get the math joke there?), but it’s not so complicated that middle grade kids and older won’t be able to grasp the concepts.

On top of all that you have a young boy who obviously is autistic and is a genius but is challenging to deal with. He ends up kind of being the hero of the story. I love it when books have an atypical hero, not to mention it’s a great way to show how kids who are different can make a big difference.

Denny’s sister Jenna is a wonderful character too. She’s in a tough spot, trying to get her own degree and also taking care of her young brother. She obviously loves Denny and wants to do right by him, but she is also human and gets frustrated with him. I loved how you can see both her love and her frustration throughout this book.

All the characters we meet in Gossamyr are wonderful. After the graphic novel there is a mini-book that goes into the history of Gossamyr in more detail. I really enjoyed the world-building and the level of thought that went into creating this world.

Overall this is an absolutely amazing graphic novel that is great for all ages. The illustration is stunning and the story is amazing. I enjoyed the detailed world-building, the magic system, and the wonderful characters. I really hope we see more graphic novels in this world. Highly recommended for all ages, especially for fans of fantasy graphic novels.

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
– Graphic Novel Reading Challenge
– You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge