Author: Liam O’Donnell
Illustrator: Mike Deas
ISBN: 9781551437569
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Pub Date: Sep/01/2007
Pages: 64
Synopsis
Devin, Nadia and Marcus are on their way to visit their parents who are working to stop a logging company from clear-cutting a remote valley.
When their plane crashes and the pilot is killed, the kids are left to survive in the wild with Wiley, an environment ministry bureaucrat and the only other passenger on the plane.
Learning to build a shelter and make a fire in the woods, they discover that Wiley is not all that he seems and will do anything to stop his secret getting out.
On the run and in mortal danger, the three must outrun Wiley, escape a raging forest fire and outwit a hungry grizzly bear to make it to safety.
Combining pulse-pounding adventure and survival skills in a colorful graphic novel format, Graphic Guides are sure to be a hit with young readers. Wild Ride is illustrated by Michael Deas and packed with survival tips including how to build a fire and set a broken limb.
Author: Liam O’Donnell
Illustrator: Mike Deas
Format: Graphic Novel
ISBN: 9781551438801
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Pub Date: October/01/2008
Pages: 64
Synopsis
Fresh from his adventures in Wild Ride, Marcus is back and helping his cousin, Bounce, learn to skate. Between learning how to ollie and do a 50-50 grind, Bounce and his friends also have to avoid the skate-park goons and take on the outlaw bikers who are terrorizing the small town. Excitement, action and some radical skating tips. Hang on for another wild ride!
Graphic Guide Adventures is a new graphic novel series for 8 – 14 year olds, combining comic book action with graphic step-by-step guides that teach readers everything from building a shelter in the wilderness to landing a sweet skateboarding trick.
Author: Liam O’Donnell
Illustrator: Mike Deas
Format: Graphic Novel
ISBN: 9781551438849
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Pub Date: April/01/2009
Pages: 64
Synopsis
Nadia is playing for her local soccer team, and they have made it all the way to the national tournament—against some very determined opposition. Unfortunately, Nadia’s challenges don’t just come from her opponents but from her teammates as well. After their coach is injured in a suspicious accident and the threats against the team mount, it is up to Nadia and her younger brother Devin to pull the team together and take a run at the championship.
Author: Liam O’Donnell
Illustrator: Mike Deas
Format: Graphic Novel
ISBN: 9781554690657
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Pub Date: October/01/2009
Pages: 64
Synopsis
When Karl Reed, Owner of Oasis Developments, tries to force the sale of a local fruit farm—through whatever means necessary—Pema, Bounce and Jagroop decide to expose him through the media. Little do they realize that when it comes to the news and the advertisers who make it possible, the truth is not always part of the story and nothing can be taken at face value. While learning about media consolidation and the power of money over truth, Bounce, Pema and Jagroop decide to take on the developers and the media.
Media Meltdown is another exciting graphic novel adventure from the winning team of Liam O’Donnell and Mike Deas. The first three books in the series have all been best-sellers, and two of them, Soccer Sabotage and Ramp Rats, have been Junior Library Guild selections.
Author: Liam O’Donnell
Illustrator: Mike Deas
Format: Graphic Novel
ISBN: 9781554690671
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Pub Date: April/01/2010
Pages: 64
Synopsis
While Devin and Nadia spend summer vacation at a university camp for little kids—Nadia as a counselor and Devin as an unwilling participant—their mother’s research project is vandalized and her motives are questioned. Devin, Nadia and Simon stumble upon shady characters, corporate conspiracy and a plot to take over the nation’s food supply with genetically modified fertilizer.
Mixing action and suspense with information on the agricultural system and the intricacies of the food supply, Food Fight is another gripping installment in the Graphic Guide Adventure series.
Author: Liam O’Donnell
Illustrator: Mike Deas
Format: Graphic Novel
ISBN: 9781554690695
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Pub Date: April/01/2011
Pages: 64
Synopsis
Book Six in the Graphic Guide Adventure series Devin and Nadia team up with Bounce, Pema and Marcus as they all travel to Northern Ontario to watch their parents present to the Summit of World Leaders. A swarm of politicians, lobbyists, corporate bosses and protestors have all converged on the summit to get their messages heard. A tragic accident just hours before their parents’ presentation plunges the kids into their biggest mystery yet and sets them on the trail of a murderer bent on stopping their parents’ controversial message from being heard.
It’s a fight against the planet’s power players as the kids dive into the world of politics, uncovering how government works, the history of democracy, the influence of lobbyists and corporations on politicians and the potential of civil society to change it all.
Awards
2008 CCBC Best Books starred selection
2008 Hackmatack Children’s Choice Award nominee
2010 CCBC Best Books
2009 Joe Shuster Comics for Kids Award nominee
2008 Junior Library Guild Selection
2008 Resource Links “The Year’s Best”
2010 CCBC Best Books
2009 Junior Library Guild Selection
2011 CCBC Best Books starred selection
2009 Resource Links “The Year’s Best”
2011 CCBC Best Books
2011 Joe Shuster Comics for Kids Award nominee
Reviews
Cory Doctorow, www.boingboing.net – December 20, 2009
“A good mix of instructional and narrative comic, using the medium’s strengths to illustrate how media is made, and giving kids the tools they need to research media-making for themselves. The mystery plot is simple, but has some good tension and twists, and the resolution is really sweet. Understanding how media gets made and learning to make your own media are critical skills for kids, and this is a great starting-point.”
Booklist – January 1, 2008
” . . . the easy-to-follow survival adventure will engage reluctant readers, especially ones curious about survival skills. Deas’ full-color art is packed with action . . .”
Quill and Quire – December 2007
“ Fans of graphic novels will like the edgy, clever illustrations and the zippy back-and-forth dialogue . . .[readers] will certainly enjoy this fast-paced, well-drawn story.”
Canadian Materials Magazine – Nov 9, 2007
“For those (and there certainly are many) upper elementary and middle school students who have been caught up in the graphic novel craze, Wild Ride will provide them with the excitement, artwork, drama and, very importantly, the reading ease that they are looking for. Recommended.”
VOYA – February 1, 2008
“Tweens and younger teens will be drawn to the graphic style and story line.”
“If you happen to have students that are struggling in reading I suggest that you introduce Wild Ride as it is sure to capture their interest and excitement!”
“This title is perfect for reluctant readers and adventure aficionados.”
