Alison Dare, The Heart of the Maiden [Paperback]

J. Torres (Author), J. Bone (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 11, 2010 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Alison Dare

Alison Dare: Indiana Jones meets Lara Croft in fabulous, graphic adventures.

Alison Dare is not your typical twelve-year-old. She's the daughter of an archaeologist/adventurer and the masked hero known as the Blue Scarab. To top it off, she's also the niece of an international super-spy; it's no surprise that a craving for danger is in her blood! Unfortunately, her parents have locked her away at the prestigious St. Joan's Academy for Girls, hoping that this would lead to a more "normal" life for their daughter.

But despite all the strict rules at the school, Alison and her best pals - Wendy and Dot - somehow manage to find themselves involved in adventures that rival those of Alison's globetrotting, planet-saving relatives. Whether it's magic genies, super-powered bank robbers, or a dastardly baron bent on world domination, Alison Dare delivers the best thrills since Indiana Jones and more action than Lara Croft!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 4-6–Alison Dare, 12, is impetuous and bossy, and her sidekicks follow the old-fashioned Nancy Drew archetypes of "ditzy and timid but good-hearted" and "tomboyish and frumpy but brave." The initial cast of characters outside of the three girls has little introduction, and struggling readers may have a difficult time following the story lines. In Little Miss Adventures, readers eventually meet Alison and learn her story. The action is more about her archaeologist mom and superhero dad, and because she is introduced late in the text, it's a long wait to find out where she fits in to their exciting world. Kids are likely to be bored or frustrated by that wait. Despite the shaky start, Heart of the Maiden has many entertaining moments (including a run-in with an Evil Elvis as "King Memphis" and a completely believable "he said/she said" account of a mummy's curse). Unfortunately, the black-and-white pen-and-ink cells are cramped and styled for teens rather than the elementary audience these books seem to be trying to engage. For uninitiated graphic-novel readers, they have too much text, which takes the place of action, and the action itself is difficult to follow. Traditional novel fans will find plots filled with holes and main characters who are not particularly likable or easy to relate to. These books would serve best in a collection in which readers are primed for more difficult graphic-novel styles.Sarah Provence, Churchill Road Elementary School, McLean, VA
© Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Review

"Adventure-seekers everywhere have a new heroine to call their own… there is no hero like Alison Dare…. Bone’s expressive black and white illustrations match neatly with Torres’ TV-paced dialogue to create fun, quick reads that will entice both middle grade boys and girls to leap into Alison’s world of adventure."
– Canadianbookseller

"…these short comic books are a lot of fun for young and old alike."
– Matt Staggs, Suvudu

"…are packed with action and wit, and I recommend them to kids and adults alike…."
– Little Willow, Bildungsroman

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 104 pages
• Publisher: Tundra Books; Original edition (May 11, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0887769357
• ISBN-13: 978-0887769351
• Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 0.4 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,458,725 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm currently writing Jinx for Archie Comics. Recent publications include the Yo Gabba Gabba comics from Oni Press. Upcoming graphic novels include Avatar the Last Airbender: Lost Adventures for Dark Horse Comics, Power Lunch also from Oni Press and Bigfoot Boy from Kids Can Press.

Previous credits include Alison Dare for Tundra Books, Batman: The Brave and the Bold for DC Comics, Degrassi: Extra Credit for Simon & Schuster, and X-Men: Ronin for Marvel Comics.

I was born in Manila, raised in Montreal and educate at McGill University, but now call Toronto home.