Quiet, brilliant Portia has just moved to a new neighborhood with her mom. Adjusting to life without a father is hard enough, but school is boring and her classmates are standoffish -- and even Portia's mom is strangely distant. But things start looking up when Portia mounts a late-night excursion into the woods behind her house and discovers a shy, sweet-natured purple monster. Life with Jellaby is a lot more exciting, but Portia's purple friend has secrets of his own; secrets that may even lead to the mystery of Portia's father's disappearance!
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Ten-year-old Portia Bennett meets Jellaby, a huge purple monster, when it tries to eat her flashlight while she's out in the woods iin the middle of the night. It doesn’t say anything, and is actually very timid and sweet, so Portia takes it home and feeds it a tuna sandwich. Life becomes increasingly exciting as she tries to keep Jellaby a secret. Lonely Jason discovers Jellaby's existence, and helps Portia care for the monster. When Jellaby points out a photograph from the newspaper, the kids think the monster has given them a clue to its home, but they’ll need to visit Toronto to learn more. Portia and Jason have the physical proportions of the Peanuts gang, and Jellaby is too cute to be scary, but Soo grounds the story in a fairly gritty contemporary reality, where kids deal with bullies and well-meaning adults try to help. Clear, clean lines and easy-to-follow panel layouts round out the package. Grades 4-7. --Kat Kan
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Two eyes, two horns, no flying, doesn't eat people... but it IS purple
February 5, 2008
Format:Paperback
You ever been in love? I don't mean the passing fancy of a crush or the slight flutter you feel when you're fifteen and desperately trying NOT to make eye contact with the object of your affection. I'm talking gut-sucking, heart-churning, complete and utter abstraction, distraction, fractal, fantastic obsession, elation, and absolution. The love that sucks out your breath and leaves you a hollow shaking wreck until you see your beloved again. That kind of love. I don't get that kind of feeling very often. It takes a special somebody. Someone with big blue eyes, a cute smile, maybe a jagged set of lower canines complemented nicely by a red-striped tail. Someone just like Jellaby. Man, the moment I read a mere three panels of this graphic novel I was a goner. "In love" doesn't even begin to cover it. I save my adoration for works of children's fiction that go above and beyond the call of duty and "Jellaby" is one of those comics that can charm you with the merest sigh or shuffle of the feet. With great art and a story to match, Kean Soo knocks it out of the park with this amazing comic that has successfully made the leap from screen to page.
It wasn't long ago that Portia and her mother moved to a new town to start their lives over. Portia hasn't made many friends since then, and she's just going through the motions in her classes as well. What better time to discover a huge purple monster in the back yard then? Naming the strange mute creature Jellaby, Portia unwittingly enlists the help of fellow student Jason, as they two search for a way to find the their new friend's true home. Their search may connect to Portia's missing father, a series of odd dreams she's been having, and a door that's miles and miles away. The stakes, it seems, can be high even when you don't know the rules.
Kean Soo was born in England, raised in Hong Kong, and currently resides in Canada. At a loss to describe what exactly Soo's style of drawing is I searched through the Web to find some kind of list of his influences. I pretty much came up with nothing, so all I can do is call it like I see it. Soo utilizes clean lines and a color palette of four colors: purple (mostly), red, and orange, and the tiniest spots of green. His kids are all big heads with tiny bodies, much as you'd find in something by Bill Watterson. Actually, in an interview with Newsrama, Soo said that initially there was a definite Calvin and Hobbes influence to his work. "I'd like to think that the characters have since overcome that." I'd agree. The physical similarities (not to mention the whole possibly-make-believe-character aspect) are there, but "Jellaby" is its own beast. So to speak.
In the book Understanding Comics, graphic novelist Scott McCloud spends a lot of time talking about how artists working in the comic medium will indicate "invisible ideas", particularly emotions, by distorting the backgrounds of their characters. Japanese comics in particular are adept at inventing these "expressionistic effects", which American comics have for the most part ignored. One of the things I loved about "Jellaby", was that Soo can invent an expressionistic effect like it's nobody's business. The first few pages of this book are chock full of them. When Portia is nervous these beautiful but clearly nerve induced purple lines curl and spiral out from her. Not paying attention is indicated by words growing tiny or appearing behind her head where they remain partially obscured. And when Soo wants you to see a scene from Portia's point of view he keeps most of the scene faint, then brings into sharp focus certain elements or characters. The book is filled with little moments like these. Heck, you could probably design an entire graduate course over Soo's use of technique and the emotional interplay between image and reader response. Even his sound effects are one-of-a-kind and interesting! Call this man the Canadian Katsuhiro Otomo.
It wasn't the cool colors or art or even the writing that made me love "Jellaby", though. It was the characters. Primarily Jellaby himself, of course. If you're going to create a gigantic monster friend, then you obviously need to make him a little lovable. Jellaby's a pretty shameless drawing too, when you sit right down and examine him. Following the rules of cuteness, his head is large in relation to his body, he has a high forehead, the arms are short, he has no neck, and the eyes are spaced low on the head and are unusually large and wide apart. Add in the prehensile tail that he'll occasionally clutch for comfort as well as his cute little legs and you have yourself one adorable monster. Soo knows that a graphic novel is only as strong as its "normal" characters, though, so we have Portia and Jason for our child stand-ins. And no kid on earth is going to read this and not want to be in Jason or Portia's shoes, if only for a second. The fact that you care for them too, purple tails or no, is why the book has its heart in the right place.
I'm sure that there's a lot I've missed in this book. The point when Portia transfers possession of her My Little Pony to Jellaby has some kind of significance. In that pony lies Portia's memories of her disappearing father. And are the names "Portia" and "Jason" significant? What else have I missed? Online, "Jellaby" has already been nominated for an Eisner Award, which suggests that it has fans already firmly in place. It brings to mind another successful webcomic to book crossover (Diary of a Wimpy Kid anyone?) and you can't help wondering if Hyperion is hoping to mimic Wimpy Kid's success. If so, they couldn't have picked a better subject. Touching, fun, funny, and mysterious by turns, don't be surprised if this little graphic novel ends up being one of the favorites of the year.
It wasn't long ago that Portia and her mother moved to a new town to start their lives over. Portia hasn't made many friends since then, and she's just going through the motions in her classes as well. What better time to discover a huge purple monster in the back yard then? Naming the strange mute creature Jellaby, Portia unwittingly enlists the help of fellow student Jason, as they two search for a way to find the their new friend's true home. Their search may connect to Portia's missing father, a series of odd dreams she's been having, and a door that's miles and miles away. The stakes, it seems, can be high even when you don't know the rules.
Kean Soo was born in England, raised in Hong Kong, and currently resides in Canada. At a loss to describe what exactly Soo's style of drawing is I searched through the Web to find some kind of list of his influences. I pretty much came up with nothing, so all I can do is call it like I see it. Soo utilizes clean lines and a color palette of four colors: purple (mostly), red, and orange, and the tiniest spots of green. His kids are all big heads with tiny bodies, much as you'd find in something by Bill Watterson. Actually, in an interview with Newsrama, Soo said that initially there was a definite Calvin and Hobbes influence to his work. "I'd like to think that the characters have since overcome that." I'd agree. The physical similarities (not to mention the whole possibly-make-believe-character aspect) are there, but "Jellaby" is its own beast. So to speak.
In the book Understanding Comics, graphic novelist Scott McCloud spends a lot of time talking about how artists working in the comic medium will indicate "invisible ideas", particularly emotions, by distorting the backgrounds of their characters. Japanese comics in particular are adept at inventing these "expressionistic effects", which American comics have for the most part ignored. One of the things I loved about "Jellaby", was that Soo can invent an expressionistic effect like it's nobody's business. The first few pages of this book are chock full of them. When Portia is nervous these beautiful but clearly nerve induced purple lines curl and spiral out from her. Not paying attention is indicated by words growing tiny or appearing behind her head where they remain partially obscured. And when Soo wants you to see a scene from Portia's point of view he keeps most of the scene faint, then brings into sharp focus certain elements or characters. The book is filled with little moments like these. Heck, you could probably design an entire graduate course over Soo's use of technique and the emotional interplay between image and reader response. Even his sound effects are one-of-a-kind and interesting! Call this man the Canadian Katsuhiro Otomo.
It wasn't the cool colors or art or even the writing that made me love "Jellaby", though. It was the characters. Primarily Jellaby himself, of course. If you're going to create a gigantic monster friend, then you obviously need to make him a little lovable. Jellaby's a pretty shameless drawing too, when you sit right down and examine him. Following the rules of cuteness, his head is large in relation to his body, he has a high forehead, the arms are short, he has no neck, and the eyes are spaced low on the head and are unusually large and wide apart. Add in the prehensile tail that he'll occasionally clutch for comfort as well as his cute little legs and you have yourself one adorable monster. Soo knows that a graphic novel is only as strong as its "normal" characters, though, so we have Portia and Jason for our child stand-ins. And no kid on earth is going to read this and not want to be in Jason or Portia's shoes, if only for a second. The fact that you care for them too, purple tails or no, is why the book has its heart in the right place.
I'm sure that there's a lot I've missed in this book. The point when Portia transfers possession of her My Little Pony to Jellaby has some kind of significance. In that pony lies Portia's memories of her disappearing father. And are the names "Portia" and "Jason" significant? What else have I missed? Online, "Jellaby" has already been nominated for an Eisner Award, which suggests that it has fans already firmly in place. It brings to mind another successful webcomic to book crossover (Diary of a Wimpy Kid anyone?) and you can't help wondering if Hyperion is hoping to mimic Wimpy Kid's success. If so, they couldn't have picked a better subject. Touching, fun, funny, and mysterious by turns, don't be surprised if this little graphic novel ends up being one of the favorites of the year.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By T. Jonker
Format:Hardcover
There are graphic novels that stroll in, hit their mark, and bring the GN lover what they're looking for. The recent "Amulet: The Stonekeeper" comes to mind. If you're into the genre, you'll be a fan - but it's not necessarily recruiting new believers. Then there are your 741.5's that have the ability to bring readers into the fold who have not considered said fold an option. "Jellaby" is one of those books. Honest emotional moments, humor, and mystery combine to make one of the best books of Aught 8.
Portia is an outsider, but not for the usual reasons. She's smart and thoughtful. Her intelligence draws ire from her classmates and leaves her bored in her studies. One night, after a strange dream, Portia discovers a scared monster behind her house. How the purple creature ended up in her yard is not clear, but Portia is determined to keep her new friend a secret while she figures things out. In her efforts to keep "Jellaby" hush hush, she inadvertently pulls classmate Jason into the mix. Now they're partners. A tip from Jellaby about her (his?) possible origins results in a secret trip to Toronto to find out the truth. The story ends just before the threesome reach the big city, with plans for a second book to wrap up the tale.
I can't help but think of one of my favorite movies, "The Iron Giant", when reading this book. There is something about an outsider finding friendship with a really outsider that draws you in. The illustrations are on point throughout, using just a few colors to get the job done. Overall, the effect is an artful and beautifully subtle story that leaves you eager for more.
Portia is an outsider, but not for the usual reasons. She's smart and thoughtful. Her intelligence draws ire from her classmates and leaves her bored in her studies. One night, after a strange dream, Portia discovers a scared monster behind her house. How the purple creature ended up in her yard is not clear, but Portia is determined to keep her new friend a secret while she figures things out. In her efforts to keep "Jellaby" hush hush, she inadvertently pulls classmate Jason into the mix. Now they're partners. A tip from Jellaby about her (his?) possible origins results in a secret trip to Toronto to find out the truth. The story ends just before the threesome reach the big city, with plans for a second book to wrap up the tale.
I can't help but think of one of my favorite movies, "The Iron Giant", when reading this book. There is something about an outsider finding friendship with a really outsider that draws you in. The illustrations are on point throughout, using just a few colors to get the job done. Overall, the effect is an artful and beautifully subtle story that leaves you eager for more.
By Ally Fedorov
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Good story - about a girl without a father meeting a friendly baby monster.
Although there are some things to watch out for - the kids lie to their parents and go on an adventure to get the monster home - might not be the best lesson. Since I'm reading it with my daughter, I can discuss this issue with her, how I and she feel about it, so it is bringing us closer.
Although there are some things to watch out for - the kids lie to their parents and go on an adventure to get the monster home - might not be the best lesson. Since I'm reading it with my daughter, I can discuss this issue with her, how I and she feel about it, so it is bringing us closer.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
the combination of cute and seriousness didn't work for me, Just OK
Reason for Reading: I've wanted to read this since I first heard of it, then I read a short story in a recent Flight anthology. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Nicola Manning
5.0 out of 5 stars
we love Jellaby
Jellaby has great art work and a great story line appropriate for everyone. My daughter and I came across Jellaby in the graphic novels section at the library and instantly feel in... Read more
Published 24 months ago by kfresh
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great for kids!
This book introduces a very cute new series! This book would be ideal for kids that can read a decent amount. The art is colorful and cute and the text is fairly humorous. Read more
Published on April 4, 2010
5.0 out of 5 stars
GreenBeanTeenQueen Reviews
One of the thing I like most about my job is I get to read lots of comic books! After reading this one, Jellaby has quickly become one of my favorites. Read more
Published on July 20, 2009 by GreenBeanTeenQueen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
Jellaby is wonderful. I couldn't get over how amazingly cute it was. Recommended for all ages.
Published on March 2, 2009 by Janice Mcconville
5.0 out of 5 stars
adorable graphic novel with shades of ET
Portia, a lonely 10 year old girl with no friends, meets a mysterious monster who looks a bit like a baby Barney the dinosaur. Shades of E.T. Read more
Published on December 16, 2008 by M. Tanenbaum
5.0 out of 5 stars
charming
I spent the last two weeks writing two 20ish page papers about graphic novels. I can rattle off titles, a brief history of the term, benefits of the format, the difference between... Read more
Published on December 11, 2008 by Miss Print
5.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderful start to this fanciful tale
My 12 year old son and I both enjoyed this book. Engaging story, great art and characters that we could relate to and sympathize with. Read more
Published on July 27, 2008 by Michael J. Barzacchini
4.0 out of 5 stars
I <3 Jellaby
Portia doesn't fit in at school - she reads above everyone else's level, she can't make friends, and she has trouble keeping her mind on class. Read more
Published on March 6, 2008 by Bonnie Svitavsky
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