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Andrew Vachss

Zak Mucha

Heart Transplant Hardcover – October 26, 2010

by Andrew Vachss (Author), Frank Caruso (Illustrator), Zak Mucha (Afterword)

16 ratings

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School bullying is universally decried, bemoaned, and condemned. And on the rise. Whether it's a teenager committing suicide as a result of a Facebook posting or a group of schoolchildren taunting another child with autism and filming it for the "entertainment" of others, the longest-lasting, deepest-scarring impact of bullying is emotional, not physical. Failure to understand this has handicapped an already-insipid series of failed "solutions." Heart Transplant is aimed at actually changing the way we deal with perhaps the most critical issue for children and parents alike today. To accomplish this mission, an entirely new genre was created. Neither a graphic novel nor a self-help book, it uses elements of both to reach parents and children alike. The intermingling of word and art is achieved so smoothly that it is experienced as one does words-and-music: you may forget the lyrics and hum the tune, but that very act evokes the lyrics. And if it's the lyrics that stick with you, you'll find yourself humming the tune. The anchoring essay (by clinical social worker Zak Mucha) explains in prose detail what the reader has just experienced. This book will be shelved under "Parenting" and "Young Adult." Why? Because there is no "Bullying" section in any bookstore. And if Heart Transplant hits either target, it will hit both. Nothing like this has ever been tried before. But if it works, the high risk will be rewarded by the greatest prize of all.

Print length

100 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Dark Horse Books
Publication date

October 26, 2010
Dimensions

13.4 x 0.62 x 10.29 inches
ISBN-10

9781595825759
ISBN-13

978-1595825759
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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Let’s be clear right up front. This book expects to be taken seriously. Imbued with the same deadly sober earnestness and hard-bitten sentimentality as Vachss’ Burke novels, the story has some serious shit to lay on you. A nameless child, an outcast by age nine, finds his mother and her hated boyfriend apparently shot to death, and we follow along as he ends up with Pops, a gruff but impossibly wise grandfather figure, who teaches him to damned well show some backbone. Presented in a unique 10-by-13-inch, wide-screen format, Heart Transplant is not a graphic novel per se but rather has images free-floating among passages of dialogue and prose. This chiaroscuro impressionism, as if the world were being viewed through a haze of charcoal and shadow, creates powerful and evocative visuals for a ham-handed reworking of an admittedly important message: stand up for yourself. Worth adding to a collection on the strength of its design and images, or for readers who really need the message hammered home. Grades 6-9. --Jesse Karp

Review

"Somewhere between graphic novel and picture book, Heart Transplant is aimed at ... helping the victims and their parents, family and friends deal with [bullying] effectively." -Publishers Weekly
--vachss.com/pw

"A timeless story about bullying and redemption that will stick with you long after you've turned the last page--a must for any library serving teens." --Michelle Gorman, Columnist, Library Media Connection
--twitlonger.com/show/6kro78

"It seems that every year one graphic novel stands out in my mind from all the rest. This year it's Heart Transplant. Highly recommended for all school and public library YA collections." --iKids/Ingram Library Services
--vachss.com/ikids

The New York Times included Heart Transplant as one of ten graphic books in its 2010 Holiday Gift Guide.

--nytimes.com/2010/11/26/books/26graphicbooks.html

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1595825754
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dark Horse Books; First Edition/First Printing (October 26, 2010)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 100 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781595825759
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1595825759
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.45 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13.4 x 0.62 x 10.29 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,724,249 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,297 in Children's Bullies Issues Books
- #2,998 in Dark Horse Comics & Graphic Novels
- #3,083 in Literary Graphic Novels (Books)

Customer Reviews:
16 ratings

About the author

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Andrew Vachss

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Andrew Vachss has been a federal investigator in sexually transmitted diseases, a social-services caseworker, a labor organizer, and has directed a maximum-security prison for "aggressive-violent" youth. Now a lawyer in private practice, he represents children and youth exclusively, and is a founding member of the Legislative Drafting Institute for Child Protection. He is the author of numerous novels, including the Burke series, three collections of short stories, and a wide variety of other material including song lyrics, graphic novels, essays, and a "children's book for adults." He is most currently engaged in the work of the Legislative Drafting Institute for Child Protection (ldicp.org). His books have been translated into twenty languages, and his work has appeared in Parade, Antaeus, Esquire, Playboy, The New York Times, and many other forums. His books have been awarded the Grand Prix de Littérature Policiére, the Falcon Award, Deutschen Krimi Preis, Die Jury des Bochumer Krimi Archivs and the Raymond Chandler Award (per Giurìa a Noir in Festival, Courmayeur, Italy). Andrew Vachss' latest books are Mortal Lock (Vintage, May 2013), SignWave (Pantheon, June 2015), and Carbon (Haverhill House, 2019). The dedicated Web site for Vachss and his work is vachss.com.

Customer reviews

5 star		58%
4 star		25%
3 star		17%
2 star 0% (0%)		0%
1 star 0% (0%)		0%

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Top reviews from the United States

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tim b

Andrew Vacchs - I'll bet you can't just read one!

Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2017

Verified Purchase

I learned of Andrew Vacchs through two friends (Marc & John) at differing times. He was often mentioned and so I took the bait and started to BUY his books. The first one floored me: it was perfect in it's purpose and structure. To me, it was an easy read as it was in short-story format. A lot of it took me time to digest due to it's honest writing, and of course to it's powerful subject matter. I honestly have not been that moved by a writer in my life perhaps. This book is one of a few where Andrew shares writing credits, but it's also in a 'graphic-novel' format, something I'd usually stay away from. Don't let that deter you - it has a purpose that fits hand-in-glove with the material being presented. Andrew is a force - hard to deny that. His style is both entertaining and educational at the same time. He has a way with words that create specific images or feelings that stir deep. I can't recommend his writing enough, and if you're adventurous, you'll take a leap of faith and find out for yourself.

Helpful

Gianluca L. Ferme

Liked the Comic Book, but Not Devoid of Stereotypes

Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2016

Verified Purchase

This book contains some analises on bullying, some interesting, some common knowledge. I was looking for strategies to fight the mental victimism of the bullied and I am not sure I found it here.

The comic book story contained in the book is interesting, but not devoid of some stereotypes (the fighting Irish spirit that resurges in the bullied kid; Mario, the presumably Italian or Latino bully - when, in my experience, it was always the Italians who were bullied by waspy Americans kids -, etc.) which deflated its power as a teaching tool and distracted me from its message.

Helpful

Davita

Worth Fighting For

Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2011

Verified Purchase

I felt like this book was written to me. Not for me, or even about me. TO me. The sensation is unnerving.

So was the book's accuracy, from the numerous bullying cliches laid out in detail, to the straightforward depiction of the root of the problem faced by Sean, the narrator, and others like him. Why doesn't he fight?

Certainly not cowardice. Or even lack of skill with his fists - those are just more cliches. What Sean was missing was the knowledge, and the belief, that he himself was worth fighting for. It's one of the many gifts he eventually receives from Pops, who sees the kid's horrendous circumstances and makes an on-the-spot decision to give a damn.

Ultimately, I wish the kid I used to be had been given this book. I don't know if it would have changed anything. But the depth of understanding, the message of belief - it would have meant something.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Craig L. Seasholes

Graphic Transplant

Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2010

Verified Purchase

It's been a week since I've read Heart Transplant and I still am shaking my head. It's a timely and important addition to anti-bullying discussions...It's a groundbreaking graphic novel that packs a wallop.

Author Andrew Vachss, illustrator Frank Caruso, and commentary by Zak Mucha gang up with provocative text and suitably dark illustrations that convey the psychological complexity of the bully-victim-advocate triangle. There's nothing easy about being bullying, and Vachss' experience in maximum security prison for aggressive-violent youth offenders is evident in the book's tough dialog and storyline. The book's over-sized dimensions were needed to carry it off...and Vachss website lets you know that's only the tip of the iceberg. Caruso's illustrations are an intelligent mix of visualization and graphic technique, with hints of color punctuating bold black and white frames, insets and full page spreads. Eight pages of insightful commentary and resources by Zak Mucha, LCSW (licensed, clinical social worker) round out this hefty tome.

The book is something special, but where does it belong? Is it for adults or teens? High School? Middle School? What about the graphic violence and hard-nosed advice? Read it for yourself. Share it with others. Discuss. Decide for yourself. Nobody can do it for you (or should). That's what it's all about. Read more!

8 people found this helpful

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SANDY

Excellent book!

Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2012

Verified Purchase

Wow, I received this book today and had to finish it at once! When it comes to bullying and the lies that are out there, This is one for truth! The artwork was amazing! I could go on and on.. Just buy this book right now! Than go to Protect and DONATE!

One person found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Four Stars

Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2016

Verified Purchase

As ordered, as expected

Helpful

Thomas Pluck

A great lesson for parents and children

Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2011

Verified Purchase

Bullies. Everyone's talking about them, but Vachss and Caruso are doing something. Teaching what the heart of a bully is, and what your kid needs to be bully proof: heart.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

bgreene

the master

Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2013

Verified Purchase

I doubt that Vachss has written anything that was not true to those of us who know.
If you haven't read anything of his you've missed something special.
If you read one of his titles and didn't understand, then for you I feel sorry

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Heart Transplant Hardcover – October 26, 2010

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Andrew Vachss

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