Locke & Key Head Games Volume 2
Hill, Joe and Rodriguez, Gabriel
ISBN-13 9781600104831
Publisher: IDW Publishing, 2009
Genre: Adult Crossover Graphic
Reading Level: 8th
Interest Age: 14-18
Reader's Annotation:
What if there was a key to your head and you could put whatever information you wanted in there? How would your life be different?
Plot Summary:
The three Locke children Kinsey, Bode, and Tyler are reeling from the loss of their father in a tragic invasion of their home when Bode finds a special key. This key opens the head's of the three children and memories can be stored in there. When the head is opened, there seems to be nothing there until someone looks closely. Tyler thinks this is great and starts shoving books into his head to do well in school. All seems to be going alright when Zack, the family's enemy comes into the story. There is no clear reason why he wants the key, but he does. Manipulation and fights ensue through the struggle to keep their mind's their own. What would happen if Zack can control what goes into their heads?
Hill writes a book that is both thrilling and intriguing and Rodriguez's illustrations create the dark atmosphere needed for the story.
Critical Evaluation:
Locke and Key, Head Games is the second book in a series and is not meant to be read alone. The story seems to pick up in the middle of the family's life which is hard for anyone who has not read the first book. The concept is very interesting but the writing could have been more clear. There are many times in the story where the reader must interpret what is going on by the pictures. There are few descriptions and it makes the whole story hard to follow. The color scheme through the book as well as the illustrations enhance the book immensely. The dark pallet show the darkness in the story without reading a single word. Rodziguez creates people very well. There are many details and each character has a distinct personality. Overall, this book is not the best graphic novel I have read, but there are some interesting qualities that could be taken out of the context and studied.
About the Author:
Joe Hill, born Joseph Hillstrom King, has two famous authors for parents. He began writing under a pen name because he wanted to be recognized for his own talent not his parents. In 2007, it finally came out that Hill was Stephen King's son. Hill's first book, 20th Century Ghosts, holds many of his short stories in one volume. He likes to write horror and fantasy and has written a few other novels.
Locke and Key is a comic series Hill started in 2008. The first book sold off the shelves the first day it was published. Fans loved the new format and enjoyed his comic just as much as his novels. He continues to write and lives in Bangor, Maine with his family.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Hill_(writer)
Curriculum Ties:
This could be used to discuss control in governments or by people. This would be a fun way to reinforce the concept of personal decisions.
The three Locke children Kinsey, Bode, and Tyler are reeling from the loss of their father in a tragic invasion of their home when Bode finds a special key. This key opens the head's of the three children and memories can be stored in there. When the head is opened, there seems to be nothing there until someone looks closely. Tyler thinks this is great and starts shoving books into his head to do well in school. All seems to be going alright when Zack, the family's enemy comes into the story. There is no clear reason why he wants the key, but he does. Manipulation and fights ensue through the struggle to keep their mind's their own. What would happen if Zack can control what goes into their heads?
Hill writes a book that is both thrilling and intriguing and Rodriguez's illustrations create the dark atmosphere needed for the story.
Critical Evaluation:
Locke and Key, Head Games is the second book in a series and is not meant to be read alone. The story seems to pick up in the middle of the family's life which is hard for anyone who has not read the first book. The concept is very interesting but the writing could have been more clear. There are many times in the story where the reader must interpret what is going on by the pictures. There are few descriptions and it makes the whole story hard to follow. The color scheme through the book as well as the illustrations enhance the book immensely. The dark pallet show the darkness in the story without reading a single word. Rodziguez creates people very well. There are many details and each character has a distinct personality. Overall, this book is not the best graphic novel I have read, but there are some interesting qualities that could be taken out of the context and studied.
About the Author:
Joe Hill, born Joseph Hillstrom King, has two famous authors for parents. He began writing under a pen name because he wanted to be recognized for his own talent not his parents. In 2007, it finally came out that Hill was Stephen King's son. Hill's first book, 20th Century Ghosts, holds many of his short stories in one volume. He likes to write horror and fantasy and has written a few other novels.
Locke and Key is a comic series Hill started in 2008. The first book sold off the shelves the first day it was published. Fans loved the new format and enjoyed his comic just as much as his novels. He continues to write and lives in Bangor, Maine with his family.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Hill_(writer)
This could be used to discuss control in governments or by people. This would be a fun way to reinforce the concept of personal decisions.
Book Talking:
What would it mean if thoughts were controlled?
Challenging Issues:
This book could be challenged if in a school library, but it is in the adult section at the public library and may not be criticized more there. The standard policies would be shown to the patron and the selection process would be explained.
Why Read this Book:
This book was an interesting adult crossover book to read because of its concept. I have included it in this collection because there are many teens who like to talk about levels of control and what it means. It is in a comic form which adds a different element to the story as well.
What would it mean if thoughts were controlled?
Challenging Issues:
This book could be challenged if in a school library, but it is in the adult section at the public library and may not be criticized more there. The standard policies would be shown to the patron and the selection process would be explained.
Why Read this Book:
This book was an interesting adult crossover book to read because of its concept. I have included it in this collection because there are many teens who like to talk about levels of control and what it means. It is in a comic form which adds a different element to the story as well.
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