Jellaby

When Portia, a lonely young girl, discovers a lost dragonlike (in the scaly, winged, purple, cute and adorable sense of the word) creature, she makes quick friends, but soon realises a true friend would help Jellaby find his way back home. When Jason, an energetic young boy, also discovers Jellaby, they use Halloween as a cover to all sneak off to Toronto with the hope of finding a mysterious door that they think might lead to Jellaby's home.

It does not go smoothly.

Kean Soo's style and story may seem to target young children, and while they'll certainly find Jellaby appealing, Soo's story is really universal in its appeal and execution. The purple palatte lends a sombre tone to the overall story and his toonish art distills character and emotion, rather than reducing them. Indeed the stakes and situations in the second volume are quite high and could prove scary to some young readers, even as they prompt deeper thoughtfulness from older ones.




There is a medition here on selflessness, and of learning to put the needs of those we care about ahead of ourselves, as best we can, despite our own hurts and shortcomings. Portia and her mother and Jason are flawed enough that we can identify with their pains and struggles and happiness. Our whole family, adults, kids and teens, loved really enjoyed the two volume story. As Jeff Smith, creator of Bone says, "Jellaby will steal your heart."

Kean Soo has a website: http://www.secretfriendsociety.com/ where you can check out some Jellaby shorts, and read a preview for the graphic novel. Also hosted there is Hope Larson's Salamander Dreams, which I haven't yet read.