A stellar sampler from some of the most popular graphic novelists working today, from the Holms and JJK to Raina Telgemeier and Ursula Vernon. ( )

The stories are overall funny and well written although some are better than others. I really didn't like that everything is coloured on the scale of orange. It's a good introduction to a number of styles and most are bound to discover a new author to read. ( )

Last year around this same time I fell into a bit of a reading slump (yes, it happens to everyone) and I picked up a little comics selection called Comics Squad: Detention hoping that it would revive me. I'm happy to say that it did the trick. Thinking lightning might strike twice, I delved into Comics Squad: Recess! by Jennifer L. Holm, Jarrett J. Krosoczka, Dan Santat, & Raina Telgemeier which is another book from this collection. This book explores the theme of recess with the authors/illustrators charged with coming up with stories which somehow incorporated this theme. (Some accomplished this feat more successfully than others as a few barely mentioned recess at all.) I especially enjoyed the last 2 stories both visually and from a narrative standpoint. (If you're curious, the two stories are "300 Words" by Dan Santat which was a love story and "The Rainy Day Monitor" by Raina Telgemeier & Dave Roman which was about a RPG kickball game.) I like recommending this series to burgeoning graphic novel/comics fans since it contains a variety of storytelling and art styles to give them a better idea of what they might like. This is a great idea for anyone, regardless of age, who might be interested in sampling different writers and illustrators. 8/10 overall and certainly wouldn't say no to reading more from this series (or from the two artists mentioned). ( )

The strength of this is the Dan Santat story. Really well done. ( )

Several of the big names in graphic novels for youth are featured here, with mini-spinoffs off familiar titles and original works. Fans of Babymouse, Lunch Lady, Captain Underpants, etc., come on down! ( )