Amulet Book #1: The Stonekeeper Paperback – January 1, 2008

Amulet, a graphic novel by Kazu Kibuishi (Flight, Volume One, Daisy Kutter: The Last Train), is geared towards the 9-12 age group. However, the novel will captivate anyone that begins to read it as they are swept along a moving story with beautiful illustrations.Our young heroine Emily witnesses the death of her father in the opening pages of this novel. Emily, her mother, and her brother Nevin move into the home of their missing great grandfather. There are secrets lurking within the house, one that soon ensnares Emily's mom. She's dragged from the basement by a tentacle through an open door and Emily and Nevin must go on a rescue mission to another world.This story captivates the reader from the beginning. The reader is compelled to feel for the characters of the story, from Emily witnessing the death of her father to watching her mom being dragged away by some unknown creature. Although this is only the first part of the series the reader gets a true sense of the characters, their feelings, and their emotions and is left hanging at the end of this book and wanting more.What really sells the story are the illustrations as they capture and convey the moods of the characters and their surroundings. The drawings have a light airy quality to them, with a simple, but moody, color palette to show off the extensive use of shadows to convey emotions of the character in graphic detail. The reader is never left wanting or wondering what the characters are thinking, the colors clearly display what they feel--the age of the great-grandfather is written into the lines on his face, the fear and courage of Emily as she seeks to save her what's left of her family. As the story progresses a darker palette is used and we are left wanting the lighter colors to return. Something unique about the drawings is that when the story first begins the characters almost look undefined. While we can read their emotions they are merely shapes on a page. However, as the story progresses they gain more depth and emotion.This novel is a must read. A strong young heroine, with monsters and robots as well, enough to keep any crowd entertained. The moving illustrations and compelling story make this a great read and the book is highly recommended for all ages.

Love it great book great story good condition

The Stonekeeper is the first volume in Kazu Kibuishi's graphic novel series. Although aimed at middle school, it is good for upper elementary school children, and is enjoyable for adults as well. 2 years after the death of Emily and Navin's father in a tragic car crash, Karen moves her children to the family's old house in a dense forest. Built by Karen's grandfather Silas who then disappeared, it has been abandoned for years. During the first night, they hear a strange noise, and Karen is captured by an Arachnopod, a creature from a parallel world, Alledia. Emily and Navin follow their mother into the parallel world where they find their ailing great-grandfather Silas. He tells Emily about the power of the amulet she found in his house. It is the key to ruling Alledia. Silas expires, but not before instructing his robot and animal minions to aid Emily and Navin. This first volume, besides setting the story arc, narrates the rescue of Karen. Unfortunately, she is poisoned setting up the next volume for finding the antidote.Besides an engaging story with compelling characters, Kibuishi is a fantastic illustrator. As with many exemplar graphic novels the spare text is amplified and much of the story told through his illustrations. The creatures of Alledia are strange enough to pique our imagination, but not so much that they are totally alien in form.After reading Stonekeeper, I am eager to see what happens next with Emily and Navin, and their company.

First thought You killed someone in the first few pages of a kids book! Wait Disney movies kill people off too. Okay, shock over.I likes how the mother helped keep the kids upbeat when the moved into the old home and had to clean it and on the way there she was understanding of their feelings and was encouraging them to like their new home. Even encouraging Emily to learn more about her great grandfather. Just not be like him.Emily was super brave for a kid who watched her father die and her mother get snatched by a monster. She took responsibility of her brother and the amulet and decided to help save her mother and the world that they were in. I liked the Emily has choices not just that she has to do something because she was given the amulet but she had the choice to. She also had the choice to seriously hurt someone but she made the choice to let him live even though he wasn't the nicest of beings. I like that she lets her younger brother help out and notices when he might be better suited for the situation because of his past favorite past time ( like my son, most kids and some adults...its gaming)The story was great. A little dark but you get the whole light at the end of the tunnel feeling. That the characters will achieve what the set out to do. I also enjoyed the whole family thing. The illustrations were wonderful. I even slowed down and went back to look at the artwork. I look forward to reading this series and being able to talk about it with my son. It was a great start to a fantastical adventure.Now that I think about it I'd recommend this to kids around middle grade but like I said my son has been reading the series for awhile so, maybe use caution it does have monsters and evil doers and its a little dark but not so much that I wouldn't say you shouldn't read this with a younger kid. I'm actually thinking about starting it with my youngest soon.Great characters, Wonderful story and artwork, a quick read ( at least for me, an adult), fantastical adventure. I'll continue to recommend it to others and look forward to reading it with my youngest and continuing the series.

It was very good my son loved it and we always will. Thank you and we would like to see more books like this