I Am Reading: Zach Weinersmith and Boulet
Bea Wolf by Zach Weinersmith 👉
| Illustrated by: | Boulet |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | St Martin's Press |
| Publish date: | 21 March 2023 |
There is an epic poem from a far off time, of kings and heroes, villains and monsters. And … candy?
Zach Weinersmith and Boulet take on this ancient, fragmented, oft-translated tale and turn it into a children's hero myth. The Beowulf of the original becomes Bea Wolf, mightiest of kids. The vicious Grendel monster becomes horrible neighbour Mr Grindle, who, if he catches you, will subject you to an awful fate – becoming an adult…
The book starts with treasure. A kid finds a treasure chest and uses it to – of course – buy an immense amount of sweets, games, toys, and anything else his gang want, before establishing the realm of Treehouse. Kids grow up, new kids come along, Treehouse remains. But when faced with the horror of Mr Grindle, only one hero can save them, a kid from a nearby gang come to help them in their hour of need: Bea Wolf.
With a fabulous rhyming style that conjures up ancient sagas, and atmospheric artwork that somehow manages to be both heroic and childishly fun, the book sets off fast and doesn't stop. The real trick is that it plays everything seriously, from staying up late to the terrible Mr Grindle, from nerf guns to water fights. Everything is a saga, and at first, I simply enjoyed the humour of swapping candy for gold. But as the story progresses, the style captures you. Before long, you really will see this as a battle of heroes and monsters, grand actions and terrible calamities. This is a tale to be read under flickering candlelight, or to be told around a camp fire. It is glorious in its victories and harrowing in its defeats. It is everything it should be, and absolutely worthy to carry the 'Beowolf' name.
It's hard to judge the age range. It's a graphic novel, and the language is straightforward, but the style is different to what young readers might expect. Middle grade and above, perhaps? But if you like the Hobbit or The Lord Of The Rings, then you will love this. Read it and celebrate the heroes of this world!
(Many thanks to Zach for sending me my copy!)