Phantom of the Opera

October 1, 2009
Grades 3-5 For such a luckless character, the Phantom of the Opera has enjoyed a lot of luck over the past century. Lerouxs initially ignored novel has received boosts from everyone from Lon Chaney to Andrew Lloyd Webber, and though young readers may not know squat about opera, chances are the Phantom himself is on their radar. That familiarity will be key here, as Dunns adaptation works in such shorthand that some sequences border on nonsensical. Thankfully, the story retains its vibrancy: the Phantom, enamored of backup-singer Christine, sees to it that she is promoted to prima donna and trained by him to have the most heavenly voice. Some of the major plot elements are mishandled, including the famous unmasking scenethe Phantom is depicted as a fairly normal-looking fellow. The chandelier crash fares much better, and its this kind of dramatic moment that makes up for some of the confusion. Other horror icons featured in the Graphic Horror series include Dracula, the Invisible Man, and Dorian Gray.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2010
These brief adaptations of classic horror tales may engage comic book fans. For the most part, the shadowy cartoon-panel illustrations and simplified language attempt to stay true to the time periods and creepy atmospheres of the original stories. Awkward text placement is a drawback.

(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)