Module 13: Graphic Novels

A Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan

Summary: This is a graphic novel that tells the story of one family's struggles during the Dust Bowl.  The author uses few words, but the story is told through the facial expressions and body movements shown in the illustrations throughout this book.  There is a mystery within this story of the strange entity that lives in the abandoned barn down the road, and  Jack, a young boy has to muster up the courage to face it.
My Impressions: I am not a graphic novel fan, but I was able to appreciate the illustrations as they truly told the story. I didn't like the rabbit bludgeoning, but understood it was important to the story, as the rabbits were causing more destruction and because it is historically correctly depicted.



Review:

Author: Jesse Karp  

Gr. 5-8.

Ten-year-old Jack and his family suffer the hardships of Dust Bowl America, while a secret in the barn may alter their fortunes forever in this superb graphic-novel evocation of childhood's yearning and triumphs. Phelan (illustrator of the Higher Power of Lucky, 2006) turns every panel of this little masterpiece into a spare and melancholy window into another era, capturing an unmistakable sense of time and place--as found in James Sturm's Satchel Paige (2007)--even as he takes full advantage of the medium's strengths by using fantasy elements to enrich the deep, genuine emotional content, much as Shaun Tan did in The Arrival (2008). All the more impressive is how he balances fleet pacing (thanks to low word density) with a thoughtful, contemplative homage to storytelling and storytellers, which, in the tradition of the greatest tall tales, presents an empowering message that all a child needs to change the world is courage and ingenuity. Great for a wide range of readers, this will work particularly well as a gentle introduction for those new to graphic novels or as an elegant argument on the format's behalf against dubious naysayers. A single warning: there is a restrained depiction of a rabbit slaughter, which could upset more sensitive readers.--Jesse Karp 

Author: not given

The Storm in the Barn written and illustrated by Matt Phelan; Candlewick (Intermediate, Middle School)

Jack, a child of the Dust Bowl, has never seen rain--until he discovers a mysterious figure seemingly made of the stuff in an abandoned barn. Phelan's sparing use of color in his debut graphic novel is stunning; his simple yet profound storytelling and expansive, emotive illustrations masterfully evoke the complex historical and emotional landscapes charted. 

Library use: Add this to the collection of books about the Dust Bowl to gain another perspective of the historical events that occurred during that time.  For older students, this book is a good example of the power of their drawings to tell a story.  Have the students write a story using a story board and no text, only the pictures to tell their original story.
Reference List:
(2010 Jan-Feb.). Review of The Storm in the Barn, by Matt Phelan. The Horn Book Magazine, 86(1), 12. Literature Resource Center. http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA217769724&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w 

Karp, J. (2008,August 1). Review of the book The Storm in the Barn, by Matt Phelan.  Booklist, 105(22), 68. Retrieved from Literature Resource Center. http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA206173046&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w

Phelan, M. (2009). A storm in the barn. Somerville, Mass. : Candlewick.