Building the Great Wall of China: an Isabel Soto History Adventure (Graphic Expeditions)

Description

Explore history without the confines of time or distance. Dr. Isabel Soto is an archaeologist and world explorer with the skills to go wherever and whenever she needs to research history, solve a mystery, or rescue colleagues in trouble. Readers join Izzy on her journeys and gain knowledge about historical places, eras, and cultures on the way.

Although written and illustrated by different people, each of these graphic novels has a similar look and storyline. Each adventure features Isabel who, with the help of a time travel portal, investigates, explores, and often rescues others. The adventure part of the story happens in current time. Factual information is dispensed by being embedded in speech bubbles making the dialogue choppy and forced, or as narrative throughout the pages. There are also fact boxes which provide related information. In many cases, Isabel travels back to research a historical event as it happened. "More About..." gives additional information about each book's subject, and the same "biography" of Isabel, who is a great role model for young girls. Young readers will enjoy these graphic novels for the adventures, while teachers can use them as introduction to various units. Bibliography. Glossary. Websites. Table of Contents. Index. Recommended.-- "Library Media Connection" Dr. Isabel Soto is on a cattle drive when there is a stampede. She uses W.I.S.P. to jump to safety through the portal of time and lands at the Great Wall of China in 1449. When she arrived, there was a great battle that was taking place known as the Tumas Crisis. The Chinese army was defeated, but the Chinese wanted to protect themselves better from another invasion, so they tore down the present wall and built a new one out of brick and stone. Dr. Soto trades the horse she was riding for her safe return to home. Back in the present she tours the New Great Wall of China and runs into a family whose son Eddie is bored. Eddie gets hold of the W.I.S.P. and accidentally pushes the wrong button and he and Dr. Soto travel back to the time of Emperor Shi Huangdi when the Great Wall was built. Eddie learned what all went into that undertaking and also learned that history can be very interesting. The author provides a table of contents, glossary, bibliography, and a section with additional information about the Great Wall and Isabel Soto. She also includes bubbles throughout the book with additional information. Books written in graphic format are favorites of mine. They make it just the thing for students who are reluctant readers and never seem to finish a book on their own. Young readers who want to read anything they can get their hands on will enjoy the graphics and fast-paced text. The full-color graphics make an enormous impact on the story. This book is perfect for both personal and school libraries and is good for both boys and girls.-- "Children's Literature Comprehensive Database" STORY REVIEW I was so excited to get this book, which is part of a new series just put out by Capstone Press that focuses in on great moments in history through the exploits of the main character, Isabel Soto. This series of adventures is closely related to the Max Axiom series, which centers on science. In BUILDING THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA, Soto uses her magical technology device to transport herself, and a young friend, to the times in China when the Great Wall was being built to keep the invading Mongols out. There is plenty of adventure on these pages written by author Terry Collins, particularly when Soto must rescue her guest as he starts to fall off the wall even as the structure is being pounded by invaders using catapults. Along the way, crucial and intriguing bits of history of the Great Wall of China emerge - sometimes as part of the story itself and sometimes as quick diversions to the main story. The end result is the reader has a strong female character to root for while learning about important elements of history (and even dispelling some of the myths that surround the Great Wall). ART REVIEW The artwork by Joe Staton and Al Milgrom is perfectly suited to the story. The frames show a lot of high action and adventure as Soto jumps back in forth in time from present day to the past, when the wall was under construction and then under attack. IN THE CLASSROOM This book, as well as the other Isabel Soto graphic novels, could find a nice place in a history curriculum. The story is engaging and educational. I did like that the book also includes two pages of historical facts about the Great Wall of China. The book also contains an important glossary of terms that may be out of the vocabulary range of some readers as well as a list of more books on the topic. I do wish that the quick fictional biography of Isabel Soto was at the start of the book, not the back, so that kids could know who she is and why she is traveling through time to different historical periods. MY RECOMMENDATION I would highly recommend this book for any upper elementary, middle and most high school classrooms, although the reading level is more attuned to middle school readers. It is an informative and engaging book. There is nothing inappropriate in here. http: //graphicclassroom.blogspot.com/2010/01/building-great-wall-of-china-isabel.html-- "The Graphic Classroom Blog" This new series in graphic novel format is designed for the middle elementary reading level and will interest students up to ninth grade. Readers explore the world with archaeologist Isabel Soto, who narrates each story and is always ready for any challenge. Whether it is a historical event, a paranormal investigation, or a research mission, she finds the answers. A female hero is a positive role model for all the girls reading this series and for the boys, too, because they learn that females are also independent, smart, and creative. In Building the Great Wall of China students learn that the Great Wall is the longest structure on earth made by humans. The fearless archaeologist shares the history and culture behind the Inca city of Machu Picchu in Investigating Machu Picchu. Also included in this series is a section of information about the featured topic, a glossary, further readings, Internet sites, and an index.-- "MultiCultural Review"