Phantom of the opera book illustrations
This autobiographical novel is a well-meaning, fast-paced and often exciting read, though at times the writing feels choppy. A daring rescue mission at the end of the novel will have readers rooting for Julian even as it opens his family’s eyes to his courage and resourcefulness. Julian is quicker-witted than his brothers or anyone else ever imagined, though, and with his inherent smarts, developing maturity and the help of child and adult friends, he learns to navigate the dynamics of the camp and surroundings and grows from the former baby of the family to independence and self-confidence. Here he discovers that a ruthless bully has essentially been put in charge. And in a world filled with books about wanting to fit in with the athletically gifted supercliques, this novel unabashedly celebrates the artsy crowd in all of its quirky, creative glory.Ī fast and funny alternative to the Wimpy Kid.Īfter Castro’s takeover, nine-year-old Julian and his older brothers are sent away by their fearful parents via “Operation Pedro Pan” to a camp in Miami for Cuban-exile children. While the artsy antics may be over-the-top at times, this is a story about something that most preteens can relate to: the struggle to find your authentic self. Light and humorous, with Knight’s illustrations adding to the fun, Jake’s story will likely appeal to many middle-grade readers, especially those who might otherwise be reluctant to pick up a book. Or is he? It’s up to Jake to either find the talent that lies within or embarrass himself in front of the entire school. All is well until Jake discovers that the end-of-the-semester talent show is only two weeks away, and Jake is short one very important thing…talent. So how did Jake get accepted to the Music and Art Academy? He faked it.Īlongside an eclectic group of academy classmates, and with advice from his best friend, Jake tries to fit in at a school where things like garbage sculpting and writing art reviews of bird poop splatter are the norm. He can’t read music very well, and he can’t improvise. There’s no bones about it: young readers will get a taste of the classic in a fun and humerus way (wocka wocka).īlack sixth-grader Jake Liston can only play one song on the piano. As in many children’s stories, there is entertainment for older readers with abundant modern references, often found in footnotes, as in a tidbit about Beaker’s burial alongside Oscar Wilde, Molière, and Jim Morrison.
#Phantom of the opera book illustrations full
This puntastic tale is full of beloved faces, such as the grouchy pranksters Statler and Waldorf. This may cause older readers mild confusion at first, but children will likely read without inhibition, as the experience of coming across names and objects they recognize and some things they may not is a familiar one. The main difference between this book and the classic (other than the cast) is the conglomeration of time periods, with a mix of details drawn from both the 21st and the 19th centuries. As in the classic, Piggy Daaé rises as a star of the Paris Opera House due to training from an Angel of Music, who in this tale is a Koozebanian of Music from the planet Koozebane (or is he?). Vicomte Kermit de Chagny and Mademoiselle Piggy Daaé are the main characters and love interests in this tragic tale. The plot is much the same as the original, with Muppets filling in for the original characters. Its sale will benefit the FOS arts foundation.The Muppets put a humorous spin on the classic tragedy The Phantom of the Opera. As the Phantom catalogue copy explains, "The true first, as here, was issued without a printed price thus allowing bookstores to assign their own price (beyond the suggested retail price)."Įstimated at $25,000-35,000-on par with last year's copy only because this one is a bit chipped-this unique jacket is sure to draw attention from collectors of modern firsts. "We've never seen another copy without the price on the spine panel," said Larson.Īt the suggestion that this jacket was some kind of publisher's trial, Larson said he didn't think that was likely. A consignor brought it to Swann having done some research of his own his copy, he revealed, lacks the $1.25 price on the spine. Larson, who worked on that sale, was therefore very surprised when another Phantom first in its jacket surfaced again a few months ago. Last November, Swann Galleries sold the first jacketed example to appear at auction for a record-breaking $35,000. Published in 1911 by Bobbs-Merrill Company in New York, Phantom is one of those modern first editions that is nearly impossible to find in its dust jacket (of which there are two variants). Coming to auction later this week is a first American edition of Gaston Leroux's novel, The Phantom of the Opera, that is very likely unique, said John D.