“Angus: Have you boys heard of the legendary sea monster of Chowder Bay?....She goes by the name of ‘Old Salty.’ Some say she’s lived in Chowder Bay for thousands of years! They say she carved out the bay with her two monstrous claws during the mesolithic age.” p. 34
Reader's Annotation
A whole summer in Maine without TV is not Jack’s idea of a good time…until he and his little brother Benny meet Angus, who warns them about “Old Salty,” the monster who lurks just off the shore.
About the Author
Matthew Loux grew up in eastern Connecticut, vacationing often along the New England coastline. He attended college at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, and now lives in Brooklyn. He is the creator of Sidescrollers, one of ALA’s and YALSA’s “Top 10 Great Graphic Novels for Teens”.
Genre
Adventure, Comedy
Reading Level/Interest Age
9-11 years
Plot Summary
Brothers Jack and Benny, eleven and eight years old respectively, along with their mom and dad, are going to spend the summer at Chowder Bay, a quiet little town on the coast of Maine. Jack is very unhappy about the thought of a summer without TV, but Benny is looking forward to the new experience. To Jack’s further disgust, the family’s first stop in town is a shop selling this awful-looking candy called taffy. But when he tastes it, he is instantly hooked. Once the family is settled in their vacation house, the brothers meet Angus O’Neil, who mentions that there is a sea monster living in the bay. Angus had a previous tussle with the monster, a huge lobster called “Old Salty,” and has been trying to get a good photograph of her since. Suddenly, the summer is filled with excitement for the boys. When the taffy shop is later robbed, the intrigue deepens. Who would do such a thing? And why does the state investigator sent to solve the crime look so unusual? Solving this mystery and preventing further candy theft will require Angus and the boys to keep their eyes open and remain alert…and perhaps even encourage a small rebellion.
Series Note
Subsequent titles in this series include Vol. 2: A Climb Up Mt. Barnabas (2008) and Vol. 3: The Truth About Dr. True (2009).
Critical Evaluation
This funny and action-filled story moves along at a fast pace, and is really a short gem. In black and white drawings, Loux conveys the characters' emotions with just enough detail, but not so much that it takes away from the plot. I liked the fact that a page or two of action without dialogue sometimes appears, this provided a nice balance. Jack and Benny have distinct personalities, and each has a chance to shine. There are a couple surprising plot twists toward the end, which leave the reader wondering what will happen in the next installment of this quarterly series. I found myself smiling throughout the story, and laughing out loud at many scenes, especially those involving the smaller lobsters’ social interactions. And I did not predict the outcome of the mystery surrounding the state investigator…very inventive! I highly recommend this graphic novel for its humor and energy, and its focus on making one’s own fun in any circumstance.
Booktalking Ideas
• Show and read some of the scenes involving Jack and Benny’s sightings of mysterious dark figures.
• Give a character booktalk as Jack, deciding that the vacation just might be exciting after all.
Curriculum Ideas
• Literature: Students find and share with the class other stories or folktales involving legendary creatures.
• Art/Literature: As a class, students create a graphic short story in turns, each student viewing only the cells/pictures of the student who contributed just before them, before they continue the story with their own cells. At the end, all cells will be put together for all to enjoy.
Potential Challenge Issue & Defense
I do not foresee any challenges to this book, but if any were to arise, the following steps could be taken in defense:
• Become familiar enough with the book’s content to promote its literary merits.
• Refer to library’s collection development policy.
• Refer to book reviews from authoritative sources such as ALA, School Library Journal, etc.
• Obtain book reviews from tweens who have read it.
Why I Chose This Book
A classmate recommended this graphic novel during her group genre presentation, and I thought it sounded great!
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