The War at Ellsmere

by Faith Erin Hicks

Book Overview

Zombies Calling creator Faith Erin Hicks brings her manga-fueled art style and pop-culture sensibilities to girl's boarding schools in her latest book The War at Ellsmere. Jun is the newest scholarship student at the prestigious Ellsmere girls' boarding school -- but to a lot of the privileged rich girls, "scholarship student" is just a code for "charity case." Fortunately, Jun has an ally in the quirky Cassie, who swears the stories...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 159362140X
• ISBN13: 9781593621407
• Release Date: December 2008
• Publisher: SLG Publishing
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 10 to 13 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 8

Customer Reviews

Great read

I had to read this for a comic book English class I took last year. I really enjoyed it- for me it was like Gossip Girl with a swirl of Gossip Girl. I know that if I had read it when in middle school I would probably have wanted to read more comics like this one. It had a punch- literally- when the antagonist got a little too in your face with Juniper. Juniper's attitude was great, exactly what I'd want to see in a young teen trying to just get what she needs done, done. The only thing that was a little hard to take was the unicorn. Other than that, GREAT. :-D

What lies behind this state

A romantic mansion turned into a boarding school. A mysterious forest. A bookish outsider and a nasty clique. Either this setting will make you perk up with interest or leave you cold, but don't be fooled by Ellsmere's respectable and traditional facade. Like the titular boarding school itself, there are depths, horrors and rewards awaiting those who venture past the stately facade. The War at Ellsmere is indeed a charming boarding school tale spiced with just a dash of magical realism. Yet Faith Erin Hick's work rises above the field crowded with aimless Harry Potter wannabees and tomes of inflated autobiographical anguish. The witty self awareness of the dialog is sharp enough to amuse, yet never falls into the trap of it's own cleverness. Through out it all our heroines Juniper and Cassie remain authentic to subtle insecurities and character triumphs of teenagers. Equally notable is the absolutely engrossing artwork. With bold black ink strokes and an occasional gray wash Hick manages to draw an amazing range of scenes both intimate and expansive. Yet it the girls roaming the halls of Ellsmere that are the most remarkable. The combination of subject and medium is a recipe for simplified caricatures differentiated only by stereotypical attributes, but Hick's young protagonists are anything but. Juniper's tomboyish dress and sullen defensiveness change in a flash to a mischievous determination all while remaining unmistakably her. Cassie's art work is even more remarkable, capturing both her ethereal elfin features and unspoken emotions in a handful of heavy dark lines. Even our antagonists individual fashion sense deserves note. Are there negatives? Of course, but I'm not writing a school essay or proving my critical chops by nitpicking a creation I would be proud of myself. Hick's work was a delightful surprise and personally I can't wait for her next creation. In fact I think I'll go order more of her books now...

graphic novels are great for struggling readers

I use the ALA great graphic novel list to purchase good reads for my classroom and I really enjoyed this choice and so did my kids.