cover image The Red Pyramid: The Graphic Novel

The Red Pyramid: The Graphic Novel

Rick Riordan, adapted by Orpheus Collar. Disney-Hyperion, $21.99 (192p) ISBN 978-1-4231-5068-8

The first book in Riordan's Kane Chronicles gets the graphic novel treatment. The story follows that of Riordan's 2010 middle-grade novel of the same name, which stars Sadie and Carter Kane, the children of famed Egyptologist Julius Kane. When their father accidentally unleashes a dangerous Egyptian god at the British Museum and vanishes, the siblings embark on a perilous journey around the globe, which reveals hidden truths about their family. The plot lends itself fluidly to the graphic novel format, and Collar's cinematic artwork is well equipped to handle the story's larger-than-life mythological action. Gone is the digital recording narrative gimmick of the original book; instead, the twists and turns of Riordan's intricate story line are delivered through dialogue and through Sadie and Carter's dual narration, which appears in small color-coded panels. Collar, who also worked on Riordan's graphic novel adaptation of The Lightning Thief, packs his spreads with rousing technology and magic, as well as tongue-in-cheek details. New readers and existing fans alike will dive right in. Ages 10%E2%80%93up. Agent: Nancy Gallt, Nancy Gallt Literary Agency. (Oct.)