Cross-X: The Amazing True Story of How the Most Unlikely Team from the Most Unlikely of Places Overcame Staggering Obstacles at Home and at School to Challenge ... Community on Race, Power, and Education

Average customer rating:

Similar to 'The Game', but not about pickup artists

Not so fast!!!

Powerful tale of the fight to succeed despite racism

Strongly recommended for debaters, teachers, and teenagers

I Won a Round with Cross-X

Cross-X: The Amazing True Story of How the Most Unlikely Team from the Most Unlikely of Places Overcame Staggering Obstacles at Home and at School to Challenge ... Community on Race, Power, and Education
Joe Miller
Manufacturer: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Gifted Tongues: High School Debate and Adolescent Culture (Princeton Studies in Cultural Sociology)

Speak Out! Debate and Public Speaking in the Middle Grades

The Art of Deception: An Introduction to Critical Thinking : How to : Win an Argument, Defend a Case, Recognize a Fallacy, See Through a Deception,

Forensics: The Winner's Guide to Speech Contests

Special Topics in Calamity Physics

ASIN: 0374131945
Release Date: 2006-10-03

Book Description

In Cross-X, journalist Joe Miller follows the Kansas City Central High School’s debate squad through the 2002 season that ends with a top-ten finish at the national championships in Atlanta.

By almost all measures, Central is just another failing inner-city school. Ninety-nine percent of the students are minorities. Only one in three graduate. Test scores are so low that Missouri bureaucrats have declared the school “academically deficient.” But week after week, a crew of Central kids heads off to debate tournaments in suburbs across the Midwest and South, where they routinely beat teams from top-ranked schools. In a game of fast-talking, wit, and sheer brilliance, these students close the achievement gap between black and white students—an accomplishment that educators and policy makers across the country have been striving toward for years.

Here is the riveting and poignant story of four debaters and their coach as they battle formidable opponents from elite prep schools, bureaucrats who seem maddeningly determined to hold them back, friends and family who are mired in poverty and drug addiction, and—perhaps most daunting—their own self-destructive choices. In the end, Miller finds himself on a campaign to change debate itself, certain that these students from the Eastside of Kansas City may be the saviors of a game that is intrinsic to American democracy.

Customer Reviews:

Similar to 'The Game', but not about pickup artists.......2007-09-26

The premise of Cross-X is very similar to 'The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists' by Neil Strauss; a journalist decides to write a book. Joe Miller wrote it about a debater; Neil Strauss wrote it about himself. There are actually a few parallels in debate and pickup; there are rules and guidelines, some people obsess and know every little detail, it's considered a game by those who play it, etc.

So if you liked The Game for its writing, you'll like Cross-X. If you liked The Game for its subject matter, you'll probably be disapointed; Joe Miller is a cool dude, but he doesn't know NEAR as much about social dynamics as Neil Strauss.

Not so fast!!!.......2007-05-22

Aside from the questions of the politics of liberation in education and the difficulties of racial balance in urban schools, there are two inner conflicts at work in the context of this piece of reportage. The first has to do with the shift in practice in academic/policy debate from what could be called persuasive oratory - as the book presents it speeches designed to convince "Suzie's Mom" to a high speed delivery, multiple flow theoretical presentation designed for experts in the subject and style. The difference is a rate of delivery more than one and a half times that of most casual speech, laden with acronyms and jargon. And then there is the challenge to this. The second conlictis the competing areas:small schools vs. large consolidations, urban vs rural, public vs private. At the college and university level the regional organizations have almost disappeared. Debate is an endowed activity or a speciality ( sometimes for ideological reasons, one finds schools with agendas also tend to have debate programs). To really understand what goes on in this book, this inside knowledge is helpful.

So I warn, if you are not going to misread events, "What do you know about academic debate?" It is a complex world, the shifting forms of which are at work in this book: NFL (the original one), NCFL, TOC, CEDA, NDT as well as city, state and regional leagues and tournaments. At first blush it seems there are obvious nasties and obvious good guys, aspiring inner city youth and dedicated teachers, dullard administrators and power mad bureacrats. But you really need to know a bit more if you are going to truly understand this nationwide, multi linked and important activity. And it is important- the precentage of public figures with high school/college debate experience is not much less than the number of NFL (football one that is) players with highschool/college football experience. Miller portrays some empathetic individuals and some he can't stand, but it is vital that any reader be aware that this is advocacy journalism, much like the advocacy debate he is pushing for in the book. Many of the "enemies" are there because of principle not laziness or self interest. The history of debate, changing from the persuasive oratory of the sixties to the speed delivered ethos of the seventies, to the pedagogy of liberation theory influenced rhetoric in the eighties has morphed to performance activity and has filtered from colleges down to high school. Those presented as standing in the way, may in many cases be standing against the educational ideas of Pauolo Freire and Jonathon Kozol and in favor of rather traditional, non deconstructive rhetorical theory.

Mr Miller's book is told from the experience of African-American students in an inner city high school. One must consider why a student is involved in what is admittedly a highly competetive activity. His advocacy reminds me of the alternative of being highly successful in the "game" chosen by one of my outstanding students who said concerning Ebonics, "This little brown girl knows if she is going to take care of herself in this world she better know when to write 'I am' and when 'I Be.'" This is the problem of privliging of a discourse. Mr. Miller( and the performance school) do not acknowledge that within a context or ethos certain discourse is privleged and to act differently is to invite retribution. We are educated to do and not to do a number of acts. And here is the rub, what is truly discriminatory, and is the debilitating effect of any discrimination best fought on a personal or organizational basis. The argument goes on and on.

Powerful tale of the fight to succeed despite racism.......2007-02-03

Cross-X by Joe Miller covers about a year in the lives of several students from Central High School in Kansas City, Missouri as they travel on the debate team. They face racism, infighting from the state activities board, and the choices made by their own family. Miller does an amazing job taking this story and making it accessible to all readers. The stories of Ebony, Marcus, Antoine, and Brandon are poignant stories of survival. These black teenagers compete against white kids from private schools and win because of their quick wit and determination to win. Miller completely changed my ideas about debate: what it is and what it stands for. He includes a history of Central High School, a flashpoint in the controversy over Brown vs. Board of Education and also the site of an astronomically expensive renovation to encourage white families to move to the district. Instead these teens have to face ambivalent teachers, tough home lives, and peer pressure in an environment that expects them to fail. The story ultimately becomes about racism and the right to be different. The only disappointment in the book is when Miller inserts himself into the story by becoming a coach to two of the boys. As an objective observer, Miller was able to narrate a tale showing all of the different sides to these young men. As an active participant, he becomes strident as he attempts to be their savior. As such, the ending is a bit of a let-down. The book exposes the deep differences between black and white education and points out that we need to make a change so that all children have the same opportunities for education so they can succeed. It opened my eyes to the incipient racism in schools today.

Strongly recommended for debaters, teachers, and teenagers.......2007-01-28

I think that Cross-X may be one of the best non-academic education-related books that I have ever read. I want to recommend it to everyone. The book's got a lot of things that make it great: nailbiting suspense (during the descriptions of intense debate competitions), depressing history (about farcical desegregation efforts in Kansas City), highly detailed character portraits (when delving into the histories and quirks of the main characters and their families), musings on journalist ethics (when the author Joe Miller [no relation, by the way] realizes that he's becoming personally involved in the story) and reflections on the nature of racism (throughout the entire book).

As a debate teacher, many of the details about inner-city schools, their students, and the students' parents rang true to me -- and Joe Miller's self-critiques about his perceptions of the debaters and their backgrounds also rang true.

This book is so fascinating that I carried it with me everywhere so I could keep reading and find out what happens next. Usually when I do that with books, they're well-written works of fiction with detailed characters and amazing plot twists; the real-life story that Joe Miller tells is every bit as captivating as the best fiction.

I Won a Round with Cross-X.......2007-01-10

I bought this book for my daughter, who teaches in an inner city high school, after hearing it reviewed on NPR. She has loved it! The book addresses two areas very dear to her heart: high school debate and American race relations. Since I have not read the book myself, I can only tell you that it was a winner with my daughter (an educational award-winner herself).

We're Different, We're the Same (Pictureback(R))

Average customer rating:

Great Book for All Kids
Excellent!
Great teaching tool.
Cute book
Kids enjoy it

We're Different, We're the Same (Pictureback(R))
Bobbi Kates
Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0679832270
Release Date: 1992-10-13

Book Description

Illustrated in full color. The colorful characters from Sesame Street teach

young children about racial harmony. Muppets, monsters, and humans compare

noses, hair, and skin and realize how different we all are. But as they look

further, they also discover how much we are alike.

Customer Reviews:

Great Book for All Kids.......2007-09-27

This is a wonderful book for all kids. I read it with the children in my life and have them point out which one is their nose, eyes, mouth, skin, etc. and point out that we are all different and the same and isn't it great?!

Excellent!.......2007-04-28

This book is absolutely great for young children. It stresses the importance of how even though we are all different, we are all basically the same. It teaches children to accept everyone no matter how they look, what race they are, etc. This should be on the bookshelf of every child. It is also great for those with multi-racial families.

Great teaching tool........2007-04-01

This book is so sweet and my 3 year old loves it. I love the fact that it teaches that deep down we are the same but at the same time being different is a good thing. How boring would our world be if we were all the same?

Cute book.......2007-02-17

It didn't really hold my son's attention. I'm not really sure why. Maybe because a lot of the characters weren't recognizable as Sesame Street characters. Otherwise it does a good job of showing the similarities in all humans (we all have noses that do the same thing, etc.) I only gave it four stars because my son wasn't interested after 2 or 3 reads.

Kids enjoy it.......2006-03-10

My children ages 2 and 3 enjoy this book. They like picking out the pictures they think look like them. The interesting thing is that skin color is not the criteria they use. We are in the process of adopting a child of another race and I bought this book to begin discussion about it. They love the book and the pictures keep them interested.

Good Night Chicago (Good Night Our World series)

Average customer rating:

Good Night Chicago

Good Night Chicago (Good Night Our World series)
Adam Gamble
Manufacturer: Our World of Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

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ASIN: 0977797929

Book Description

Many of North America’s most beloved regions are artfully celebrated in these boardbooks designed to soothe children before bedtime while instilling an early appreciation for the continent’s natural and cultural wonders. Each book stars a multicultural group of people visiting the featured area’s attractions—such as the Rocky Mountains in Denver, the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Lake Ontario in Toronto, and volcanoes in Hawaii. Rhythmic language guides children through the passage of both a single day and the four seasons while saluting the iconic aspects of each place.

Customer Reviews:

Good Night Chicago.......2007-03-08

While the book isn't as good as Good Night Moon, it is a good representation of Chicago and a fun way for little kids to learn about the city.

Choose a College Town for Retirement: Retirement Discoveries for Every Budget (Choose Retirement Series)

Average customer rating:

Retirement in a College Town
Choosing a college town for retirement
Stop Being Such A Crab!
Voting with the Majority
An Excellent Resource

Choose a College Town for Retirement: Retirement Discoveries for Every Budget (Choose Retirement Series)
Joe Lubow
Manufacturer: Globe Pequot
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Accessories:

Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers

ASIN: 0762703938

Book Description

Travel, investment, and living opportunities for every budget.

Customer Reviews:

Retirement in a College Town.......2006-03-08

There was some good information but the book was not as useful as I had hoped. The maps were not useful at all and the regional breakdown was strange.

Choosing a college town for retirement.......2005-09-21

Very informative. A lot of very useful information for each town that let's you "comparative shop" each town against the others.
There could be another 20-30 college towns included for completeness.
The book is set up well in a good order.

Stop Being Such A Crab!.......2005-08-31

This is great book! It covers the whole country evenly. It's well-rounded, lively, and has a unique point-of-view: college towns!

Every time I look for a good places-to-retire book, virtually every one is picked apart by a bunch of crabs! There's not a single book of this type on Amazon with 4, 4 1/2 or 5 stars! Give me a break! If you can do a better job, write a book on places to retire, yourself!

Voting with the Majority.......2004-11-30

This book might be of good use to a person with no idea of what college and university towns exist in the United States. But despite the great pains the author takes in the introductory chapter to tell us how many miles he traveled in researching it, for anyone -- like me -- who has looked into the subject a little Choose a College Town will feel slim and superficial, with a decided tilt toward the places -- Santa Cruz and Bennington, VT, e.g -- that the author already knows well. I could also do without the cutesy (?) borrowing of obvious 60's song titles for chapter sub-heads. Exam this in-store before buying.

An Excellent Resource.......2003-10-15

I found this to be an excellent, useful, and delightfully readable guide. Lubow has selected college towns throughout the country that he considers especially appealing candidates for retirement and profiles each in a thorough and thoughtful way. His writing style is clear, unpretentious, personal, and honest. This book is both useful and fun to read. Highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

A memorable book
Losing Joes Place
One of the Best
sterling example of korman's best work
GREAT BOOK

Losing Joe's Place (Point)
Gordon Korman
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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ASIN: 0590427695

Customer Reviews:

A memorable book.......2006-02-10

The last time I read this book was almost 10 years ago, and I remember it as one of the funniest, most enjoyable books I have ever read. I can still remember having several laughing fits the first time I read it...this book is hilarious!

Losing Joes Place.......2004-03-02

Losing Joe's Place was a pretty good book. It seemed like everytime you turned the page something new happened.
It is about these three boys who leave for the summer to live in the big city. They are able to stay at a friend's borther's apartment. Once they arrive at the apartment complex they find out its nothing like they imagined. First of all the apartment complex is located in a dull and dumpy part of the city. Then they meet their landlord Plotnick, which is not a pleasant experience. He is a grumpy older man who has a major attitude problem. which is not a pleasant experience. After they are all settled in their apartment they go out for the night and have a good time, but in the morning they find out that they have a very large bill. After paying the bill they are flat broke. The boys get a job at Plastics Unlimited. One of the three boys figure out a way to design an automatic feeder system. So that eliminated the need for feeders, the other 2 boys. The boys spend most of their summer jumping from job to job.
Throughout the book the three boys have little feuds with the landlord, Plotnick.
The three friends conquer obstacles everyday such as finding their stolen car or paying a hefty bill. But whatever it is it will keep you turning the pages.
I would definitely recommend this book to younger people, though adults would have fun reading it also.

One of the Best.......2003-02-27

I haven't read this book in almost six years, and I still remember it as one of the funniest and enjoyable books that I've ever read. I remember laughing out loud as I read the story. I recommend this book not only to young adult readers, but anyone who reads for entertainment. It's great!

sterling example of korman's best work.......2002-12-22

i love gordon korman, and most of all i love his older books featuring high-school students, who are capable of acheiving much more mayhem! this book follows the adventures of three boys who borrow one boy's older brother's apartment in the city for a summer. they soon realize that they are in way over their heads, but in the end their creativity and sheer luck pull them through. a wonderful book

GREAT BOOK.......2002-11-26

Losing Joe's Place was the best book I ever read. I thought it was the best book because it was three boys who had and apartment to themselves for the whole summer and they end up messing up everything. It was funny to see them mess up the apartment they were in, not get the girls, and not even have enough money to pay the rent. Not only was that funny but when they first got to the apartment it was nothing they expected. They thought it was going to be beautiful and big but it was in the ghetto area, one room apartment, over a deli, and the paint was peeling off.

When reading this book I did not lose interest once. Every page you turn there is something happening that makes you want to read what's going to happen next. The author was going from bar fights to two guys going out with the same girl at once and it just grabbed my attention. Not only were the events in the book making me want to read more, but also the characters.

Out of the three characters I liked Don the best. I liked Don because he tried to get all the women but was never successful but he never had a negative attitude. Ferguson and Jason would always say we have no chance but Don would also be the one who said we do have a chance. Also I liked Don because he was the leader of the group and he took charge of everything. The author did a very good job in creating the characters. I liked all three of them but Don more than the others.

In conclusion Losing Joe's Place was a very good book. I learned many things from reading this book. For example don't take two friends with you if one of the friends hates the other. This caused many problems in the book and instead of Jason's plan to get them to be better friends they ended up hating each other more and more. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a humorous book or a book about teenagers. If I loved this book I think everyone would love it too.

Average customer rating:

Great Find!

The Journey of Oliver K. Woodman
Darcy Pattison
Manufacturer: Harcourt Children's Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0152023291

Book Description

Have you seen Oliver K. Woodman? You'd know if you had--he's made of wood. And he's on a spectacular cross-country journey. Folks of all sorts guide Oliver along the way and report back in letters and postcards to his friend Uncle Ray. After all, there's a lot of road--and adventure!--between South Carolina and California.
Oliver's been spotted truckin' in Texas, riding in a Utah parade, and scaring off bears in the California redwoods. Where will he show up next? Read the letters. Follow the map. And buckle up for a road trip you'll never forget!

Customer Reviews:

Great Find!.......2003-07-08

I found this book today at a teacher's Literacy Conference and fell in love with it. As I was reading so many ideas popped into my head. I can't wait to for school to start so I can teach from this book. Geography, Kindness, and family love are just a few things I will teach from this book. I hope everyone who reads this book will enjoy it as much as I have.

Good Night Boston (Good Night Our World series)

Average customer rating:

Rockabye Cradle of US History
Disappointing
A little bit of home...
Great series!

Good Night Boston (Good Night Our World series)
Adam Gamble
Manufacturer: Our World of Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

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ASIN: 1602190038

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

Rockabye Cradle of US History.......2007-09-17

This delightful little book introduces very young readers to famous landmarks and sites in Boston. It's a good teaching tool and anybody from or familiar with or just plain fond of the Boston area will love it too. Boston is the Cradle of U.S. History; it is a cultural, academic and historical mecca and this book does a nice job of introducing that to young readers!

An ideal companion book Good Night San Francisco (Good Night Our World series) because it is about the Gem of the West Coast and this one is about the Gem of the East Coast.

Disappointing.......2007-08-23

I definitely would suggest that you flip through this book in a store before purchasing. I liked the general topic covered by this book, but was extremely disappointed when we received it and I flipped through it. Basically every page says "Good Night (Insert Boston Landmark Here)." Maybe people that are familiar with these books already know this, but with this being the first in the "Good Night" series that I have purchased, I feel ripped off.

A little bit of home..........2007-04-10

I was so excited to find this book. My husband and I are both originally from Boston, and to be able to read a children's "Boston book" to our son is a great way to have him experience a little bit of our past home... and to familliarize him with some landmarks he will be seeing when we go to visit his grandparents. From the Charles to the Green Monster, the book and illustrations are great!

Great series!.......2007-04-01

My 21 month old daughter loves this book! It is a simple read which introduces kids to the sights of Boston. I can't wait to show her more of the sights in person! I've bought copies for friends who live in New England and also Good Night Maine for my friends in Maine. I wish there were more of the New England states!

Average customer rating:

Cute!
Just OK
wonderful
Perfect
International Families and Adoptions

The Red Blanket
Eliza Thomas
Manufacturer: Scholastic Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0439322537

Book Description

This is a story about a little girl who needed a mommyand a forgotten blanket that needed a little girland a woman who needed them both.This is a journey about the forming of a family.It is as lyrical as a love letter from a mother to her daughter,as honest as the struggles they encounter,and as comforting as a cozy red blanket.Eliza Thomas went to China in 1994 to adopt her daughter PanPan, who was then 5 months old. This is their story.

Customer Reviews:

Cute!.......2007-05-16

I thought the book was really cute. I guess it is geared for single moms...b/c there was no dad included??

Just OK.......2007-04-07

Not one our favorite China adoption stories, it is ok but does not really keep my daughter's attention and I find it a little mediocre too.

wonderful.......2007-03-09

I love this book! I purchased it as a gift for a 3 year old adopted from China when she was 10 months old and her single mother. She is at the age when she is asking questions about family and it's important for her to see herself represented in media. The only part i didn't like was that the mother 'felt empty' even though she had a nice home, a dog, etc and that's why she adopted. That idea is a little tricky for a youngster who needs to not feel they are there to take care of their parent. The rest of the messege of the book is quite wonderful and worth it.

Perfect.......2006-03-21

I am getting ready to adopt from China in the next year and wanted to create a library for my child. I am a single woman and this book is perfect. It tells a beautiful story and is about a single woman adopting from China. I love it and so do all of my friends.

International Families and Adoptions.......2006-03-16

This story begins with a red baby blanket in a store inspiring a single woman to consider the adoption of a child. Through the story the blanket brings comfort to the young girl as she begins her life outside of the adoption center in China. As the bond between the mother and child develop over the span of years, the red blanket continues to convey the initial, unconditional love shared by her adoptive mother. The colors used in the oil paintings convey warmth and emotion throughout the story with crisp detail. As cross-country adoptions become more common and family dynamics change, this story maintains a current day appeal. Within the constraints of a picture book, this story conveys the struggles and frustrations experienced transitioning a baby from an orphanage to a new family. While particularly appropriate for the topic of adoption, children of all backgrounds can appreciate the young girl's attachment to her blanket. This book would be a wonderful addition to a study on families.

Good Night New York City (Good Night Our World series)

Average customer rating:

Excellent for Kids

Good Night New York City (Good Night Our World series)
Adam Gamble
Manufacturer: Our World of Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

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ASIN: 0977797937

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

Excellent for Kids.......2007-05-21

The Good Night... series are good books for young kids to read or to have read to them. It includes basic words and gets the kids interested in different travel locations.

Average customer rating:

Doesn't Sink Like A Rock But Doesn't Swim Either
Kubert's Rock
Very good. Recomended.
Awsome comic
OK Story, Weak Art...

Sgt. Rock: Between Hell & a Hard Place
Joe Kubert , and Brian Azzarello
Manufacturer: DC Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1401200540

Customer Reviews:

Doesn't Sink Like A Rock But Doesn't Swim Either.......2007-05-24

Sgt. Rock: Between Hell and a Hard Place is a passable graphic novel authored by Brian Azzarello and drawn by Joe Kubert.

Azzarello's writing is solid but doesn't give enough historical flavor. Garth Ennis' Enemy Ace: War In Heaven plunges the reader into the Second World War with memorable characters, fascinating facts and actual events. Azzarello's writing captures the cadence and lingo of the War but doesn't go far enough.

The plot here is interesting but ends disappointingly.

Joe Kubert's art is very good but not his best work. Joe is around 70 years old so I'm sure age has affected his art somewhat. His work is still pretty great but I'm spoiled by the classic Joe Kubert art.

This book will satisfy hardcore fans but let down casual buyers.

Kubert's Rock.......2006-05-13

Artist Joe Kubert doing Sgt Rock again...for most fans of the original Rock of Easy Company, that is all you need to say. And Between Hell and a hard place, it is a graphic delight.

War comics were a staple of DC and Marvels comic line (Rock, Haunted Tank, The Losers, Unknown Soldier for DC, Sgt Fury for Marvel)in the 1960-1990's. Then suddenly they (like the Westerns genre) vanished from the comic lines-to be overtaken by the Superheroes with their Crisis's, Secret Wars and now their Civil Wars

With writing talent of Brian Azzarello (from the comic 100 Bullets) and Kubert at the pen, This taut graphic novels is both a tribute to the DC war line and a great visual tale. It is also like it harkens back to the days of Bob Kanigher (writer) and Kubert (inks) in the orginal Our Army at War books.
It is a war story with a mystery thrown in and it works on many levels

If you haven't read Sgt Rock before, dont worry...you wont be lost-Azzarello reintroducers the reader to Rock and his Easy Company. The art seems almost like a movie flying outta the books. This isn't a KID's comic book, it is WAR with all the dirt and grit. It is not pretty, but it is great storytelling

Bennet Pomerantz, AUDIOWORLD

Very good. Recomended........2006-02-25

It's not Kubert's best work, but it is still very funny. Although its a little bit like a rough, crude drawing, it fits this book very well. And what can I say about Azzarello's writing? He does a great job with this mistery war tale.

Awsome comic.......2006-02-25

A must have for any SGT. Rock fan, or anyone who is crazy about WW2.

OK Story, Weak Art..........2005-02-14

I've never seen a "Sgt. Rock" comic previous to this, but I am a casual fan of graphic novels and have a casual interest in World War II, so I figured it was worth checking out. After spending an hour reading it cover to cover, I have to admit to a certain level of disappointment. Azarello, whose writing I've liked in the "100 Bullets" series, has come up with a generally compelling story. Sgt. Rock's "Easy Company" is in the Hurtgen Forest (near the German/Belgian border) in late 1944, where the largely routed German Army was able to mount a surprisingly stiff resistance. Down to its core membership, the company has greenhorn replacement soldiers foisted upon it, much to Rock's displeasure. The storyline involves the capture of four SS officers, three of whom are murdered while being escorted back to headquarters. This sets up some tension among the company, since it's not clear who killed them, and some of the soldiers are of the opinion it was murder (since their hands were bound), and others don't. Meanwhile, there's a town that needs taking...

This is all well and fine, but I just didn't find Kubert's art that compelling. Since he set the standard for the "Sgt. Rock" look, he obviously answers to no one when it comes to how the story should look. However, I found both the composition and coloring very weak. I suppose his style is best described as "classic", but I find it far too simplistic and lacking in detail and texture. Everything's very flat, and the washed-out color palate doesn't help. A story set in the Hurtgen ought to be dark, gloomy, scary (the characters even talk about how dark and hard to see it is), but everything is colored in really light shades and looks like it's been lit up with spotlights. Kubert's working in a very restrained paneling system, which is fine, but it really puts the onus on the composition, and most of these are dull as ditchwater. There are probably around 750 panels in the book, and only about 15-20 really arrest one's attention.

If this sounds a little harsh, well, it may be that the standard for depicting World War II combat has gotten very high. "Saving Private Ryan" started the ball rolling, and then there was "The Thin Red Line" and then the truly amazing "Band of Brothers" series. Each of these had their cheezy moments, but "Band of Brothers" especially showed that there was no glory to be won in war, and showed the fighting in the German forests in a much more evocative manner. Granted, it's unfair to compare different mediums, but the truth is that "Band of Brothers" hits you in the gut with its grittiness and this doesn't. Those looking for a for a very good novel on the same material should check out Twilight Zone maestro Richard Matheson's early novel, "The Beardless Warriors", which follows a raw recruit for two weeks as his unit pushes through the German woods.

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