Kean Soo

Quiet, brilliant Portia has just moved to a new neighborhood with her mom. Adjusting to life without a father is hard enough, but school is boring and her classmates are standoffish -- and even Portia's mom is strangely distant. But things start looking up when Portia mounts a late-night excursion into the woods behind her house and discovers a shy, sweet-natured purple monster. Life with Jellaby is a lot more exciting, but Portia's purple friend has secrets of his own; secrets that may even lead to the mystery of Portia's father's disappearance!

Jellaby

Sarah Sammis

Jellaby Volume 1 by Kean Soo was short listed for the Cybils this year. It is one of a number of graphic novels set in Canada from the short list. It follows Portia Bennett's friendship with a purple monster she's named Jellaby and her goal to help it get home. Her only clue is a photograph of a mysterious door in nearby Toronto. Can she get Jellaby there safely and find the door?

Jellaby begins like a lot of the manga I've read: in school bringing together an unlikely set of characters into a friendship based around something fantastic (in this case the existence of Jellaby). Although Portia is a bit of a loner at school and a latchkey kid at home (single mother with a busy schedule), she becomes friends with Jason, a kid who is fond of carrots and ramen.

Since this book is only volume one, the answer behind the mysterious door is not answered. The characters and plot is entertaining. Soo's illustrations are cartoonish and charming. They fit well with the story and are fun to look at all by themselves. To keep with the purple jelly theme most of the illustrations are done in shades of purple except for the orange carrot on Jason's shirt.

The second volume, Jellaby: Monster in the City is now out and I'm looking forward to reading it when I get the chance.

Jellaby

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