In 2001, audiences first met and fell in love with a twelve-year-old criminal mastermind named Artemis Fowl. Since then, the series has sold over seven million copies in the United States alone. Now, this phenomenally successful series is being translated into a graphic novel format. Eoin Colfer has teamed up with established comic writer Andrew Donkin to adapt the text. For the first time, rabid fans will be able to see what Foaly's tin hat looks like; discover just how "Beet" Root got his name; and of course, follow their favorite criminal mastermind as he plots and connives in action-packed, full-color panels. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Gr 5 Up Adapted from the fantasy book of the same name, this graphic novel is beautifully illustrated and should prove an enjoyable read to fans and newbies alike. Diabolical 12-year-old genius Artemis Fowl is troubled by his father's disappearance, his mother's descent into madness, and the depletion of the family wealth. Determined to solve at least one of these problems, he hatches a brilliant plan to crack the secrets of the fairy world. Excellent use of color and shading gives the panels a tremendous sense of light with enchanting effect. Characters are expressively brought to life with fun, exaggerated style. A great addition is the inclusion of "files" from the fairy police force, with mug shots of criminals/monsters. Dawn Rutherford, King County Library System, Bellevue, WA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Colfer's Artemis Fowl (2001) gets gussied up in a new graphic novel version. Twelve-year-old Artemis' criminal character and raison d'être remain unchanged from the original story, but this adaptation condenses the subtleties, while beautifully rendered watercolor artwork lends sophistication to the premise. Fairy and human asides are rendered in differently colored  boxes, making reading easier, but the book is so tightly bound that some of the artwork is compromised and some of the speech balloons are hard to see. Crossover appeal for fans of the print version may be tenuous, but this will introduce the child-villain to readers who haven't yet caught the allure of the popular series. Goldsmith, Francisca. From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.