The Unkindness of Ravens: 07/06/22

The Unkindness of Ravens by J. Torres and Faith Erin Hicks (Illustrations) is the second book in the Bigfoot Boy graphic novel trilogy. It's been ten years since I read Into the Woods, the first book in the series. In writing this review, I've also come to realize I didn't review the first book. So depending on timing and my organizational skills, you'll either be seeing this book's review or the first book's, first.

Volume two picks up sometime after the initial events. Rufus and his family have returned to the woods to visit his grandmother. He meets up with Penny and they discuss how he's been practicing with the Q'achi totem that turns him into "Bigfoot Boy."

The bulk of this book centers on a group of crows who are eager to get the totem. There's a lot of trial and error. And a lot of bad mouthing crows as being evil. They aren't; they're tricksters in these types of stories because as a species they are smart and curious.

The big question then, is, will the crows get the totem. If they do, will they be able to use it? And when ultimately they do, the book ends before we get a chance to see if Rufus can get it back. But there's a hook to say he'll be coming back soon.

Like so many middle books in a trilogy, this one is in a tug of war with the first and last books. The first half is spent re-establishing the characters, setting, and basic concepts for anyone who has forgotten important details. The second half is likewise fully committed to setting up the final volume. That leaves very little time in the middle to have a story that is unique to the second volume.

The final book is The Sound of Thunder (2014)

Four stars

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