Review #15: Courtney Crumrin and The Night Things by Ted Naifeh

Title: Naifeh, Ted. Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things.  Oni Press. 2012. 175 pages. Tr. $17.04. ISBN 978-1-934964-77-4
Genre: Fiction/Fantasy/Occult/ Graphic Novel
Reading Level/Interest Level: 3.5/ Grades 5-8
Awards: None
Series: (Trade paperbacks)
·         Volume 1: Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things - ISBN 1-929998-60-0
·         Volume 2: Courtney Crumrin and the Coven of Mystics - ISBN 1-929998-59-7
·         Volume 3: Courtney Crumrin in the Twilight Kingdom - ISBN 1-932664-01-7
·         Volume 4: Courtney Crumrin's Monstrous Holiday ( This is a collected edition of:
         o    Courtney Crumrin and the Fire-Thief's Tale - ISBN 978-1-932664-01-0
    o    Courtney Crumrin & the Prince of Nowhere - ISBN 978-1-932664-86-7)
·         Courtney Crumrin Tales: A Portrait of the Warlock as a Young Man - ISBN 1-932664-32-7
·         Courtney Crumrin Tales Volume 2: The League of Ordinary Gentlemen - ISBN 978-1-934964-68-2

Similar Titles: Polly and the Pirates, by Ted Naifeh, The Mostly True Story of Jack by Barnhill

Smart and dark natured, middle schooler Courtney Crumrin always felt out of place with her oblivious, yuppie parents. Concerned with their lack of available credit, they convince themselves that their wealthy, elderly Uncle Aloysius will need looking after, as the settle into his estate and begin attempting to make connections with the upper crust of society with no notice given to Courtney, unless it is a chastisement on how her behavior reflects upon their social climbing, even if she’s just trying to protect herself from the affluent bullies at school.

 Now lonelier than ever, and afraid but curious of her distant relation, Courtney begins to investigate the strange goings-on in her new town and in her Uncle’s house. Soon she discovers that there is more to meets the eye and that her greatest ally, her Uncle Aloysius, is the only one who can help her find her place and help her to control the creatures she once though were imaginary, but that her Uncle simply calls “The Night Things.” From changelings to goblins, spells to fairies, Courtney must find their weaknesses and their strengths, as she finds her own strength to do what is right in the face of what is easy.

 
Personal note: I am a huge fan of fantasy and myth based fiction. This graphic novel, and the entire series is right up my alley because of the attention to detail in historic rightings of otherworldly beings and the rules they have to follow. While the illustrations are full of character and detail, they are all in black and white. But, thanks to the storyline, soon you begin to see them in color in your mind, but with a depth that color on the page could never have conveyed.

 This novel is particularly good advanced readers, older tweens and for those who appreciate dark humor and can handle a little gothic flare and dark drama. With tales of abduction, goblins and changelings stealing others’ lives, the novels shouldn’t be read by younger children or those faint of heart, but will definitely be enjoyed by older and even reluctant readers.