Matt Phelan (The Storm in the Barn) showcases the ideal subject for a graphic novel: a young Buster Keaton. He takes a real-life setting--Bluffton, Mich., where the Keatons spent their summers--and tells Buster's story through the eyes of fictional 12-year-old Henry, whose father runs Harrison's general store in nearby Muskegon.
In June 1908, a troupe of talented acrobats and trapeze artists arrive in Bluffton by train, and Henry is captivated by them. Phelan portrays Buster as an instinctive prankster (he and Henry pull a couple on Henry's principal), a gifted baseball player (his elasticity allows for seemingly impossible catches) and a magnetic young man (he and Henry both vie for the affections of the same girl). Through cinematic panels and exquisite timing, Phelan conveys the effortlessness with which Keaton executed his airborne antics and cat-like landings. These wordless sequences also cleverly foreshadow Keaton's later triumphs in silent film.
An inspired Henry, in a solo series of panels, adapts the curtains that mask Harrison's storage closet into a makeshift stage. Soon after, Henry asks Buster to teach him a few tricks for being an acrobat; the lessons quickly convince Henry--and readers--that Buster's achievements are far harder than they look. Henry does, however, find a way to stay connected to show business. This inspiring tale of blossoming talent and friendship may be enjoyed by the entire family--and will likely spark a string of Buster Keaton movie rentals. --Jennifer M. Brown, children's editor, Shelf Awareness