Clugston, Chynna. Queen Bee.CLUGSTON, Chynna. Queen Bee. Graphix. 112p. illus, c2005. 0-439-70987-3. $8.99. JS* Haley Madison, the main character of Queen Bee, wants to be the most popular girl at her new junior high school, but there are two things standing in her way. Her PK (psychokinesis psy·cho·ki·ne·sis n. pl. psy·cho·ki·ne·ses Abbr. PK 1. An uncontrolled, maniacal outburst, resulting from defective inhibition. 2. , the ability to move objects with her mind) is always flaring flare v. flared, flar·ing, flares v.intr. 1. To flame up with a bright, wavering light. 2. To burst into intense, sudden flame. 3. a. up at the worst times and embarrassing her (just like ache). Then there's Alexa Harmon, the mean girl who also has PK. Alexa has better control of her PK than Haley, and she doesn't hesitate to use it to get what she wants (translation: she cheats like crazy). Both girls want to rule the Hive, the group of super-popular girls who sit atop the social strata of John E Kennedy Intermediate School. Too bad the old adage of only one queen per hive still holds true. Queen Bee is aimed at teenage girls, a rarity for American comics. This highly entertaining graphic novel deals with popularity--an issue that all teens are concerned with--without talking down to its audience or being preachy preach·y adj. preach·i·er, preach·i·est Inclined or given to tedious and excessive moralizing; didactic. preach . Haley is an intelligent, likable lik·a·ble also like·a·ble adj. Pleasing; attractive. lik  a·ble·ness, like heroine who matures as the story progresses. By the end of the first volume she wins the school talent contest (she does a wicked version of "The Beat," a Go-Go's tune); gets a possible boyfriend; and stops hanging out with the Hive. The b/w art focuses on outfits and facial expressions facial expression,n the use of the facial muscles to communicate or to convey mood. with a dash of manga maNga is a popular Turkish nu metal/rapcore band. Their music is mainly a fusion of alternative metal and hip hop music, with a touch of Anatolian melodies; with heavy use of turntables, invoking comparisons with modern American nu metal bands. thrown in. Queen Bee contains no sex, drugs or bad language, so this is very suitable for younger teenage girls. Highly recommended. George Galuschak, YA Libn., Montvale PL, Montvale, NJ |
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