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book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
Phelan noted that at the end of the 19th century the public was inspired by Jules Vernes’ adventures, particularly Around the World in 80 Days. In this graphic novel, Phelan relates the stories of three such individuals: Thomas Stevens (who set out in 1884 to bicycle around the globe); Nellie Bly (setting out in 1889 with a goal of besting the fictional Phileas Fogg’s record by several days), and Joshua Slocum (who set sail in a 36-foot boat he had rebuilt himself, for what would become a 3-year round the world solo journey).
Phelan’s illustrations are marvelously detailed and advance the stories quickly, so that he’s able to give a good overview of each explorer’s journey in one book. Of the three profiled, Slocum, a retired sea captain, was the only one who had previously journeyed far afield. I particularly liked Nellie Bly’s mantra: “If you want to do it, you can do it!”
Phelan’s illustrations are marvelously detailed and advance the stories quickly, so that he’s able to give a good overview of each explorer’s journey in one book. Of the three profiled, Slocum, a retired sea captain, was the only one who had previously journeyed far afield. I particularly liked Nellie Bly’s mantra: “If you want to do it, you can do it!”
jgintrovertedreader's review against another edition
4.0
Jules Vernes’s classic tale of adventure, Around the World in 80 Days, inspired many intrepid explorers to undertake the same daring feat. Matt Phelan briefly shares the stories of three of those wanderers: Thomas Stevens, a former miner who accomplished the act on a big-wheel bicycle in 1884; Nelly Bly, intrepid girl reporter, who attempted to circumnavigate the world in 74 days; and Joshua Slocum, a retired sea captain who ventured out alone on his sailboat in 1895.
This book is a taste of these three journeys and made me eager to learn more about the featured explorers.
The artwork is beautifully done in a style that I (most definitely not an artist) can only describe as a cross between line drawings and watercolors. The predominant colors of each section reflect (or set?) the mood. Warm tones illustrate Nellie Bly’s story, which adds to the excitement. Will she make her deadline despite inevitable delays? Blue is the primary color of Joshua Slocum’s tale because of both his watery surroundings and his more introspective journey. Thomas Stevens is a mix of colors: somber in the mines where his story begins and happier as he finds his pace on his trip.
Of the three personalities, I was most drawn to Captain Slocum. He reflects on the great joys and great losses in his life during his journey. He’s also a reader who made room for two full bookshelves on his 36-foot boat. I like his priorities.
Nellie’s journey was fairly stressful for me! I know almost nothing about her so I worried about her deadline. She saw very little of the world other than trains and boats. I hope she traveled again, taking her time and enjoying the journey. I was impossibly proud of her for undertaking such a trip at a time when women could barely cross town alone, much less travel significant distances.
Thomas Stevens is my least favorite of the three wanderers but at the same time, the one whose book I’m most tempted to seek out. He wants a way out of the mines where he’s working and decides that a cross-country bicycle ride will generate the publicity he needs to change his life. Once he finishes that task, it’s only natural for him to keep going around the world. I want to know more about the places he visited and the people he met. The author touches on both but in 50 pages of a graphic novel, he can’t share a lot of detail.
Around the World is marketed for middle grade readers but young adults and adults will enjoy reading about these explorers as well. Reluctant readers who enjoy this book should be inspired to seek out more information about the subjects in other books. Highly recommended for those who like to travel, whether in fact or in imagination.
This book is a taste of these three journeys and made me eager to learn more about the featured explorers.
The artwork is beautifully done in a style that I (most definitely not an artist) can only describe as a cross between line drawings and watercolors. The predominant colors of each section reflect (or set?) the mood. Warm tones illustrate Nellie Bly’s story, which adds to the excitement. Will she make her deadline despite inevitable delays? Blue is the primary color of Joshua Slocum’s tale because of both his watery surroundings and his more introspective journey. Thomas Stevens is a mix of colors: somber in the mines where his story begins and happier as he finds his pace on his trip.
Of the three personalities, I was most drawn to Captain Slocum. He reflects on the great joys and great losses in his life during his journey. He’s also a reader who made room for two full bookshelves on his 36-foot boat. I like his priorities.
Nellie’s journey was fairly stressful for me! I know almost nothing about her so I worried about her deadline. She saw very little of the world other than trains and boats. I hope she traveled again, taking her time and enjoying the journey. I was impossibly proud of her for undertaking such a trip at a time when women could barely cross town alone, much less travel significant distances.
Thomas Stevens is my least favorite of the three wanderers but at the same time, the one whose book I’m most tempted to seek out. He wants a way out of the mines where he’s working and decides that a cross-country bicycle ride will generate the publicity he needs to change his life. Once he finishes that task, it’s only natural for him to keep going around the world. I want to know more about the places he visited and the people he met. The author touches on both but in 50 pages of a graphic novel, he can’t share a lot of detail.
Around the World is marketed for middle grade readers but young adults and adults will enjoy reading about these explorers as well. Reluctant readers who enjoy this book should be inspired to seek out more information about the subjects in other books. Highly recommended for those who like to travel, whether in fact or in imagination.
wrentheblurry's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. This is a graphic novel with three stories, each of them relating to an adventurer that traveled around the world. The first story is of Thomas Stevens and his cycling-round-the-world journey. This was my second favorite. In the middle is the tale of how reporter Nellie Bly 'raced' around the world at a time when people did not give much credence to what women could accomplish. My least favorite was the last one, about sailor Joshua Slocum, who goes a touch wacko in this story. Then again, who wouldn't, out there alone on the sea for months?
The artwork feels perfectly like a depiction of those times. The shading, colors and line-work are a wonderful match for the fashion and (facial) hairstyles of the day. I'm curious how kids will like this, since it got such high accolades. I liked it, but I can't help but feel that I am missing something---so many LOVE it. I'll encourage my sons (13 and 10) to read it, and see what the intended audience has to say.
Meanwhile, it's worth a read, even if you don't have any specific interest in the subject matter. You might learn something!
The artwork feels perfectly like a depiction of those times. The shading, colors and line-work are a wonderful match for the fashion and (facial) hairstyles of the day. I'm curious how kids will like this, since it got such high accolades. I liked it, but I can't help but feel that I am missing something---so many LOVE it. I'll encourage my sons (13 and 10) to read it, and see what the intended audience has to say.
Meanwhile, it's worth a read, even if you don't have any specific interest in the subject matter. You might learn something!
sducharme's review against another edition
4.0
Three separate stories of people who took up the challenge to travel around the world in 80 days...or fewer. Phelan mixes narrative, first person accounts, and facts to create a picture of the personal and public sides of each journey. In each story there are wordless panels that invite the reader to infer the details.
kelleemoye's review against another edition
5.0
What a great book! Thank you Travis and John for pointing me towards it.
Around the World is a graphic novel anthology of 3 biographical stories of 3 amazing (and very different) adventurers that traveled around the world. Matt Phelan weaved narrative and nonfiction beautifully and added to it all with beautiful watercolor illustrations that take the book to the next level.
Around the World is a graphic novel anthology of 3 biographical stories of 3 amazing (and very different) adventurers that traveled around the world. Matt Phelan weaved narrative and nonfiction beautifully and added to it all with beautiful watercolor illustrations that take the book to the next level.
rdyourbookcase's review against another edition
3.0
This wasn’t my favorite book by Matt Phelan but I still liked it! I thought Nellie’s story was particularly interesting, but my favorite story was the first one about the bicycles. This book didn’t go into enough details. I think he should have included more information in the epilogues. I had a lot of unanswered questions after I finished each story. I’ll have to do some additional research.
sqeeker's review against another edition
3.0
- I picked this book up on a whim. I was browsing the library and it just caught my eye.
- The book was pretty interesting. I didn't know people were so inspired by Jules Verne's book.
- The book is divided into three stories. I liked the first one the best. Riding an old dangerous bike like that for so long must have been exhausting. It was the most impressive journey to me. The second story was fun. I am surprised that lady made her deadline. The third story was intriguing but the least interesting to me.
- The illustrations were simple and great. They were perfect for the time period.
- I really like historical graphic novels. I think it is a great way to learn history because I get visuals as well as the history. I don't have to wonder what the author is talking about or how things looked.
- The book was pretty interesting. I didn't know people were so inspired by Jules Verne's book.
- The book is divided into three stories. I liked the first one the best. Riding an old dangerous bike like that for so long must have been exhausting. It was the most impressive journey to me. The second story was fun. I am surprised that lady made her deadline. The third story was intriguing but the least interesting to me.
- The illustrations were simple and great. They were perfect for the time period.
- I really like historical graphic novels. I think it is a great way to learn history because I get visuals as well as the history. I don't have to wonder what the author is talking about or how things looked.