Cardboard - Book Review

TenNapel, D. (2012). Cardboard. NY: Scholastic

Mike is a hardworking carpenter who is out of work and looking for jobs.  After being turned away from work, Mike is on his way home, not knowing what he will be able to afford for his son’s birthday gift.  He pulls over to a vendor, Gideon, and ends up purchasing cardboard with two rules from Gideon.  1) You must return every scrap you don’t use.  2)  You can’t ask him for more cardboard, this is all he may have.  Gideon convinces Mike the cardboard will be a great gift for a good boy because he can be creative and use his imagination.  Mike, and his son Cam, learn very quickly there is something magical about this cardboard.  After making a boxer character, he comes to life!  Cam names him Bill and the two are instant friends.  Bill mows yards and teaches Cam how to box, while Cam’s neighbors, Marcus and Pinkeye, watch and become very envious of this cardboard magic.  They damage Bill by spraying water on him which ruins his cardboard body.  Mike and Cam must quickly save Bill by first asking Gideon for more cardboard.  Gideon is furious with Mike for not following his rules and denies any help.  Mike rushes home and creates a “card board maker” out of the cardboard, and is able to magically get cardboard by the push of a button.  The two save Bill, and Cam is able to make more little cardboard characters.  Marcus and Pinkeye devise another plan and they steal the cardboard maker and make several monsters that eventually overturn Marcus’ power of control.  The characters are thrown into a cardboard nightmare and must fight their way out.  Water is the weapon they must use to defeat the cardboard monsters but that also means Bill will be destroyed as well.  Marcus realizes he needs to change his act and apologizes for his behavior and Cam is thrilled and surprised to meet Bill, a man looking for work who coincidentally has a cut on his arm. 

This graphic novel was extremely entertaining.  The plot of the story moves quickly and was engaging.  The variety of panels from full page to wordless was visually pleasing and easy to follow.  Although this is a fun read, there was aspects of family moving on after Cam’s mother passed away, the love of a father and the disappointment of not being able to provide, and a wealthy family thinking their son does no wrong.  I love the surprise at the end with Bill showing up as a human.

Doug TenNapel is not only a graphic novel author, he is also a video game designer and television show developer.  Readers can learn more about his works on this website:  http://tennapel.com/