Smith, Jeff. 2005. Bone: out from boneville. New York: Scholastic, Inc.

In this first volume in a nine-volume graphic novel set, Fone Bone, Smiley Bone, and Phoney Bone are run out of Boneville for cheating the citizens. Along the way, the three cousins are separated, as they fall into a mysterious valley where all sorts of strange and exotic creatures live. Fone Bone, the cousin with whom we spend the most time in this installment, finds friends and acceptance with his winning personality. Smith uses clever witticisms and almost slapstick humor as the Bone cousins attempt to begin a new life outside their home. The bold lines and detailed backgrounds will delight older readers, but the plot of the story may prove to be too mature for younger readers. These older readers will enjoy the humor and plot of the story, and will anxiously await the next installment, where they can be reunited with an appealing cast of characters who work together to tell an entertaining story full of greed, friendship, and struggle.