Reviews for Great Expectations
School Library Journal
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Gr 8 Up-Great Expectations is the better told of these two classics, but breaking down a 500-page work of literary fiction into 48 pages of graphic text is a much simpler task than retelling the nearly 1000 pages of David Copperfield in the same amount of space, and Morley relies heavily on captions, rather than dialogue, to summarize Copperfield's complicated life story. She does, however, do an able job of summarizing the major plot points, and this could make a big difference for struggling readers. In both books, Gelev's artwork fits the time period, with detailed costumes, houses, and other background scenery. The neutral tones suit Dickens's dank world, and Miss Havisham's ramshackle home and crumbling wedding feast are drawn as readers might picture them. It is doubtful, though, that they would return to these books as particular favorites. They are more useful as classroom resources for readers struggling with Dickens's prose than for a general graphic-novel readership.-Sarah Knutson, American Canyon Middle School, CA (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
School Library Journal
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Gr 7 Up-The team responsible for Pride and Prejudice (2014) and The Scarlet Letter (2015, both Udon) present another classic tale in manga form. As in the original, orphaned Pip, raised by his harsh sister and her simple yet kind husband, Joe, encounters hints of the finer things when he is brought to visit with the bitter and twisted Miss Havisham and her ward, the beautiful but imperious Estella. The author and illustrators demonstrate an understanding of Dickens's tale, conveying how Pip's shame at his humble beginnings and his eagerness to make something of himself when a mysterious benefactor comes into his life gives way eventually to his realization of what is truly important in life. Many of the more well-known lines of dialogue are reproduced but made more accessible to a modern audience, such as Miss Havisham's diatribe against love. Readers who are put off by Dickens's dense prose may prefer Poon's beautiful, stylized art. The illustrator translates key scenes, using dynamic angles and dramatic blocking, giving the work an almost cinematic look. Tone, setting, and characters, too, are easily established through the visuals. However, attempting to condense a novel of this length presents a few problems. Some characters are thin and underdeveloped, and there are plot points that feel rushed. Still, on the whole, this offering will go over well with teens. VERDICT An effective adaptation, though not without its flaws; students may wish to read the manga alongside the original.-Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
School Library Journal
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Gr 7 Up-This classic tale is condensed into a fast-paced format that, in the Original Text, still contains much of Dickens's original phrasing. The language remains the real charm of the story-Pip is not a terribly likable character, as he is far too concerned with station and class and is too easily ashamed of his past-and the adaptation works wonderfully as an abridgment accompanied by expressive artwork that accurately depicts the era. Notes at the end offer more information about Dickens's time and the political climate that form the context for the novel. Quick Text is a plain-language translation that reads well and is likely to attract a more reluctant audience. While the adaptation of the story is still good, it is a shame to lose the author's original words; the art makes the action and situations clear enough without further watering down the text. Unfortunately, the Quick Text cover is much more intriguing than the Original Text. The latter is recommended for libraries looking to expand their graphic-novel selections into the classics, with the former recommended only where reluctant readers are the majority of the comics audience.-Alana Abbott, James Blackstone Memorial Library, Branford, CT (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book
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Plot point follows plot point in these fast-paced adaptations. With scant space allotted for character development or setting, the tales seem to be little more than a collection of elaborate coincidences. Jane Eyre holds up best. Les Miserables is simply too large for such a brief treatment, and Martin's propensity for choppy sentences makes a hash of Oliver Twist. [Review covers these Stepping Stone Book Classic titles: Jane Eyre, Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, and Les Miserables.] (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
School Library Journal
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Gr 7 Up-Charles Dickens' coming-of-age novel is read by talented John Lee with a wonderful, resonant, bass voice. His extremely precise enunciation makes it very easy to understand his slight British accent. Reading at a slightly fast pace keeps the story moving quickly so that it does not bog down in long descriptive passages. But he knows when to slow down or pause if the story calls for it. Lee's expressive voice changes accents and tones for different male characters, but fewer changes are made for female ones. It is easy to hear the difference in speech between Pip's uneducated beginning and the prim, proper, and haughty upper class to which he moves. Lee is also effective at placing emphasis on special words or drawing out syllables to give them more importance in the speech. Both the original ending and a second ending that Dickens wrote later are given. An excellent choice to assist students reading the original novel.-Claudia Moore, W.T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Library Journal
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Starred Review. Expertly narrated by Simon Vance, with a PDF copy of the book included on the first disc. Great Expectations also won an Audie in 2010 for classic and solo narration male (Audio Connoisseur, narrated by Charlton Griffin), but that edition will likely be more difficult for libraries to acquire. (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
School Library Journal
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Gr 4-7-Abridged editions of this classic abound. Half of the space here is given to Ambrus's free-line renderings, with elements of caricature but a fundamental realism (not unlike Charles Dickens's own method). Riordan's version retains some of the flavor of the original and atmospheric touches. However, Orlick, Wopsle, Miss Skiffins, the Aged P., Matthew Pocket, and others are gone, together with the incidents in which they figured. Biddy, Wemmick, Drummle, and Clara are given a phrase each. (But why mention Pumblechook when he is no longer a satiric vehicle?) Readers haven't enough time to feel Pip's long deception about his expectations, or his hopeless love for Estella, so the reversals lack force. Magwitch is hardly offstage before he reappears, and Riordan has sacrificed the early hints of his tender heart. The introduction of Estella's true parentage is so abrupt as to be incredible. Mindlessly, the final sentence (of the usual ending, not Dickens's original) has been altered to read, "I saw the shadow of no parting from her," a change of syntax and meaning from "I saw no shadow of another parting." Ambrus helps fill in some of the setting and character (e.g., by humanizing Magwitch). Unfortunately there is no final, enthusiastic description of the unabridged original, encouraging readers to seek it out. As an enticement, this retelling surpasses Cliffs Notes, and if Dickens can be reduced to a picture book, this does the job.-Patricia D. Lothrop, St. George's School, Newport, RI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Library Journal
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With a major new film adaptation of Great Expectations coming soon to the big screen, now is a good moment for an updated audio edition of this classic story of an orphan boy's rise from poverty to gentility, thanks to the help of an unknown patron. One of Dickens's finest works, it is, all at once, the heartrending tale of unrequited love, a deep mystery with a shocking resolution, and an often exciting action story. VERDICT Simon Prebble's powerful narration brings Dickens's colorful dialog alive and will make the book's 18-plus hours seem so many minutes. During this bicentennial year of Dickens's birth, this audiobook should be a slam-dunk acquisition for most libraries. [See "Charles Dickens: Our Mutual Friend," LJ 2/15/12, for more Dickens titles in audio.]-R. Kent Rasmussen, Thousand Oaks, CA (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
School Library Journal
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Gr 5-8-Available in two versions, these graphic adaptations were crafted for instructional purposes and are designed to provide two very different access points. While it could be debated that the text, especially in the "quick" version, is too stripped down, the incorporated teacher resources and the opportunity for differentiation will be worth the purchase for many educators. (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
School Library Journal
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Gr 7 Up-A young man's burning desire to fulfill his "great expectations" of fame and fortune is presented in Charles Dickens's classic tale of love, madness, forgiveness, and redemption. Simon Vance's masterful narration brings to life such diverse personalities as Miss Havisham, the old woman who was abandoned on her wedding day and is determined to wreak revenge through her beautiful adopted daughter Estella; Joe, Pip's lumbering and slow-witted, but emotionally wise and faithful friend; the mysterious Magwitch, a convict who turns out to be Pip's financial benefactor; and Pip, the boy who longs for a destiny greater than that of living out his days as a blacksmith's apprentice. The companion ebook features automatic start-up, keyword searching, PDF printable format, and table of contents. An exceptionally skilled rendering of this classic.-Cindy Lombardo, Cleveland Public Library, OH (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book
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These abridged editions retain some of the flavor of the original books while removing archaic or now offensive words and losing many of the details and vibrancy that make these works classics. With the glorified plot summaries as their introductions to literature, young readers may not want to read the originals. The black-and-white illustrations are also bland. [Review covers these Calico Chapter Books: Calico Illustrated Classics titles: Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Daniel Defoe's The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, Charles Dickens's Great Expectations, Howard Pyle's King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, and Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.] Copyright 2010 of The Horn Book, Inc. All rights reserved.
Horn Book
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
While this attractive abridged version of the sprawling Dickens novel about Pip, an orphan-turned-aristocrat, retains some of the spirit of the original, some characters are completely absent. Pip's reversal of fortune, too, lacks punch, as the story's brevity dilutes his tribulations. Still, this may be useful as an introduction to the classic. Black-and-white and color illustrations realistically capture both the setting and character. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Publishers Weekly
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This beloved classic from Dickens follows the life and adventures of a six-year-old orphan named Pip as he makes his way and comes of age in 19th-century England. Simon Prebble turns in a solid performance in this audio edition, offering up a lush and resolutely dramatic reading and creating a panoply of unique voices and accents for the book's many characters. But while Prebble's performance is lavish, it fails to distinguish itself from the scores of previous audio productions of Dickens's novels. Still, his reading remains a pleasure and a well-orchestrated introduction to the world of Dickens-one that could serve as a wonderful opportunity for both fans and those new to the author's work. (Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
School Library Journal
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Gr 9 Up-An adaptation of Dickens' novel. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
