Shirley Jackson's short story "The Lottery" gets graphic treatment by the author's grandson in this adaptation of her most well-known work. Using an effective combination of striking visual images and pithy snippets of dialogue, the story, about an annual ritual of sacrifice in a small town and the dangers of blindly following tradition, is distilled to its brutal core. The story is well served by the bold illustrations tensely saturated color work seems at first incongruous with iconic images that hearken back to the mid-twentieth century, but it lends intensity to the panels. Hyman has a keen eye for composition and creates strong visual interest with unusual angles, using a variety of panel sizes and perspectives to pull the reader in as the scenes unfold from different viewpoints. Lonesome street scenes and empty fields only heighten the sense of isolation and unease delivered by the text, and deliberate visual pacing during a pivotal scene focuses all the reader's attention on the drama swiftly unfolding. One of the strongest graphic adaptations of a classic work to come along in some time.

Gr 9 Up-Jackson's famous short story has been adapted into graphic novel format by her grandson. Hyman illustrates in lush detail the terrifying ritual known as the lottery. The artist includes a compelling foreword about the intimidating prospect of creating this work. Readers familiar with the original short story will not leave petrified, but they will enjoy exploring this offering. This adaptation is enhanced by the quality of illustrations. Hyman will have readers curious to explore nuances such as the imagined ritual origins or the town people's absolute trust in the lottery. The visual country atmosphere and realistic portraits are slightly reminiscent of Norman Rockwell's paintings. While this is definitely a great tribute to Hyman's late grandmother, it may not have the same impact as the original. VERDICT For fans of Shirley Jackson as well as newcomers planning to read alongside the prose tale. Jessica Bratt, Grand Rapids Public Library, MI