What I'm Reading: March Grand Prix, by Kean Soo

I’ve been reading graphic novels with Griffin since he was old enough to understand stories.

One of the earliest graphic novels we read together was Jellaby, a delightful story about two human friends and the monster that brings them together. I was thrilled when Capstone, the publishers of Knight, took on Jellaby creator Kean Soo. It’s fun to have any connection to a book that brought Griffin and me such enjoyment.

So I’ve been looking forward to the release of Kean Soo’s next graphic novel, and now it’s here. March Grand Prix: The Fast and the Furriest features the adventures of March Hare, a rookie racecar driver who dreams of making it big. At least one reviewer has compared the story to Speed Racer, and that isn’t far off: March’s family plays a big role in the story, and the main conflict stems from his rivalry with the underhanded Lyca Fox.

But even though there’s enough racing action (especially in the first and third stories of this three-story volume) to keep a ten-year-old in suspense, there’s much more enjoyment in the interplay between characters (especially between March and his mechanic, Hammond). Soo’s understated art keeps the focus on the characters as well. As a result, morals that might be overbearing in a more action-packed context fit right in, teaching valuable lessons about loyalty, friendship, and honesty.