Middle School Misadventures lands in Finland!
Jason Platt’s middle grade graphic novel, Middle School Misadventures, gets published through Otava in Finland.
Middle School Misadventures lands in Finland!
Cover for the Finnish version of Middle School Misadventures, published by Otava
It’s always exciting when you get to hold the book that you’ve published in your hands. It’s on a totally different level when you get to hold your book when it has been translated into an entirely different language! My middle-grade graphic novel, Middle School Misadventures, is in its 6th country to be adapted, and I just received the Finnish version of my book.
The differences between the English version and the Finnish version of Middle School Misadventures
I love flipping through and seeing the differences that had been made. But I especially love seeing the large handwritten sections like the above photo. I’ve always been impressed seeing how foreign publishers, and their graphics departments, handle and mimic what I’ve done; successfully capturing the look and feel I was going for. Chapter four, of my first book, is usually the first thing I flip to when pulling out the first copy from the box. I always want to see how Newell Grumbles in a different language.
*Jupinaa!*
Every now and then someone will ask me how involved I am with the production of my books when they are being translated. And the answer is: none. The publisher has all the information they need when they receive the files from Little, Brown books. Occasionally I might get a question that an editor is trying to work around. Such as: Not too long ago I was asked why does Newell call his dad, Poppio? What does that mean? I chuckled because it made sense to myself and didn’t think that it might be confusing. I just said that it was a dad-nickname that Newell has for his dad. A term of endearment for him if you will. Small questions that I can answer to help bridge the translation to their audiences.
I’m extremely grateful for all the people who have worked on my books. Here in the States and abroad. It always makes me happy to know that kids, all over, get a chance to follow Newell and his friends on his misadventures!
Back cover for the Finnish version of Middle School Misadventures, published by Otava
Jason Platt on WHBF's Living Local
An interview with Jason Platt on WHBF’s Living Local where he talks about his latest book, Middle School Misadventures: Dance Disaster!
An interview with me on WHBF’s Living Local where we talk about my latest book, Middle School Misadventures: Dance Disaster!
Jason Platt Drawing Demo
Watch as Jason Platt goes through his process of drawing his main character from his graphic novel, Middle School Misadventures: Dance Disaster!
Dance Disaster article
An article about Dance Disaster’s release!
Middle School Misadventures: Dance Disaster, by Jason Platt
An article on my upcoming book, Dance Disaster from ourquadcities.com!
Creating the cover for Dance Disaster
There are a certain number of challenges when creating the cover for a book. When you’re both the author and illustrator for a graphic novel you also have the luxury of being able to make the cover exactly as you’d like it. With the exception of comic book covers, usually the same artist that does the interior art will also do the cover art as well.
Prose novelists don’t usually have this luxury. They might have an idea that they’d like to see for the cover, and their ideas will certainly be heard, but ultimately the cover design will be determined by the editor, designer, and publisher.
Covers for Middle School Misadventures and Middle School Misadventures: Operation Hat Heist!
With my first two books, Middle School Misadventures, and Middle School Misadventures: Operation: Hat Heist!, Newell was alone on the cover. And while I wanted to replicate having Newell be the focus (he is the hero of our story after all) I wanted to incorporate his friends in the cover too. While we follow Newell throughout each story, his friends who make up the ensemble, are just as important. So I made sure that they were seen too.
Early pencils for the Middle School Misadventures: Dance Disaster cover
The working title for Dance Disaster was Wallflower Jinx. But it wasn’t a solid title, as Newell—at first—is super excited about going to Garfield’s school dance. So it wasn’t like he was on the sidelines of the dance or anything.
But design wise, you can see right off, that we are near the target of what the final design will be. Even now, I still like image of Newell’s back turned to us as he watches his friends cut a rug on the dance floor. But we decided to go with the pencil sketch on the right.
So next was the next phase: Inking and coloring.
Dance Disaster cover art, version 1
This first version wasn’t entirely a train wreck or anything. But even as I was working on this first attempt I knew it was far from what we were all looking for. Even though Newell’s posture works with the emotional struggle he goes through in the story, it was lacking a certain amount of energy that it was needing. And while I was overall happy with the color palette, the values had a dullness about them. I knew I needed to give them a little more life.
There were also three different levels of depth that I was working with, and all three needed to hold their own independently. 1) The background: This was a school dance, so I wanted to be sure I showed other kids having fun too. While I wanted to incorporate them I also needed to make sure they weren’t competing with the stars of the show. And I needed to make sure that they disappeared into the background. 2) The middle: Right smack-dab in the middle of it all are Newell’s friends. With the exception of Skyler, who is lumped in with the first group (foreshadowing maybe??), I wanted to be sure that they were in clearer focus from the crowd, but not pulling the focus from Newell. 3) The Front: Front and center stands our main character, Newell. I knew that by looking at this version he wasn’t dynamic enough here. Even though his hierarchy was front and center, his friends were more fun to look at.
I had some changes to do.
But you got to start somewhere right? You can’t solve a problem until you know there’s a problem to solve. So even though this was a setback, it was a setback leading in the right direction. I could see what was working, and what wasn’t.
So I took what my editor and I liked about this version and moved forward.
Dance Disaster cover art, version 2
You can tell right away that things are moving in the right direction here in this 2nd version. Along with beefing Newell up, I also added more contrast with the colors. I also pushed Newell’s friends back just a touch giving Newell all that more focus.
Even though I was pleased in the direction version 2 was headed, I knew it wasn’t the be all end all. It was time to move on to version 3.
Dance Disaster cover art, version 3
With version 3 you can see how incredibly close we are to the fished cover art. In Dance Disaster, Newell is originally excited to go to the dance because he’s able to reprise his famous dance move, The Shake and Slide. And we thought we’d incorporate it into the cover and it was exactly the right amount of energy we were looking for.
The only thing we weren’t sure about were the glasses or not. The concern I had with having them on was that they made Newell look older. Which I guess was successful since that is what Newell’s after in the story (esp. since he’s wearing a tie too). So we went back and forth on whether to have the glasses on or not.
Eventually, we decided to have them off. But, as you can see by the final art, we ended up having them flying off of him mid-dance.
The only thing that I haven’t mentioned is that whenever I adjusted the position of Newell’s body (or even the size of it), I also had to adjust the crowd in the background. One of the reasons why Newell’s left arm (in the cast) is angled up a touch is so we have a clear view of Lilly, Max, and Skyler dancing in the background. There were many times I just wish I could have called out to them and said, “Okay, Lilly, Max, Skyler? Yeah, you three—can you all just move slightly to the right? That’s perfect. And now Collin and Clara? Can you inch a touch to the left? Great! And Newell, just angle your arms just a little bit—stop!—that’s perfect! Okay… hold still everybody and… * shutter click * got it!”
Dance Disaster, final cover art
And here is the final art for the cover for Dance Disaster!
They say that you should never judge a book by its cover. While that’s true, there is so much beyond throwing an image onto a book and slapping the title on it. There are so many things to think about when designing a cover like this. Between the front and back cover of a book is the whole story. But the cover is the first thing the audience sees. It’s where their first spark of interest comes from. It’s something that you want to be proud of.
And I’m so proud of it.
-- Middle School Misadventures: Dance Disaster is available for pre-order right now and comes out April 5th to your favorite bookstore!
Interview with WVIK NPR
An interview with WVIK NPR about Middle School Misadventures: Operation Hat Heist! and the recent news of being apart of the Texas Library Association’s, Little Maverick Reading List.
Operation Hat Heist makes the Texas Library Association, Little Maverick reading list!
Jason Platt’s middle-grade graphic novel, Middle School Misadventures: Operation Hat Heist! makes the Texas Library Association, Little Maverick reading list for grades 3-5.
Middle School Misadventures: Operation Hat Heist, Quad-Cities author-illustrator Jason Platt’s second graphic novel, has been named to the Texas Library Association’s 2021 Little Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List. The TLA is the country’s largest state library association. Platt’s debut graphic novel, Middle School Misadventures, was named to the 2020 list as well.
Released on Dec. 1, the list is a recommended reading list of 83 graphic novels nationwide designed for children in grades K-5. The books were selected by public and school librarians who are members of the Texas Library Association’s Children’s Round Table, which promotes services to children and young people. MSM: Operation Hat Heist is one of 51 books selected for the grades 3-5 category.
View the complete 2021 list at https://txla.org/tools-resources/reading-lists/little-maverick/current-list/
Published by Little, Brown for Young Readers (LBYR), a division of Hachette Book Group, the Middle School Misadventures series features a group of friends as they navigate the ins and outs of middle school and its unpredictable predicaments.
In Platt’s second Middle School Misadventures graphic novel, main character Newell’s favorite hat gets taken away at school. With the help of his most talented friends, he concocts the perfect plan to get it back. Operation: Hat Heist is a go!
Geared toward children 8-12 years of age, the 232-page book is available in both paperback and hardcover form through various retailers, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
About the author
Platt is a graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) with a degree in illustration. In 2015 he was accepted by unanimous vote into the National Cartoonists Society.
About the Texas Library Association
The Texas Library Association (TLA) was established in 1902 to promote, support, and improve library services in Texas. It is the largest state library association in the U.S. Its 6,000+ members represent all library types: academic, public, school and special. Learn more at https://txla.org/.
Plot summary from Little, Brown for Young Readers - www.lbyr.com
In Jason Platt’s second Middle School Misadventures graphic novel, Newell’s favorite hat gets taken away! With the help of his most talented friends, he concocts the perfect plan to get it back. Operation: Hat Heist is a go!
Newell’s favorite show of all time is The Captain! Newell is beyond excited when he learns that the Captain himself, Patrick O’Shaughnessy, will be at Monster Comic Con. He can’t wait to meet The Captain wearing his once-worn-by-The-Captain WWII crusher hat that his dad gave him. But when Newell brings the hat to school, it gets stolen from his backpack! Fart.
When Newell finally spots the culprit wearing his hat in the hall, Mr. Todd confiscates it and reminds the students, “There are no hats to be worn in school!”
Double fart. What will Newell do?! He wants his hat back so he doesn’t let his dad down and so he can impress his hero, but Mr. Todd refuses to return it! Just when Newell is about to give up, he receives a note from 8th grader Ethan: “I have an idea. Also, bring your friends. They can help too.” Can Newell, Ethan, and this ragtag group of friends pull off the perfect hat heist?
In this fun and imaginative full-color graphic novel, Jason Platt sends fast-talking, daydreaming, Newell on another desperate quest to save his favorite hat before he meets his all-time hero.