Young Adult Graphic Novel Series
What is Rickety Stitch?
Rickety Stitch and the Gelatinous Goo is a young adult fantasy, graphic novel series by Ben Costa and James Parks. First published by Knopf Books for Young Readers under Random House Graphic and now published by Exalted Funeral, the series tells the story of a skeleton bard.
Meet Rickety Stitch . . . a walking, talking, singing skeleton bard. He’s the one skeleton in the dungeon who seems to have retained his soul, and he has no idea why.
Rickety's only clue to his former identity is a song he hears snippets of in his dreams, an epic bard’s tale about the Road to Epoli and the land of Eem.
His sidekick and sole friend is the gelatinous Goo, who Rickety alone can understand. Together they set out in search of Rickety’s past, with abundant humor and danger galore.
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Praise for Rickety Stitch
“This adventure is sure to appeal to fans of Jeff Smith's Bone.”
★ SLJ, Starred Review
“You'd expect a skeleton like Rickety Stitch to have a funny bone, but you'll be surprised at how much heart he has, too.”
Jeffrey Brown, Eisner Award winning author of Jedi Academy and Lucy & Andy Neanderthal
“Rickety Stitch is full of wonderful characters and pacing…and what surprises! Storytelling stripped down to the bare bones.”
Stan Sakai, Eisner Award winning author of Usagi Yojimbo
“Dazzling, inventive and fun. Ben Costa and James Parks manage to both spoof and pay homage to the fantasy tradition, while creating characters we care about. A tour de force.”
Jason Shiga, Eisner Award winning author of Demon and Meanwhile
“Don't be fooled by the cheery illustrations; this is irreverent, bawdy, and lots of fun.”
★ Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
“There is lots of intertextual cleverness going on that results in this book being both an homage to and spoof of the traditional fantasy hero’s quest, both in the illustrations and in the narration.”
★ Bulletin, Starred Review
“Parks and Costa impressively evolve their tale into a compelling epic quest with deeper themes than the initial chapters hint.”
★ Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
Awards & Recognition
- Junior Library Guild Selection
- Young Adults Favorite Award
- Charlotte Award
- Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List
Music of Rickety Stitch
The songs that appear in the series have been produced and performed by some seriously talented friends of ours, namely E. Wolverton, Darren Korb (Hades), and Ashley Barrett (Hades).
Book 1: The Road to Epoli
The Road to Epoli
E. Wolverton
Book 2: The Middle-Route Run
Rollin' Down the Road
E. Wolverton
A Hero in Name Only
Darren Korb
Book 3: Battle of the Bards
What Once Has Been, Again Shall Be
E. Wolverton
A Hero Named Epoli
Darren Korb, featuring Ashley Barrett
Canta's Song
Darren Korb and Ashley Barrett
FAQs
What grade level is Rickety Stitch?
Grades 7+, Ages 12+
How many books are in the series?
There are 3 volumes of Rickety Stitch: Book 1: The Road to Epoli, Book 2: The Middle-Route Run, and Book 3: Battle of the Bards.
Is Rickety Stitch connected to Dungeoneer Adventures?
The stories are not connected, but both of them take place in our world, known as the Land of Eem. If you're a fan of Rickety Stitch and know some younger readers, they might like Dungeoneer Adventures.
Can I listen to the music in Rickety Stitch?
Yes! The songs that appear in the series have been produced and performed by some seriously talented friends of ours, namely E. Wolverton, Darren Korb (Hades), and Ashley Barrett (Hades). You can listen to all the songs here.
Where can I buy Rickety Stitch?
You can ask for Rickety Stitch wherever books are sold or find it online on Amazon.
Schools, Libraries, Bookstores and Game Stores
Author Visits
James Parks and Ben Costa are lifelong friends and collaborators. Together, they share stories about growing up creating comics, building worlds, and turning their childhood imagination into a lifelong career.
