This book absolutely tore my heart out and started to stich it back up again all in one. 

I devoured this book and already cannot wait to read it again.  

The sibling relationship. The circle group. The therapy representation. The personal growth. Applause to everything that Courtne Comrie put into this novel. 

I wish I had this book growing up, but now I have the power to put this book in the hands of young people and will absolutely be recommending it. 

This is an emotionally written story that documents the light and dark moments and experiences Rex Ogle spent with his Abuela growing up. It is written in verse, and the poems are full of Ogle’s heart. These moments were written into this book to save the memories Ogle shared with his Abuela as she is now battling dementia. With the mix of the versed format along with the relatable, real, and raw stories, your students will discover empathy, explore what it means to preserve moments with loved ones (both good and bad), and learn how the reflection process can also assist in helping them process unexpected and potentially unwanted change in the future.  

A strong graphic memoir that shares relatable stories of a girl trying to navigate school while trying to find out who she is. 

In the past, Huda has been able to identify as the girl who wears a hijab, but after moving to a town with a large Muslim population, Huda realizes that her hijab is not what defines her anymore. Through raw descriptions, Huda shares what it was like for her to try and find what "group" she fit into best, feeling the pressures of family and peers the whole time. 

One of the things I appreciate most about this graphic novel is that it covers many important, tough topics in a way that is understandable to young adult readers. This is a story I will absolutely be recommending. 

**Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for giving me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**

IZZY! I absolutely adore this inclusive, diverse book and the amazing cast of characters, especially Izzy, Raven, and Akka. This story is emotional, quirky, apocalyptic, and comforting all in one. 

The whole story comes together piece by piece as Izzy and Raven reveal truths to each other throughout their journey. There are frustrations and successes, heartbreak and triumphs. 

Does it come with flaws? Yes, it's by no means a perfect book. Are you guaranteed to have a fun time reading it? 100%! I will absolutely be recommending this book to middle-grade and teen readers.

Amazing. I will absolutely be reading every book that Adiba Jaigirdar writes. 

The fake dating trope always amuses me. I absolutely adore Hani and Ishu very quickly grew on me. All of her friends can jump ship because these two deserve the world and everything around it. 

I will definitely be recommending this one!

This was an interesting exploration of death, grief, and relationships. I didn't know what to expect going into this one, and I was not disappointed by it. The story is pretty even-paced throughout and doesn't pack a large punch, however, it explores many ways in which people grieve and deal with death with a fantasy aspect that can make readers ponder what may lay beyond life as we know it. 

This is an adorable graphic novel! I had a really fun time jumping into the world of Razzmatazz and Bon as they discover the (human) world of parenting, each making difficult decisions that impact more than just themselves. It was definitely giving me Mooncake vibes in the sense that it was super enjoyable, fantastical, and left me smiling and cheering for all of the characters. 

I will be recommending this one!

A brilliant memoir of a talented artist who chose to question The New Yorker about their lack of inclusion and diversity in their comics. Though some of the content would have been interesting to learn more about, like Liz's journey with The New Yorker, this memoir is made bite-sized and can appeal to a wide range of readers. 

Squire by Sara Alfageeh and Nadia Shammas is a strong graphic novel that exposes readers to clear social class divisions, intense war training, and expansive imperial coverage. Readers join Ornu teen Aiza as she begins training to become a Squire and, hopefully, a Knight. This distinguished honor would grant Aiza citizenship (and heroism) into Bayt-Sajji, the empire that has colonized a majority of its surrounding territories. 

The story of Aiza’s journey is accompanied by a beautiful set of illustrations that use earthy tones as well as light and shadows to create depth and movement throughout each image. All of this helps immerse readers into the rich, detailed, and impressive world Alfageeh and Shammas have created. The inspiration for this fantasy world comes from Middle Eastern landscapes and is filled with beautifully elaborate architecture that is meticulous and complex.

The cast of characters is something to be admired, as well. Each character holds vast complexity and individualism. Aiza, Husni, and Sahar all come from different territories, leaving them with greatly different backgrounds and experiences. This character uniqueness is clearly intentional and is shown through the visual diversity as well as the personalities of each character. 

The weakness I want to point out is that the story is that some parts, like the beginning, felt a bit on the slower side. Though this slow pace helps with world-building and character introductions, it has the potential to cause some readers to lose investment and interest in where the story is going. However, when readers do stick it out, they will be pleasantly surprised by the moving story they explore. 

This fantasy epic is bound to draw in middle-grade and teen readers alike, whether they are looking to expand their knowledge of fantastical history, contemplate the impact of war and colonization, or read a new, fresh adventure. This story feels like something we have not seen before, especially in graphic novels, and it has the potential to appeal to a vast audience of readers. 

Magical Boy Vol. 1 by The Kao is a power-punch of a graphic novel filled with plenty of excitement and emotion. The main character Max, a transgender male, finds out that he is the decedent and current heir to the goddess Aurora, the embodier of light power, and, because of this, Max is now tasked with fighting the dark, plaguing powers of the deity Devoid.

While Max is sorting out what being the heir to a goddess means, with little help from his cat Walnut, he faces direct, intense transphobia from peers at school and even his parents at home, especially after he comes out to them. Max works tirelessly toward learning his new role while also fiercely advocating for who he is with the endless support of his best friend, Jen. 

There are so many things done right in this graphic novel. The story has a quick-moving pace that will keep readers guessing what is coming next, and the bold manga-style illustrations complement the complex text with deep, vibrant coloration. The variation in panel placement also keeps the pages from feeling monotonous. Though the story is fairly fast-paced all the way through, The Kao does a nice job building in the fantasy elements without leaving readers confused. 

The one weakness that stood out to me was the placement of some of the speech balloons made it difficult to follow the conversation. Though I found the various placements of the panels to be helpful in creating depth to the pages, I did find it difficult to follow the conversation at times because of the ways in which the speech balloons, illustrations, and bleeding images overlapped. 

This graphic novel will be appealing to readers who enjoy anime, magical realism, and the magical girl trope (with a twist). It will also be a great read for someone looking for a queer fantasy story. Magical Boy Vol. 1 is an overall fun, magical, and impactful queer fantasy adventure that many teen readers will enjoy.