I appreciate the way that VE Schwab builds on the world in this book, giving us more about the magic system. Especially how it relates to other areas outside of London. The magical tournament was probably my favorite aspect of this story. While magical tournaments aren't new, I enjoyed the way it was written in this, and Lila's determination to join even if she isn't the most skilled magician.

Rhy might be my favorite character in this; I just think he is one of the most interesting and complex. Kell and Lila aren't terrible, but I found Lila to get a bit repetitive towards the end of this book. Becuase I didn't really realize how long this book was!

Overall, I do think this book suffers a bit from second book sydrome, especially at the beginning. It felt like it was a little longer than it needed to be, but I guess there is some build up for the third book. Which I'll definitely be reading, because I still need to know how it ends! 

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s for an advanced copy of this to review! McLemore is a newer author for me, but so far, I’ve enjoyed everything they’ve written. This book might be the best book of theirs I’ve read so far! And that’s saying something because I really loved Mirror Season.

First of all, I don’t think I can think of another YA book that has two nonbinary protagonists that fall in love. If you can think of one, let me know! But right from the beginning, Bastián and Lore feel like they have a kinship because of their nonbinary identities. And we get different ends of the spectrum: Bastián is just starting testosterone injections, while Lore is still exploring their identity. I loved that they both got to talk to each other about this, and their gender forecasts? Those were adroable and felt like something so relatable to nonbinary teens.

In addition to their nonbinary identities, Bastián and Lore both struggle with different neurodivergences. Bastián struggles with ADHD and Lore struggles with dyslexia. With Bastián, we get the full spectrum of ADHD. Where people normally think of ADHD as hyperactivity, there’s so much more than that. There’s also a brief discussion about how gender is related to ADHD diagnosis, which I also don’t think is something I’ve seen in a YA book. Lore struggles with figuring out words, and the way they describe it feels realistic and definitely relatable for teens also struggling with these issues.

Like most McLemore’s books, there’s a magical realism element that directly correlates with what the characters are struggling with. I especially like the way that the lake paralleled the way Lore felt like they were spiraling out of control, unsure of how to stop it. It’s a subtle magical realism, but it works so well with the story.

All in all, I absolutely loved this book and think it’s going to continue to get a lot of good buzz when it comes out in March. It’s definitely one that you won’t want to miss! 
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Just when I thought Mirror Season was my favorite of McLemore's books, this one might take that place. Beautifully written with that kind of surreal magical realism I've come to expect from their books. Also two nonbinary main characters falling for each other? I can honestly say I think that's the first time I've seen that in a YA book.

More to come in a full review next week!

You can always tell that Ruta Sepetys does her research for any of her historical fiction novels. She also tends to highlight moments in history that aren't usually taught in schools, at least in the United States. I had no idea about the state of things in Romania in 1989, and Sepetys just has a writing style that pulls you in and keeps you invested until the very end.

Pretty much anything foreign was forbidden in Romania at this time, and the sense of being watched permeates throughout the majority of the novel. The reports between chapters throughout help to add to this idea that Romanian citizens were never quite sure who to trust; their neighbors, their family members, their friends could all be informants for the Ceaușescu regime. The reports also show how closely all of the citizens were being watched. Sepetys adds a bit of mystery to the story by having Christian try to figure out who informed on him. But in a society where everyone could be a suspect and you can't talk freely, it's not so easy to figure out.

This might be historical fiction, but it definitely has aspects of a thriller as well. I'd definitely recommend reading the author's note at the end because it also gives context for the novel and why Sepetys was inspired to write this particular story. 100% recommend this to any fans of YA historical fiction.

Revisited this as a part of the award work group I'm in, and it's just as good the second time. I feel like I appreciated the art more this time. There is some truly beautiful work in here. Plus, I appreciated the book more knowing the author's story going into it. If you haven't read Squire yet and you're a fantasy graphic novel fan, definitely add it to your list!

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Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this to review! Always on the lookout for new, diverse graphic novels to read, and this one fits the bill. Bonus points for it being fantasy and filling a hole seen in the graphic novel fantasy genre!

For the most part, I thought the writing throughout this was well done. There a few times where I thought it maybe got a little too wordy for a graphic novel, but sometimes it was necessary to ensure the readers are on the same page. Especially since this is a fantasy world that needs some explanation at times.

The writing also partners well with the characters to truly bring them to life. The art makes the characters incredibly expressive, supported by what’s going on in the text. We are also able to see a diverse representation of characters throughout this world, which better reflects the real world. You can see the characters changing as they learn more, which is so important in a book like this.

I also really liked the art in this. There are some really great panels in here, especially depicting the overall world. The overall color palette also helps in bringing this fantasy world to life.

My only qualm with this book is that the ending felt a bit rushed. I think it could have been expanded, and this honestly could become a series. I would totally read more! 
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From the art to the writing, this is a fabulous graphic novel. Not only did it have great expressive, diverse characters, but also a believable world and great art. Stay tuned for a full review to come later this week!

Overall, I think this is a pretty solid ending to this manga series. While the romance is such a huge part of the storyline, it's also a story about choices and how those choices affect us and those around us. The narration in the last two chapters really puts this into perspective, and actually kind of makes me want to re-read it with that sort of context? Because it's definitely a theme that you can find throughout the whole series, and it really culminates with that idea.

But anyway! My main complaint with this ending is that the last two chapters felt a bit rushed, especially compared the first few chapters in this particular volume. I get that the ending kind of lined up with them all going their separate ways after school, but I kind of wanted more after that. I would 100% read a spin off series that follows Taichi and Toma after they're done with school and between that five year time jump in the epilogue. Actually, I really want that, so let's make it happen.

I thought the art was really strong in this volume, too. There are some great close ups of people's faces that really helps to show their emotions and brings into focus everything that's happening to them. All in all, I really enjoyed this manga, and might just be one that I want to own someday.

Just Roll With It follows Maggie, a girl who struggles with OCD and is just trying to get through her first year in middle school. To help make all of her decisions, she uses a d20 dice, but what happens when it doesn't give her the answer that she wants?

This was an absolutely adorable graphic novel! What I liked the most about it was the way it dealt with Maggie's OCD. Like many kids, she's hesitant at first to actually ask for help. When her parents approach her about therapy, she doesn't think she needs it, mostly because of the stigmas that exist around mental illness and going to therapy. But once she finally realizes that she needs help, therapy is portayed as something positive and useful.

Maggie's friend Clara is also super supportive and helpful for Maggie. She realizes that Maggie might be having anxiety attacks and she helps her through them. I loved seeing their friendship grow throughout the book. Starting 6th grade is scary, and being able to find friends is one of the most nerve wracking things. But their friendship is so easy, and I was happy to see them get closer as the book goes on.

The art in this is fantastic, especially the way Maggie's anxiety attacks are depicted. Incorporating the role playing game will also bring in a lot of middle grade readers, I think. The way this is incorporated in Maggie's every day life also helps in building Maggie's character and the rest of this world.

The only reason this isn't getting a full 5 stars is because I do think it gets a little long. There are pieces of the story that probably could have been edited out and the story would have still made sense.

All in all, if you're looking for a middle grade graphic novel that deals with anxiety, this is definitely the book for you!

Oshiro definitely hit it out of the park in their middle grade debut! In this book, we follow the story of Héctor, who has just moved to a new school and is nervous about starting. When he starts getting bullied for being gay, a magical room starts to appear that helps him hide. It's there where he meets two students who also need a safe space: Juliana and Sal. The only catch? They all go to schools all across the country.

What I love about Oshiro's writing is that it feels so realistic. A lot of the problems that Héctor encounters are ones that many middle schoolers are going to relate to. And not being believed after getting bullied? I feel like that happens way more often than we'd like to admit. You can't help but get angry at the adults in this book because they all act so powerless to help Héctor. Or they act like they don't know what's going on. Héctor's story will definitely pull on your heartstrings.

The little friend group Héctor finds is also fantastic. Juliana and Sal were fully fleshed out characters, and they all were in each other's lives at the right time. They all help each other in different ways, and it's just so great to see. Plus, Héctor makes some new friends at his new school, and they become the support that he needs. Oh, and Héctor's Abuela is great, especially the way she lets Héctor figure out what he needs and when he needs it.

All in all, this middle grade novel is about finding your voice, about the ways that friendships can change in middle school, and about learning how to ask for help when you need it. Definitely a great addition to any middle grade collection!

Finally got around to reading this one! Trying to get to some of VE Schwab's backlist, because I've loved the new stuff she's been putting out. Plus, I've read most of her YA stuff, so I figured it was time to get to her adult stuff. Happy to say I wasn't disappointed!

Schwab has a knack for world building and for writing characters that you can easily connect with from the beginning. This was true for both Kell and Lila. Kell is one of the last people who can travel between the different Londons, but he doesn't really know where he fits in. Lila is a pirate, looking for adventure, who just happens upon Kell and his magic. From the moment they meet, the two have great chemistry, and I enjoyed their interactions throughout the book. It just really helped in carrying the story forward.

What I also liked about this book was that it was high stakes, but maybe not high stakes like an epic fantasy. You know, full on large battles with worlds colliding. The magic is more subtle, more like historical magical realism (making that a thing). I honestly think that's some of my favorite kind of fantasy, and that's the kind of fantasy that Schwab is great at writing.

I also listened to the audiobook for this one, and the narrator was fantastic. He definitely brought this world to life, and it always helps when narrators have British accents. Because I just love listening to that. All in all, I absolutely can't wait to read the next book because I need to know what happens next!

 Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an advanced copy of this to review! Graphic novel is definitely my preferred format for consuming nonfiction, and this just shows you why! Gao seamlessly weaves this memoir about her life, hitting all of the right emotional notes. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll definitely relate to many of the moments Gao has growing up.

The art style in this also lends itself well to the story. There are some absolutely gorgeous landscape panels, but there are also extremely emotive panels, too. The writing and the art seem to go hand in hand, crafting a memoir fully showing Gao's experiences as a Chinese immigrant in the United States. I also enjoyed the way that Gao put various pop culture references throughout; one of my favorites was the sequence when they go to college. It hits on her experience as an immigrant, but puts a unique spin on it.

Putting the end in the context of the COVID pandemic also shows what many Asian Americans have been going through since the pandemic started. Especially in 2020, when no one really knew what was happening. Gao's conversations with their parents were emotional and realistic, as everyone feared for one another. 100%, I think this should be in all libraries so those that haven't had to go through these experiences can better understand them.

All in all, this graphic novel was well paced, well illustrated, and well written. If you're looking for something along the lines of Almost American Girl by Robin Ha, this is definitely a great one to pick up! 
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This graphic memoir was so well done! I loved the art, the way the story was formatted, and the range of emotions that it portrays. Stay tuned for a full review to come soon!

 Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an advanced copy of this to review! There is a definite lack of gay post-apocalyptic fiction, so I'm so glad that this exists. I'm also happy to report that this lived up to my expectations, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I think I saw somewhere that this is being pitched as David and Patrick from Schitt's Creek as teenagers at the end of the world. That absolutely describes Andrew and Jamie's dynamic so well. Jamie is much more reserved, level headed like Patrick. Andrew puts himself out there more, like David. They have bickering, they have sweet moments. The romance definitely isn't lost in this post-apocalpytic novel. But it also doesn't take away from the seriousness of what's happening around them. It feels realistic, given the circumstances.

The only reason this isn't getting a full five stars is honestly because I was a little taken out of the story by the mentions of COVID. I get the importance, and appreciated the author's note at the end about it. I'm still of the opinion that it feels too soon to put COVID in books. Does anyone else feel this way?

Anyway, this is definitely a very character driven novel, as there's not necessarily a central conflict driving the plot except for the apocalypse. Personally, I'm a fan of this kind of story, but always feel like it's helpful knowing that before you go into the story.

All in all, if you're looking for a good character driven post-apocalyptic novel, this is for you! I also appreciated the Tom Holland references, because of obvious reasons (or maybe not obvious, if you haven't seen my posts about Spider-Man). This might be one I add to my personal library when it comes out in March! 
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I'm so happy this lived up to expectations for me! It checked a lot of my favorite boxes. Full review to come next week!