This was super fun! Kind of gave me a bit of Lumberjanes vibe, plus we have a main character who is deaf! No one can really explain what happens at Camp Whatever, but Willow is in for a summer of adventure and possibly a few mythical creatures.

The art in this really helped in bringing the mythical world to life at this summer camp. It also really helped with the characterization, putting these characters into this new, adventurous world. Willow meets a lot of great friends, and since it looks like this is going to be a series, it will be fun to see what happens next!

Not knowing anything about Mister Miracle going into this, I admit it took me a while to actually figure out what was happening. I think some of the writing relied on the fact that readers will probably know some background for this character, which is fine! It just took away from the story a bit for me.

However, I did really love the art in this! The color scheme throughout is just fantastic. I think it meshes well with the drawing style and the story itself. I feel like sometimes these DC graphic novels can be hit or miss with the art, but this one was great!

Outside of the confusion with the world building, I did like the story arc and the writing for the characters in the story itself. Part of me just wishes that a bit more context was given at the beginning of the book, especially since these YA DC graphic novels are kind of hinging on the fact that readers might not have background knowledge on the character. 

All in all, if you've liked the YA DC graphic novels this far, you'll probably enjoy this one too!

This was a quick, enjoyable read, and fits along what I've mostly come to expect from DC's line of YA graphic novels. Honestly, I think they're a great way to introduce teens to DC characters in a way that's relatable to them. I would love Marvel to do a similar line, but I don't think they're going to. But I digress!

While some of the mechanics and logistics aren't really explained that much, the characters are well-developed and fleshed out. This art style isn't quite my favorite, but there were some nice panels throughout. Specifically with the plants. I also thought Pamela and Alice had good chemistry together, right from the beginning.

Out of the DC graphic novels I've read, I think this one might also be the most morally ambibuous. It makes for a more interesting story, and also makes the writing engaging to read.

This book in verse is a testament to kids being able to see themselves in the books that they read. Stevie is starting to have feelings for her desk mate, Chloe, and she doesn't understand them. Also struggling with anxiety, Stevie struggles about how to tell her mom and how to sort out these new feelings. 

There's a scene where Stevie goes to the public library, desperate for something to help her explain the feelings she's been having. Her interaction with the librarian was sweet, adorable, and I just loved it. It's probably one of my favorite things about this book. The librarian helps Stevie to see that she isn't alone, and if that isn't one of your goals as a librarian, you're probably (definitely) doing it wrong.

Anyway, this book is just so pure and a great addition to the ever growing LGBTQ+ middle grade pool of books. Honestly, the more representation you have, the better.

Oh man, do I have mixed feelings about this book. It started out pretty promising. A girl who can sing, goes into the enchanted woods to save her grandfather. And her singing is magical in some way. Overall, it's a pretty straightforward plot line, and one that overall was predictable for the most part. But, I read a lot of YA fantasy, so that also could contribute to that.

Anyway! I'm not sure if it was because I was listening to it, but the romance at the core got a little confusing to me by the end. Also, it got steamier than I was expecting it to. There's one scene in particular that felt like it kind of came out of left field, and for me, didn't seem to fit with the tone of the book overall.

However, if you like faery stories, chances are you'll like this one! It's got some good fae vibes, and fits within the general framework that you'd probably expect from a fae story. It's very atmospheric and good if that's something you're looking for.

This graphic novel has been on my radar for a while, and I'm happy to say that I finally read it! And it's absolutely adorable from start to finish, with great art, great characters, and fantastic world building.

I'm a sucker for purple/pinkish color schemes in books, which I think is one of the reasons I liked the art so much. But Layne also uses the art to help with the world building and in fleshing out the main characters. The art and the writing worked really well together, building this world and drawing you in right from the beginning. 100%, I would read all the graphic novels that Aliza Layne puts out.

One of the things I really appreciated about this book is that there are LGBTQ+ characters, but the story isn't about that. They just exist in this world and nobody blinks an eye. Yes, we've come a long way in portraying LGBTQ+ characters in books, but more often than not, the storyline is still about their queerness. Coming out, being accepted, etc. Like any other kind of representation, we need variation, so let's keep books like this coming!

In my quest to read more middle grade stories, I'm definitely glad I picked this one up.

 Thanks to Margaret K. McElderry Books for an advanced copy of this to review! February is a great time for romance, so this will be a great one to add to your list if you’re looking for new rom-coms to read this month. Especially if you like reality TV!

I thought the premise of this one was kind of fun, with parents looking for love with their kids also on the show. If you like reality TV and that kind of drama, this fits the bill. Everything you might like about reality TV you can probably find in this book!

Due to the overall set up of the book, I will say that it is difficult to follow all of the characters all the time. I honestly should have kept a running list of who went with who (kind of like Cara and her mom did). The tension and conflict between Cara and her mom felt realistic and didn’t feel too much over the top, for the most part. I mean, it is reality TV, so part of it has to be a bit over the top. Cara’s dad and her stepmom, though. Absolutely terrible people, and you’ll probably grow to hate them just as much as Cara does.

Parts of the plot were also predictable, but I feel like that’s to be expected in a romantic comedy. It’s part of the reason so many people are drawn to this genre; they know what to expect when they’re going in. I still found myself rooting for the romance by the end, and who doesn’t like big romantic gestures in books? It’s swoony and adorable and lovely, and just the right kind of fluffy you need after reading a particularly heavy book.

All in all, if you’re looking for a fun, new romance to read this Valentine’s Day, I’d for sure recommend this one! 
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Sure, there were aspects of this that were predictable, but that's expected for a rom-com! This is a great book if you love reality TV and romance. More to come in a full review next week!

Like I said before, this volume is definitely more emotionally driven than previous volumes. There aren't as many action sequences. But there are some great discussions about abortion, body control, attraction, etc. So much great content in here!

We skip forward in time in this one, and also get introduced to some new characters! What I enjoy about these later volumes is the way that some of the characters have completely evolved from the beginning (like Prince Robot IV). A great character arc. And he's not the only one!

This novel in verse and vingettes is very much a character driven story, specifically a character driven story about healing and moving forward. After an incident with her ex-boyfriend in California, Angel's mom moves her to Brooklyn to live with her uncle. It's in Brooklyn where Angel meets others who help her on her journey to heal and trust others again.

One of the best things about this book is the way Angel discovers books where she sees herself. Books where she can relate to the characters. If you wonder why representation is so important, this is it. It also shows how important this connection can be to kids and teenagers, and how important it can be in getting kids to read. Angel's journey with reading in this book isn't just for her own healing; it also just shows how important it is that we have all kinds of stories in school and public libraries. Yes! All kinds! (Shouts this into the void of people constantly trying to ban any sort of diverse story).

Anyway, the verse style of this book allows for some really great lines, and hits hard at the emotional elements of Angel's recovery. So many readers will be able to relate to Angel's need to use music and stories to escape, because that's so often what we all do. It's a book about the magic of stories, the magic of music, and using those to move forward past trauma. A relatable, timely, relevant novel.

Also the audiobook narrator is great and I highly recommend it if you like audiobooks!