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2.83k reviews by:
betweentheshelves
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was so unique and a bit dark, but also hopeful. It's a mix of everything! I liked the unique twist on the idea of a phantom limb, but with a phantom twin. Isabel learns to find her voice without her twin sister. Plus, the art is pretty great.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Beautiful art and a beautiful story. This is such a great middle grade graphic novel looking at grief and ghosts and death. I can see why this is so popular! Thummler's characters and great, and the whole ghost story is so unique. I loved the concept.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Death of parent
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was so cute and heartwarming! I loved these characters and the world that Escabasse created. And the art was phenomenal! This is definitely a middle grade graphic novel series that I'll definitely be keeping up with because I loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The beginning of this book is fantastic. I really got hooked in with the characters, their stories, and everything else that was going on. While I knew the basic premise of the book, the second half got a little far-fetched for me. I felt like it lost a little of what I loved in the beginning of the book.
However, the themes and discussions throughout are important. It focuses on immigration and racism and why we shouldn't consider people illegal. I'd definitely recommend it for that! And the characters.
However, the themes and discussions throughout are important. It focuses on immigration and racism and why we shouldn't consider people illegal. I'd definitely recommend it for that! And the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Medical trauma, Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Torture
There are also a lot of Harry Potter references.
challenging
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sheinmel nailing on the head with mental health, once again. Stay tuned for a full review next week!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Self harm, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Bullying
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thanks to Farrar, Straus, and Giroux and NetGalley for providing me an advanced copy of this to review! Maris Reichardt is an author who has been on my radar, but I’ve never read anything by her. I was excited to get the chance, and the story line sounded unique and interesting!
At the start, I did enjoy the conversations Juniper has with her parents when she disagrees with their beliefs. They felt like real conversations, and Juniper brought up good points. However, her parents were extremely stubborn and frustrating, which is part of the point of the story. A lot of people who are anti-vaxxers are very, very grounded in their beliefs, and Reichardt portrayed this well in the book.
For me, none of the characters in this book were particularly likeable. I just don’t think they were quite fleshed out enough. A lot of the book is focused on Juniper trying things out for the first time and getting outside of her bubble, being able to find her own voice. Which is great! But it meant that some of the character development fell to the wayside. I would have liked to see some of the side characters developed a bit more, as some of them felt quite one-sided.
All in all, this is an enjoyable book that gives power to teens who just want to make their own choices when it comes to their bodies. Maybe not all teens will relate to Juniper’s specific situation, but there’s some level of it that will feel relatable to them. A quick read that’s sure to leave you thinking.
I struggled a bit with this, honestly. More to come in a review tomorrow!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Medical content, Grief
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is such a great graphic novel working against the stigma that surrounds periods. There's a great group of friends at the core of the story, working together and supporting each other. The artwork was also fantastic, and this story could inspire other teen girls to stand up for what they think is right.
At one point, one of the girls (Abby) goes rogue and does something without her friends' permission. I think the way this was handled in the book was effective, as they had conversations about why they were wrong and what they needed to do to move forward. All in all, this is a positive graphic novel that is a great addition to any collection.
At one point, one of the girls (Abby) goes rogue and does something without her friends' permission. I think the way this was handled in the book was effective, as they had conversations about why they were wrong and what they needed to do to move forward. All in all, this is a positive graphic novel that is a great addition to any collection.
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I didn't realize this was a sequel, but I definitely think it can be read on its own. You might just get more character background if you read the first book. This was a fun, quick read for me. The topics don't get too deep, but I can definitely see how middle grade readers would find this relatable.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Where this book excels is its themes. Manu's journey is parallel to an immigrant's story in the US, with a little fantasy twist. Prejudice, racism, and illegal immigration all work their way into this fantasy story. The beginning of the book is strong, setting the stage for the rest of the book.
However, the second half of the book has its bumps along the way, re-centered when it ties back to its main themes and plot points, specifically Manu and the mystery of her family. I did love Manu and her new friends, and I can't wait to see where they go next in the sequel!
However, the second half of the book has its bumps along the way, re-centered when it ties back to its main themes and plot points, specifically Manu and the mystery of her family. I did love Manu and her new friends, and I can't wait to see where they go next in the sequel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Violence
Moderate: Homophobia, Xenophobia, Police brutality
Frequent mentions of Harry Potter throughout.
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Told in verse, this book is timely and powerful. More in a review to come later this week!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse, Kidnapping