I'm not a fan of the fact that this starts out with a comic about having to deal with a pet passing away because I was not expecting it and it always gets to me. Pets, man. This is a series of short comics about growing up, that don't really seem to be included in any order? Bagieu isn't afraid to shy away from tough topics, and there is a lot in here that will relate to teenagers. Overall, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

This is an adorable middle grade graphic novel about sibling relationships and fitting in. The art was just lovely, and it was great how Zara and Zeeshan both had such different passions but end up learning more about the other by the end. There's also a lot of commentary about being Muslim in America and the struggles they have with that. It was just an overally lovely time.

I struggled with this in the beginning because it starts out quite slow, and it took me a bit to get into the characters. But I feel like the book picks up about 40% of the way through, because that's when the plot mentioned in the summary really gets going. 

The switching between the timelines really helps to show the history of Black hollywood, throughout different generations. There are complex relationships shown throughout, and also the idea of trust when you're famous is a strong theme. It's an overall interesting read, and the narrator did a great job for the audiobook!

This isn't the first time I've read a story with the term "Parachute Kids" (that was Parachutes by Kelly Yang, but only read that if you're in the right mindset because it also deals with sexual assault), but the stakes seemed higher in this one than the YA book. Three kids, on their own, trying to figure out basically how to live as adults. It's based on the author's own experiences, and everything that happens Feng Li and her siblings feels realistic and the author doesn't flinch away from their hardships.

Like a few other reviews I've read, the book does seem to end abruptly. I know this is set in the 80s, but I was also disappointed with how the brother's storyline was handled. It ends abruptly, with no resolution for the inforomation we've learned about him throughout the course of the story. Of course, the book is mostly from Feng Li's point of view, but something with a bit more hope for him would have fit better for a middle grade audience.

There were some points brought up in another review about the way this is framed in comparison to other minority communities, like the Latinx community and the Black community that I didn't think about but are valid points. See that review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5484641663

All in all, I can see why this is getting praise because it is (mostly) well written and well illustrated, but I wanted just a bit more resolution there at the end, especially for it being a middle grade text.

Iggy is a Ohio-born Columbian American content with his life. At least, until he runs into Marisol at school and gets turned into a meme. Now, he’s trying to get back into her good graces–with the help of the ghost of his grandfather. The only problem? His grandfather isn’t the best at giving advice.

As Iggy starts listening to his abuelito, his life starts to unravel. And as the 2016 presidential election starts to get heated, Iggy struggles to figure out his place in the world. Just maybe, reconnecting to his family’s roots will help him to feel more balanced. 
 

Thanks to NetGalley and First Second for an advanced copy of Call Me Iggy by Jorge Aguirre to review! The winter months are going to be great months for graphic novels, if my most recent reading is any indication. This book included!

I liked that this was set during the 2016 presidential election because it shows the anxiety surrounding it, especially for the Latinx community. Iggy’s parents immigrated from Columbia before he was born, distancing themselves from the culture in order to fit in. Connecting with his grandfather’s ghost makes Iggy want to learn more about his background, which includes learning Spanish.

Marisol’s family is such a contrast to his; celebrating their heritage, focusing on a togetherness that Iggy and his family don’t have. I loved the way Iggy and Marisol’s friendship evolved throughout this book, with Iggy on his journey of discovering. The overall story arc works really well.

The art is also fantastic. Rafael Rosado brings Aguirre’s words to life, and there are some truly stunning panels in this book. I was fully immersed in this world.

All in all, if you’re looking for a graphic novel about identity, family, and finding your place in the world, definitely check this book out when it comes out in February! 

I don't know that kids or teens would seek this book out on their own, but it's definitely a great book to use in schools. It would pair well with March by John Lewis ini my opinion, as it offers a lot of detail about the planning and the execution about the March on Washington. I learned a lot reading it, and there's a lot in the book that would work well in a classroom setting. 

Both Abby and Leo’s bands have been chosen to perform in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. However, where Abby is excited about the opportunity, Leo isn’t as much. For Abby, New York is her chance to tell her best friend she’s in love with her with a huge romantic gesture–an annotated copy of their favorite book. She has it all planned out. On the other hand, Leo is afraid of getting outed as trans to his entire extended family and just wants the day to be over.

After they both get on the wrong train, Leo causes Abby to lose her book. Separated from their bands, they decide to spend the day in New York getting Abby souvenirs to give her best friend instead. But the more they spend time together, the more they realize that maybe there’s a spark. 
 

Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an advanced copy of This Day Changes Everything by Edward Underhill to review! Underhill’s debut, Always the Almost, was such a great read, so I was excited to pick this one up.

Let me start by saying: why didn’t this come out in November? I can think of very few YA books set around Thanksgiving, and I think a November release date makes so much more sense. I get that it’s a romance, so that’s probably why it’s coming out in February, but still. It would have made such a great November book!

Anyway, the characters in this are so well-rounded and realistic. Both of them come from smallish towns, trying to figure out how to best live their queer identities where they don’t know a lot of queer people. For Abby especially, getting to be in New York and see the possibilities gave her the confidence to come out to her friends. On the flipside, Leo is out, but has a lot of anxiety around his extended family seeing him and accepting him. They both work well as narrators, and Underhill creates distinct voices for both of them.

This book is being pitched as Ferris Bueller meets Dash and Lily, and honestly, what a great description. You get a bunch of fun adventures roaming around New York city, all the while you can tell that Abby and Leo are growing feelings for each other. It’s such a fun, lighthearted story, with a supporting cast that is there for their friends, no matter what.

With this and his debut, I think Underhill is carving out his place in the YA queer romance genre. I can’t wait to see what else he does next! 

Re-reading this in anticipation for the new Hunger Games book coming out this month, and honestly, each time I read this I catch something I hadn't noticed the previous times. There are so many subtle connections to the original trilogy, and the English major in me is dying to write a paper about it. (I did write my Master's thesis partly about the Hunger Games, so maybe I just need to go back to that).

I am honestly even more excited about the next book coming out because knowing Suzanne Collins, it will be just as complex as this one. Plus it's Haymitch, and we all love him. 
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There was such a fear when this book came out that Snow would somehow be made more human, that we would become sympathetic to him despite the horrors he committed both in the Hunger Games series and in Panem in general. We get glimpses of humanity here and there, but in no way is he redeemed of his crimes. Instead, we get to see how he was instrumental in crafting the Hunger Games that we see when Katniss enters them 60-some years later.

I'm betting, with the movie coming out, some people will try to bill this as a romance and it is also not that. Snow doesn't love Lucy Gracy even though he claims to; the ending of the book shows that. He loves power and his image more than anything else. It's such a fascinating character study, even if Snow is not a likeable character in the least.

Even if this isn't necessarily the Panem history that a lot of the fans wanted, it adds to the world overall, and now I'm curious if Collins will write other books also set in this world. It could happen!

Another lovely little graphic novel, this time focusing on the sister relationships as the entire family travels to Disney world. I loved getting to see the sisters grow closer together and fight for each other as they learned that maybe they aren't as different as they thought. It's definitely a great family driven story, featuring lessons important for both the reader and Huda herself. I wouldn't mind more books in this series because they are all fun, diverse reads!

A great slice-of-life graphic novel about being Muslim in America. Huda's just trying to figure out where to fit in, especially in a new school. There's a tone of humor throughout that makes this a quick read, and an important addition to the growing number of YA graphic novels. Overall, a great time!