I like the direction the author took with Kate's character.

Thoroughly enjoyed! I’ve always liked detective stories, this one had a great cast of characters. No one was just black and white; the characters had depth. The female nurses take the spotlight here.

Also, a detective power couple is just too cute!

their love was so sweet and chaste. you can tell he genuinely cared for her, and they both protected each other.

I'll read Hur's next book.

The age-old question: Can you make money as an artist?

I really liked the exploration of being able to love art and make money from it, the hardnose teacher who actually wants the best for the students but antagonizes them, and the different jobs an artist can have.

The artwork is very sketchy (frankly in an unfinished way) but expressive. The ending felt a little farfetched, but I liked the spotlight on art festivals

the kids having supportive parents and school backing at an art festival I believe. the kiddies getting hired to create art for a local comics shop I don't.

A prophetic bunny and the hell these cute creatures go through! Things get grim here, but it’s not dark or edgy. It is just the perils of man vs animal and animals vs predators. The first warren of rabbits was especially chilly though. I was thoroughly engaged in this story, trying to see how they would survive next. 

If you cannot take animal death or cruelty, this isn't the book for you. The rabbits get mangled and bloodied.

I loved Hazel and Fiver’s sibling relationship. His big brother really believed in him. I also enjoyed the world-building. The rabbits had their own names for things ex: hrururu = tractor, iron trees = electric towers

Also, Bigwig stood on business every time!

This isn't an enjoyable read due to all the peril and stress, but it's engaging.

I liked the stylized artwork, but some of the dialogue sounded unnatural. I've also discovered I don't like racquetball lol. 

Blair was way too nice; some people would've told Rosie the old and the new. The resolution with the dad was very light for the amount of overbearing and critical he was. But I think Rosie's emotional capacity was spot-on; middle schoolers are dealing with big feelings which are hard to express, sometimes.

This wasn’t bad, but you could tell something was missing – maybe it was too low stakes or the characters didn’t develop much. Dragonfruit is strictly plot development. 

But I did enjoy the female friendship (spoiler:

You think it’s going to be typical girl hate but Rosamie has different motives for wanting Sam’s affection

), the dragonfruit lore + the sentient tattoos, how characters aren’t just black and white with morality, and the tense family relations of Jejomar. 

There’s potential for a very sweet ‘childhood friends to lovers’ romance here, but it’s almost nonexistent and rapid. 

2.5

 I really enjoy how this book explores faith and science, and how the two don’t have to negate each other.

It’s also cartoony and entertaining. 

A lot of personality. Very witchy with some occult on the side. I could see this as a cartoon since the character dynamics and humor are well-defined.