lindseythelibrarian's Reviews (559)

Appeal Terms:
Character: ability diverse, authentic, flawed
Storyline and Pacing: Character-driven, fastpaced
Tone: amusing, heart-warming, reflective.
The Book
Warren deals with the complexities of having a brother, Benny, who has down syndrome. While reading this book, you really begin to understand some of the societal complexities when you have a brother, or child, who has a disability. Well-meaning words from adults and pitying stares mean nothing to a family that sees Benny as a blessing, and not a burden.

As Warren comes to terms with his own identity and how Benny fits into that, he definitely does some things that may trouble the reader. However, Warren's redemptive arc comes full circle and he learns valuable lessons that help him reclaim his own identity as well as gain pride for his brother.

I really like the characters. Even when Warren is being a pill, I could still understand his perspectives and emotions. Later on in the book, you get to hear a bit about the parents' perspective, which definitely made me tear up. Such a sweet. The author is an elementary school teacher, and you can tell she really understands the mindset of children.

The Narrator approachable, emotionally connected, well-characterized
I listened to the audiobook. While I don't think the audio experience is required to enjoy the ebook, the narrator did an excellent job endearing me to the characters. The narrator did not characterize Benny's voice in any way (as opposed to recent media I've seen). Character voices were distinct enough and interesting to listen to.

~ARC review from Netgalley~

Actual picture of me during this book:

Just kidding. The talking black cat explains what happened in the first book so I don't feel like I am missing out too much. However, having read the second book first, I very much so want to go back and read the first graphic novel. I enjoyed this book and even though I was able to put the pieces together, I still want to see what I've missed.

The Book
Anyway, this book targets ages 8-12 which I can see, though I definitely enjoyed it...and I'm 25! It definitely had a lesson or two to be learned without feeling like an afterschool special. Think "Steven Universe" if you're into that sort of thing. The plot, while simple, was something that even the most hesitant of readers could get into. The drama begins quickly, our main character Moth goes through her own growth journey, and the story ends almost as quickly as it started. I appreciated the willingness of the author to deal with a few difficult subjects like being different in a way that was tasteful and easy to digest for young readers but definitely dealt with issues of racism and conformity. Emma Steinkellner herself went to school for Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and I was thrilled to see how subtly but powerfully her ideals were put into the story.





The Art
Since this was an ARC book, I wasn't able to see the completed colored version yet. However, what I was able to see was such a treat.



I instantly fell in love with the expressions of Moth and her mom Calendula, as well as the dorkiest teacher ever.



I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys modern cartoons with a good story, anyone who likes small towns on the east coast, and anyone who likes feminism and witches.

Devil-may-care witch solves a dangerous mystery.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. The art style was cute and I really liked the main character. Don’t read on if you don’t want to know some minor TW spoilers.

Tw: suicide, outing

While I would definitely read more in this series, I couldn’t help but wonder who the age group was. It definitely seemed like it could be YA, but the previously mentioned serious subjects seemed very intense. I think having a bit more length would have helped round out some of the mystery elements as well as have the characters explore some of the darker themes. I felt like dark parts also overrode the mystery elements a bit. Overall, this was an interesting read.

Just too much for me. Maybe the audio version isn't the best--I might be able to read the book.

This book is beautifully illustrated, and I enjoyed this perspective from an indigenous person.
The abstraction of this book wasn't necessarily my cup of tea, but I did enjoy the call to action. I don't think the author needed to provide ways to protect water, but it would have been nice. I could see this book being used as a teaching tool about native people and culture, as well as how connected everyone in the world truly is.

As someone who is continuing to grow into an environmentally-conscious consumer, this book is a nice reminder that plenty of cultures have their own ties to the planet and are wonderful allies that should be supported.

Cici's drawings and the beautiful comic illustrations will capture the attention of young readers as well as spark their creativity.
3.5 stars

Appeal Terms:
Character: flawed, michevious, quirky,
Storyline and Pace: plot-driven and fast-paced
Tone: sweet, whimsical
Illustration: charming

I thought this book was very heartfelt--I even got a bit misty-eyed at the end! It's really lusciously illustrated and I enjoyed the parts of the journal interspersed between the story which really gave more insight into Cici's character. I would totally read more stories with Cici in her quaint little town.

Potential issues for young readers
It's a bit strange because the main character has a habit of lying to her mother. And really, the lying does not come back to bite her in the end. However, for young Cici, she does go through her own arc of learning about not using people like objects and gaining empathy.