The colored pencil illustrations are so absolutely endearing and was an excellent choice for this lovingly queer fairy tale collection. The stories are somewhat short and fast paced, but that's what you typically expect from the genre. I think my favorite would have to be "Hsthete" because really I enjoyed the soft chaotic vibe. The others were impactful and I loved that so many of them focused on the value and strength of community. Queer folk flourish and survive when surrounded by those that accept and bolster them and I was thankful to see that reflected here. Definitely an affirming and validating set of stories. 

Leave it to animal survival fiction for young readers to be somehow endearing and disturbing at the same time. I was surprised by how graphic the material was at times given the audience, but it's similar enough to other titles in the genre that those used to it will probably be able to read it okay.

I wasn't expecting the stories to be as interconnected as they were. It starts off real strong with an animal's understanding of rabies, which is described quite chillingly at times. I think the horror starts to wear off a bit towards the middle, only for it to come back slightly in the end, but I think there's enough to keep readers invested. The villainous Beatrix Potter addition is something I'm still mulling over, since that would mean this story takes place in England, though there are crocodiles/alligators mentioned later in the story and those certainly are not native to the area, but we can all call that creative liberties I guess. 

The suspense of these cautionary tales will keep any young reader on the edge of their seats. 

Was definitely getting a Scott Pilgrimy vibe throughout the story, mainly through its tone and focus on flawed people that slowly try to be better. While this is definitely a comedic graphic novel, it really excels in its drama, especially when characters open up and engage in very honest communication. The characters feel like actual people: they make mistakes, have doubts and insecurities they try to work through, and find security in others. I enjoyed Ella's sweet relationship with Madeline, but even her strong friendship with Leslie was nice to see. 

The simple color palette did a lot for the atmosphere. The mixture of two different colors throughout various points of the story really helped sell the various emotional transitions of the main characters and reinforce a laid back vibe. 

Thank you to Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group, WEBTOON Unscrolled, and NetGalley for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
 
Ellie is a bit down on her luck at the moment. With no job, no money, and almost no apartment, things are becoming desperate. That all changes when a mysterious pumpkin-headed man falls from the sky, entangled in a fierce battle with a raging hell beast. Not exactly something that happens every day, After suddenly manifesting psychic abilities, Ellie helps him fight off the creature, in return receiving an offer of a job as a paranormal investigator. Spooky shenanigans ensue along with a growing mystery that hides an unknown peril.
 
Unfortunately, I don't think I had as great of a time with this title as other readers. Many elements really felt flat to me: the story, the world, the colors, the characters. The action sequences were exciting at least, conveying a great amount of energy and tension. But I don't think the comic ever truly landed with me.
 
I think Ellie as a character had to do with a lot of it. She seems to fall into that character trope of "klutzy for the sake of being endearing/plot reasons," and doesn't really have much of a personality. Even when her powers manifest, there is no curiosity as to HOW she got those powers in the first place. She just seems to go along with everything and, while she does ask questions at times, they are so basic that they hardly flesh out the world for the reader. 
 
While it had engaging moments, the story never really had my full attention due to a somewhat disjointed pace and its penchant for just not fully explaining things at times. It may have some appeal for teen readers just getting into the paranormal genre through graphic novels, but I wonder if there are others that handle the concept better. 

As a librarian, reading this surreal and absurd exploration of the "modern" library was definitely an experience. From the point of view of a reader, an angry young book that demands to be read, and a librarian, we see the shifting climate of the library from valued source of information and literary respite to an outmoded relic in a now digital age.  And there's the main issue I have with the story.

Seeing as the author is also a librarian, I understand the concerns of the library changing roles over the years. The book laments the use of the library as a working space, where visitors come only to latch on to the Wifi, sip their warm drinks of choice, and hardly pay the collection half a glance. Naturally this take is given from the perspective of the neglected book, but yet there's such a feeling on contempt that feels a little too personal. Many librarians are fearful of what the future of the institution brings, especially when the public is ever more demanding of services the library cannot hope to fulfill. On the other hand, they know that to become "book depositories" without facilities to offer, without programs to foster learning and community, without the potential for continuous learning and growth, is to die a slow death. Even in library world, it's adapt or survive. (Though I have to say, the line about the only interaction librarians have with certain customers being asked where the bathroom is is definitely relatable.)

The fear of the digital book and what it means for the printed word is also a fear, and yet, in my experience, it has been an asset to our community members that cannot travel to our library easily. And still, no matter the format, people are READING. Sure, it may not seem as intimate, but they're still interacting with a story, still connecting to the material. Surely the audiobook did not wipe the physical book off the face of the earth, so why should the ebook? 

A library is its community. It reflects its needs, desires, aspirations, and goals. That's why each one is different. The fears of the future are valid, it's always up in the air what our positions will look like even five years from now, but people will always need information. 

Sorry if this review turned more into a rant. I think it's an interesting perspective. Not one I really agree with, but still worthy of note. It's a little disjointed at times, especially when transitioning to a different perspective, but absurdist fiction doesn't really flow in the way of narrative convention. 

Give it a read if you're into books about books. 

Like the previous installment, this new adventure from the Cardboard Kingdom has more of a running narrative instead of the collected vignettes of the first volume, but I think it's much better paced in this one. Everyone gets a little time to shine along with some new characters and the many intersecting plots within have some room to breathe. I love the constant themes of fostering inclusion, developing confidence, expressing yourself, and building an accepting community of play within this series. There is so much heart and creativity here that feels nostalgic to older readers and inspiration towards the younger. A must read for all comic lovers!

I'm somewhat waffling on how exactly I feel about this book. The first half was very engaging as we follow Takako through an existential crisis and into her time living at her uncle's secondhand bookshop. Though hesitant at first, she slowly starts to open herself up to literature, the colorful regulars of the shop, and the community around her. The story unfolds slowly, but the pace never becomes dragging or meandering. I liked the laid back tone of this slice of life story, making it perfect for a quiet, calm afternoon of reading. 

The second half shifts its focus more towards the return of her uncle's wife, as well as introducing a love interest. To me, it seems like too much to squeeze into the back half of a book where Takako's emotional journey is already nearly complete. It seems like these events would have been better placed throughout the first half, leading to a better flow. The romance aspect didn't really do enough for me, especially when the love interest was largely forgettable. There are some great character moments in the second half, and I think the aunt's inclusion is valuable, but I think the story could have used some restructuring.

Still, it's a comfortable read for those that have felt themselves changed and moved by literature. 

What a nice, straightforward, palate cleanser of a book. You've got an orphan raised in a theatre, an abrupt turn to a life of crime, a journey to higher learning only to shift right back to that life of crime. Like the summary says, this book is practically Dickensian in its approach though it keeps itself from dragging on due to its humor and somewhat personable lead. August March is an absolutely petty, petulant, and snobbish boy, but it's done in a way that makes him entertaining rather than irksome. 

Story-wise, it's fun, comical, and outlandish at times, all with an underlying love for the arts and a complete contempt for its more dreadful aspects. It definitely reads as something spurned from the mind of a lover of the arts and will naturally call out to anyone that shares its sentiments. 

It's difficult to say what I exactly liked about it other than it had a clear voice, a clear direction, and never tried to be too grandiose. It's a book with just the right amount of ego, if that makes any sense. 

Definitely give it a try if you find yourself in a reading rut. 

I've been following the author on Instagram for a few years, so I was exited to see her first graphic novel hit the shelves. Her comics were funny, informational, emotional, and you can see a bit of that with this comic. It's fun, it's colorful, it's adventurous. No doubt, it's going to appeal to middle schoolers that like the lighter side of manga and shojo stories. For me, it's a little too simple, the world felt incomplete, and the character dynamics a bit too shakey. I totally get that as an adult reading a graphic novel for tweens it's going to happen, so I don't really want to be too negative on it. There's a good beginning here, so I hope that the history between the races gets a bit more fleshed out since I think it just appeared out of nowhere during the middle of the story. 

I liked how easily the vignette style narrative of the last volume transitioned to a more flowing narrative, giving some more time to fleshing out our cast of kids and giving a deeper look into them. Identity and being comfortable with who you are were such big concepts in the last story and some of those journeys are expanded on here with a new autumn coating. 

Even though our characters face bullying, the fear of upsetting family dynamics, and a new threat that looms over the cardboard kingdom, there is always this positive air to the story that never comes across as overly saccharine. There is something so reassuring about all of these kids coming together for each other, depicting so much loyalty and trust as they imagine together. 

I will say, this one does move a little more slowly than the previous installment, but it's not too hard to muscle through the more dragging bits.