Category Archives: Graphic Novel or Adaptation

Review: Coming Back by Jessi Zabarsky

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Graphic Novel or Adaptation, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , ,
Coming Back by Jessi Zabarsky

Coming Back
Jessi Zabarsky
RH Graphic
Published January 18, 2022

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Coming Back

A beautiful graphic novel fantasy romance that follows two young women who have to go on their own separate adventures to discover the truth about themselves and about each other.

Preet is magic.

Valissa is not.

Everyone in their village has magic in their bones, and Preet is the strongest of them all. Without any power of her own, how can Valissa ever be worthy of Preet’s love? When their home is attacked, Valissa has a chance to prove herself, but that means leaving Preet behind. On her own for the first time Preet breaks the village’s most sacred laws, and is rejected from the only home she’s ever known and sent into a new world.

Divided by different paths, insecurities, and distance, will Valissa and Preet be able to find their way back to each other?

A beautiful story of two young women who are so focused on proving they’re meant to be together that they end up hurting each other in the process. This gorgeous graphic novel is an LGTBQ+ romance about young love and how it can grow into something strong no matter what obstacles get in the way.

My Review

This graphic novel has a lot of panels with pictures that show action, such as someone performing a ritual. I don’t know that I’ve ever read anything quite like this book before, so it took a little bit of getting used to. Once I felt like I grasped how the author was using still panels to indicate movement or action, it was easier to follow what was happening or fill in the interim movements in my head.

Once I got used to this style of storytelling, I found it really cool. A lot of the scenes have no text or only onomotopeia. There’s something really different about reading a scene without words to interpret what’s happening. It’s like that made me filter the story through a completely different part of my brain. I loved that experience, even though it was unfamiliar.

I also appreciate that this story follows two characters who break the norms of their group. Preet has powerful magic, but she uses it in an unapproved way. In their community, the people depend on those with powerful magic to help one another. Valissa doesn’t have magic, but she doesn’t let that stop her from risking her life to protect her people.

I also enjoyed the color palette of the book. It’s got peach and turquoise tones that make the scenes seem really nature-based. They’re soothing colors, too.

I hadn’t heard of this book, but found it while browsing at the library. I’m really glad I picked it up, and I would love to read more by Jessi Zabarsky.

If you like nature-centered fantasy graphic novels, put this one on your list.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 13 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Two characters are in a relationship.

Spiritual Content
Some characters can do magic, such as changing shape and creating wind, etc. Some characters are mythical creatures.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Prejudice and shaming drive some characters from their home.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I borrowed a copy of this book from my library. All opinions are my own.

Review: Beetle and the Chimera Carnival by Aliza Layne

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Beetle and the Chimera Carnival (The Beetle Books #2)
Aliza Layne
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Published April 29, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Beetle and the Chimera Carnival

Beetle and her friends attend a carnival full of dragons and magic, only to discover something sinister at play behind the scenes, in this delightful sequel to the Stonewall Honor-winning Beetle & the Hollowbones middle grade graphic novel.

Hidden behind the clouds, giant dragons guard the most powerful magic in the world from prying eyes. On one magical night, once every ten years, these leviathans reveal themselves to a fanfare of costumes, music, and parades in the Chimera Carnival.

But this time, something’s wrong.

When Beetle, Penny, and Kat decide to check out the empty carnival site one night, they discover an injured dragon screaming for help. And the more Beetle uncovers about the Chimera Carnival, the more sinister it gets. Dragons who arrive for the early festivities disappear without a trace. Beetle’s magic begins to go haywire. And Kat’s parents come back to town, worrying both girls about whether they have a future together.

In the catacombs beneath the demolished ‘Allowstown mall, something hungers for dragon magic. And Beetle and her friends are already more entwined with it than they could possibly imagine.

My Review

I remember being surprised at how much I enjoyed Beetle and the Hollowbones, the first book in this series, which I reviewed the year it came out. When I spotted the sequel on the shelf at the library, I grabbed it immediately.

Layne’s illustration style is both reminiscent of Halloween and whimsical. This is definitely the kind of story that The Nightmare Before Christmas fans will enjoy. The book opens with a clever recap of events that looks like pages in a scrapbook. From there, we dive straight into the story.

I had forgotten how much I liked the sweet relationship between Beetle and Kat. They’re in the early days of a romance that leaves them a little swoony about one another. Beetle also worries about the status of their relationship, but she tries really hard to give Kat the space she needs to figure out when to talk to her family.

Though Kat and Beetle end up mired in a dangerous mystery, the story has so many joyful moments. I love the way that Layne shows big emotions and just embraces the goofiness of her characters. The story also has one of the best moments between Kat, Beetle, and Beetle’s Gran’ma. That scene (it’s near the end) was absolutely perfect.

So, two books into the series, and I’m more a fan now that ever. I hope there are more Beetle and Kat adventures to come. Definitely check this one out if you need a boost of joy in your life or are ready to celebrate new love or Halloween.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
A couple of panels show a couple kissing. Two characters discuss relationship status.

Spiritual Content
Beetle is a goblin. Kat is a living skeleton. Penny is a ghost. The group plan to attend a festival at which dragons gather. Another character is a vampire. Characters can perform different kinds of magic. References to necromancy.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Kidnapping. Brief cartoon battle scenes. Brief homophobic comments.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I borrowed a copy of this book from my local library. All opinions are my own.

Review: I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This by Eugene Yelchin

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I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This
Eugene Yelchin
Candlewick Press
Published September 16, 2025

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About I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This

In a stunning sequel to The Genius Under the Table, Eugene Yelchin’s graphic memoir depicts his harrowing journey from Leningrad’s underground art scene to a state-run Siberian asylum—and to eventual safety in the US.

No longer the creative little boy under his grandmother’s table, Yevgeny is now a young adult, pursuing his artistic dreams under the constant threat of the KGB’s stranglehold on Russia’s creative scene. When a chance encounter with an American woman opens him up to a world of romance and possibility, Yevgeny believes he has found his path to the future—and freedom overseas.

But the threat of being drafted into the military and sent to fight in Afghanistan changes everything in a terrible instant, and he takes drastic measures to decide his fate, leading to unthinkable consequences in a mental hospital.

With bold art bringing a vivid reality to life, National Book Award Finalist and Newbery Honoree Eugene Yelchin’s sequel to the acclaimed memoir The Genius Under the Table returns to Yevgeny’s saga, balancing the terror and oppression of Soviet Russia with the author’s signature charm and dark wit. I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This shines a stark spotlight on history while offering a poignant, nuanced, and powerfully resonant look at growing up in—and ultimately leaving—Cold War Russia in the early 1980s.

My Review

I have not read The Genius Under the Table, so if there are references to that book in I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This, then I missed them. Despite that, I followed the story just fine as I read this memoir. I don’t know that I realized it was a sequel as I was reading it.

The story can be grim, which won’t surprise anyone familiar with Russian history in the early 1980s. Yelchin does a wonderful job incorporating art, joy, and humor into the story, though. Yevgeny’s relationship with Libby is halting and sweet. I loved watching them figure out how to communicate with each other and the jokes they developed. For instance, they would ask each other if the other was “mixed up” about them, meaning did they have romantic feelings for one another.

It was easy to feel the tension Yevgeny felt as an artist. He knew he could be imprisoned, or worse, for making art. Late in the book, he is confined to a mental institution. At one point, a scene sort of fades to black, with Yevgeny in pretty dire straits. When the narrative resumes, we learn that he still carries the trauma of his experience, but has been freed.

Throughout the story, the narrative stays appropriate to the audience. The illustrations don’t show gratuitous violence, though the characters reference a murder that happens off-scene. The story also notes Russia’s invasion of Afganistan, and the high cost to human life the war creates.

At 432 pages, this graphic memoir is a little longer than other similar books, but it’s so worth reading. I loved the expressions on the characters’ faces. The illustrations are brilliant. Readers interested in European or Russian history will not want to miss this one.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. Yevgeny’s grandmother inquires that he and his wife will not have privacy while they sleep if she moves in with the family.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
References to political assassination and bullying. References to antisemitism. At one point, Yevgeny is in a medical facility, and the scene sort of fades to black with a vague reference to torture and mistreatment.

Drug Content
Yevgeny goes to a party and possibly gets drunk? He falls down dancing and then walks home alone. It’s hard to tell if there was alcohol involved. If so, it’s not pictured. Characters smoke cigarettes in some scenes. Someone injects medication into a person’s arm without their consent.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: The Tea Dragon Society by Kay O’Neill

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The Tea Dragon Society (The Tea Dragon Society #1)
Kay O’Neill
Oni Press
Published October 31, 2017

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Tea Dragon Society

From the award-winning author of Princess Princess Ever After comes The Tea Dragon Society, a charming all-ages book that follows the story of Greta, a blacksmith apprentice, and the people she meets as she becomes entwined in the enchanting world of tea dragons.

After discovering a lost tea dragon in the marketplace, Greta learns about the dying art form of tea dragon care-taking from the kind tea shop owners, Hesekiel and Erik. As she befriends them and their shy ward, Minette, Greta sees how the craft enriches their lives—and eventually her own.

My Review

I can’t believe it took me so long to read this book! It’s been on my reading list for years. At first, I didn’t think I would like the size of the book (it’s very tall, about 8.5″ by almost 12″), but the way that the panels are drawn, the book needed to be larger. So, the size makes sense.

The pages are pure K. O’Neill magic. Adorable illustrations and sweet storytelling fill the pages. We follow Greta, a girl learning blacksmithing from her mom, who becomes friends with a couple who keep tea dragons. The tea dragons each grow a different kind of tea on their heads or backs. They’re shy and so cute!

The book is divided into four parts, one for each season of the year. Greta and Minette, another girl learning about tea dragons, become friends, too. The whole vibe is cozy and sweet, which is absolutely perfect if you have a young reader just beginning to journey into middle grade graphic novels or an older reader who just needs a cozy fantasy read.

My daughter and I read this one together and are very much looking forward to the next book in the trilogy.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
One image shows a couple leaning their foreheads against one another. Another image shows one character kissing the other on the cheek.

Spiritual Content
The story contains mythical creatures, such as dragons who grow tea leaves on their bodies.

Violent Content
A few images show a person armed with a sword facing down a foe.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. All opinions are my own.

Review: Hungry Ghost by Victoria Ying

Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Graphic Novel or Adaptation, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , ,

Hungry Ghost
Victoria Ying
First Second
Published April 25, 2023

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Hungry Ghost

A beautiful and heart-wrenching young adult graphic novel takes a look at eating disorders, family dynamics, and ultimately, a journey to self-love.

Valerie Chu is quiet, studious, and above all, thin. No one, not even her best friend Jordan, knows that she has been binging and purging for years. But when tragedy strikes, Val finds herself taking a good, hard look at her priorities, her choices, and her own body. The path to happiness may lead her away from her hometown and her mother’s toxic projections―but first she will have to find the strength to seek help.

My Review

Reading this book makes me think about the delicate balance that writing a story about disordered eating is. For some readers, it’s a triggering topic, so I imagine as an author, you’d want to be sensitive to that and tread lightly, limiting descriptions about the process and feelings associated with moments in the process. On the other hand, readers who aren’t familiar with disordered eating will have trouble engaging and/or be confused if there aren’t enough details to let them know what’s happening in the story and what the main character is feeling.

Ying does a great job threading that needle and letting readers know what’s happening without showing things in graphic detail. What jumps out the most is Val’s constant anxiety about food, her deep shame about her body, and the internalized harmful messages from her mother.

I love Val’s best friend Jordan. She has this upbeat energy and vibrance, which sharply contrasts with Val’s anxious, retreating presence on the page. That contrast in how Jordan takes up space and Val shrinks into herself highlights Val’s struggle.

There are a few moments that I wish the author had extended a little bit. At one point, Val and Jordan have an argument. Val says aloud the hurtful words she’s repeated in her head throughout the book. Ultimately, it nearly costs Val her friendship and makes her stop and think differently about the words she’s repeated to herself. I found myself wishing that the story lingered there and explored that a little more deeply, as well as going deeper into the conversation between Val and Jordan after the argument.

Conclusion

Ultimately, I appreciate the thoughtful way that the author approached such a personal, difficult topic. I’ve read other novels about disordered eating. I think this is the first graphic novel that I’ve seen address the topic. I’m really glad to see this book on the shelves, and I think it does a great job introducing readers to the topic of disordered eating.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 13 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used very infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
References to a crush. One panel shows two people kissing from a distance.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Depictions of disordered eating (bingeing and purging). Spoiler: Death of a parent. (select text to read)

Drug Content
Students mention margaritas but clarify they won’t be having any.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. All opinions are my own.

Fabulous Early Middle Grade Graphic Novels

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Fabulous Early Middle Grade Graphic Novels

My littlest is seven, and quite a reader. Keeping up with her reading keeps me on my toes. Lately, her favorite kinds of books to read are graphic novels. We’ve discovered some adorable chapter book-length graphic novels, but she blows through those in a blink. I wanted to try to find some longer graphic novels for her, which meant looking through middle grade titles to find some that are well-suited to her age. The age range for middle grade books is eight to twelve, so this means looking for books geared toward readers at the younger end of that age spread.

A few books in this list are standalone titles, but most of them are part of a series. For the series titles, I list the first book in the series, the total number of books available, and whether the series is ongoing.

It’s also worth noting that the Dog Man series is missing from this list. That’s really only because I haven’t been able to get my daughter excited about them and so haven’t read them myself. I’ve heard good things, though.

Note: This post contains affiliate links that do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. Thanks for using them to do your shopping.

Fabulous Early Middle Grade Graphic Novels

Catstronauts by Drew Brockington

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Cats. In. Spaaace! This silly series follows four cats tasked with various space missions to save the earth. Super cute. Contains some science references, but really the focus is on the cats and their roles in the missions.

Published April 18, 2017 | 7 Books | Ongoing Series

Pablo & Splash: Time-Traveling Penguins

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Full Review

What you need to know: Serious Pablo and Impulsive Splash accidentally enter a time machine and wind up on holiday with the dinosaurs. This series is lots of fun.

Published September 3, 2023 | 2 Books | Ongoing Series

Song of the Court by Katy Farina

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: This is one of my daughter’s favorites. It’s a sweet story about friendship with a work-life balance lesson thrown in there as well. The author has gone on to work on a Babysitters Club Graphic Novel series spin-off, so I suspect we’ll be adding those to the reading list.

Published October 6, 2020 | Standalone

Stick and Stone Explore and More by Beth Ferry and Kristen Cella

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: These might be a little closer to the chapter book graphic novel length. This two-book series is pretty gentle and nature-focused.

Published June 7, 2022 | 2 Books | Completed Series

Mixed-Up by Kami Garcia and Brittney Williams

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Full Review

What you need to know: This story centers a girl with dyslexia who’s reading struggle is starting to affect her friendships and school performance. Through the story, readers learn about tools and strategies available for kids with dyslexia. It’s an upbeat story with a positive message.

Published January 21, 2025 | Standalone

InvestiGators by John Patrick Green

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: InvestiGators Mango and Brash go undercover to stop crime and keep their city safe. Packed with pop culture jokes, references, and puns, this is a binge-worthy series. There’s also a spin-off series (Agents of S.U.I.T.) that features stories centering some of the minor characters in this one.

Published February 25, 2020 | 9 Books | Ongoing Series

The Tea Dragon Society by K. O’Neill

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: These books are some of O’Neill’s earlier work, but they contain the same cozy vibes and beautiful fantasy landscapes that they’re known for in later work. Also, the tea dragons are just adorable!

Published October 31, 2017 | 3 Books | Completed Series

The Space Cat by Nnedi Okorafor and Tana Ford

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Full Review

What you need to know: This graphic novel is told from a cat’s point-of-view. It’s a clever tribute to cats with a fun sci-fi twist.

Published August 12, 2025 | Standalone

Garlic and the Vampire by Bree Paulsen

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Full Review

What you need to know: A vampire moves into Garlic’s village, and her friends (also anthropomorphic vegetables) nominate her to find out about him. After all, she should be safe since garlic repels vampires! Sweet, anxious Garlic agrees to the task. This is a charming series, perfect for fall reading.

Published September 28, 2021 | 2 Books | Completed Series

Cupcake Diaries Graphic Novels: Katie and the Cupcake Cure by Coco Simon

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: This series is a graphic novel adaptation of the middle grade books by the same name. The illustrations are bright and cheery, and the pages filled with treats and stories about friendship.

Published September 13, 2022 | 8 Books | Ongoing Series

Phoebe and Her Unicorn by Dana Simpson

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: After rescuing unicorn Marigold Heavenly Nostrils, Phoebe makes a wish to be best friends, and that’s just what the two become. Think Calvin & Hobbs, but with a girl and her unicorn. The tone can be a little bit snarky, but overall, the messaging is positive.

Published September 7, 2014 | 22 Books | Ongoing Series

Cat & Cat Adventures by Susie Yi

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: These short volumes follow two cats who journey to a fantasy world and solve various problems there. It’s cute and easy to read. These are another favorite in our house.

Published September 7, 2021 | 5 Books | Ongoing Series

What Graphic Novels Should I Add to My List?

Help a girl out. What should my seven-year-old add to her reading list? Are there other graphic novels that she might like, based on this list? Leave a comment and let me know about them!