Category Archives: Graphic Novel or Adaptation

Review: Heartstopper: Volume Two by Alice Oseman

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Heartstopper: Volume Two by Alice Oseman

Heartstopper: Volume Two
Alice Oseman
Hodder Children’s Books
Published July 11, 2019

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Heartstopper: Volume Two

Nick and Charlie are best friends. Nick knows Charlie’s gay, and Charlie is sure that Nick isn’t.

But love works in surprising ways, and Nick is discovering all kinds of things about his friends, his family … and himself.

Praise for the Heartstopper series:

Kirkus Reviews Best YA Romance of 2020

“Absolutely delightful. Sweet, romantic, kind. Beautifully paced. I loved this book.” — Rainbow Rowell, author of Carry On

“You’ll smile watching Charlie and Nick open up to one another, and sigh as they tiptoe into romance… falling in love doesn’t get more charming than this.” — Ngozi Ukazu, New York Times bestselling author of Check, Please!

* “Nick and Charlie’s lighthearted and tender romance is delightful, and the genuine heart present in the characters makes for a wholesome and uplifting ride… Incredibly lovable from start to finish. ” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Realistic yet uplifting, this tale of self-discovery will make readers’ hearts skip a beat.” — School Library Journal

“The romance and realistic fiction will draw readers in to this sweet story.” — Booklist

My Review

I almost missed my spot in the library queue to borrow this book (It’s sold out on Bookshop as I’m writing up my review.), but thankfully I noticed it was my turn before the window to borrow had expired. Whew!

If you even quickly scroll past bookish spaces on social media, you’ve probably heard buzz about the Heartstoppers series on Netflix. I’ve heard a lot of positive things, so I want to check it out, but wanted a chance to read the graphic novels first. At a glance, it looks like the first season of the show mainly covers the first two novels in the book series. So, I may go ahead and start watching while I’m waiting on book three from the library.

I think I liked HEARTSTOPPER: VOLUME TWO better than volume one, honestly? Volume One focused a lot more on Charlie’s crush and his getting out of an abusive relationship. Volume Two, though, focuses a lot more on Nick and his journey to settling on an identity he’s comfortable with.

I also really enjoyed watching Nick spend time with Charlie’s friends and realize some differences in the friendships Charlie has versus his own. It pretty quickly becomes clear that Charlie has a lot of people in his life he can trust. As Nick begins to build his own network of people he trusts, it was so easy to feel that weight of isolation lifting off of him. I loved that.

I could definitely see fans of SIMON VERSUS THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA loving this series. It’s adorably sweet. I’m glad I read it.

Content Notes

Content warning for homophobic slur and bullying.

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Representation
Charlie is gay. Nick is in the process of figuring out his identity. Charlie has a trans friend. Nick has a lesbian friend.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Extreme profanity used sometimes.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between two boys.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
One boy uses a homophobic slur and some fetishizing comments. Another boy punches him, starting a brief fight.

Drug Content
None.

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

Review: Heartstopper: Volume One by Alice Oseman

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

Heartstopper: Volume One
Alice Oseman
Graphix
Published May 5, 2020 (Originally published in 2018)

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Heartstopper: Volume One

Shy and softhearted Charlie Spring sits next to rugby player Nick Nelson in class one morning. A warm and intimate friendship follows, and that soon develops into something more for Charlie, who doesn’t think he has a chance.

But Nick is struggling with feelings of his own, and as the two grow closer and take on the ups and downs of high school, they come to understand the surprising and delightful ways in which love works.

My Review

I haven’t watched Heartstopper on Netflix yet (here’s the trailer), because I wanted to read it first, so I borrowed this volume from the library. (It’s backordered so many places right now.)

I really liked how sweet Charlie is and his wild, goofy hair. The friendship that develops between him and Nick feels genuine and beautiful. I loved the way the panels show such a broad range of emotions, from embarrassment to confusion to hurt to attraction… there’s a lot of storytelling that happens strictly in their faces. I loved that.

Because it’s a graphic novel, HEARTSTOPPER: VOLUME ONE is a pretty quick read. I think it took me about an hour? Maybe less? I probably would have jumped immediately into the second book if I’d had it at the time. As soon as it’s my turn at the library, I’ll catch up on the next volume.

If you have already read and loved HEARTSTOPPER, you might like ESTRANGED by Nathan Aldridge. It’s fantasy, so obviously different, but has a sweet, slowly unfolding romance and is a graphic novel.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Representation
Charlie is gay. There are other characters who are queer but don’t specifically label themselves. Charlie’s friend is Asian.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Extreme profanity used pretty frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content – content warning for assault
Kissing between two boys. In one scene, a boy kisses Charlie without his consent, while Charlie yells for him to stop.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content – content warning for assault
In one scene, a boy kisses Charlie without his consent, while Charlie yells for him to stop. In one scene, a boy grabs another boy and shoves him, threatening to beat him up.

Drug Content
None.

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

Review: Wingbearer by Marjorie Liu

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Graphic Novel or Adaptation, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , , , ,

Wingbearer
Marjorie Liu
Illustrated by Teny Issakhanian
Quill Tree Books
Published March 1, 2022

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Wingbearer

Zuli is extraordinary–she just doesn’t realize it yet. Raised by mystical bird spirits in the branches of the Great Tree, she’s never ventured beyond this safe haven. She’s never had to. Until now.

When a sinister force threatens the life-giving magic of the tree, Zuli, along with her guardian owl, Frowly, must get to the root of it. So begins an adventure bigger than anything Zuli could’ve ever imagined–one that will bring her, along with some newfound friends, face-to-face with an ancient dragon, the so-called Witch-Queen, and most surprisingly of all: her true identity.

This captivating middle grade graphic novel, the first of a series, is perfect for fans of the Amulet books and the Wings of Fire series.



My Review

I feel like I have a tendency to describe illustrations in graphic novels or children’s books as being really emotive. When I read WINGBEARER, though, I was blown away by how expressive Teny Issakhanian’s illustrations are. There are several panels that show closeups of Zuli’s face or just her eyes, and those were so powerful. I loved the way the images communicated a LOT of story, too. I felt like I got a deep sense of how the characters felt about each other from the way they were positioned in the illustrations and some of the looks exchanged between them.

The story is really moving, too. I love Zuli’s courage and her protectiveness over her allies. She has such a pure and loving heart. I couldn’t help holding my breath in some moments, wondering what would happen next and how she was going to navigate some of the obstacles in her way. I loved Frowly, the owl, too! Their friendship was so sweet.

I didn’t realize when I started reading this book that it’s the first in a series. I don’t read a lot of graphic novels (I didn’t realize this was a graphic novel when I agreed to review it, either), and I’m really bad about following a whole series, but I would definitely read this one.

Fans of ESTRANGED by Ethan Aldridge will love the otherworldly fantasy elements and beautifully illustrated panels in WINGBEARER.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
Zuli is Black.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Characters have magic abilities. Souls of animals come from and return to individual places. For birds, it’s a special tree. Zuli grows up there.

Violent Content
Situations of peril.

Drug Content
None.

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

Review: Tidesong by Wendy Xu

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Graphic Novel or Adaptation, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , , ,

Tidesong
Weny Xu
Quiltree Books
Published November 16, 2021

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Tidesong

Sophie is a young witch whose mother and grandmother pressure her to attend the Royal Magic Academy–the best magic school in the realm–even though her magic is shaky at best. To train for her entrance exams, Sophie is sent to relatives she’s never met.

Cousin Sage and Great-Aunt Lan seem more interested in giving Sophie chores than in teaching her magic. Frustrated, Sophie attempts magic on her own, but the spell goes wrong, and she accidentally entangles her magic with the magic of a young water dragon named Lir.

Lir is trapped on land and can’t remember where he came from. Even so, he’s everything Sophie isn’t–beloved by Sophie’s family and skilled at magic. With his help, Sophie might just ace her entrance exams, but that means standing in the way of Lir’s attempts to regain his memories. Sophie knows what she’s doing is wrong, but without Lir’s help, can she prove herself?

My Review

I don’t read graphic novels very often, but I have really enjoyed the few I’ve read– and this one is no exception! I didn’t realize until I began reading TIDESONG how much I missed this style of storytelling. Once I finished reading it, I looked up MOONCAKES by Wendy Xu, and I’ve heard so many great things about it that I want to order myself a copy of that, too. I also had to look and see if Ethan Aldridge had anything new coming out, and yes! He does! So I can tell next year is going to include some amazing graphic novel stories, and I’m excited.

But back to TIDESONG. I loved the vibrant depictions of characters in this book. It’s always fascinating to me the way that illustrations and a few words in the hangs of a brilliant storyteller can bring a story so fully to life. I felt like I knew the characters and could hear them in my head. I loved Sophie so much.

The story hit the perfect level of complexity, too. Like, a lot happens, and there are some unexpected moments that pull things together in different ways. It never felt overwhelming and there weren’t any moments that dragged. The pacing was perfect.

I’m definitely interested in adding this one to my family library. I’ve seen several reviews listing TIDESONG as perfect for fans of Studio Ghibli. I think it’s also a great fit for fans of Ethan Aldridge’s The Changeling King duology.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
Written by a Chinese-American author and artist.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Some characters have the ability to do magic and are called Water Witches. Sea Dragons also have power and some are able to transform into a human form.

Violent Content
One of Sophie’s guardians uses a lot of strict rules and sometimes cruel words. Sophie also has a deeply negative voice in her head that says critical and hurtful things to her.

Drug Content
None.

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

Review: Estranged by Ethan Aldridge

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Estranged (Estranged #1)
Ethan Aldridge
HarperCollins
Published August 7, 2018

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

About Estranged

Edmund and the Childe were swapped at birth. Now Edmund lives in secret as a changeling in the World Above, with fae powers that make him different from everyone else—even his unwitting parents and older sister, Alexis. The Childe lives among the fae in the World Below, where being human makes him an oddity at the royal palace, and where his only friend is a wax golem named Whick.

But when the cruel sorceress Hawthorne takes the throne, the Childe and Edmund realize that the fate of both worlds may be in their hands—even if they’re not sure which world they belong to.

My Review

This is one of those instances where I read the sequel before the original, and then had to go back and read the original because I loved the other book so much.

I loved revisiting all the characters from the second book. I think the pacing of this one was slightly slower than THE CHANGELING KING, probably because it’s introducing a lot of characters and story world elements for the first time. Even with that slight slow-down, I found myself turning page after page, loving the illustrations and eager to see what would happen next.

One of my favorite things about both these books is how expressive and immersive the panels are. I really feel the story world and can imagine myself in the story. The color palette is amazing– rich and very fitting to the kind of setting in the story. The characters’ faces have these super evocative expressions that really clue me into what they’re feeling even without added dialogue.

All in all, this graphic novel was a huge pleasure to read. I loved it, and I really want to see more from this author. I hope he has new work coming soon!

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 up.

Representation
One major character is gay, but that doesn’t come up in this book.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
A World Below exists under the human world, populated with magical creatures and monsters.

Violent Content
Battle scenes and situations of peril. No gory details.

Drug Content
None.

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

Review: Beetle and the Hollowbones by Aliza Layne

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Graphic Novel or Adaptation, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , , ,

Beetle and the Hollowbones
Aliza Layne
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Published August 4, 2020

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

About Beetle and the Hollowbones

In the eerie town of ‘Allows, some people get to be magical sorceresses, while other people have their spirits trapped in the mall for all ghastly eternity.

Then there’s twelve-year-old goblin-witch Beetle, who’s caught in between. She’d rather skip being homeschooled completely and spend time with her best friend, Blob Glost. But the mall is getting boring, and B.G. is cursed to haunt it, tethered there by some unseen force. And now Beetle’s old best friend, Kat, is back in town for a sorcery apprenticeship with her Aunt Hollowbone. Kat is everything Beetle wants to be: beautiful, cool, great at magic, and kind of famous online. Beetle’s quickly being left in the dust.

But Kat’s mentor has set her own vile scheme in motion. If Blob Ghost doesn’t escape the mall soon, their afterlife might be coming to a very sticky end. Now, Beetle has less than a week to rescue her best ghost, encourage Kat to stand up for herself, and confront the magic she’s been avoiding for far too long. And hopefully ride a broom without crashing.

My Review

Graphic novels are still a pretty new thing for me, but most of the ones I’ve read have been really cool, and Beetle and the Hollowbones is no exception. I really enjoyed Beetle– she’s awkward and quirky, loyal and brave. I didn’t realize reading it that she was supposed to be twelve, and I thought she seemed a lot older than that– maybe fifteen or sixteen, is what I had guessed?

The story world reminded me a little bit of The Nightmare Before Christmas, where things are all sort of dark and populated with sticky or undead magical creatures, and Halloween seems perpetually just around the corner.

I enjoyed Beetle’s journey to save her best blob pal and the sparks that reuniting with her childhood best friend caused. Beetle’s expressions and reactions to things often had me giggling.

All in all, I thought Beetle and the Hollowbones was a really entertaining and totally fun read. I’m so glad I was finally able to read it.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 up.

Representation
The story is populated with magical and undead creatures. Beetle has a crush on another girl.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kiss between two girls.

Spiritual Content
Most characters have or are learning magic. Undead characters must bind their soul to an object, like a heart, to stay alive.

Violent Content
One scene shows some depictions of verbal and physical cruelty toward a child.

Drug Content
None.

Note: I received a free copy of BEETLE AND THE HOLLOWBONES in exchange for my honest review. This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support running this blog.