Category Archives: Graphic Novel or Adaptation

Both Sides Now: A Story About Young Joni Mitchell by Lydia Corry

Review: Both Sides Now: A Story About Young Joni Mitchell Story by Lydia Corry

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

Both Sides Now: A Story About Young Joni Mitchell (Inspiring Women Artists #2)
Lydia Corry
Godwin Books
Published May 19, 2026

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About Both Sides Now: A Story About Young Joni Mitchell

Dive into the childhood of the legendary singer, songwriter, and performer Joni Mitchell.

Joni Mitchell is a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer whose music has touched generation after generation. Her millions of fans are accustomed to seeing her with a guitar in hand, mesmerizing crowds of festival-goers and music-lovers alike. But now it’s time to introduce readers to a new side of Joni, from before the fame and widespread adoration.

Get ready to explore Joni’s childhood, growing up in small towns on the vast Canadian prairie. As a young girl she fell seriously ill with polio. However, like all great artists, this setback was unable to extinguish the creative flame in Joni’s spirit. With unmatched determination and stubborn perseverance, Joni not only gets back on her feet but finds new passions to pursue. From painter to poet to songwriter―this is Joni Mitchell’s story as a young girl and the childhood experiences that shaped her.

My Review

This sweet, graphic biography of Joni Mitchell honors not only her musical contributions but also recognizes her as a painter. I love that many of the illustrations were inspired by art that Joni Mitchell herself created. The story mainly focuses on Mitchell’s early life, with chapters showing her childhood and teen years, followed by a few highlights of her adult life.

This is part of the “Inspiring Women Artists” series that began with a graphic biography of poet Emily Dickinson. Both books offer a lovely introduction to iconic artists and are unusual in that they include so many of the artists’ own words. I love that Corry used quotes from interviews and songs throughout the book.

The pages show some light humor, especially as Joni’s parents try to determine what to make of Joni’s artistic expression. In a more somber chapter, the story also includes Joni’s battle with polio.

Give this book to young aspiring artists, readers who enjoy biographies, or readers who prefer lighter graphic novels. It’s an easy read and an absolute delight.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 7 to 11.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
None.

Drug Content
None.

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 History of Everything by Victoria Evans

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

The History of Everything
Victoria Evans
HarperAlley
Published February 18, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The History of Everything

Best friends Agnes and Daisy must learn to say goodbye in this coming-of-age YA graphic novel perfect for fans of Booksmart and Pumpkinheads from debut creator Victoria Evans.

Daisy and Agnes have always had each other.

And that’s all they’ve ever needed—or wanted, at least. So when Agnes’s mom drops the bombshell that she and Agnes are moving at the end of the summer, the girls are crushed.

All seems lost until the pair unearth “The History of Everything,” an old friendship scrapbook with the ultimate bucket list to make their last summer together unforgettable. But when Daisy starts dating a charming drummer, her social calendar suddenly has less room for her best friend. Insecurities bubble to the surface, and Daisy and Agnes begin to question if their friendship is meant to last the summer, much less forever.

In this tender graphic novel debut, Victoria Evans delves into the heart of a best friendship and explores what it means to grow up without growing apart.

My Review

I love that this story centers on a best friendship between two girls in high school. We’ve seen this kind of story done for middle grade readers before, but I love that this is aged up for a teen audience and still keeps the friendship the focus of the story. Right from the beginning, it’s easy to feel the long history of Daisy and Agnes’s friendship. They have rituals, they have inside jokes, and a highlight reel of memories they share together. As a reader, it was easy to feel a part of their story.

When Agnes learns she’s moving at the end of summer, it kicks her focus on her friendship with Daisy into high gear. Suddenly, she’s looking to the friendship as an escape from the problems she doesn’t want to face. And she needs their summer adventure to perfectly recapture the high points of the friendship.

The problem, of course, is that people don’t stay the same. Daisy still thinks of Agnes as her best friend, but she’s caught in the grip of a huge new crush, and she wants to widen her social circle, instead of keeping things just her and Agnes.

The tension builds to an explosive level as Agnes’s move date draws near. I felt that rising tension so much in the scenes leading up to that moment. Even before the characters’ frustrations spill over, you feel it coming.

I also loved the homage to early 2000s Goth fashion. That was a really fun element to the story that I hadn’t expected. The color palette reinforces the difference between the girls’ personalities, too. The illustrations are super expressive, so even in panels without text, lots of story is going on.

If you’re looking for a story that dabbles in a bit of romance on the side, but mainly focuses on the evolution of a childhood best friendship, definitely grab this graphic novel.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Mild profanity used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
One panel shows a kiss.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
None.

Drug Content
None.

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

Review: The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Deya Muniz

Blogger's Favorites, Fantasy, Graphic Novel or Adaptation, Romance, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , ,

The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Deya Muniz
Little, Brown and Company
Published May 9, 2023

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About The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich

A funny, heartfelt YA romance about finding love—and lots of grilled cheese sandwiches—in the place you least expect it, from rising talent Deya Muniz.

Lady Camembert wants to live life on her own terms, without marriage. Well, without marrying a man, that is. But the law of the land is that women cannot inherit. So when her father passes away, she does the only thing she can: She disguises herself as a man and moves to the capital city of the Kingdom of Fromage to start over as Count Camembert.

But it’s hard to keep a low profile when the beautiful Princess Brie, with her fierce activism and great sense of fashion, catches her attention. Camembert can’t resist getting to know the princess, but as the two grow closer, will she able to keep her secret?

A romantic comedy about mistaken identity, true love, and lots of grilled cheese.

My Review

As a pretty devoted cheese fan, I really enjoyed this playful book. The character names and places are all cheeses or cheese-related. I loved the emphasis on grilled cheese.

I also like that the story explores Cam’s choice to live publicly as a man as a complicated experience. It begins as a necessity for her financial survival and ultimately becomes a vehicle through which she influences others and finds love.

The illustrations, like the story, have a really playful feel to them. I love the images that show details about fashion and how the Princess uses fashion as a part of her activism. The color palettes of both main characters– soft pinks and light colors for Princess Brie and bolder, darker colors for Count Camembert– contrasted well and balanced nicely on the pages.

Overall, I had a great time reading this one. I would absolutely pass this book to anyone who enjoyed The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Mild profanity used once.

Romance/Sexual Content
Two characters fall in love. References to women needing to marry to rule or inherit wealth.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
None.

Drug Content
None.

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

Review: How to Survive the End of the World by Katy Doughty

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Graphic Novel or Adaptation, Nonfiction, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , ,

How to Survive the End of the World
Katy Doughty
MITeen Press
Published March 31, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About How to Survive the End of the World

“Brilliant; at once terrifying and fascinating.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

In a full-color debut, a graphic novelist takes an engrossing, gleefully existential deep dive into the many ways that humanity could—and almost did—meet its end.

Since 99.9 percent of all species that have lived are extinct, it’s bound to be our turn eventually, right? So what’s most likely to kill us? A well-timed asteroid? Some new robot overlords? With wit and dry humor, debut graphic novelist Katy Doughty blends science and history to explore our chances of surviving disasters such as plagues, global warming, and alien invasion. Drawing on interviews with experts in fields like infectious diseases, AI, and interplanetary exploration, she combines cutting-edge research with compelling visuals: mugshots of the deadliest microbes, graphs of the winners and losers of mass extinction events, and a whole lot of dinosaur drawings. For apocalypse aficionados, the morbidly curious, and the just plain curious, this is your antidote to existential dread—a timely, imaginative, and ultimately hopeful take on humankind’s ability to survive the odds.

My Review

OMG, this was such a stressful book to read! Haha. I don’t think it was meant to be as stressful as it felt to me when I read it. There’s a lot of wry humor, which keeps things a bit light. Each chapter presents one possible doom humanity could face and then usually breaks down key information showing why that isn’t the doom we’re perched on the edge of right now. Some chapters highlighted historical moments when the inhabitants of Earth faced mass extinctions (such as the one that caused the dinosaurs’ extinction) or threats to humanity’s survival, such as the plague.

The graphic novel format made it very easy to read this book. There’s a good balance of words to pictures, though probably more words per page than fiction readers of this format are used to. The bright color palette also kept the tone a little brighter than the topic suggests.

I think readers who enjoy nonfiction or who have questions about humanity’s possible demise will find this book both informative and thought-provoking.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Reference to different spiritual beliefs about the end of the world.

Violent Content
Descriptions of various events that could cause the world and/or humanity to end.

Drug Content
None.

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: Until We Meet Again by Lily Kim Qian

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

Until We Meet Again
Lily Kim Qian
First Second
Published April 21, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Until We Meet Again

A poignant and vividly illustrated graphic memoir about a young woman’s search for belonging as her immigrant family moves between Canada and China.

Lily isn’t sure where home is anymore. Her family is constantly on the move, resettling in different towns across Canada and, eventually, in Shanghai, China. Her father plays the role of primary caregiver while her mother is absent for long periods of time. When she reappears, her strange behavior turns Lily’s life upside down. As Lily enters her college years, she strives to better understand her family and her place in the world. But can she escape the inherited trauma passed down by her immigrant parents?

My Review

This moving illustrated memoir follows Lily from early childhood to adulthood and shows her feelings about and relationship with her mom as she begins to witness and, later, understand her mother’s mental health issues.

A few lines of thoughtful narrative appear on each page, reflecting on a moment or experience from the author’s childhood. Graphic novel panels without dialogue illustrate the events described.

This storytelling style gives readers a chance to piece together for themselves what’s happening and how the illustrations intersect with the narrative statements. I really enjoyed the way those added up to more than the sum of their parts.

I think it’s also an important story. Kids who have parents with mental health issues may find some of the descriptions and scenes resonate with them or validate their own experiences. Other kids who haven’t had an experience like this may find Qian’s writing illuminating. The story also briefly addresses the harm of stigma surrounding getting a diagnosis or treatment for mental health issues, which is another important topic for discussion.

All in all, this moving story deserves space on the shelf next to Visitations by Corey Egbert and Messy Roots by Laura Gao.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 to 18.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
References to her mother throwing things and becoming very upset if confronted by someone or something she didn’t like.

Drug Content
None.

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: Chernobyl, Life, and Other Disasters by Yevgenia Nayberg

Book Review and Content, Graphic Novel or Adaptation, Memoir, Middle Grade 8-12, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , ,

Chernobyl, Life, and Other Disasters
Yevgenia Nayberg
Holiday House
Published April 14, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Chernobyl, Life, and Other Disasters

Strong-willed Genya sets her mind to attending art school in 1980s Ukraine, amidst the turmoil of Soviet control, the Cold War, and the unfolding Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

Genya—the nickname of the book’s author and story’s protagonist, Yevgenia—knows from age five that she wants to be an artist. When she turns eleven, she’ll apply to the same prestigious art school that her mother attended. But making the cut won’t be easy, especially with the school’s open-secret rule that no more than 1% of the student body can be Jewish.

The years before Genya’s eleventh birthday bring plenty to distract her. Nothing in Soviet Ukraine is quite as it seems; adults mock the government, but only in private; and her classmates are terrified of American bomb strikes. And that’s all before April 26, 1986, when Genya’s police officer neighbor gets called to an emergency in a town she’s never heard of: Chernobyl.

A graphic memoir account of creator Yevgenia Nayberg’s childhood, Chernobyl, Life, and Other Disasters is both deeply personal and a glimpse into broader Soviet intelligentsia experiences. Young readers curious about life elsewhere, particularly in the face of disaster, will find ample details to devour, while those dreaming of a creative life will take inspiration from Genya’s perseverance. Salient and yet often slyly funny, this is a must-read for any graphic memoir fan.

My Review

Genya wants to go to art school, but while she’s preparing, a reactor at Chernobyl explodes, upending her life. I really appreciate that, though her memories about the Chernobyl disaster are striking, the story is framed by her larger childhood goals and experiences.

In some ways, this story made me think of what it must have been like for children during the COVID-19 pandemic. The news was often shocking and riddled with more questions than answers. In the absence of information, people tried to protect themselves however they could (microwaving their groceries before putting them away, for example).

Though it’s a completely different situation, I suspect that some readers will identify with Genya’s experience. She tries to live her normal life and balks at the strange requests that adults make, even when those turn out to be decisions that keep her safer.

The writing and illustrations pair in very clever ways, playfully examining how children interpret what’s happening around them and discover hard truths about life.

This book was a lot of fun to read. Fans of Eugene Yelchin‘s work will not want to miss this.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 14.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
One panel shows a friend telling Genya that parents have sex to make a baby. Later, Genya reads a human biology book, and is horrified to discover that menstruation is actually a thing that many women experience every month.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Fear and rumors about potential American bomb strikes. References to prejudice against Jewish people. References to the oppressive government regime. References to deaths caused by radiation exposure and fears about spreading contamination.

Drug Content
None.

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.