A luminous, beautifully illustrated graphic novel about Indu, a child who is rescued from being alone on the local moon by a pilot, transitions to malA luminous, beautifully illustrated graphic novel about Indu, a child who is rescued from being alone on the local moon by a pilot, transitions to male while living as part of a close-knit community on his new mother's spaceship, and then encounters new-school and blended-family issues when Indu's mom marries a man with children on New Earth. Some fanciful, dreamlike sections with the voice of the entity who cared for Indu while on the moon, original elements mixed in with common tropes (distant stepbrother, ostracism due to language barrier, etc.), and a marvelous immersion in future recapturing of Indonesian traditions bring depth and complexity to the story without its being too complex for about 6th-grade-level readers and up.
The transgender/queer discrimination on New Earth (roughly like that across the US now) is hit upon a touch heavily, but romances are chastely portrayed.
Recommended especially for advanced fifth through ninth graders who enjoy character-driven science fiction and want to see LGBTQIA+ representation in their stories. Also recommended for older graphic-novel and SF fans with similar reading interests....more
An amazing story of wishes and their complications, woven with social and economic implications of wishes being available yet valuable. Characters areAn amazing story of wishes and their complications, woven with social and economic implications of wishes being available yet valuable. Characters are richly human, imperfect yet likeable sometimes almost despite themselves. The art has deep rich colors, generous detail, and both a darkness and sometimes a warmth....more
Fascinating stories, some partly or mostly true, about Okinawa through memories of the creator's family members and other resources. Some true storiesFascinating stories, some partly or mostly true, about Okinawa through memories of the creator's family members and other resources. Some true stories, some based in truth, starting from World War II in Okinawa through early establishment of US bases up to nearly the present.
Intimate stories of daily life, often in poverty or during the horrors of wartime, but always with an element of hope. Art is fairly simple and quietly expressive....more
A fascinating and wonderfully drawn story of three college students (two Canadian, one Canadian/US double citizenship) touring New York City on springA fascinating and wonderfully drawn story of three college students (two Canadian, one Canadian/US double citizenship) touring New York City on spring break. Startling changes, fun exploration, the intensity of new relationships and old ones, and so realistic. Highly recommended for older teens through adults....more
Continuing the excellence! Fascinating, complex yet not confusing, with incredible art drawing and coloring. Apollo is a jerk dude-bro, Hades is absolContinuing the excellence! Fascinating, complex yet not confusing, with incredible art drawing and coloring. Apollo is a jerk dude-bro, Hades is absolutely marvelous, and Persephone is maturing yet still adorable. ...more
Interesting retellings, though the third one "The Promise" was long-winded and a bit confusing. Art was good but not great.Interesting retellings, though the third one "The Promise" was long-winded and a bit confusing. Art was good but not great....more
I am not a horror fan and never read or watched The Walking Dead and I still adored the heck out of this story. Tillie Walden is magical.
Walden's art I am not a horror fan and never read or watched The Walking Dead and I still adored the heck out of this story. Tillie Walden is magical.
Walden's art style is a bit looser than her usual which suits the chaotic nature of characters and settings, particularly the zombies. Characterization and dialogue are spot on for teens in such a situation. The plot is quietly fascinating. There's very subtle romance, some mystery, and a lot of gritty survival and the sniping born of a group of people scrabbling for survival and not quite trusting each other. There's an odd but definite sense of hope in the characters' will to survive, develop friendship and love, and enjoy what is good in life.
Read it, unless you really hate horror and usually in the mood for fluff. ...more
**spoiler alert** This book was phenomenal and I read it in one sitting. Kate Beaton's usual dry, often dark humor shows up occasionally but this titl**spoiler alert** This book was phenomenal and I read it in one sitting. Kate Beaton's usual dry, often dark humor shows up occasionally but this title is nothing like her humorous historical and cultural cartoons aside from her drawing style. Kate, called "Katie" in this work gets personal with her warm family life, her decision to take tough and isolating work in rural western Canada to pay off her student loans, and the emotionally exhausting work and sexism she dealt with. She depicts various colorful characters--some kind, some obnoxious as hell, some a combination, with humanity and realism. Kate reveals her own naivete developing into gradual worldliness and a "thicker skin" out of self preservation. Occasional beauty--northern lights, a lake beach, wild animals--is portrayed.
A compelling and mind-opening title. Recommended for older teens through adults. Note: I read an advance reader copy. Trigger warnings below (spoiler alert)...
An honest and appealing insight into Noelle Stevenson's art and personal thoughts & life. Combination of illustrations, comics, and text works well. SAn honest and appealing insight into Noelle Stevenson's art and personal thoughts & life. Combination of illustrations, comics, and text works well. Sometimes a little confusing. Not fantastic but very good and definitely a must-read for Noelle fans. ...more
Amazing and often painfully emotional stories from Walden's early years (age 16 to early 20s). The first, 3-part story, "End of Summer" is an alternatAmazing and often painfully emotional stories from Walden's early years (age 16 to early 20s). The first, 3-part story, "End of Summer" is an alternate world with years' long seasons. Told from the standpoint of a preadolescent boy, it's rich with sublte family conflict, dysfunction, and love as well as truly amazing art.
Other stories include a teen lesbian romance that is realistic in its arc and art, a metaphorical (or fantasy?) story of a young woman's maturity, and more.
For older teens and adults who like Walden's other work, particularly fans of her "On a Sunbeam."...more
Wow. I expected a lot, and Bechdel delivered more. It's more than the story of her obsession with fitness, search for the "more" in life, growth in inWow. I expected a lot, and Bechdel delivered more. It's more than the story of her obsession with fitness, search for the "more" in life, growth in interest in transcendentalism, and major (relationships) & mundane (favorite clothing brands) aspects of her life all around it--it's all of those fantastically woven together. And of course with her trademark expressive are with magnificent lines.
Bechdel's really let us into her head without oversharing. Also, as someone only a few years younger than her, I found her reflections on and experiences of aging, physically and psychologically, bringing me to think more about my life (and my own lack of fitness!)
I've put two quotes from the end of the book into my journal hoping to carry a bit of her book into my coming days by aiding my middle-aged memory.
Read this. You don't have to be queer, a fitness fanatic, or even an adult (older teens might relate to some of this) to dive in....more
A mixed bag. Some wonderful art and powerful poetry, some mediocre art and some opaque, confusing poems. "Half-Girl Then Elegy" and "Speak-House" wereA mixed bag. Some wonderful art and powerful poetry, some mediocre art and some opaque, confusing poems. "Half-Girl Then Elegy" and "Speak-House" were two of my favorites for both art and poetry, although there are other good ones....more
A detailed, simply yet powerfully illustrated, and well researched account of the history of the Black Panther Party and many of its major members. PoA detailed, simply yet powerfully illustrated, and well researched account of the history of the Black Panther Party and many of its major members. Police brutality, FBI interference and setups, internal violence, and community work are all included.
For mid-teens through adults. Multiple scenes of violence that are brief and not sensationalized in art or text. ...more
(note: I'm a middle-class white woman so much of this content is not part of my personal experience)
A powerful and intimate look at the author's life (note: I'm a middle-class white woman so much of this content is not part of my personal experience)
A powerful and intimate look at the author's life seen through the lens of the battles, physical and otherwise, he faced as a child and teen. Gill's portrayals pull no punches (unless you count the Black-stereotype face he uses in place of a white character using the N word, which happens frequently. He learned to fight, hide, and do his best to avoid fights with both neighborhood kids and with some family members. Gill's learning and maturing process is messy but progressive, bookended with a conversation with his teen son about fights.
Gill's use of color to show emotion and to differentiate characters is excellent. Occasionally I couldn't track which character was which but mostly that was easy. Art is honest about elements such as injured and dead people without being sensationalized.
This book is up for an Eisner in 2021 and justifiably so. For teens and adults.
Content warnings: Frequent violence and profanity, child abuse and neglect including a brief mention of sexual abuse....more
"in" is a humorous, powerful, ordinary and extraordinary graphic novel. The subject, Nick, is an artist who is aware he doesn't really communicate wit"in" is a humorous, powerful, ordinary and extraordinary graphic novel. The subject, Nick, is an artist who is aware he doesn't really communicate with other people. He tries, often awkwardly, to do so with everyone from the plumber to his new, casual lover, to his mum. Moments of connection are wonderfully illustrated in photorealistic details with color in a way that blends with the more ordinary--adult-cartoon style McPhail uses for the rest of the story. The awkwardness and seriousness are leavened with the ordinary, daily lives, quiet humor, and the homely art. (Caution: serious family illness, swearing, sexual scenes)...more
(review in progress) (note: review based on advance copy from NetGalley) Nidhi Chanani has written a unique and marvelous story with a time-travel ele(review in progress) (note: review based on advance copy from NetGalley) Nidhi Chanani has written a unique and marvelous story with a time-travel element that works much like the one in her previous title Pashmina. Shaheen's dad loves rock music--it seems to consumer his life, sometimes even getting in the way of his relationship with his Shaheen. Once he disappears without a call or text, Shaheen and her older cousin Naz start investigating. They find an old jukebox that plays full-size (33 1/3 rpm, for those who remember them) record albums. An accident with the jukebox sends both girls into the time of the music that was playing.
The story has many elements--family relationships, adventure, time travel, and the history of both rock music by Black artists and general US history--but all blend together well. Nidhi's dialogue is engaging. The art is simpler and not as beautiful (at least in the e-advance copy I viewed) as in Pashmina but is still appealing and the casual style suits the rock-music theme....more
A powerful science fiction graphic novel that spans all of human existence. The main character is ambitious, militaristic and fascinating if too powerA powerful science fiction graphic novel that spans all of human existence. The main character is ambitious, militaristic and fascinating if too power-oriented to be a "good" hero (which seems to be part of the author's point--no perfection here, just momentary glimpses. This story has unique elements and contains elements of epic tales from around the world with moments of joy, struggle, and despair. This is a dark book both in content and in the colors used for the art--which is sculptural and makes good use of light and glow amidst all the dark colors.
A medium level of violence, often brutal, might turn some people off and makes this a story for older teens and adults. Not to be missed if you enjoy realistic-to-dark speculative fiction, Afrofuturism, and a graphic novel that will grab you and pull you in....more
A warm and sincere portrayal of the author's early years after transitioning. She portrays her feelings about her continuing physical transition, annoA warm and sincere portrayal of the author's early years after transitioning. She portrays her feelings about her continuing physical transition, annoyance at being misgendered, pain of rejection by family, and the love of her friends queer and straight. There's also dating, romance, clothing style, work, parties and the things of everyday life which add to the relatability of this graphic memoir. Kaye's artwork is simple yet expressive and with a warmth to it that makes this a marvelous read for just about any adult or older teen, including those curious about the details of transitioning but feeling a bit awkward about it....more
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