Graphic Novel

Ash’s Cabin / Jen Wang

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Ash’s Cabin
By: Jen Wang
Genre: Graphic Novel, YA
Number of Pages: 320
Published: August 13, 2024
Publisher: First Second
Dates Read: August 30, 2024
Format: ARC / eBook

Ash has always felt alone and the only person who ever understood them was their Grandpa Edwin. Before he died, Grandpa Edwin used to talk about the secret cabin in the woods he was building, deep in the California wilderness. Not really knowing if it was real or not, Ash decides to go find it and start fresh, completely on their own – well, with their dog, Chase.

I didn’t realize when I first asked for an ARC of this book, that it was from the same author as The Prince and the Dressmaker, so it was really fun finding that out.

I really loved the artwork in this graphic novel and the structure of it almost being like a memoir of Ash’s. I of course loved Chase and their relationship with Ash (loved that Ash called Chase their familiar, cause I say that about my oldest cat).

Was Ash really naive when it came to living on their own in the wilderness? Yes, absolutely. Did the graphic novel look at all this with rose colored glasses and kind of “fix” or “solve” everything bad that happened? Yes, but it’s also a YA graphic novel, so I’ve kind of given it the benefit of the doubt. 

Overall, I really enjoyed the story that talked about really finding your own place in the world and what it really takes to do it all on your own. Yes, there is a big focus on climate change and what one can do about it, but I didn’t feel like it was the absolute main focus of the book.

*Thank you First Second and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

A Witch’s Guide to Burning / Aminder Dhaliwal

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A Witch’s Guide to Burning
By: Aminder Dhaliwal
Genre: Graphic Novel
Number of Pages: 400
Published: May 28, 2024
Publisher: Drawn and Quarterly
Dates Read: August 1, 2024 - August 4, 2024
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

A witch’s magic is relied on by her town; the more powerful and stronger, the better the town prospers. But what happens when a witch can’t keep up? She’s burnt – her magic and memories erased. When a witch’s burn ceremony is interrupted by rain in Chamomile Valley, a witch is left crumbled at the bottom of the stake. It’s up to a witch doctor and her toad friend to save the signed witch and nurse her back to health.

I don’t remember how I found out about this title. I think from one of the many publisher previews I go to, but I’m always down for witchy stuff, so I was all about it to start. I’m so glad I asked for it, because I absolutely fell in love with it from the first page. 

I know this is categorized as being a graphic novel, but I almost want to say it’s like a mixed media type of book – loads more text than just dialog like your usual graphic novels! The art was beautiful, even in the grayscale that it was in. And, I say grayscale, because I would usually describe manga as being black and white, but there is just way more to this than you see in manga panels.

Lovely book about grief, self-love, healing, friendship, and sacrifice. You can bet I will be putting this on many suggestion and recommendation lists to come. This is also one I will be purchasing my own copy of when I have the chance!

Age 16 / Rosena Fung

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Age 16
By: Rosena Fung
Genre: Graphic Novel
Number of Pages: 312
Published: July 2, 2024
Publisher: Annick Press
Dates Read: July 23, 2024
Format: ARC / eBook

Trigger Warning: Fatphobia, fat shaming, eating disorders, toxic parenting, generational trauma

Told in alternative perspectives, Age 16, shifts between three generations of mothers and daughters as they rebel against stands of gender, race, beauty, and size from Guangdong in 1954 to Hong Kong in 1972, and Toronto in 2000.

Sixteen-year-old Roz is just trying to navigate through normal teenage stuff: high school friendships, college possibilities, body size, and of course, finding the perfect dress for prom. When her estranged Por Por unexpectedly arrives for what seems like an indefinite visit, the already strained relationship between Roz and her mom is tightened some more. With everyone now under one roof, conflicts arise and long, suppressed family secrets bubble to the surface.

One of the things I did enjoy about this novel is being able to see each female member of this family as they struggle with the pressures put on them in their teenage years – rather that’s from society or their mother. Though it didn’t excuse toxic behaviors, it explained them a little more.

I really enjoyed the art style within this graphic novel – it was simple (kind of reminded me a little of Scott Pilgrim). Rosena Fung also used different color pallets for each character, so it helped knowing which narrative was being told.

Overall, I really enjoyed this coming of age, generational graphic novel. Those who are interested in family history, immigration, and/or generational trauma will enjoy this book.

*Thank you Annick Press and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

The Love Report Volume 2 / BéKa, Maya (Illustrator)

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The Love Report Volume 2
By: BéKa, Maya (Illustrator)
Genre: Graphic Novel
Number of Pages: 200
Published: February 13, 2024
Publisher: Hippo Park
Dates Read: June 16, 2024
Format: Library Book / eBook

Grace and Lola are back to uncover more truths about romance and friendship in volume two of The Love Report. Grace tries to find balance with her parents’ split, but dividing her time between two different homes can be a headache. Lola and Grace help Adele find a place to stay, and Lola wants to help Felicity after one of the boys starts harassing her.

Summer comes just in time for the girls where it brings them to the island of Sardinia where they continue to discover the ins and outs and relationships.

The Love Report series focuses on girls in middle school (the grade they’d be in in America – though it’s set in France) as they navigate those first love butterflies and wonder. It’s really sweet. I absolutely love the artwork and the characters are genuine and realistic. Topics of bullying, divorce, step parents, and self image are talked about in this novel that are written appropriately for the age group it’s targeting.

This is one of those graphic novels that I will definitely be trying to get my hands on physical copies one of these days. The girls’ style is very French and you can see that within the panels (it just makes me smile).

Overall, I can see myself recommending this series to those who just love the cutesy, coming of age romances. I will be waiting anxiously for the third book.

Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir / Pedro Martín

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Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir
By: Pedro Martín
Genre: Graphic Novel, Memoir
Number of Pages: 320
Published: August 1, 2023
Publisher: Dial Books
Dates Read: June 10, 2024 - June 13, 2024
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Pedro Martín has grown up hearing stories about his abuelito – a Mexican Revolution crime-fighter! But, that doesn’t mean he’s excited for him to join their already crowded house – between his eight brothers and sisters and his parents, there’s barely enough room now. Still, Pedro piles into the Winnebago with his family for a road trip to Mexico to bring his abuelito back to America. What follows is a trip of a lifetime.

I loved reading about the family dynamic in this novel – with that many brothers under one roof there is a tone of teasing and arguments. I also liked how the author talked about the divide between the older siblings who were born in Mexico and the younger siblings who were born in the United States; which ones were more Mexican or American, and the difference in milk tolerance (which I never knew!).

The art of this graphic novel was amazing and engaging – even if the author had a hard time drawing hands. The pages were always filled with the scenes, panels, and dialog. Some of that helped with showing the chaos of the trip and other times it kept you engaged in the scene. 

Though this is targeted towards younger readers, there are plenty of reminiscences of adolescence (bad haircuts, teasing siblings, what you spend your allowance on, etc.) that adults will thoroughly enjoy this as well. The author shares his childhood stories as an adult – so plenty of older readers will also enjoy this.

49 Days / Agnes Lee

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49 Days
By: Agnes Lee
Genre: Graphic Novel
Number of Pages: 352
Published: March 5, 2024
Publisher: Levine Querido
Dates Read: June 1, 2024
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Trigger Warnings: Grief

In Buddhist tradition, it takes a soul 49 days to journey between life and rebirth. In the 49 Days graphic novel, readers meet Kit, as she’s on her journey through the transition, as well as her family and friends who are left behind to grieve.

This story is sad but thoughtful as well. Kit struggles in her own journey of being able to move on as well and her family and friends left behind are trying to figure out how best to fill the hole that has now appeared in her absence. 

The story is a little vague on a few details on the journey, but I believe it’s that way so readers can interpret it on their own. I lost my father as a twelve-year-old and I definitely interpret the death of a close family member a lot differently than a lot of my coworkers.

Overall this is a story about grief. It may not be for everybody at certain moments in their life, but they may be able to come back to it. It’s touching and heartwarming as well.

The Encyclopedia of Early Earth / Isabel Greenberg

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The Encyclopedia of Early Earth
By: Isabel Greenberg
Genre: Graphic Novel
Number of Pages: 176
Published: October 3, 2013
Publisher: Bond Street Books
Dates Read: May 19, 2024
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

In a series of illustrated tales, a young man paddles from his home in the North Pole to the South Pole in search of his missing soul. Along the way, he uses his skills as his village’s storyteller to share others’ stories.

I really loved the storytelling of this novel. Of course, this is all fictional, but Isabel Greenberg used a lot of stories based on our own cultures and twisted them around. The book didn’t take itself too seriously and it was fun to see what Greenberg kept and what she changed to tell the story of early Earth.

I particularly enjoyed Kiddo and her storyline with Noah as she tried to save him from her father, Bird God.

Overall, a fun graphic novel filled with detailed art and stories that will capture your attention and hold it through every page.

Death Wins a Goldfish: Reflections from a Grim Reaper’s Yearlong Sabbatical / Brian Rea

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Death Wins a Goldfish: Reflections from a Grim Reaper’s Yearlong Sabbatical
By: Brian Rea
Genre: Graphic Novel, Humor
Number of Pages: 176
Published: February 5, 2019
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Dates Read: May 5, 2024
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Death has never taken a day off. That is, until he gets a letter from HR insisting he start using them, starting that Friday. As Death takes his mandatory year-long sabbatical, readers get a peek into his diary and the activities he decides to fill his life with – including, winning a goldfish.

I picked this title up at work in the library when I saw it displayed on our shelves of the graphic novels that I pass by every morning on my way to my desk. I thought, “that sounds fun” and grabbed it. It then proceeded to sit on my desk for months as I continued to renew it as I read through a ton of award finalists. Welp, I finally finished reading for my awards, and this was one of the first books I sat down with to read.

The amount of photos I took on my phone of drawings from this little graphic novel are endless – Death doing an ollie over his goldfish in his fishbowl is my phone’s screensaver right now.

As much as this is cute, there’s also the look into not taking life so seriously and to make sure to have fun every once in a while as well. There were even some deep quotes, like this one:

“Saw the redwoods – even bigger than I thought! One of the trees had a giant hole right through the middle of it. The guide said it was “dying slowly” – so when everyone passed, I stepped inside. All the sounds went away. I felt small and warm. It wasn’t dying at all. It was just living slowly.”

Like I said, I borrowed this from my library, but I’m going to be on the hunt for my own copy of this book so I can read it again and again.

Shubeik Lubeik / Deena Mohamed, Anjali Singh (Translator)

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Shubeik Lubeik
By: Deena Mohamed, Anjali Singh (Translator)
Genre: Graphic Novel, Magical Realism
Number of Pages: 528
Published: January 10, 2023 (1st Published October 1, 2022)
Publisher: Pantheon
Dates Read: March 31, 2024 - April 1, 2024
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

In a world where wishes can be bought and the more expensive the wish, the more powerful it is, three individuals, Aziza, Nour, and Shokry, try to figure out what to do with their first class wishes.

The title translates to “Your wish is my command” and this graphic novel really dives into the age old question, “If you had one wish, what would you wish for?”. I really enjoyed the interludes between the stories where it dumped the information about the wishes with what they were and how they worked. It really helped me understand the world the characters were living in.

Aziza’s story is what starts everything off and goes into what a lot of women and lower class citizens go through – especially when it comes to something high price.

Nour’s section was the most intense in my opinion as it dealt with depression. As someone who has battled with depression for years, the questions Nour would ask about it and the best way to ask his question is all stuff that I felt like I would ask as well; especially since you had to be precise on your wishes or they’ll grant you not exactly what you wanted.

Shokry and Hagga’s story(ies) broke my heart with their tale of family. I knew Hagga had her reasons for doing what she was, but I didn’t think it would be that.

The art style of this was drawn the same throughout but would go from color while Shokry and Hagga would talk about the selling of the three wishes to black and white when it would go into each individual story.

Overall, this was an amazing graphic novel. It’s hefty, at 528 pages, which I think is what kept me off of it for as long as I did, but I devoured it as quickly as I could once I started it. In the end, it will really make you think about what your level one wish could be.

Roaming / Jillian Tamaki, Mariko Tamaki

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Roaming
By: Jillian Tamaki, Mariko Tamaki
Genre: Graphic Novel, New Adult
Number of Pages: 444
Published: September 1, 2023
Publisher: Drawn and Quarterly
Dates Read: March 25, 2024
Format: Library Book / Paperback

It’s Spring Break 2009 and three friends have five days in New York City. Over the course of their time there a fling blossoms between two of them, which causes the long-term friendship to be thrown off-balance. 

Don’t know why I’ve found myself in books running around New York City with young adults, but I’m okay with it. It was actually kind of nice reading the graphic novel since it had a few places that were mentioned in my first book so I got to see them that way.

Everybody knows a Fiona – who is literally the worst and sucks the fun out of everything. Which is what drove me nuts about her and Dani’s fling. But, I will give the authors the credit in truly capturing the annoyance of Fiona as a whole.

On top of hating Fiona, I did find the ending just as unsatisfying. I was expecting maybe Fiona acknowledging how shitty she was – or at least giving a thank you for Dani and Zoe helping her out, or more of the group separating at the airport and going their separate ways. I get the symbolism of the ending – but I just wish there had been more.

Overall, it’s a good story about a group of friends on a trip one of them always dreamed of and it is not going exactly as planned. Wonderful depiction of that difference you have with your high school friends after going away to different colleges/universities.