Graphic Novel

Tea Dragon Tapestry – book review

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The Tea Dragon Tapestry Tea Dragon Society #3 by Katie O’Neill Fantasy Graphic Novel Juvenile Fiction Teen Tween * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Characters come together from the two previous books (The Tea Dragon Society and The Tea Dragon Festival) and continue to learn more about themselves and their tea dragons. Beautifully illustrated (the tea dragons themselves are so adorable!). Love the sense of love, community, and acceptance in these books. They just … Read more

Measuring Up – book review

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Measuring Up by Lily LaMotte & Ann Xu Graphic Novel Juvenile Fiction Realistic Fiction Tween * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) When Cici’s family moves from Taiwan to Seattle, Cici is worried about adjusting to life in a new place, but her transition is pretty seamless. She makes friends right away and does well in school. Her parents work long hours, though, and they all miss A-má (Cici’s grandma/father’s mother) who stayed behind in … Read more

Class Act – book review

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Class Act sequel to New Kid by Jerry Craft Graphic Novel Realistic Fiction Tween * * * * Stars (Great!) It’s a new year and students have returned to Riverdale Academy Day School for more adventures. The school is attempting to be more diverse and to bring awareness about and sensitivity to issues surrounding diversity. Some of these endeavors are more successful than others. Jordan Banks, who featured prominently in Jerry Craft’s previous book, “New … Read more

School for Extraterrestrial Girls #1 – book review

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Girl on Fire School for Extraterrestrial Girls #1 by Jeremy Whitley Graphic Novel Science Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Tara Smith has a very carefully regimented life and plans to keep her head down and get through high school so she can achieve her dreams of heading into space. But after missing her alarm one morning, her day snowballs out of control, culminating in her self-immolating, passing out, and waking up in the … Read more

Tea Dragon Festival – book review

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The Tea Dragon Festival by Katie O’Neill Fantasy Graphic Novel * * * * Stars (Great!) Rinn is out gathering herbs and vegetables one day when she comes across an ancient shrine and disturbs a sleeping dragon. The dragon, Aedhan was charged to look after the shrine and Rinn’s village, but fell into an enchanted sleep – 80 years ago – from which he has only just now been awakened. Rinn convinces Aedhan to return … Read more

They Called Us Enemy – book review

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They Called Us Enemy by George Takei Autobiography Biography Graphic Novel Nonfiction * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) After Japan entered WWII and bombed Pearl Harbor a wave of fear and distrust of Japanese people washed over the United States and the government enacted policies that removed those of Japanese ancestry (US citizens included) from their homes to internment camps where they were closely monitored for acts of treason. Anti-Japanese sentiment ran high over … Read more

Wonder Woman: Tempest Tossed – book review

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Wonder Woman: Tempest Tossed by Laurie Halse Anderson illustrated by Leila Del Duca Comics Fantasy Graphic Novel * * * * Stars (Great!) War in the human world weakens the magical protections that surround the hidden Amazonian island of Themyscira. On Diana’s 16th birthday (Born Day), humans wash up on the shores of Themyscira and in defiance of her mother the Queen’s orders, Diana attempts to help them. She becomes trapped on the other side … Read more

Wonder Woman: Warbinger (graphic novel) – book review

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Wonder Woman: Warbringer adapted from the novel by Leigh Bardugo by Louise Simonson Illustrated by Kit Seaton Adventure Graphic Novel Supernatural Thriller * * * * Stars (Great!) In this graphic novel adaptation of Leigh Bardugo’s novel, Wonder Woman is a young Princess Diana, determined to prove herself to the rest of the Amazons. Diana enters a race, intending to win, but midway through she discovers a shipwreck and chooses to aid the sole survivor, … Read more

Die: Fantasy Heartbreaker – book review

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Die: Fantasy Heartbreaker Die #1 by Kieron Gillen Adventure Comics Fantasy Graphic Novel * * * * Stars (Great!) Dominic/Ash’s friend Solomon designs the ultimate rpg for Ash’s birthday. Unfortunately, it sucks their whole party into another world, where they are trapped for two years, until they’re able to beat it and find their way back home (think Jumanji). Sol doesn’t make it back. Now, the teens are in their forties and come together to … Read more

Dark Matter of Mona Starr – book review

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The Dark Matter of Mona Starr by Laura Lee Gulledge Graphic Novel Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) When Mona Starr’s best friend moves to Hawaii, she feels more than a little lost. That loss on top of her depression and anxiety and a lot of self-deprecating thoughts make her feel overwhelmed. She starts seeing a therapist to help her cope and make sense of herself and keeps a sort of scientific journal … Read more