Tag: graphic novels

Kate’s Review: “Northranger”

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Book: “Northranger” by Rey Teciero and Bre Indigo (Ill.)

Publishing Info: HarperAlley, June 2023

Where Did I Get This Book: The library!

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: In this swoony and spooky teen summer romance graphic novel set on a Texas ranch, sixteen-year-old Cade Muñoz finds himself falling for the ranch owner’s mysterious and handsome son, only to discover that he may be harboring a dangerous secret.

Cade has always loved to escape into the world of a good horror movie. After all, horror movies are scary–but to Cade, a closeted queer Latino teen growing up in rural Texas–real life can be way scarier.

When Cade is sent to spend the summer working as a ranch hand to help earn extra money for his family, he is horrified. Cade hates everything about the ranch, from the early mornings to the mountains of horse poop he has to clean up. The only silver lining is the company of the two teens who live there–in particular, the ruggedly handsome and enigmatic Henry.

But as unexpected sparks begin to fly between Cade and Henry, things get… complicated. Henry is reluctant to share the details of his mother’s death, and Cade begins to wonder what else he might be hiding. Inspired by the gothic romance of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey and perfect for fans of Heartstopper and Bloom comes a modern love story so romantic it’s scary.

Review: A few years ago our book club read “Northanger Abbey”, making it the third Jane Austen book I’ve read and making me feel that much more cultured. It was fine, I enjoyed the discussion, but outside of “Emma” which I genuinely loved it was just adding an Austen notch to the belt. But when I saw “Northranger”, a graphic novel by Rey Teciero and illustrated by Bre Indigo, cross my feed, and that it was a modern retelling of “Northanger Abbey” with a queer romance, I knew that I HAD to read it.

Teciero easily reinterprets the themes and story of “Northanger Abbey” and remixes them into a modern American setting with queer themes. I loved the new location of rural Texas, and I REALLY loved how Catherine Morland, naive clergyman’s daughter who loves Gothic novels, changes into Cade Muñoz, a closeted queer Latino teen who loves horror movies. Instead of going into social society as a potential bride for suitors in Bath, Cade and his stepfather go to work on a ranch for the summer to help ends meet, and meets the Tyler family. There’s the harsh General, who owns the ranch, and his twin children, Henrietta (who prefers to go by Henri), and Henry. There is, of course, some mysteriousness surrounding Henry and his father, and Cade, being a horror movie buff, lets his mind wander to think the very worst of them, especially once they get to the family vacation home Northranger and tensions run high. In terms of adaptations, “Northranger” is pretty clever with how it brings the other characters into the story, while mining a bit more complexity from them. Antagonists John and Isabella Thorpe are no longer scheming siblings, but a bitter ranch hand named John who struggles with resentment and substance abuse, and his flirty and carefree daughter Bella. Eleanor is now Henri, who is jovial and supportive of both her brother and Cade, and Mr. Allen is now Cade’s stepfather Dale, who served with The General in the military. While they are different from their Austen counterparts, they all feel pretty in line with the base personalities and inspirations, just better fitting in with modern sensibilities.

But what was a bit of a parody of Gothic sensibilities in the source material turns into a far more melancholy (but also very sweet) story about identity, anxieties, and how sometimes people who are always scared due to things they can’t control turn to horror as an escape. Catherine is seen as a naive for this in “Northanger Abbey”, but in “Northranger” Cade has a LOT he is carrying. He’s a closeted queer teen living in rural Texas, where his sexuality could very easily put a target on his back, and his love of horror isn’t so much as fanciful or used as humorous, but is more an exploration of his inner fears. Henry, too, has a lot of things that he is carrying, and his character COULD be seen as suspicious and strange because of how HE is coping with his own inner struggles. Sometimes this could make for moments where I wasn’t completely certain that Cade and Henry were in a healthy burgeoning relationship, or led to moments where I thought that Henry was REALLY in need of some introspection (not to mention thinking this was a bit repetitive at times), but apart from these uneasy moments I did like the romance between the two characters as they explored their feelings and unpacked their personal baggage. The core themes from the Austen story are still here, but Teciero brings new life to it with more complex issues.

And finally, I liked the artwork by Bre Indigo quite a bit. It feels easy going and easy to digest, while having moments of more realistic designs that popped off the page.

Pardon the quality of my picture. (source: HarperAlley)

“Northranger” is a charming and emotional remix of a Jane Austen classic! I would definitely be interested in seeing what else Rey Teciero writes in the future, reimagined classics or not!

Rating 8: A creative and sweet retelling of a classic Gothic romance, “Northranger” is a lovely graphic novel about seeing horrors everywhere and finding peace within yourself.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Northranger” is included on the Goodreads lists “YA Modern Austen Retellings”, and “Queer Books Set in Texas”.

Kate’s Review: “Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam”


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Book: “Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam” by Thien Pham

Publishing Info: First Second, June 2023

Where Did I Get This Book: The library!

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: A moving young adult graphic memoir about a Vietnamese immigrant boy’s search for belonging in America, perfect for fans of American Born Chinese and The Best We Could Do !

Thien’s first memory isn’t a sight or a sound. It’s the sweetness of watermelon and the saltiness of fish. It’s the taste of the foods he ate while adrift at sea as his family fled Vietnam.

After the Pham family arrives at a refugee camp in Thailand, they struggle to survive. Things don’t get much easier once they resettle in California. And through each chapter of their lives, food takes on a new meaning. Strawberries come to signify struggle as Thien’s mom and dad look for work. Potato chips are an indulgence that bring Thien so much joy that they become a necessity.

Behind every cut of steak and inside every croissant lies a story. And for Thien Pham, that story is about a search– for belonging, for happiness, for the American dream.

Review: June feels so long ago now, now that we are solidly in Winter here in Minnesota, but the reverberations of the ALA Annual Conference are still being felt in my reading journeys. One of the panels Serena and I attended had Thien Pham talking about his graphic memoir “Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam”, and I marked it on my ‘to read’ list and almost immediately put a hold on it at my local library. It took awhile for my hold to come in, but when it did I was still very much interested because I had enjoyed his contributions and couldn’t wait to read his story.

“Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam” is part immigrant story, part journey of self discovery, part homage to formative foods and cuisines. Pham and his family escaped Vietnam as refugees, and after spending time in a camp in Thailand they ended up in San Jose, California, with little money and few connections. Pham charts out this journey and the eventual settlement in a new country as immigrants, and while he talks about his own personal stories, he also references the stories of the lengths his parents would go to provide for their children. I liked how there was a lot of showing in this book versus telling, which is usually true about graphic novels in general, but Pham lets the reader see what his parents were going through, and what he was going through, with little commentary outside of what is going on in the scene. Pham shares difficult and scary memories, as well as lighthearted ones, and memories that feel pretty relatable to probably anyone reading it (ah the awkwardness of teenage crushes). And as Pham grows up in this new country, he starts to find new parts of his identity while trying to cling to the old ones as well. It’s a pretty familiar tale of children of immigrants or who grew up predominantly outside of their culture, but the personal notes make for a poignant reading experience.

And throughout all of it, there is the intertwining memories of food, and what that food represents to that part of his story. Whether it’s the rice ball that he savored after the small boat his family was on was attacked by pirates, or the Bánh Cuốn his mother made to make them money at the refugee camp, or the salisbury steaks Pham ate at his school in California, each memory with the food to anchor it reveals Pham’s formative years as he grows up in a new place that slowly becomes home. It’s such a testament to the way that food is a constant, and can be a gateway to love, family, memories, and how we interact with our world around us.

And finally, I like Pham’s art style. It’s not SUPER realistic, but it still conveys deep emotions in the moments that it needs to. I also liked the way he would make sure the food always had a bit of realism to it, especially when that food was reflecting that part of the story.

(source)

“Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam” is a lovely story about food, finding home, and finding oneself.

Rating 9: A poignant and touching (and sometimes quite funny) story about family, identity, and the way that food reflects culture, “Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam” is a must read graphic memoir.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam” isn’t included on any Goodreads lists as of now, but it would fit in on the list “Comics and Graphic Works on Migrants, Refugees, Human Trafficking”.

Kate’s Review: “Fence: Vol. 2”

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Book: “Fence: Vol. 2” by C. S. Pacat & Johanna the Mad (Ill.)

Publishing Info: BOOM! Box, July 2018

Where Did I Get This Book: The library!

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: Nicholas Cox is determined to prove himself in the world of competitive fencing, and earn his place on the Kings Row fencing team, alongside sullen fencing prodigy, Seiji Katayama, to win the right to go up against his golden-boy half-brother.

Tryouts are well underway at King’s Row for a spot on the prodigious fencing team, and scrappy fencer Nicholas isn’t sure he’s going to make the grade in the face of surly upperclassmen, nearly impossibly odds, and his seemingly unstoppable roommate, the surly, sullen Seiji Katayama. It’ll take more than sheer determination to overcome a challenge this big!

From the superstar team of C.S. Pacat (The Captive Prince) and fan-favorite artist Johanna the Mad comes the second volume of this acclaimed, dynamic series. 

Review: As we are starting to get a bit more past a huge slew of ALA books and horror focused reads for the month of October, I am now going to make an effort to get more into graphic novels again going into the next year. We had the newest “Lore Olympus” to kick that off, and now I am going into the second volume of “Fence”, the YA sports story by C.S. Pacat about ambitious fencers who are trying to make the prestigious team at their school and to prove themselves, while trying to maneuver through teenage love, familial angst, and other stressful factors. I’m glad that we’re back at Kings Row and following their fencers duke it out to make the team! And duke it out they absolutely do.

Tryouts are still in full swing, and Nicholas Cox is hungry to make the team, even after having a bad first match back in Volume 1. He is desperate to make the team so that he can perhaps eventually go up against the half brother he has never met, but to get there he has to get past established Kings Row fencers, and also his rival and roommate Seiji Katayama. I liked seeing Nicholas have a fire lit under his ass this volume, and how we see his strengths come out through fencing technique and pure potential. As someone who fenced for one season, I liked how Pacat makes the tension of a fencing match leap off the page, and how she breaks down the various techniques and how they can work during a match. I also continue to like seeing Nicholas’s driven personality and how he is easy to root for while also being a bit of an endearing doof in other ways. He’s just a fun protagonist, and I’m fully invested in him making his way to his goal. I am a bit curious to see how long these tryouts are going to last, volume wise, but for now I’m still buying in to the plot.

But there is the added bonus that in this volume, as we kind of get to get a bit more into Seiji’s head as the tryouts go on and he starts to show cracks in his armor. Volume 1 was so focused on giving us Nicholas’s backstory that we didn’t really get to explore his rival Seiji. But in this volume, Seiji changes from being mysterious and sullen wunderkind into something a little more rounded and fleshed out. We start to see his insecurities, and we start to see that perhaps he isn’t so perfect, as he has a pretty significant stumble. Heck, I’d even go so far as to say that Pacat is now starting to move on to the other teammates, whether it’s the lothario Aiden or serious and driven Harvard (also, are Aiden and Harvard potentially going to be a thing? That will probably actually be pretty cute, right?). I like getting to know the fencers as they have to face off with each other, and like that it isn’t going to just be the Nicholas and Seiji show.

I will be curious to see where this goes, and when (if?) we get to see Nicholas face off with his half brother. But for now, “Fence: Vol. 2” continues to follow ambitious fencers as they strive to make the team, and builds on their complexity. Looks like I need to get my hands on the next one soon!

Rating 8: The stakes are high and the characters are starting to become more complex as the pressure is on, and “Fence: Vol. 2” continues to shine!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Fence: Vol. 2” isn’t on any Goodreads lists as of now (this kind of shocks me?), but like the fist volume it would fit in on “Fencing Fiction”, and “Graphic Novels: Featuring LGBTIQ+ Themes”.

Previously Reviewed:

Kate’s Review: “Lore Olympus: Volume 5”

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Book: “Lore Olympus: Volume 5” by Rachel Smythe

Publishing Info: Inklore, October 2023

Where Did I Get This Book: I own it.

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: Scandalous gossip, wild parties, and forbidden love–the Greek tale of Hades and Persephone gets a romantic modern update in the gorgeously illustrated, Eisner Award-winning Lore Olympus, including behind-the-scenes content!

“You want to know about The Bringer of Death.”
 
It is Persephone’s birthday, and she receives the ultimate gift: Hades confesses his desire for her, leading to their first kiss. But that doesn’t necessarily make things easier for the goddess of spring, who is still in over her head in gossip-driven Olympus. Persephone feels intense guilt over the official breakup between Hades and Minthe, she is struggling to find her footing in her fast-paced job, and—worst of all—the shades of her past are slowly coming to light.
 
After an unexpected encounter with Apollo, Persephone flees into the depths of the Underworld. Concerned for her safety and determined to find her, Hades must team up with Artemis, Eros, and Hera, but they’re working against a ticking clock. Zeus knows about the bloody secret in Persephone’s past, and now the furious king of the gods will stop at nothing to bring her to justice.

Review: “Lore Olympus: Volume 5” has actually been out since October, but with my Horrorapalooza theme for that month leading up to Halloween it meant that I had to delay reviewing Rachel Smythe’s newest volume of the reimagined Greek Mytho until long after it had come out. Which was difficult, because given that this is one of my favorite series at the moment (and possibly all time) I am always ready and willing to sing it’s praises as soon as I can. But that doesn’t matter, because here we are and I am fully, fully ready to jump into this next part of the story for Hades, Persephone, and all my favorite (and most loathed) Greek Gods and Goddesses and everything in between.

One of the things I really like about this series is that Smythe is doing a slow burn in terms of getting Hades and Persephone together, but is doing it in a way that feels, I suppose, ‘responsible’ on Hades’s part. There is something of a power imbalance between the two in this series (though obviously not in the same way as the original story, thank goodness), but instead of having Hades and Persephone throw that to the wayside, we do see Hades struggling with that dynamic and trying to hold boundaries. Partially because Persephone has requested that they do in spite of their attraction, and partially because as the story progresses he starts to realize that he doesn’t really KNOW Persephone outside of his perceptions of her as an ideal. But not to worry, there is still a lot of sexual tension, it just feels like it is a bit more on the same level between the two characters. We also see Hades genuinely worry about her even though he knows that she is hiding something on some level, and that first and foremost he wants her safe (especially after she feels a need to try and hide away after another awful encounter with Apollo; him trying to piece together where she could be and looking for her is a great arc for him at this point in time).

There is also finally some payoff for the hints that have been dropping about Persephone as the ‘Bringer of Death’ in this volume, and without spoiling anything, man does it pay off. Persephone has, up until this point, been portrayed as a bit naive and seemingly innocent to the ways of the world, though we have started to realize that she has been a bit stunted because of her mother Demeter’s overprotectiveness and that has very much contributed to this portrayal. Persephone isn’t this way because OBVIOUSLY that’s how Persephone as a goddess should be, but more because she has been isolated and hidden away and that has had an effect on her emotional growth, and when she was in the mortal realm she had started to realized as such. This conflict with her mother, this conflict within herself, and these constraints on her person all combine to create a very huge moment that would surely send ripples through the world of the Gods, and the reveal is both shocking, but also perhaps a little… unreliable, given who provides us with the context. That said, it REALLY gives us some insight not only into Persephone, but also Demeter, and ALSO how the Gods are, in fact, not infallible, even when they are generally kind and gentle, as Persephone is. I loved finally getting some answers about what Persephone (and other Gods and Goddesses) have been hiding, and it explains a lot of her actions up until now.

But what of the other characters? Oh, don’t you worry, there are PLENTY of awesome character moments and character developments in this one. I was especially keen on some of the things that Hera gets to do in this volume, but to be honest Hera is always killing it and I so love that Smythe has given her so many things to do and has given her so much depth. We get some more hints towards her own past traumas and the things she has given up to be Zeus’s queen, and how she could be SO MUCH MORE and how this has beaten her down. But we also get to see her wield these powers in other protective ways that make for very satisfying beats and scenes (God I love Hera in this). But the character who is really getting her layers peeled back in Minthe, who is still reeling over her ugly confrontation with Hades and how she can’t seem to stop sabotaging herself and her happiness. Smythe gives so much grace to Minthe , who definitely has self regulation and impulse control issues as well as a very poor self image. All these things lead to her lashing out over and over. But she does this without letting her off the hook for her nastiness towards others, particularly Hades and Thanatos, and I love how complex she gets to be. She still has a ways to go (get AWAY from Thetis, Minthe, she’s AWFUL!), but you can see glimmers of hope that she’s going to figure it out.

“Lore Olympus: Volume 5” continues a fantastic reimagining of my favorite Greek Myth. Now we just have to wait until May for the next Volume, and I know I already have it on pre-order.

Rating 9: We’re finally getting some insight into Persephone’s secret backstory, and Hera is getting some amazing moments of her own. Throw in some humanizing moments for Minthe and we have another fantastic entry into this Greek Mythology reimagining.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Lore Olympus: Volume 5” is included on the Goodreads list “October 2023 Most Anticipated Romance Releases”.

Previously Reviewed:

Book Club Review: “Snapdragon”

This post may contain affiliate links for books we recommend.  Read the full disclosure here.

We are part of a group of librarian friends who have had an ongoing book club running for the last several years. Each “season” (we’re nerds) we pick a theme and each of us chooses a book within that theme for us all to read. Our current theme is song inspirations, where we were given a random song from a random genre and had to pick a book based on the song.  For this blog, we will post a joint review of each book we read for book club. We’ll also post the next book coming up in book club. So feel free to read along with us or use our book selections and questions in your own book club!

Book: “Snapdragon” by Kat Leyh

Publishing Info: First Second, February 2020

Where Did We Get This Book: The library!

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Song Inspiration: “Blasphemous Rumors” by Depeche Mode

Book Description: Kat Leyh’s Snapdragon is a magical realist graphic novel about a young girl who befriends her town’s witch and discovers the strange magic within herself.

Snap’s town had a witch. At least, that’s how the rumor goes. But in reality, Jacks is just a Crocs-wearing, internet-savvy old lady who sells roadkill skeletons online. It’s creepy, sure, but Snap thinks it’s kind of cool, too.

Snap needs a favor from this old woman, though, so she begins helping Jacks with her strange work. Snap gets to know her and realizes that Jacks may in fact have real magic—and an unlikely connection to Snap’s family’s past.

Kate’s Thoughts

Sometimes people can forget that the Halloween season doesn’t have to be all about the scares! There are plenty of non-scary stories that still feel like they fit in in the season, and “Snapdragon” is one of those stories. Why yes there is a witch and why yes there are bones and skeletons, but this middle grade graphic novel about a girl befriending a rumored witch is a very cozy and charming story about friendship and found family, all with a magical twist.

I thought this was a super cute read, with our intrepid protagonist Snap meeting Jacks, a rumored witch who teaches her about taxidermy and also a little bit of magic. I loved the friendship between Snap and Jacks, as Snap is a LOT and Jacks is very patient. I loved getting to know both of them individually but also through them getting to know each other. I really liked the mentor-mentee relationship, and I liked seeing Snap get to know Jacks and, therein, also getting to know herself AND to learn some things about her family’s past through her friendship with this supposed and friendly witch. The themes of friendship and found family were well presented for the audience, as well as themes of general family love and acceptance and love, whether it’s single mothers doing the best they can, or trans kids finding acceptance from their loved ones as well as their friend circles. You have all these things along with humor and some witchy magic and you have a recipe for a very sweet middle grade fantasy tale!

If you are looking for some adorable witchy fun for your middle grader reader, or even yourself, “Snapdragon” is a breezy and not so spooky choice!

Serena’s Thoughts

Overall, I enjoyed this read. Middle grade fiction was never a real favorite of mine, even when I was a middle grader, but I can definitely see the appeal of this book. In many ways, while it covers important and sometimes heavy topics, this is very much a cozy, feel-good fantasy novel. Snap is a fantastic lead character and probably my favorite part of the book. She was simply a fun person to follow through the story!

I also really liked the inclusion of intergenerational relationships. The story focuses on the relationships between many different characters, but this one stood out to me the most as one that we rarely see on the page, let alone in middle grade fiction that is often focused on peer relationships and maybe parents.

That said, I did struggle a bit with this particular art style. I found it rather clunky and difficult to parse facial expressions and other important aspects of the scenes. As a fantasy reader, I also found myself wish there had been a bit more with regards to just how the magic works in this world. I’m all for just going with the flow, but for me, this could have used a bit more fleshing out.

Overall, I think this book would appeal to many middle grade readers. However, if middle grade fiction or graphic novels aren’t your natural wheelhouse, you might feel a bit more disconnected from this one, like I did.

Kate’s Rating 7: A sweet and charming story about being yourself and found family, “Snapdragon” is a nice middle grade novel that could be fun for Halloween reading!

Serena’s Rating 7: A lovely little story that explores themes important to the middle graders while presenting a world of wonder and whimsy.

Book Club Questions

  1. The prompt for this book was “Blasphemous Rumors”, as Jacks has a lot of rumors surrounding her. Can you think of another book or story that has a character with rumors about them that may or may not be true?
  2. What did you think about Snap as a main character?
  3. What were your thoughts on the magical systems in this book? Do you think it was well conceived? Did you need more explanation?
  4. Did you like the artwork and character design in this book?
  5. Were there any side characters that you liked? What was it about them that you enjoyed?
  6. What did you think about Jacks’s backstory and connection to Snap’s family?

Reader’s Advisory

“Snapdragon” is included on the Goodreads lists “Comics for Witches”, and “Witchy Middle Grade & Tween”.

Next Book Club Pick: “Born a Crime” by Trevor Noah

Kate’s Review: “Earthdivers (Vol. 1): Kill Columbus”

This post may contain affiliate links for books we recommend.  Read the full disclosure here.

Book: “Earthdivers (Vol. 1): Kill Columbus” by Stephen Graham Jones & Davide Gianfelice (Ill.)

Publishing Info: IDW, September 2023

Where Did I Get This Book: I received an ARC from the publisher at ALAAC23

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: The year is 2112, and it’s the apocalypse exactly as rivers receding, oceans rising, civilization crumbling. Humanity has given up hope, except for a group of Indigenous outcasts who have discovered a time travel portal in a cave in the desert and figured out where everything took a turn for the worst: America.

Convinced that the only way to save the world is to rewrite its past, they send one of their own—a reluctant linguist named Tad—on a bloody, one-way mission to 1492 to kill Christopher Columbus before he reaches the so-called New World. But there are steep costs to disrupting the timeline, and taking down an icon isn’t an easy task for an academic with no tactical training and only a wavering moral compass to guide him. As the horror of the task ahead unfolds and Tad’s commitment is tested, his actions could trigger a devastating new fate for his friends and the future.

Join Stephen Graham Jones and artist Davide Gianfelice for Earthdivers, Vol. 1, the beginning of an unforgettable ongoing sci-fi slasher spanning centuries of America’s Colonial past to explore the staggering forces of history and the individual choices we make to survive it.

Review: Thank you to IDW comics for giving me an ARC of this book, and thank you to Stephen Graham Jones for being SO kind when you signed it!

Back when I had just gotten back from ALA, people were asking me what my highlights were. And one of them was meeting Stephen Graham Jones at a signing at the IDW booth. I was already ecstatic when I saw that he was going to be there, and even more excited when I realized that he was signing ARCs of the first volume of his series “Earthdivers”, a fantasy/speculative fiction/historical fiction series about Indigenous people on a dying earth using a time travel portal to send one of their own back in time to stop America from happening (as America is seen as the main driver of the climate change disaster). I had been eager for this first volume, and getting it WHILE MEETING HIM (and having a lovely conversation!) was just the very best. And “Earthdivers (Vol. 1): Kill Columbus” is everything I had hoped it would be.

The concept alone is so unique and also so, so bold. I mean, it takes serious spunk to frame a story about the assassination of a man that is still, in a number of places, celebrated every year as the supposed ‘discoverer of America’, but whose horrific crimes and direct and indirect actions towards the Indigenous peoples on this continent are impossible to ignore. Even I was like ‘whoa’ when I read the premise of the comic book, but the rage is earned, and it is palpable on the pages as Tad, the man chosen to go back in time and assassinate Columbus, has to take on a mission with high and dangerous stakes. And low odds of success. I loved seeing Tad grapple with the fact he will never see his wife again, that he has to do things that he never thought he could do, and also really enjoyed seeing him slowly start to accept his mission and the bloody business that goes with it. Jones depicts the brutality of life on the ship, whether it’s the dire conditions or the hierarchy that lends itself to violence, and also shows the less acknowledged aspects of the voyage the ships are on (specifically the religious zeal that Columbus has). I also found the tension building and building and building as Tad realizes that his chances to kill Columbus and stop that version of America from happening are slipping through his fingers, and that if he fails, it was all for nothing, and it could mean the end of humankind. The tension is rife, the violence is visceral, and the anger and desperation is well depicted.

But I also liked the ways that Jones depicts the others back on Earth in 2112, as the world is dying due to climate change and they are becoming all the more desperate, especially when they realize that the time portal in the cave may have more dangers than realized. I really liked Sosh, Tad’s wife who is in an uneasy partnership with Yellow Kid, the member of the group who came up with the idea, but has been a little shifty as far as Sosh is concerned. I liked the moral ambiguity that Jones gives a number of his characters, as it raises very difficult questions about the lengths that these characters are willing to go to make this mission a success. And along with that, I really enjoyed how the time travel themes didn’t feel like super hard Sci Fi, and more like fantastical or speculative based in the system in place. We don’t really know what the deal is with this cave, but I have a feeling things are going to be explored as the series goes on.

And I really liked the artwork. I like the use of color and the angles that Davide Gianfelice brings to the page, and I loved the detailed character designs for our main players.

(source: IDW)

What a fantastic start to what is sure to be a fantastic series! “Earthdivers (Vol. 1): Kill Columbus” is another shining star from Stephen Graham Jones. I cannot wait to see what happens next!

Rating 9: Unapologetic, daring, dark, but hopeful, “Earthdivers: Kill Columbus” is a must read in speculative fiction with a visceral message and lots of what ifs.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Earthdivers (Vol. 1): Kill Columbus” isn’t on any Goodreads lists as of now, but it would fit in on “Graphic Novels & Comics by The Aboriginal, Indigenous, and Native Peoples of the World”, and “Best Time Travel Fiction”.

Kate’s Review: “Turtle Bread”

This post may contain affiliate links for books we recommend.  Read the full disclosure here.

Book: “Turtle Bread” by Kim-Joy & Alti Firmansyah (Ill.)

Publishing Info: Comixology Originals, May 2023

Where Did I Get This Book: I own it.

Where You Can Get This Book: Amazon

Book Description: Yan is looking for a place to belong. She struggles with social anxiety and low self-esteem, making it hard to maintain a job or relationships. When the chance comes along to step out of her comfort zone, Yan joins Baking Club, hoping to share her passion with people who love pastries and cakes as much as she does.

At first, Yan is intimidated by the other members, but as she gets to know them better, she comes to love Baking Club. In fact, Yan realizes that she’s not alone in trying to hide her mental health struggles from her friends. The members of the Club come together to support each other and to bake their way through any problem!

From celebrity baker, cookbook author, mental health advocate, and Great British Baking Show star Kim-Joy, and fan-favorite artist Alti Firmansyah (Star-Lord and Kitty Pryde), TURTLE BREAD is a touching story about community, healing, finding yourself, and–of course–baking!

Review: Unlike Serena, and many people I know and love for that matter, I never got super into “The Great British Bake Off”. I’ve seen a few seasons here and there, and did like what I saw, but haven’t really sought it out. So when I saw a huge advertisement at ALAAC23 for “Turtle Bread”, a new graphic novel by “GBBO” finalist Kim-Joy, it was more the artwork that caught my attention. But once I started looking into it, and learned about Kim-Joy not only as a baker, but also as a mental health advocate, I was even more interested in reading the book. And once I had it on my Kindle, it was a breezy and enjoyable read. Score one for advertising at a library convention!

The plot is fairly straight forward. Yan is a young woman who is living at home with her family, is struggling to find a job, and stumbles upon a random baking club after having another failed interview. She joins up with the members, even though she is very anxious around unfamiliar people and situations, and eventually finds a new passion for herself and starts to find confidence thanks to the support of her friends and her love of baking. I suppose this isn’t too shocking given that it’s written by a “Great British Bake Off” alum, and you know she clearly knows her stuff when it comes to the food that is being discussed and created in the book. I liked the way the group learns and grows from each other, mostly seen through Yan’s eyes, and I really liked the camaraderie and the feel good aspects of this story. It’s simple and charming, and while it doesn’t reinvent any wheels the gentleness of it makes for a very relaxing read.

But the biggest theme in this book is that of Yan’s deep social anxiety and how that affects her relationships with other people, her perception of herself, and her day to day life. I thought that this portrayal of social anxiety and how devastating it can be was pretty spot on, without making it the central focus or feeling like an after school special. Yan slowly opens up to her fellow baking club members, with the gentle encouragement of club head and mom friend Bea. It felt like a pretty realistic depiction of social anxiety and low self esteem, and I liked that it didn’t make it seem like a very clean and cut and dry progression, as Yan doesn’t totally shake the feelings she has and does have moments of stumbles and setbacks. But it’s never done in a way that feels like it’s just milking for more drama or disingenuous. As someone who has some social anxiety of her own, perhaps not to Yan’s degree, it just felt like an honest depiction of how it can affect so much of a person. I also liked the way that the other members of baking club slowly reveal that they too are dealing with personal emotional and mental struggles, and how that doesn’t necessarily define them as human beings who can find joy.

And finally, the art. It’s pretty darn cute. I like the character designs with some clear manga-esque influences, but then the sometimes realistic takes on ingredients to food. And yes, there are indeed recipes in this book, and I really liked how we not only get the instructions on ingredients and how to bake them, but also some really cute visuals that make it all the more easy to understand.

(source: Comixology)

“Turtle Bread” is a very cozy story about baking, friendship, and self discovery and acceptance. I’m happy it caught my eye, and I can’t wait to try out some of the recipes from the book!

Rating 7: A gentle and sweet story about baking, finding one’s passion, and working through social anxiety through supportive community and joyful pursuits.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Turtle Bread” isn’t on any Goodreads lists yet, but I think if you liked “Measuring Up” this could be a good fit!

Kate’s Review: “Dark Spaces: Good Deeds #1”


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Book: “Dark Spaces: Good Deeds #1” by Che Grayson & Kelsey Ramsay (Ill.)

Publishing Info: IDW, May 2023

Where Did I Get This Book: I received an eARC from the publisher.

Where You Can Get This Book: Comixology

Book Description: Scott Snyder’s Dark Spaces anthology line returns with an all-new story and creative team! In search of a fresh start, teenager Cheyenne Collins and her mother, Rebecca, move to St. Augustine, Florida, where they cross paths with Jean McKnight, a disgraced big-city journalist determined to pay her dues and rebuild her career, starting with a fluff piece on the town’s upcoming 450th anniversary celebration.

When the quaint community’s festivities give way to bloodshed and Cheyenne is the sole witness, Jean begins an investigation and the women find themselves at the heart of a supernatural conspiracy linked to St. Augustine’s colonial past. Together, they vow to expose the town’s historical sins, but the deeper Jean digs, the less clear it Who is Cheyenne Collins, and when does a quest for truth become a thirst for vengeance? Rising talents Che Grayson ( Urban Legends) and Kelsey Ramsay (Joan Jett and the Black Hearts, I Love Rock-n-Roll) team up for an eerie historical thriller about obsession, power, and redemption in Dark Spaces: Good Deeds!

Review: Thank you to IDW for sending me an eARC of this comic!

It is VERY rare that I review a comic in its single issue release format, as I much prefer to have the full story context in place in volume form. Volumes usually contain an arc within a story, or if its a limited series it can be contained in a full on graphic novel in one sitting. But when IDW sent me an email and some promotional pages for “Dark Spaces: Good Deeds #1” by Che Grayson, I was intrigued enough that I decided to take a chance on a single issue review series. Weird small town secrets, an eager to prove herself reporter, and something odd going on, all while simmering in a dark colonial past that leaks into the present? Oh yeah, this has the potential to be great, and “Good Deeds #1” is a great start!

We have a solid set up for our first issue, which is laying the groundwork for what is to come. The first storyline is that of Rebecca and her teenage daughter Cheyenne, who have recently moved to St. Augustine, Florida. They have bought an old abandoned diner, sold to them by a local named Mr. Foster, and they want to start over after having moved around a lot. The other thread is that of Jean, a journalist who, due to an unnamed mistake, has led her to lose credibility in the journalism community. So when she is offered a job to write a puff piece about the anniversary of the founding of St. Augustine, she takes the offer, and expects to have an easy, if not super satisfying, story to help rebuild her career. We have this well done juxtaposition of Jean meeting with the town leaders, who are bragging about how wonderful their community is, with new girl Cheyenne being bullied as an outsider by her very insular new class mates. Grayson, as I said, is laying a lot of groundwork here, and they do a very good job of showing the spun facade of the town the leaders want to present to Jean, all while weird and disturbing things are happening to Cheyenne at the hands of the townspeople. We don’t know what the issues with the townsfolk are and why they are being so secretive, and the unease builds and settles in in a very creepy way.

And then we get a whole other question by the end of the issue (no spoilers here!), that ties back to Cheyenne and Rebecca. Because the citizens of St. Augustine aren’t the only ones being a little bit cagey. I love the way that Grayson peels this back as well, and it feels done in a very deliberate way while happening all within the limited pages of a single issue comic. The climax of this issue alone is enough to make me want more, but there have been so many well placed questions as well as interesting characters that I am definitely hooked and wanting more. Especially since you can tell that there are going to be some complexities as to what is going on with this community, as it boasts of it’s colonial past while hostility is being thrown towards POC outsiders.

And finally, I really liked the artwork for this! Kelsey Ramsay makes good use of color, and I liked how some of the art is designed in a way that looks realistic, but also a bit odd and strange when it fits the scene.

(source: IDW)

All in all, “Dark Spaces: Good Deeds #1” is off to a promising and solid start! I will definitely be checking out where this goes next, as there are many questions I need to know the answer to.

Rating 8: A tantalizing and creepy start to what is sure to be a dark and layered series, “Dark Spaces: Good Deeds #1” has me hooked.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Dark Spaces: Good Deeds #1” isn’t on any Goodreads lists yet, but it would fit in on “Superheroes, Comics, and Social Justice” (admittedly we are early in the story so broader themes aren’t quite as clear yet).

Kate’s Review: “American Vampire: 1976”

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Book: “American Vampire: 1976” by Scott Snyder, Rafael Albuquerque (Ill.), & Francesco Francavilla (Ill.)

Publishing Info: DC Comics, November 2021

Where Did I Get This Book: I own it.

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: America is broken. Trust between the government and the American public has crumbled. Paranoia reigns supreme.

Skinner Sweet has exhausted all efforts to regain his lost immortality. With his powers and purpose gone, he is now determined to go out with a bang. At a seedy motorcycle rally in the desert where he’s closer than ever to his death wish, Pearl Jones and a shocking partner track him down for one last, desperate mission. The force known as the Gray Trader and its minions are tunneling through the bowels of the world to unleash hell on Earth–just in time for America’s bicentennial. With catastrophe looming, it’s up to Skinner and Pearl to reconcile and change the course of history–or die trying.

Review: Well folks, we have come to the end of another comic re-reading/comic completion hybrid, as “American Vampire: 1976” is the end of the road for the “American Vampire” series by Scott Snyder. There was a pretty substantial gap between “Volume 8” and “1976”, just as there was a gap in the real comics release of the series. I don’t know what caused the wait, but I remember part of my reason for kind of giving up on the series the first time around was due to the fact I knew it didn’t have an ending. Well, now it does, and to me it seemed like there were a few things that needed to be addressed in order to stick it. And…. I think that it mostly did, with a couple stumbles…

We have jumped forward to 1976, and our characters have scattered to the wind since we left them. Skinner Sweet, having been rendered mortal after his last tangle with the Gray Trader a decade prior, has accepted that he can’t regain his immortality and has decided to become a stuntman in hopes of going out in a blaze of glory. So when he’s approached by Pearl with one more mission, we find out what all our vampires have been up to leading up to the American Bicentennial. Pearl is barely holding things together with the VMS, Felicia is on a mission to save Gus from the Gray Trader who has taken him hostage, Travis Kidd blames himself for the loss of Gus, and we find out that Jim Book has returned to the fold and has been Pearl’s partner for a number of years. Oh, and Mimiteh has come back as well (and HOORAY, she isn’t just a stereotype AND he has clothing this time around). I loved that this took place in 1976, in a year that American was celebrating its history in the face of a lot of bleakness (the loss of the Vietnam war, post-Watergate disillusionment, etc), and as the VMS has to try and stop an apocalypse that is going to happen during the Bicentennial celebration. It’s a great tone, and a great way for the story to wrap up as America has it’s own, in a way, reflection moment. And the big last showdown with the Gray Trader and it’s final push to destroy the world was well thought out and had high stakes and lots of suspense.

There are a lot of characters that we need to tackle, and, for the most part, many of them get some good page time and a fair amount of focus. I loved seeing Pearl rally the troops, I enjoyed seeing Skinner being pulled in again as he’s trying to, maybe finally, be able to get his immortality back, and I liked seeing Travis Kidd have more growth and depth as he grapples with how he failed Felicia and Gus. But that does lead to one of the pitfalls here, as one of the characters who is a bit shafted is Felicia, as it felt like she was just a frenzied grieving mother as she worries about Gus’s well being. Sure, she gets some pretty okay moments, but she didn’t feel like Felicia, and since we were at the end of the road I really wanted more in saying goodbye. It ended up feeling abrupt and lacking for my favorite character in the series.

There was one other big stumble for me in this final collection as we wrap up this story, and I need to go into detail to explain the problem I had with it. SO, therefore I am going to have to tell you to skip to the last paragraph if you don’t want to know and give you a

SPOILER ALERT! (source)

So a few volumes back, it was revealed that Jim Book, the original hero who was the lawman pursuing Skinner Sweet back in the day after being his foster brother in childhood, was actually still ‘alive’ and was also a vampire from the American strain. It took this long for him to come back, and I was actually pretty amped to see him because I was excited to see him confronting Skinner, but more I was anticipating seeing him meet his daughter Felicia. And for awhile I was riding high on his presence, because it added a new interesting layer to Skinner, as his foil, who was not only an enemy but also his dearest friend and in some ways brother, was back in his life after so much baggage… But. BUT. Not only did we not get any pay off with Jim meeting his daughter Felicia (HONESTLY, HOW DARE THEY SIDELINE HER SO MUCH?)… Jim ends up betraying the VMS and has been evil and siding with the Gray Trader the whole time!!!!! WHAT THE FUCK?! What a frustrating and unearned heel turn for this character! And it felt like it was done 1) because it’s shocking and a HUGE blow and twist for the VMS, and 2) it just props up Skinner more as a hero because if Jim freaking BOOK is bad, then Skinner is going to look good by comparison, and you know what?

(source)

Am I being perhaps a little to precious about Jim Book as a character? Yeah, maybe. But it was also pretty damned rushed after a long delay to bring him back into the fold. There was a missed opportunity there because it would have been far more interesting for Skinner’s final push for potential redemption to be about his foster brother as opposed to his love for Pearl (especially since it made Pearl’s final story a bit too intwined with Skinner when she can stand on her own, thankyouverymuch).

Okay I complained a lot but for the most part I did enjoy “American Vampire: 1976”, I swear! The series had a lot to address and wrap up, and I thought that Snyder did justice to most of his characters and plot lines. And what a great moment in time for the story to end. I will miss Pearl, Felicia, Gus, and, God help me, even Skinner freakin’ Sweet. “American Vampire” is a great series, and I’m glad I finished it.

Rating 7: Overall this is a solid conclusion to an enjoyable series. “American Vampire: 1976” has some stumbles, but it’s nice to see Pearl, Skinner, Felicia, and others go out with a bang.

Reader’s Advisory:

“American Vampire: 1976” isn’t included on any Goodreads lists as of now, but it would fit in on “Recommendations for Buffy Fans” (though the entire series should probably be on that list too).

Kate’s Review: “Fence: Vol. 1”

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Book: “Fence: Vol. 1” by C.S. Pacat & Johanna the Mad (Ill.)

Publishing Info: BOOM! Box, July 2018

Where Did I Get This Book: The library!

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: Nicholas, the illegitimate son of a retired fencing champion, is a scrappy fencing wunderkind, and dreams of getting the chance and the training to actually compete. After getting accepted to the prodigious Kings Row private school, Nicholas is thrust into a cut-throat world, and finds himself facing not only his golden-boy half-brother, but the unbeatable, mysterious Seiji Katayama…

Through clashes, rivalries, and romance between teammates, Nicholas and the boys of Kings Row will discover there’s much more to fencing than just foils and lunges. From acclaimed writer C.S. Pacat (The Captive Prince) and fan-favorite artist Johanna the Mad.

Review: This is quite possibly going to come as a bit of a shock to you, dear readers, but when I was a sophomore in high school, I was on our school fencing team. Yes, I went to the kind of school that had a fencing team, but if I’m being honest with myself I was really only on the fencing team because a few of my friends were on it, I wasn’t actually cut out for it (and once I was consistently cast in plays and could just do theater to negate the sports requirement, that problem was solved). And given that at the time I was in multiple therapies for mental health and learning disability/neurodivergence related reasons, I was barely ever actually fencing. The team still gave me the E for Effort Award at the end of season, probably out of pity. But I retained enough knowledge that when I finally picked up “Fence: Vol. 1” by C.S. Pacat I was thrown into a bit of a nostalgia spin. I had read the first “Captive Prince” book by Pacat, and it wasn’t really my cup of soup. But “Fence” sounded promising, so I requested it, and what do you know? It was super entertaining.

Since this is the first volume in the series, it’s laying a lot of the groundwork and foundation for the ultimate theme and plot of the story as a whole, and I felt like Pacat did a good job of setting the stage. We are mainly following Nicholas, a passionate and determined fencer whose motivation is based on the fact his absent father is former fencing champion Robert Coste, whose snubbing left Nicholas and his mother growing up with little money and lots of struggles. He is now at King’s Row School, on a scholarship, and has a huge chip on his shoulder as an outsider whom the others are underestimating. It doesn’t help that Seiji Katayama, another fencing prodigy who humiliated Nicholas at a previous tournament, is there… and his roommate. Pacat does the due diligence of creating this rivalry between the two of them, all while putting them in a forced proximity situation that just builds their rivalry and the tension… I mean, I kind of know where this is ultimately going to go, but it’s early and there is more to do before we start getting into tropes. I liked meeting Nicholas and seeing his background slowly revealed, and I completely bought the ambition and resentment he was giving with the clues and context put in place. As he starts the process of trying out for the fencing team with an épée blade (that was MY blade), with his dreams and scholarship on the line, we end with the stakes being very high indeed.

In terms of the other characters, we’ve gotten a bit of a taste of the other team members and wannabe team members. Seiji is the obvious supporting character, as Nicholas’s nemesis, and as of now he’s still a little bit mysterious to Nicholas and the reader as well. I liked seeing the various characters and their types, whether it’s the sweetheart Bobby, the no nonsense Harvard, or the playboy Aiden, we have a dynamic group that is going to almost certainly play off of each other and create drama, and I enjoyed most of them as they have been presented to us now. There are hints about other people coming into play later, mostly Nicholas’s ‘legitimate’ half brother Jesse, captain of the rival school’s fencing team, but as of now we are still dealing with the King’s Row team and the discord in place there. Try outs are just getting started when this book ends, and I really have no idea what is going to happen with the team, as not everyone can make it. I’m already attached to a few of these characters and I need to know what happens next.

And finally, I like the art style that Johanna the Mad brings to the series. It feels a bit like an homage to sports manga, with a mix of cartoonish images as well as more realistic ones.

(Source: BOOM! Box)

“Fence: Vol. 1” is a promising start to this sports series. I am VERY interested to see where things go for Nicholas, Seiji, and the fencers of King’s Row. Who’s going to get the pity driven E for Effort Award, what’s what I want to know!

Rating 8: A well laid foundation and an intriguing and original premise makes “Fence: Vol. 1” a solid start to a sporty and maybe romantic series.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Fence: Vol. 1” is included on the Goodreads lists “Fencing Fiction”, and “Graphic Novels: Featuring LGBTIQ+ Themes”.