Fangirl the graphic novel, Vol 2 by Rainbow Rowell and adapted by Sam Maggs and illustrated by Gabi Nam

Summary from Goodreads:

Cath just wants to hang out with her twin sister and write fanfiction. But now that they’re at college, her sister doesn’t have time for her. And life keeps pulling Cath further and further out of her shell. For the first time ever, Cath has her own social circle. There’s Nick, her handsome classmate who wants her to write short stories with him… And then Levi, who keeps showing up when she isn’t looking for him … Actually … maybe Cath’s circle is more of a triangle?

Review:

Sometimes you hate when stories are revisited in new formats and you just want the original version to remain in it’s perfect form in your brain forever. And sometimes, stories feel like they are made to be retold over and over. Fangirl, a story that literally talks about writing fanfic, is one such story, one that can be told again and again. Sometimes it’s okay to not let stories go. I feel like the story of Simon and Baz, and of Cath works so well in graphic novel/manga format. They’d be great in movie format. In Netflix format. In any format. I’m okay not letting this story go. It’s a story that would make great fanfic.

The only sad thing is it ends in the middle! It’s like a manga installment or a fanfic…And who knows how long it will be until the next one comes out. I guess I don’t really know if anyone reads fanfic any more though. Is this something that teens still do? Or is this a dated thing that teens today will read about and go that’s so early 2000’s….?

Regardless, anyone can relate to Cath and her fears of branching out and trying new things. She’s just so relatable. But, also she’s who you are afraid to be. Hopefully, we will all leave our rooms and do more than read books, particularly in our formative years (that aren’t in the midst of pandemics). Also all the little Simon/Baz story fragments are probably the best translated into manga form. Baz is serious designed for visual effect. Also, why has no one bought the movie rights yet?

It’s also nice getting a college story. I really feel like this is a time period we don’t see enough of in fiction. So much happens in college. So much growth away from parents. You’d think it would be a goldmine for books, but instead I find myself getting super excited any time I see one. Any way, both a lot happens happens for Cath in this installment and not a lot. She branches out and she doesn’t. She starts to fall for a guy, and she has her heart stomped on a little bit. She has some more falling out with her twin. And you know the big stuff is still to come. I cannot wait. I give this a 9/10.

Five Survive by Holly Jackson

Summary from Goodreads:

The brand new unmissable crime thriller from Holly Jackson, best-selling, award-winning author of the Good Girl’s Guide to Murder trilogy.

Eight hours.
Six friends.
One sniper . . .

Eighteen year old Red and her friends are on a road trip in an RV, heading to the beach for Spring Break. It’s a long drive but spirits are high. Until the RV breaks down in the middle of nowhere. There’s no mobile phone reception and nobody around to help. And as the wheels are shot out, one by one, the friends realise that this is no accident. There’s a sniper out there in the dark watching them and he knows exactly who they are. One of the group has a secret that the sniper is willing to kill for.

A game of cat-and-mouse plays out as the group desperately tries to get help and to work out which member of the group is the target. Buried secrets are forced to light in the cramped, claustrophobic setting of the RV, and tensions within the group will reach deadly levels. Not everyone will survive the night.

Review:

I was obsessed with the Good Girl’s Guide to Murder trilogy. When I learned of the new book by Holly Jackson, I jumped at the chance to read it. I find myself enjoying more and more mysteries and less fantasy novels lately in YA. Though, I still really like books with good character development and intelligent main characters, no matter the genre.

I have to say I almost didn’t finish the book. I was not feeling the mystery or the character development in this book until the last third or so of the story. And honestly, the only reason I kept reading is because of how much love and respect the other books by this author. If I had not already read those book (that are not connected in any way) I would not have completed this novel. The first 2/3 of the book reads more like a teen horror movie/slasher flick that a psychological mystery. That’s not really my thing at all. If you loved “I know what you did last summer,” then this is for you.

It was more a survival story. And it’s literally called Five Survive, so you’d think I’d pick up on that….but, I was still hoping for the thriller/mystery of before. 6 teens have to survive one terrible night with a killer on the loose. There’s blackmail, murder, secrets, affairs, snipers, and so much more. You’d think I wouldn’t be able to put it down. I couldn’t keep all the characters straight at the beginning for one thing. They all kind of blended together. Not enough character development. There was no mystery besides figuring out what character had the BIG secret that the killer wanted. And it turns out they all had things they were hiding…

The book did move really fast. It had to because it all took place over one night. And once I got to the last third of the book, I could not put it down. I had to know how it would all resolve. Not necessarily because I cared too much about any of the characters (that again weren’t too fleshed out), but because I wanted to know if all my guesses were true.

It turned out all the biggest secrets were things I guessed right away…And this also disappointed me. I guess I hoped after sticking  with it the whole time, I’d at least be shocked by something. And the ending was almost too easy…Like there were some convenient endings when I think it would have been more believable if weren’t so easy.  

All in all, I wish I the characters were more developed and that I didn’t call all the big twists. But, it’s not the book’s fault that I was hoping for something that it wasn’t even marketed as. I think the right reader (particularly those into teen horror movies) would love this book. I’ll keep my eyes open for more psychological thrillers by the author. It reads really quickly and involves a lot of violence. I give it a 7/10.

The Heartstopper Yearbook by Alice Oseman

Summary from Goodreads:

The full-colour Heartstopper Yearbook is packed full of exclusive content from the Heartstopper universe - including never-before-seen illustrations, an exclusive mini-comic, a look back at Alice's Heartstopper artwork over the years, character profiles, trivia, and insights into her creative process - all narrated by a cartoon version of Alice herself.

By the winner of the YA Book Prize, Heartstopper is about love, friendship, loyalty and mental illness. It encompasses all the small stories of Nick and Charlie's lives that together make up something larger, which speaks to all of us.

'The queer graphic novel we wished we had at high school.' Gay Times

Review:

So, I wasn’t even sure I was going to read this…It’s not the next volume in the Heartstopper series, but one of those types of side books that I usually think of as extra money-makers for the publishing companies. However,  I ordered it for the library and it looked super cute, and I figured why not? If I hated it, I’d put it down and just keep waiting for the next volume.

I did not hate it. I actually read the whole thing cover to cover in one sitting, unexpectedly. It was actually really nice to get a little back story to everything. I was not with these books from the very beginning, so I actually didn’t know their whole origin story. I learned Nick and Charlie actually first appeared as a couple in a YA novel, and then the author wanted to give them their own story. I learned more about how the author got into creating graphic novels. I learned a lot, generally about how everything came to be in this universe, and it was nice learning this.

Plus, there’s all these bonus comics and illustrations of things I wouldn’t have gotten to see otherwise, like the characters dressed up for Halloween, or celebrating Pride. There’s a few short bonus stories in there too. And everything is in color! Basically, it’s one happy, colorful, enlightening read designed to put a smile on your face.

Would I feel the need to buy it? Probably not. But, am I glad I picked it up and read it? Certainly. It, along with all the Heartstopper books are just a delight to read, and I cannot wait for more. I give this an 8/10.

Scattered Showers by Rainbow Rowell

Summary from Goodreads:

Rainbow Rowell has won fans all over the world by writing about love and life in a way that feels true.

In her first collection, she gives us nine beautifully crafted love stories. Girl meets boy camping outside a movie theater. Best friends debate the merits of high school dances. A prince romances a troll. A girl romances an imaginary boy. And Simon Snow himself returns for a holiday adventure.

It’s a feast of irresistible characters, hilarious dialogue, and masterful storytelling—in short, everything you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell book.

Review:

Rainbow Rowell is one of my favorite authors. She is hands down, one of the all time best at writing characters who you just feel like you know. I have loved everything she has written. I think there are just some writers out there that speak to readers’ souls. Like they can write what we cannot. If we can put words to exactly what we wanted to say, this is what it would be. She (along with maybe 2-3 others only) speak to me on this level. And this book was no exception.

I guess the disappointing thing for me about this book was that sometimes I wished for more. For the new stories, not connected to longer works,  I almost always wanted more. Some of the stories were better than others. Some were connected to longer fiction that I haven’t read in so many years that I failed to recognize the character they were connected to….And now I want to re-read those older works. I keep thinking about the one Covid Christmas story, and I can’t get it out of my head. I had so many feelings about it. Maybe because it was so familiar and relatable.

I also can’t get the last story out of my head. It deals with the story writing process. And while I’ve seen things like this before, Rowell does it in such a fun, romantic way. It reminded me a bit of the show “The Good Place,” which I also love. And it’s no surprise that most of her story about writing stories is all about characters. How do characters develop? What happens to them before they are fully fleshed out?

This is the kind of book I wanted to read slowly and savor because that’s how deeply Rowell speaks to me. But, it’s hard to read something you love slowly. You just want to dive in and enjoy it. And I did. The first story was one I think I’ve read before. I’m enough of a fan that I think I’ve read a story or two of the author’s online, but it’s been so many years that reading it again felt fresh and new. And it felt like it belonged here in this book.

All in all, this was a treat. I will continue to read anything Rowell writes and  hope she writes a lot more. I give this a 10/10.

I was Born for This by Alice Oseman

Summary from Goodreads:

From the bestselling creator of HEARTSTOPPER and LOVELESS, a deeply funny and deeply moving exploration of identity, friendship, and fame.

For Angel Rahimi life is about one thing: The Ark -- a boy band that's taking the world by storm. Being part of The Ark's fandom has given her everything she loves -- her friend Juliet, her dreams, her place in the world. Her Muslim family doesn't understand the band's allure -- but Angel feels there are things about her they'll never understand.

Jimmy Kaga-Ricci owes everything to The Ark. He's their frontman -- and playing in a band with his mates is all he ever dreamed of doing, even it only amplifies his anxiety. The fans are very accepting that he's trans -- but they also keep shipping with him with his longtime friend and bandmate, Rowan. But Jimmy and Rowan are just friends -- and Rowan has a secret girlfriend the fans can never know about. Dreams don't always turn out the way you think and when Jimmy and Angel are unexpectedly thrust together, they find out how strange and surprising facing up to reality can be.

A funny, wise, and heartbreakingly true coming of age novel. I Was Born for This is a stunning reflection of modern teenage life, and the power of believing in something -- especially yourself.

Review:

I LOVE the Heartstopper books. when Oseman’s new novel came out I thought it was time I gave her books in other formats a try. I tend to love books that deal with famous people -it’s just one of those tropes I just enjoy. So, this one spoke to me. However, it’s not at all what I was expecting. I guess I was hoping and expecting something a little lighter and more romantic, and what I got was something a little deeper that dealt a lot more with mental illness and friendship than any kind of romantic love.

There’s nothing wrong with a book that handles mental illness and friendship. It’ just not what I thought I was signing up for, and because of that, it took me a bit longer to read. One of the main characters suffers anxiety and panic attacks, and that’s something my husband suffers too, so I guess it was also very close to home for me. I related it to it a lot. And I’m glad there’s a book that talks about the topic.

This book talks about a lot of topics. For starters, it’s one of the most diverse books I’ve read in a long time. One main character is trans and the other is Muslim (possibly asexual). There’s bisexual characters, characters of different races, different religions, different backgrounds, and ages, etc. Also covered are characters in fandoms and real life friends vs internet friends. But, the best thing is that none of this defines the book. It just helps to make it. The books is mostly about friendships, mental illness, family (both the ones your born into and the ones you chose) and fame. Oseman has a way of writing young people in such a fresh, truthful way. The characters all feel authentic. And I feel like I really know them. Something only the best YA writers are skilled at doing.

It’s not the book’s fault that I was hoping for more of a love story, and got something more serious. But, I do kind of wish there were a few more hopeful/happy moments. So much of this book seems to be about disappointment. It felt like something was missing to me. But, I’m glad it seemed like a good friendship was formed at the end. All in all I give this an 8/10. And I’ll definitely be reading more by Oseman.

Keeper of the Lost Cities: Stellarlune by Shannon Messenger

Summary from Goodreads:

In this stunning ninth book in the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling Keeper of the Lost Cities series, Sophie and her friends discover the true meaning of power—and evil.

Sophie Foster changed the game.

Now she’s facing impossible choices:
When to act.
When to trust.
When to let go.

Her friends are divided and scattered, and the Black Swan wants Sophie to focus on their projects. But her instincts are leading her somewhere else.

Stellarlune—and the mysterious Elysian—might be the key to everything. But finding truth in the Lost Cities always requires sacrifice. And as the Neverseen’s plans sharpen into terrifying focus, it appears that everyone has miscalculated. The Lost Cities’ greatest lie could destroy everything. And in the battle that follows, only one thing is certain: nothing will ever be the same.

Review:

There are very few books I pre-order any more…This was one of them. I think I might have even  been waiting over a year for it….During the initial shut-down in 2020, these books were my lifeline. I’m so glad they exist. Are they great literature? Absolutely not. I feel like I find so many editing mistakes in them. But, reading them is like binging the ultimate guilty pleasure tv show. In fact, they’d make for some outstanding television.

I have to admit that my brain is getting older and even though I read all of this series not that long ago, I started this book and scratched my head. I had to go to Wikipedia and look up some past plot points and characters. Thank God for fans. There are so many fans and fan theories out there for these books that I didn’t even know about! After I fell down that rabbit hole, I was back in the game, and reading this was just a pure delight.

The beginning of the book was a little slow for me. Not a lot happened. It was a lot of back and forth between the characters with not a lot of action. Basically, they all argued a lot about the things that transpired in the previous book, and everyone seemed super upset at Sophie.  But, finally Sophie gets her groove back and things pick up plot-wise. By mid book, I couldn’t put it down.

I was a little put off by the lack of appearance of my favorite character. However, this was more than made up for (and then some). I’ve already gone back and re-read a certain scene a few times because I guess I’m a fan now….And of course this wouldn’t be the book we were all waiting for if it didn’t have crazy twists and turns in it, along with a nuts-o cliffhanger at the end. Let’s just hope it’s not another 2 years before the next installment. I give this one an 8/10.

Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega and art by Rose Bousamra

Summary from Goodreads:

A middle grade graphic novel about Marlene, a young girl who stops straightening her hair and embraces her natural curls.

Marlene loves three things: books, her cool Tía Ruby and hanging out with her best friend Camila. But according to her mother, Paola, the only thing she needs to focus on is school and "growing up." That means straightening her hair every weekend so she could have "presentable", "good hair".

But Marlene hates being in the salon and doesn't understand why her curls are not considered pretty by those around her. With a few hiccups, a dash of embarrassment, and the much-needed help of Camila and Tia Ruby—she slowly starts a journey to learn to appreciate and proudly wear her curly hair.

Review:

As someone with extraordinarily thick, curly hair, I had to read this….The cover alone drew my attention. I related to the main character on so many levels. I never had anyone force me to straighten my hair. However, until I was an adult, I never really felt like anyone understood how to cut, style, or work with my hair (including my mother, any person working in a salon I went to, or myself). Thankfully, over the course of the years, I’ve developed my own routine of products, salons, and styles. But, you’d think my hair was from outer space or something….

What made this book so heart-wrenching was that all (or most) of Marlene’s image problems were coming from her mother. Her mother was perpetuating the notion that curly and frizzy and natural was ugly because that was what she was taught. And again, while this might not have been something I got from my Mom, there are other lessons I did learn from the generation before that are just not true. Let’s face it. This new generation is a generation of more acceptance -more body positivity and less shaming. Or, I’m hopeful that’s the direction we are going in.  And Frizzy  did a good job of covering the differences in our generations.

If only we all had that fairy godmother character (Tia Ruby) though….Thank Goodness she was there to show Marlene the magic of leave-in conditioner.  For those of us that don’t have curly hair aunt superheroes who can take us under their wings, I guess there are plenty of Youtube or TikTok tutorials? I’m also not sure it was entirely believable that the mother ended on such a good note…Don’t get me wrong. The ending was adorable. I might have gone “Awwww,” out loud, but I’m positive it would not gone that way in real life. While I’m glad it ended well for Marlene, the mom joining them was a tad over the top for me.

Still, all in all, I’m glad this book exists. I love the positive messages it shares bout different people and different types of hair. I also love what it says about generations learning the wrong thing sometimes and needing to un-learn those things. All in all, it was a very sweet, quick read. The art is fantastic. And I can see a lot of kids really liking this one. I give it an 8/10.