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funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I found reading this super stressful until some exploration of themes kicked in, which gave the story more grounding and depth. I like how it showed that pain when you love is inescapable, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t love - there are so many relationships in the book that exhibit this. It was also interesting to see how Lai presented fan culture, and how this can easily turn into mob mentality, leading to the vilification of people who try to hold the idol or fans accountable. Finally, I appreciated that it explained various parts of being a responsible dog owner. Aside from this, I thought the art style was okay.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Excrement
Minor: Animal death, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: separation from family
Minor: death of pet
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Remy Lai is a pretty consistent voice in Middle Grade publishing, and I really enjoyed this foray into graphic fiction. Cute, heartwarming, and satisfyingly full circle. This book had a lot of heart and I just couldn't put it down.
Middle grade graphic novel about finding friends, building community, telling a lie, telling the truth, and dealing with difficult people and situations and at the center of it all a charming dog with a shopping basket. Sweet, thoughtful, fraught with angst, and full of love and acceptance for characters who need both. I loved it and cannot wait to share it with grownups and kids alike.
Want to see more bookish things from me? Check out my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCferU-BCL2dlFjWdD0rS75Q
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*
A young girl named Jo is wandering around town when she notices a dog out shopping by itself. Interested, she follows him and is lead to an art class at the local bookstore. The dog begins to model for the children, and is then dubbed Pawcasso from then on. The children ask Jo if she is the owner and if Pawcasso can come back every week. Feeling lonely, Jo is quick to say yes and then her lie begins to spiral out of control when someone complains about Pawcasso being off leash. The kids of the art class begin a petition to allow Pawcasso to remain off leash. As the petition gains traction, and the community becomes divided on the issue, Jo must continue to try and hide her secret in order to keep her new found friends.
This was a really cute, fun middle grade graphic novel. I really loved the illustrations and bright colours of this! I thought this was going to be a super light fluffy story, which it was, but it also covered some deeper topics such as family dynamics, community and loneliness. I really liked the characters in this and how they interacted with one another. Pawcasso was absolutely adorable, and I love how he brought the community together.
I think this is a great read for middle graders and older individuals alike!
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*
A young girl named Jo is wandering around town when she notices a dog out shopping by itself. Interested, she follows him and is lead to an art class at the local bookstore. The dog begins to model for the children, and is then dubbed Pawcasso from then on. The children ask Jo if she is the owner and if Pawcasso can come back every week. Feeling lonely, Jo is quick to say yes and then her lie begins to spiral out of control when someone complains about Pawcasso being off leash. The kids of the art class begin a petition to allow Pawcasso to remain off leash. As the petition gains traction, and the community becomes divided on the issue, Jo must continue to try and hide her secret in order to keep her new found friends.
This was a really cute, fun middle grade graphic novel. I really loved the illustrations and bright colours of this! I thought this was going to be a super light fluffy story, which it was, but it also covered some deeper topics such as family dynamics, community and loneliness. I really liked the characters in this and how they interacted with one another. Pawcasso was absolutely adorable, and I love how he brought the community together.
I think this is a great read for middle graders and older individuals alike!
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A young girl gets mistaken as the owner of a dog that goes around the local shopping center and does its owner's shopping each weekend. Instead of telling people the dog isn't hers, she starts a ruse that helps her find friendship with a class of local art students. Everything goes wrong when her tower of lies finally topples.
Cute illustrations with a story that should be a little bit shorter. There isn't much characterization for Jo other than she's a lonely girl, who misses her father and makes no effort in creating friendships. It's a basic "one misunderstanding turns into a hundred lies" story with a kid protagonist. The dog is adorable, but the load of dog puns drove me crazy. The town splitting into factions around a petition to stop the leash law was a little too bizarre for this otherwise lighthearted story. It's a cute book, but I didn't find anything that special.
Cute illustrations with a story that should be a little bit shorter. There isn't much characterization for Jo other than she's a lonely girl, who misses her father and makes no effort in creating friendships. It's a basic "one misunderstanding turns into a hundred lies" story with a kid protagonist. The dog is adorable, but the load of dog puns drove me crazy. The town splitting into factions around a petition to stop the leash law was a little too bizarre for this otherwise lighthearted story. It's a cute book, but I didn't find anything that special.