Reviews with content warning for Transphobia - Snapdragon

Reviews tagging 'Transphobia'

Snapdragon by Kat Leyh

44 reviews

sweetsxrrxw's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted 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? No

4.0

this was a super cute and wholesome book <33 it's been a while since i read a graphic novel and a friend recommended this so i decided to give it a try! it follows snapdragon, a young girl who befriends an alleged witch who sells animal bones online. it might sound kinda weird but i promise you it's worth it to read. the artsyle and the inclusion of queer bipoc characters are also a bonus point!

i love that, even though they were both hesitant at the beginning, they let their friendships flow easily and got invested in each other. it was so cute to see snap's interest in animals' bones and jacks trying to learn how to be a good teacher.

and the fact that jacks' former lover was snap's grandma, and the way they got to meet again at the end is just so<33

lu was also a super nice side character and im glad that her transition was accepted by her friends and family. maybe im just a bit dumb but i didnt realize what was going on until the fight scene. btw, i hope the bullies stopped being mean after that :/
anyways, i cant move on without talking about vi. she is a great mom, imo. i love that she decided to dump her abusive ex and take care of her daughter and her dog by herself. and also, during the story, she seems to be studying in order to get a better job which is so cool from her.

i guess what i disliked was the rushed pacing. i understand that this is a graphic novel and they're usually short. but what harm would it make to add a hundred pages more and dig deeper into character development or other plot details? there are lots of things that i would have loved to see addressed such as

some kind of explanation for the magic, snap's grandma and jacks' relationship, more about lulu and her family, etc

but overall it was a nice fun read that anyone can enjoy!

Content Warnings

kyahfae's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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? No

5.0

Content Warnings

marleywrites's review against another edition

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funny inspiring lighthearted medium-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

5.0

God, I loved this graphic novel. I borrowed this from my local library and as soon as I finished it I immediately went online and purchased a copy for my own bookshelf, and recommended it to every middle school teacher I know.

Snap was the cutest, most energetic and dynamic character I’ve read in a long time. I was immediately attached to her as soon as she rushed into the witch’s house for Good Boy without hesitation. She then continued to be a bright, empathetic, and complex character throughout the rest of the novel. I loved that she was written as gender non conforming.

I really appreciated the way the author had the characters discuss gender. I loved that Lulu was gradually introduced but then immediately accepted. I loved that she got to wear Snap’s mom’s skirt and I loved the trans joy in this novel. As a trans person myself it meant a lot to see a young kid loving their transness.

I loved the queer representation with Jacks as well, and I loved that we got to see that story through the ending.

And with a happy ending for Jacks!

I flew through this complex yet endearing read and it’s definitely one I will recommend over and over again to anyone who groans about needing a book to read.

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brnineworms's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

You know when a book is just good and you don’t have a whole lot to say about it besides that? That’s Snapdragon. The artwork is well done, with strong character designs that are simple yet highly expressive, and each panel has just the right amount of detail to make the world feel real while still being easily readable. The characters are easy to love and root for. The story is sweet yet also a little dark, but not in a way that feels inharmonious. It’s just good. Give it a read.

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finesilkflower's review against another edition

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dark funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

I was disconcerted by the mix of bubbly, cartoony, Steven Universe-ish art with a goth subject matter (witchcraft centering around animal ghosts and reanimating animal bones). Style is my favorite part of spooky stories, and I would have liked to see a more goth style for this spooky subject matter. That's not to say that the art isn't sometimes spooky, including mystical forests (which were my favorite part).

Love that this is a friendship/mentorship story between a young queer and an older butch. It's like if Karate Kid were about queer witches.

Snap's best friend is a trans girl who is initially introduced as a boy but who comes into her own throughout the book, changing her name and presentation. This is generally well handled by the main characters, who are accepting and supportive without making a big deal about it, but toward the beginning we see more transphobic bullying. I'm of two minds about this, because I think it's important and validating to reflect kids' world back to them instead of denying that they're dealing with the things they're dealing with and presenting them a sugarcoated fantasyland, but I also think it's a bit heavy to be thrown in without a lot of unpacking. Similar to the rest of the story, it feels like an uneasy mix of darkness and light.

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totallyshelfaware's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Snapdragon is an utterly delightful celebration of queerness that made my heart SING and put the biggest smile on my face.

If you adore the found family trope and feel like a little gremlin struggling to do your best on most days? This is the perfect book for you. It is an unabashedly joyful exploration of friendship, love, and family and how the bonds you treasure give you the strength to hope.

Content Warnings