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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I recived a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was another super fun jaunt with the Lumberjanes, this time focused very much on Jo where the other book was focused very much on April. Jo recieves a letter from home and then has to decide what she wants out of the summer and what path she wants to take.
Again I found this enjoyable and satisfying, especially as it starts out with a competition which Roanoke cabin, in true Roanoke style, sets out to WIN. And then along the way they realise that WINNING is less important than spending time with your friends while you try your best. Lovely.
My one quibble with this book is that, despite being mainly about Jo, if you only read this book and had no prior knowledge of the series, you wouldn't know she's trans. Trans girl protagonists aren't a common thing in middle grade fiction and Jo is one of the more high profile ones; so it seems an oversight to not even pay it lip service, especially considering her parents are consistently referred to as "Jo's two gay dads" when just saying "Jo's two dads" achieves the same. I'm not suggesting Jo be consistently referred to as "Trans Lumberjane Jo", but if we can call her gay dads gay every time, why can't we mention it once? Even just a mention that she chose her own name would do it, or maybe talk about how being a Lumberjane is a source of gender euphoria for her, assuming it is.
This is pointless now because this book has been out for years and the Lumberjanes comic series is finished, but I had to google "Is Jo Lumberjanes trans?" because the complete lack of mention or even implication made me second guess myself about it. And while we're on this topic, this book also doesn't mention that she's Navajo. You have to go to the wiki for both of these.
Anyway. It was a fun time and I enjoyed it! Just, maybe we can say things out loud on paper more moving forward.
My thanks to Abrams Books for the early copy.
This was another super fun jaunt with the Lumberjanes, this time focused very much on Jo where the other book was focused very much on April. Jo recieves a letter from home and then has to decide what she wants out of the summer and what path she wants to take.
Again I found this enjoyable and satisfying, especially as it starts out with a competition which Roanoke cabin, in true Roanoke style, sets out to WIN. And then along the way they realise that WINNING is less important than spending time with your friends while you try your best. Lovely.
My one quibble with this book is that, despite being mainly about Jo, if you only read this book and had no prior knowledge of the series, you wouldn't know she's trans. Trans girl protagonists aren't a common thing in middle grade fiction and Jo is one of the more high profile ones; so it seems an oversight to not even pay it lip service, especially considering her parents are consistently referred to as "Jo's two gay dads" when just saying "Jo's two dads" achieves the same. I'm not suggesting Jo be consistently referred to as "Trans Lumberjane Jo", but if we can call her gay dads gay every time, why can't we mention it once? Even just a mention that she chose her own name would do it, or maybe talk about how being a Lumberjane is a source of gender euphoria for her, assuming it is.
This is pointless now because this book has been out for years and the Lumberjanes comic series is finished, but I had to google "Is Jo Lumberjanes trans?" because the complete lack of mention or even implication made me second guess myself about it. And while we're on this topic, this book also doesn't mention that she's Navajo. You have to go to the wiki for both of these.
Anyway. It was a fun time and I enjoyed it! Just, maybe we can say things out loud on paper more moving forward.
My thanks to Abrams Books for the early copy.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was cute. It was fine. Good for kids, but maybe there's less crossover appeal than the comics. Also, mentions of Jo's transness were a little coded in a way that they felt more hidden than insider, if you know you know.
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I adored this book. Tamaki perfectly translates the style of the Lumberjanes comics into a middle-grade novel that has just the right amount of Roanoke shenanigans, otherworldly (and cute!) creatures, and summer fun. I know that this is part of a series, but I read it as a standalone novel and it works perfectly well - it's so much fun, especially reading it as a fan of the Lumberjanes comics. With Allen's illustrations as the cherry on top, "The Moon Is Up!" is delightful. It feels like a childhood memory of stargazing at summer camp, except you can hold it in your hands - and giggle at the corny jokes, of course.
YES! Feminism and scouting and diverse, badass women! I am 100% here for this. Conveys all the magic of friendship and scouting (I am slightly in love with the badges) as well as a nice whimsical tale of adventure. All of the girls are really interesting in their own right and the group dynamic is just perfection. Also nice seeing a prominent female lead who's passionate about science in the shape of Jo. I need to read all the Lumberjanes comics now.
Thank you Netgalley for giving me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Netgalley for giving me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
***Copy from NetGalley in return for an honest review*****
I really, really enjoyed this - I love the Lumberjanes graphic novels and this is a great addition to that world. The story is fun - and I'm going to have to go and find myself a "proper" copy to check out the finished artwork. So much fun and so true to the characters that we already know from the graphic novels. I've said it before, and I'll say it again - I love the way that the Lumberjanes and their different families and backgrounds are presented - without comment, without an explanatory comma and without assuming that it's something other or different or unusual - which is, of course, totally how it should be. Really good on all fronts.
I really, really enjoyed this - I love the Lumberjanes graphic novels and this is a great addition to that world. The story is fun - and I'm going to have to go and find myself a "proper" copy to check out the finished artwork. So much fun and so true to the characters that we already know from the graphic novels. I've said it before, and I'll say it again - I love the way that the Lumberjanes and their different families and backgrounds are presented - without comment, without an explanatory comma and without assuming that it's something other or different or unusual - which is, of course, totally how it should be. Really good on all fronts.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. This is a novel based on the popular graphic novel series Lumberjanes. A group of girls is at a summer camp for "hardcore lady types" and participate in a competition called Galaxy Wars. I've never read a Lumberjanes graphic novel, so maybe that's why I was so confused. It jumped back and forth between characters so fast I didn't know who anyone was or what was really going on. There were references to awesome females scattered throughout the book, that's about all it had going for it.