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i didn't care for this one. maybe it's for a younger demographic? the simple story moves slowly and has many creepy ghost elements. none of the characters really developed enough for me to feel attached to the book.
2,5/5. Not a bad book, but way more of a book about grief, then something weird and creepy like I thought it would be. I really like the artwork and the story was okay but just not captivating enough for me.
Though incredibly disturbing at points, I found this to be a sweet graphic novel about a young boy learning how to deal with loss.
I received a copy of this book via Net Galley from the publisher for review.
I'm a really big fan of ghost stories and this one didn't disappoint! If you liked [b:Anya's Ghost|9615347|Anya's Ghost|Vera Brosgol|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1316739317l/9615347._SX50_.jpg|14279456] or [b:Friends With Boys|11389398|Friends With Boys|Faith Erin Hicks|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1317794304l/11389398._SX50_.jpg|16321405], I think you will like Lola! It gave me Coco vibes. Yes, the Disney animated film, because Lola is Jesse's grandmother who passes away. Jesse is dealing with the grief of losing a loved one at a young age and I could relate to him on that level since I lost my grandmother at the age of 11 however, I couldn't see/talk to ghosts which is what differs me from Jesse's character. The illustrations and color scheme was interesting as all of the comic strips are black, orange and sepia. This kind of threw me off of the story and I wasn't sure why the author chose this color as opposed to purple or blue or a traditional color scheme. The story could've been more fleshed out because I felt confused until the last act. Overall, I would recommend it!
I'm a really big fan of ghost stories and this one didn't disappoint! If you liked [b:Anya's Ghost|9615347|Anya's Ghost|Vera Brosgol|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1316739317l/9615347._SX50_.jpg|14279456] or [b:Friends With Boys|11389398|Friends With Boys|Faith Erin Hicks|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1317794304l/11389398._SX50_.jpg|16321405], I think you will like Lola! It gave me Coco vibes. Yes, the Disney animated film, because Lola is Jesse's grandmother who passes away. Jesse is dealing with the grief of losing a loved one at a young age and I could relate to him on that level since I lost my grandmother at the age of 11 however, I couldn't see/talk to ghosts which is what differs me from Jesse's character. The illustrations and color scheme was interesting as all of the comic strips are black, orange and sepia. This kind of threw me off of the story and I wasn't sure why the author chose this color as opposed to purple or blue or a traditional color scheme. The story could've been more fleshed out because I felt confused until the last act. Overall, I would recommend it!
This was...fine? That feels like such an non-descriptive and unhelpful word, especially for a review but I feel like it’s the one that fits it most accurately.
I guess, from what I knew of/about the book, I was expecting a bit more emotional depth but it felt very surface level. In fact, everything felt very surface level. I also feels like it suffers from a synopsis that describes it to be something it’s just...not.
But overall, the art was fine. The story was fine. There was nothing that really stood out as especially good or especially bad. It was just..fine.
I guess, from what I knew of/about the book, I was expecting a bit more emotional depth but it felt very surface level. In fact, everything felt very surface level. I also feels like it suffers from a synopsis that describes it to be something it’s just...not.
But overall, the art was fine. The story was fine. There was nothing that really stood out as especially good or especially bad. It was just..fine.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a cute graphic novel. I wanted a little bit more from it but it was still enjoyable. I'm super excited to be helping celebrate the 10th anniversary of its publication.
Jesse sees things. Ghosts, monsters, and demons. When he goes back to the Philippines for his grandmother's (Lola) funeral, he realizes that the stories she used to tell were more than that. They both shared a gift and his Lola used hers for the good of her community.
I hadn't been aware of this book until I came across it on Netgalley. I'm really happy that I did end up requesting it. I loved the story. It was so cute. I also loved learning about the Philippines and the legends that have been passed down. I love learning about different cultures and this one made it super fun. I enjoyed the characters and the different stories. The only thing I was missing was that it was too short. I definitely wanted more!
*eARC provided in exchange for an honest review*
Jesse sees things. Ghosts, monsters, and demons. When he goes back to the Philippines for his grandmother's (Lola) funeral, he realizes that the stories she used to tell were more than that. They both shared a gift and his Lola used hers for the good of her community.
I hadn't been aware of this book until I came across it on Netgalley. I'm really happy that I did end up requesting it. I loved the story. It was so cute. I also loved learning about the Philippines and the legends that have been passed down. I love learning about different cultures and this one made it super fun. I enjoyed the characters and the different stories. The only thing I was missing was that it was too short. I definitely wanted more!
*eARC provided in exchange for an honest review*
Pre-teen Jesse and his family visit their Philippine ancestral home for the funeral of Jesse's grandmother Lola. While there, Jesse begins to see and communicate with ghosts, just as his grandmother before him. A conversation with a late cousin shapes much of this tale of self-discovery and familial exploration. Elbert Or's art perfectly complements Torres' insightful script for the engaging Lola.