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laurel00's reviews
319 reviews
Displacement by Kiku Hughes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
"And keep drawing, too. Draw what you see, what happens here. It's important. They can scare us but they can't make us forget.
Trying to keep my tears from falling down my face while I read this in the middle of a very public library was... an experience. I honestly had no idea what this was about before picking it up. I vaguely recognized the cover while browsing the shelves and decided to take a quick peak. And I'm so incredibly happy that I did!
This book touches on so many important aspects of cultural history and generational trauma, and Hughes meshes them so effortlessly to a fascinating plot and an extremely endearing and relatable main character. There are a lot of realizations and elements in her own journey that I recognized within myself: feeling powerless throughout the story because of the lack of information she has with regards to her grandmother's experience and her community's history, the difficult-to-place feeling of being disconnected from your family's culture but also acknowledging that your own life experiences are so deeply affected by it.
I never really took the time to ask my grandmother about the hardships she suffered in her home country, and I feel very far-removed from that part of my family's past. So reading this graphic novel was an extremely personal and very emotional experience. I think a lot of people, especially in my generation, will be able to connect with this story; and I think a lot of other people will have the opportunity to learn something new through it.
The illustrations are beautiful, the art style is simply but extremely effective, the characters feel really well fleshed out—which I think is hard to do in such few panels. I loved the subtle sapphic romance arc that was included; it didn't overpower the main message of the novel, but it was a nice, comforting surprise in an otherwise heavy read.
I wholeheartedly recommend it!
Trying to keep my tears from falling down my face while I read this in the middle of a very public library was... an experience. I honestly had no idea what this was about before picking it up. I vaguely recognized the cover while browsing the shelves and decided to take a quick peak. And I'm so incredibly happy that I did!
This book touches on so many important aspects of cultural history and generational trauma, and Hughes meshes them so effortlessly to a fascinating plot and an extremely endearing and relatable main character. There are a lot of realizations and elements in her own journey that I recognized within myself: feeling powerless throughout the story because of the lack of information she has with regards to her grandmother's experience and her community's history, the difficult-to-place feeling of being disconnected from your family's culture but also acknowledging that your own life experiences are so deeply affected by it.
I never really took the time to ask my grandmother about the hardships she suffered in her home country, and I feel very far-removed from that part of my family's past. So reading this graphic novel was an extremely personal and very emotional experience. I think a lot of people, especially in my generation, will be able to connect with this story; and I think a lot of other people will have the opportunity to learn something new through it.
The illustrations are beautiful, the art style is simply but extremely effective, the characters feel really well fleshed out—which I think is hard to do in such few panels. I loved the subtle sapphic romance arc that was included; it didn't overpower the main message of the novel, but it was a nice, comforting surprise in an otherwise heavy read.
I wholeheartedly recommend it!
The River Has Teeth by Erica Waters
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
This was okay, but that's about it. It definitely isn't a bad horror book; I just don't think it's particularly memorable.
I liked Della a lot: there's something about a standoffish, snarky sapphic final girl with big biceps that I just love. I also thought her storyline was pretty unique. The dilemma she has to suffer through regarding her mother and her family was definitely intriguing and I thought there was some real potential to it.
In general, the book managed to grab my attention. I read it pretty fast; this is an almost 400-page book, not a quick read by my standards, and I still finished it in two days which shows that there was something about the story that pulled me in. I just don't really know if I'll be thinking about this book months or years later.
The grief element to this story isn't anything new. In a genre that so often discusses grief, you have to do something new and innovative to stand out, and I don't know if this really succeeded. There wasn't any particularly interesting symbolism or creative use of horror elements. I'm a big fan of witches in fiction overall, but once again, I don't know if this book did anything that I haven't already seen before. I've read better books about grief and better books about witches, so this novel fell kind of flat on all levels.
I also didn't really get emotionally attached to the characters or the plot. As intriguing as some of the ideas may have been in theory, something must have went wrong during the actual execution. There were some really dark scenes or poignant passages that should have made me cry, or at the very least tear up a little. But I managed to cross the entire book completely dry-eyed—which, if you know how much I usually cry when I read, is saying a lot.
I could understand why some people like this book, and it hasn't deterred me from trying out some of Waters' other novels. This one just didn't really do it for me.
I liked Della a lot: there's something about a standoffish, snarky sapphic final girl with big biceps that I just love. I also thought her storyline was pretty unique. The dilemma she has to suffer through regarding her mother and her family was definitely intriguing and I thought there was some real potential to it.
In general, the book managed to grab my attention. I read it pretty fast; this is an almost 400-page book, not a quick read by my standards, and I still finished it in two days which shows that there was something about the story that pulled me in. I just don't really know if I'll be thinking about this book months or years later.
The grief element to this story isn't anything new. In a genre that so often discusses grief, you have to do something new and innovative to stand out, and I don't know if this really succeeded. There wasn't any particularly interesting symbolism or creative use of horror elements. I'm a big fan of witches in fiction overall, but once again, I don't know if this book did anything that I haven't already seen before. I've read better books about grief and better books about witches, so this novel fell kind of flat on all levels.
I also didn't really get emotionally attached to the characters or the plot. As intriguing as some of the ideas may have been in theory, something must have went wrong during the actual execution. There were some really dark scenes or poignant passages that should have made me cry, or at the very least tear up a little. But I managed to cross the entire book completely dry-eyed—which, if you know how much I usually cry when I read, is saying a lot.
I could understand why some people like this book, and it hasn't deterred me from trying out some of Waters' other novels. This one just didn't really do it for me.
Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
5.0
"Though I have struggled with being your daughter, I am so, so glad that I am your child."
I had really high expectations for this and it somehow managed to surpass those expectations tenfold!
What I loved about this is that it was a perfect balance between relating and learning. On one hand, there were so many moments in this where it felt like Kobabe had inserted eirself into my brain, plucked out specific words that had been jumbling around there for years, and realigned them on page in a way that made sense. It's always such a nice and comforting experience to feel like you are directly relating to an author who feels the exact way you do. On the other hand, this graphic novel genuinely did help me understand the way that some of my gender nonconforming or gender questioning friends feel, and I'm so appreciative of that. There are a lot of nuances in here with regards to gender and asexuality that I think a lot of cisgender and allosexual people struggle to grasp. It's clear that Kobabe doesn't have all the answers to be able to describe eir own sexuality or gender identity, but I think that confusion or vagueness in and of itself helps explain a lot of things.
It was also really beautiful to see all of these moments of community and support all throughout the book. Not to say that there wasn't any conflict or that all the issues were purely internal, but overall Kobabe takes the time to recognize and appreciate all the love that has surrounded em during eir entire queer journey, and my own reading experience made me feel loved and supported through the pages and the illustrations.
I really had an amazing time with this and I strongly recommend it to everyone: regardless of whether or not you are currently going through or have at some point gone through some kind of sexual or gender identity crisis, everyone can learn something from this beautiful story.
I had really high expectations for this and it somehow managed to surpass those expectations tenfold!
What I loved about this is that it was a perfect balance between relating and learning. On one hand, there were so many moments in this where it felt like Kobabe had inserted eirself into my brain, plucked out specific words that had been jumbling around there for years, and realigned them on page in a way that made sense. It's always such a nice and comforting experience to feel like you are directly relating to an author who feels the exact way you do. On the other hand, this graphic novel genuinely did help me understand the way that some of my gender nonconforming or gender questioning friends feel, and I'm so appreciative of that. There are a lot of nuances in here with regards to gender and asexuality that I think a lot of cisgender and allosexual people struggle to grasp. It's clear that Kobabe doesn't have all the answers to be able to describe eir own sexuality or gender identity, but I think that confusion or vagueness in and of itself helps explain a lot of things.
It was also really beautiful to see all of these moments of community and support all throughout the book. Not to say that there wasn't any conflict or that all the issues were purely internal, but overall Kobabe takes the time to recognize and appreciate all the love that has surrounded em during eir entire queer journey, and my own reading experience made me feel loved and supported through the pages and the illustrations.
I really had an amazing time with this and I strongly recommend it to everyone: regardless of whether or not you are currently going through or have at some point gone through some kind of sexual or gender identity crisis, everyone can learn something from this beautiful story.
The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
"I'd introduce Tiến to his grandmother, and she'd tell him all the stories she used to tell me. And Tiến would finally know we come from the same stories."
People warned me that this book would make me cry... and they were very much so correct. In fact, they may have underestimated just how emotional it would make me.
The love within the pages of this graphic novel is so beautifully overwhelming. It felt so tender and brought me so much joy, and I'm so incredibly happy I finally picked this up. The relationship that our main character has with his mother, and then all the relationships she has with her family and her husband were so moving. I wasn't just brought to tears, I was effectively changed as a person.
I relate so much to Tiến as a queer person, as the daughter of immigrants, as a person who adores stories and uses them to understand her own life better and to communicate with others around her, and as someone for whom language has always had a strong effect on her day-to-day life. Seeing this specific experience brought to life on page, with this absolutely gorgeous artwork and such a meaningful colour scheme, I am so grateful to Le Nguyen for having shared their talent with us and for having created such a masterpiece.
People warned me that this book would make me cry... and they were very much so correct. In fact, they may have underestimated just how emotional it would make me.
The love within the pages of this graphic novel is so beautifully overwhelming. It felt so tender and brought me so much joy, and I'm so incredibly happy I finally picked this up. The relationship that our main character has with his mother, and then all the relationships she has with her family and her husband were so moving. I wasn't just brought to tears, I was effectively changed as a person.
I relate so much to Tiến as a queer person, as the daughter of immigrants, as a person who adores stories and uses them to understand her own life better and to communicate with others around her, and as someone for whom language has always had a strong effect on her day-to-day life. Seeing this specific experience brought to life on page, with this absolutely gorgeous artwork and such a meaningful colour scheme, I am so grateful to Le Nguyen for having shared their talent with us and for having created such a masterpiece.
Jonny Appleseed by Joshua Whitehead
emotional
hopeful
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I picked this up a bit on a whim at the library, with a vague memory of having heard a few people recommend it, and I'm so incredibly glad I did.
This is a beautiful story about Indigenous identity and community, and specifically the way newer generations engage with their culture. When your family has had so much of their history and identity forcibly stripped away from them, the more generations pass, the harder it can seem to connect to that culture. But Whitehead really showcases that just because you don't necessarily speak the language or actively engage in certain traditions or just because you spend some time away from the land on which you grew up, that doesn't mean you are any less attached to your indigenousness. That your culture can live within the love you have for your family and for your community and within the memories you have of those who have loved and raised you.
It was fascinating to follow a main character that teetered the line of growing up in a world that didn't accept his queerness and his Two-Spirit identity, and then moving to a city that allowed him to explore that queerness, but ostracized his indigenousness and made him feel more and more removed from his family and his community. Following him as he battled this dilemma of trying to find out what exactly he considered "home" was heartbreaking and beautiful.
I also really appreciated that Whitehead discusses queerness and sexuality in a way that is effectively tied to sex. I feel like, especially in the last few years, with conservatives and the right trying to fear monger and falsely present queer people as groomers or predatory, and trying to convince others that teaching children about gender identity and sexuality is inherently sexual, we as a community have been trying to overcompensate. We've been battling these lies by trying to paint queerness as something that is pure, to the point that our identities and our shared experiences have become almost completely devoid of sex. We're so afraid of being oversexualized, we're trying to hide the parts of ourselves and our community that are built upon or at least tied to sex in some way or other. And I have so many qualms about this, it was really refreshing to read a story that didn't try to hide that aspect of queerness. That was explicit not in the way that a romance novel or an erotica may be, but in a way that was very introspective.
There were a lot of moments in this book that were quite jarring and maybe a bit difficult to read through, but as a whole it was extremely raw and honest and real. It deserves all of the praise it has received, if not more, and I definitely recommend it.
This is a beautiful story about Indigenous identity and community, and specifically the way newer generations engage with their culture. When your family has had so much of their history and identity forcibly stripped away from them, the more generations pass, the harder it can seem to connect to that culture. But Whitehead really showcases that just because you don't necessarily speak the language or actively engage in certain traditions or just because you spend some time away from the land on which you grew up, that doesn't mean you are any less attached to your indigenousness. That your culture can live within the love you have for your family and for your community and within the memories you have of those who have loved and raised you.
It was fascinating to follow a main character that teetered the line of growing up in a world that didn't accept his queerness and his Two-Spirit identity, and then moving to a city that allowed him to explore that queerness, but ostracized his indigenousness and made him feel more and more removed from his family and his community. Following him as he battled this dilemma of trying to find out what exactly he considered "home" was heartbreaking and beautiful.
I also really appreciated that Whitehead discusses queerness and sexuality in a way that is effectively tied to sex. I feel like, especially in the last few years, with conservatives and the right trying to fear monger and falsely present queer people as groomers or predatory, and trying to convince others that teaching children about gender identity and sexuality is inherently sexual, we as a community have been trying to overcompensate. We've been battling these lies by trying to paint queerness as something that is pure, to the point that our identities and our shared experiences have become almost completely devoid of sex. We're so afraid of being oversexualized, we're trying to hide the parts of ourselves and our community that are built upon or at least tied to sex in some way or other. And I have so many qualms about this, it was really refreshing to read a story that didn't try to hide that aspect of queerness. That was explicit not in the way that a romance novel or an erotica may be, but in a way that was very introspective.
There were a lot of moments in this book that were quite jarring and maybe a bit difficult to read through, but as a whole it was extremely raw and honest and real. It deserves all of the praise it has received, if not more, and I definitely recommend it.
All the Dead Lie Down by Kyrie McCauley
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
A great way to start off spooky season early! (If I'm being honest, I've been in a spooky mood all year, but let's say that this is my official entryway into Halloween-time).
The two best things about this book are its setting and its characters. I hate cold, muddy, windy, rainy environments, and yet, more than anything, I want to spend some time at Lovelace House. Something about McCauley's writing made this objectively horrible home seem enticing and cozy. I also want to fall in love with the eldest daughter of some odd, eerie family whose children I'm babysitting, as the two of us run around the dark hallways of this terrifying mansion, while we steal kisses in the shadows of the night: is that really too much to ask?
All the characters are great: the two children are definitely a fun addition to the story (and this is coming from someone who cannot stand kids). Evie was wonderful, and I really did believe the romance that developed between her and Marin. But Marin, the main character, is really the one who stole the show for me. I mean, come on: a young girl riddled with constant dread and anxiety, always anticipating the worst-case scenarios, finding an odd comfort in horror stories, and slowly discovering that she's sapphic as hell? Did I meet McCauley at age 17 and then promptly forget about that encounter while she went off and wrote an entire novel about me? I related to Marin so much, and it made it really easy for me to become deeply invested in the story from the very beginning. I loved following her on her journey and watching her grow as a person.
The biggest downside to this novel is sort of a byproduct of my own relationship with horror: I read a lot of horror books and watch a lot of horror movies, and I mentioned this in a previous review, but grief is a very common theme to explore within the genre. It's usually done well, but because I've seen so many different iterations of it, an author has to do something really unique for a book about grief to truly win me over. Sometimes grief is only a small part of a book, and there are other elements that build the story, which allows it to be an exceptional reading experience regardless. But All the Dead Lie Down really is all about grief and death, so I needed it to do something I've never seen before. And sadly, I don't think it hit the mark. This in no way makes it a bad book; it just makes a little less memorable in the long haul.
If you liked The Haunting of Bly Manor, you will love this story. There are a lot of similarities and parallels between the two, from the setting to the characters to the family dynamics to the super sweet and loving sapphic relationship at the core of the story. Overall, I had a good time with it, and it was a very quick read, a testament to its quality and my general enjoyment of the book.
The two best things about this book are its setting and its characters. I hate cold, muddy, windy, rainy environments, and yet, more than anything, I want to spend some time at Lovelace House. Something about McCauley's writing made this objectively horrible home seem enticing and cozy. I also want to fall in love with the eldest daughter of some odd, eerie family whose children I'm babysitting, as the two of us run around the dark hallways of this terrifying mansion, while we steal kisses in the shadows of the night: is that really too much to ask?
All the characters are great: the two children are definitely a fun addition to the story (and this is coming from someone who cannot stand kids). Evie was wonderful, and I really did believe the romance that developed between her and Marin. But Marin, the main character, is really the one who stole the show for me. I mean, come on: a young girl riddled with constant dread and anxiety, always anticipating the worst-case scenarios, finding an odd comfort in horror stories, and slowly discovering that she's sapphic as hell? Did I meet McCauley at age 17 and then promptly forget about that encounter while she went off and wrote an entire novel about me? I related to Marin so much, and it made it really easy for me to become deeply invested in the story from the very beginning. I loved following her on her journey and watching her grow as a person.
The biggest downside to this novel is sort of a byproduct of my own relationship with horror: I read a lot of horror books and watch a lot of horror movies, and I mentioned this in a previous review, but grief is a very common theme to explore within the genre. It's usually done well, but because I've seen so many different iterations of it, an author has to do something really unique for a book about grief to truly win me over. Sometimes grief is only a small part of a book, and there are other elements that build the story, which allows it to be an exceptional reading experience regardless. But All the Dead Lie Down really is all about grief and death, so I needed it to do something I've never seen before. And sadly, I don't think it hit the mark. This in no way makes it a bad book; it just makes a little less memorable in the long haul.
If you liked The Haunting of Bly Manor, you will love this story. There are a lot of similarities and parallels between the two, from the setting to the characters to the family dynamics to the super sweet and loving sapphic relationship at the core of the story. Overall, I had a good time with it, and it was a very quick read, a testament to its quality and my general enjoyment of the book.
Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I'll start off by saying that, sadly, nothing else by Machado, past or future, will ever top In the Dream House for me. That was an exceptional work of art, and I will forever have extremely high expectations for her other writing, which means I will also be forever plagued by that comparison.
That being said, there were so many amazing things about this collection. My favourite thing being that this is body horror in a way that I find uniquely fascinating. It is specifically about the horrifying feeling of not being fully grounded within one's body. This is "absence-of-a-body" horror or "complete-lack-of-control-over-your-body" horror, and it was extremely well executed.
There is definitely a lot to unpack in every single one of these stories, and oh dear what I wouldn't give to be able to sit down with Machado for even just an hour and have her explain her stories to me from her point of view... I'll put that on a bucket list of dreams I will never achieve, but which I will hold dearly whenever I want to remind myself how exciting life could be. It truly does blow my mind that there are people out there with this amount of creativity and imagination, as well as the talent to actually execute such captivating ideas.
My biggest issue is that the longest, and seemingly most important story in the collection, Especially Heinous, is the one I liked the least, by far. I understand the general purpose and message behind it, and there was definitely a moment of introspection that I underwent while reading through the story, but it was confusing to the point of being borderline unenjoyable. It was very difficult for me to get into, and I considered a few times simply giving up on it and moving onto the other stories. I think it could have been an intriguing deep dive into the entertainment value of violence against women, had the formatting not been so distracting.
I still think it's an amazing collection, and I would recommend it to people, specifically those who aren't deterred by a confusing and destabilizing reading experience, full with passages and endings that are "open to interpretation" and stories that probably require multiple rereads before their messages can be fully grasped.
That being said, there were so many amazing things about this collection. My favourite thing being that this is body horror in a way that I find uniquely fascinating. It is specifically about the horrifying feeling of not being fully grounded within one's body. This is "absence-of-a-body" horror or "complete-lack-of-control-over-your-body" horror, and it was extremely well executed.
There is definitely a lot to unpack in every single one of these stories, and oh dear what I wouldn't give to be able to sit down with Machado for even just an hour and have her explain her stories to me from her point of view... I'll put that on a bucket list of dreams I will never achieve, but which I will hold dearly whenever I want to remind myself how exciting life could be. It truly does blow my mind that there are people out there with this amount of creativity and imagination, as well as the talent to actually execute such captivating ideas.
My biggest issue is that the longest, and seemingly most important story in the collection, Especially Heinous, is the one I liked the least, by far. I understand the general purpose and message behind it, and there was definitely a moment of introspection that I underwent while reading through the story, but it was confusing to the point of being borderline unenjoyable. It was very difficult for me to get into, and I considered a few times simply giving up on it and moving onto the other stories. I think it could have been an intriguing deep dive into the entertainment value of violence against women, had the formatting not been so distracting.
I still think it's an amazing collection, and I would recommend it to people, specifically those who aren't deterred by a confusing and destabilizing reading experience, full with passages and endings that are "open to interpretation" and stories that probably require multiple rereads before their messages can be fully grasped.
Thirsty Mermaids by Kat Leyh
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
I did not expect to have as much fun with this as I did! I was browsing the shelves at my library for the first time in a while and for some reason, this one caught my eye. I had absolutely no expectations going in, but I loved every moment of it.
This is one of those books where none of the main characters are explicitly queer, but everything they do and everything about who they are is inherently queer. The casual nudity in the illustrations is so wonderful, there's this great body diversity all throughout, the small queer symbols and side characters (including an important transfem character) all made it such a cozy read. Also, finding out that Leyh is ace makes so much sense in hindsight. There are these great discussions about body dysmorphia, the expectations of fitting in, the near-comical ridiculousness of American societies and the way they're built. It has the perfect balance of funny, lighthearted humour, while still being emotionally compelling.
I got so incredibly attached to the main characters, they really were the stars of the show. The humour that Leyh brings to her story is right up my alley, I had the time of my life with it. Pearl is the friend I need in my life, Eez feels familiar to me in more ways than I care to admit, and Tooth is the actual love of my life. As I told my friend as I was reading this, if I had a nickel for every buff redheaded fictional butch character I fell in love with...
I absolutely recommend this! I'm not a big graphic novel reader, but this was so worth picking up. I don't know how anyone could stop themselves from falling head over heels for these mermaids and their beautiful, heartfelt friendship.
This is one of those books where none of the main characters are explicitly queer, but everything they do and everything about who they are is inherently queer. The casual nudity in the illustrations is so wonderful, there's this great body diversity all throughout, the small queer symbols and side characters (including an important transfem character) all made it such a cozy read. Also, finding out that Leyh is ace makes so much sense in hindsight. There are these great discussions about body dysmorphia, the expectations of fitting in, the near-comical ridiculousness of American societies and the way they're built. It has the perfect balance of funny, lighthearted humour, while still being emotionally compelling.
I got so incredibly attached to the main characters, they really were the stars of the show. The humour that Leyh brings to her story is right up my alley, I had the time of my life with it. Pearl is the friend I need in my life, Eez feels familiar to me in more ways than I care to admit, and Tooth is the actual love of my life. As I told my friend as I was reading this, if I had a nickel for every buff redheaded fictional butch character I fell in love with...
I absolutely recommend this! I'm not a big graphic novel reader, but this was so worth picking up. I don't know how anyone could stop themselves from falling head over heels for these mermaids and their beautiful, heartfelt friendship.
When I Came Out by Anne Mette Kærulf Lorentzen
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
3.5
Full disclosure: I haven't read a ton of graphic novels in my life, so I have very little to go off of when it comes to deciding what makes one "good" or not. I enjoyed this, I thought it sweet and realistic. It was a super quick read, and I had a generally fun time with it. I just don't think I loved it.
The style of illustration isn't my favourite, which is 100% a personal preference, but that also means I didn't really take my time with it as I have in the past with other graphic novels. And because I read through it so fast, I didn't deeply connect with the character as much as I could have, and in general it just didn't have that big of an effect on me, emotionally speaking.
That being said, there were some small moments here and there that I loved or that I really related to, so I could definitely see other people really connecting to it. It might not be at the top of any of my recommendation lists, but I definitely don't think it's a bad book in any way, shape or form.
The style of illustration isn't my favourite, which is 100% a personal preference, but that also means I didn't really take my time with it as I have in the past with other graphic novels. And because I read through it so fast, I didn't deeply connect with the character as much as I could have, and in general it just didn't have that big of an effect on me, emotionally speaking.
That being said, there were some small moments here and there that I loved or that I really related to, so I could definitely see other people really connecting to it. It might not be at the top of any of my recommendation lists, but I definitely don't think it's a bad book in any way, shape or form.
How to Succeed in Witchcraft by Aislinn Brophy
funny
lighthearted
reflective
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
I'm so mad that I didn't read this as soon as I bought myself a copy, but I'm really glad that I finally gave into temptation and picked it up!
This is another great example of peak YA fiction for me. It has the perfect balance of entertaining and witty banter between the characters, a narrative voice that is fun and easy to follow, as well as some deep, rich, complex conversations about abuse, manipulation, racism, classism, and homophobia.
The main character is genuinely so funny, and it was so incredibly easy to relate to her right from the get-go. I felt almost like I was a big sister watching my sibling go through all the mistakes I made at her age. It was endearing and such a great experience to follow her through all the highs and lows of her story. I found her extremely realistic, and I loved that when she recognized her mistakes, people didn't automatically completely forgive her for them. Brophy always included a lot of nuance in the conversations and all throughout their book, which made it that much interesting to read.
I also thought it was fascinating the way that Brophy melded the magic so seamlessly into our modern-day world. Fantasy authors have a tendency to do a lot of magic world-building that is set in some real-world human setting, while simultaneously being completely blind to the tragedies and realities of our history. This book feels really contemporary, in that the magic bleeds into our societies exactly as they have been built, including the systems of oppression that exist in our world. Brophy uses witching and magic not to "escape" humanity as we know it, but specifically to address issues of racism, of class disparity, of abuse of power. It gave the book some true depth, without necessarily becoming overly-complex or inaccessible to its intended young adult audience.
And of course, I adored the romance in this. I was rooting for them so hard, and it was so entertaining to watch our main character be so foolishly oblivious, in a way that is extremely realistic for a young, teenage lesbian. I was screaming at the pages and giggling along with her, I was so invested in their relationship arc, I really had blast with it.
I definitely recommend this if you're looking for an easy read, that is at times fun and light, but that nonetheless packs a punch when it comes to the actual themes being explored in the story and its ultimate message.
This is another great example of peak YA fiction for me. It has the perfect balance of entertaining and witty banter between the characters, a narrative voice that is fun and easy to follow, as well as some deep, rich, complex conversations about abuse, manipulation, racism, classism, and homophobia.
The main character is genuinely so funny, and it was so incredibly easy to relate to her right from the get-go. I felt almost like I was a big sister watching my sibling go through all the mistakes I made at her age. It was endearing and such a great experience to follow her through all the highs and lows of her story. I found her extremely realistic, and I loved that when she recognized her mistakes, people didn't automatically completely forgive her for them. Brophy always included a lot of nuance in the conversations and all throughout their book, which made it that much interesting to read.
I also thought it was fascinating the way that Brophy melded the magic so seamlessly into our modern-day world. Fantasy authors have a tendency to do a lot of magic world-building that is set in some real-world human setting, while simultaneously being completely blind to the tragedies and realities of our history. This book feels really contemporary, in that the magic bleeds into our societies exactly as they have been built, including the systems of oppression that exist in our world. Brophy uses witching and magic not to "escape" humanity as we know it, but specifically to address issues of racism, of class disparity, of abuse of power. It gave the book some true depth, without necessarily becoming overly-complex or inaccessible to its intended young adult audience.
And of course, I adored the romance in this. I was rooting for them so hard, and it was so entertaining to watch our main character be so foolishly oblivious, in a way that is extremely realistic for a young, teenage lesbian. I was screaming at the pages and giggling along with her, I was so invested in their relationship arc, I really had blast with it.
I definitely recommend this if you're looking for an easy read, that is at times fun and light, but that nonetheless packs a punch when it comes to the actual themes being explored in the story and its ultimate message.