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thebooknerdscorner's Reviews (1.46k)
A middle grade novel about a trans boy by the name of Obie who just wants to enjoy his time swimming and have the bullies that torment him finally leave him to exist in peace.
After his transition, Obie was kicked off of his old swim teach by his transphobic former coach. It's all worth it because Obie finally gets to compete with the other boys. Unfortunately, his old teammates are less than amicable about the switch which leads to Obie being constantly bullied and living in a state of continuous fear. Luckily, Obie has many people in his corner who are willing to support him every step of the way. Desperate to prove to himself that he can keep up with the boys in the pool, Obie pushes himself harder than he ever has before and encounters plenty of new best friends who accept him for who he truly is, no strings attached.
After reading Schuyler Bailar's short story in the anthology "Fresh Ink," I have been quite curious to check out some of his longer work. Let's just say, he did not disappoint! "Obie is Man Enough" is a wonderful middle grade book that talks about intersectionality and what it means to be a half-white, half-Korean trans boy who is also a swimmer. Every part of Obie helps make up who he is, and this book does an amazing job showcasing how our various identities connect and make us into the interesting individuals that we all are.
I think swimming is such great topic matter for a book and I have enjoyed novels involving this topic in the past. Pairing this with the struggles of switching teams, losing old friends, and learning how to compete in a new league, made this an engrossing read. Obie's love for the sport is extremely evident, and I love seeing his passion shine through everything else he is grappling with.
Another huge topic in this one is bullying and discrimination. Obie's former best friend, Clyde, is extremely transphobic and constantly berates Obie. This leads to discussions about bullying and harassment in sports and in the classroom. These are important things for kids to learn that it's not okay to do from a young age, so I appreciate when books make this so glaringly obvious. Obie's other former best friend, Lucy, is also verbally harassed by a few girls who call her some pretty awful names. Note that this book uses some harsh language against trans people and young girls, but nothing that children can't handle. Just make sure to look into the language if some of these things are triggering to you personally.
This book uses Jason Reynold's "All American Boys" to showcase parallels between police brutality and racial discrimination and Obie's situation involving transphobia and harassment. It does go into great detail about the book at times, so if you haven't read it, there may be some big spoilers. However, the way that Obie learned to feel empathy towards the "bad guys" and came to realize that nobody is the villain of their own story through Reynold's book was done quite well. I think this added to the story immensely, but I have read "All American Boys" myself, so I'm not sure what others that haven't read it yet thought of this tidbit.
I honestly was not expecting this book to have a romance element due to the fact it's a middle grade book, but I actually didn't mind it. Charlie is a quirky young girl who loves to ramble, sing, and solve Rubik's cubes. She is such a sweet and understanding girl who helps Obie through many situations that he goes through, so it would be hard not to support the blossoming relationship between these youths. They are still so young, so who knows if it will last, but it is cute in the meantime regardless.
The way that Obie bonds with the Korean side of his family is quite precious. He makes kimchi with his grandparents, speaks to them in Korean, and goes over to their house quite often for dinner. It's unfortunate that many Asian families are still less accepting of queer children, but that is not the case at all with Obie's family. They are one hundred percent in support of their grandson, they just remind him that since his parents have no daughters, he has to remember to take care of them.
Overall, "Obie is Man Enough" is a stellar middle grade novel that trans kids may immensely relate to that should also teach cis kids how to approach certain topics with respect. The discussions about intersectionality, queer culture, bullying and harassment, as well as transphobia are all very powerful and handled quite eloquently. I thought learning more about competitive youth swimming was also fun and I actually came to enjoy the slight romantic subplot. I really enjoyed this one, so I look forward to checking out more of Bailar's work in the future!
After his transition, Obie was kicked off of his old swim teach by his transphobic former coach. It's all worth it because Obie finally gets to compete with the other boys. Unfortunately, his old teammates are less than amicable about the switch which leads to Obie being constantly bullied and living in a state of continuous fear. Luckily, Obie has many people in his corner who are willing to support him every step of the way. Desperate to prove to himself that he can keep up with the boys in the pool, Obie pushes himself harder than he ever has before and encounters plenty of new best friends who accept him for who he truly is, no strings attached.
After reading Schuyler Bailar's short story in the anthology "Fresh Ink," I have been quite curious to check out some of his longer work. Let's just say, he did not disappoint! "Obie is Man Enough" is a wonderful middle grade book that talks about intersectionality and what it means to be a half-white, half-Korean trans boy who is also a swimmer. Every part of Obie helps make up who he is, and this book does an amazing job showcasing how our various identities connect and make us into the interesting individuals that we all are.
I think swimming is such great topic matter for a book and I have enjoyed novels involving this topic in the past. Pairing this with the struggles of switching teams, losing old friends, and learning how to compete in a new league, made this an engrossing read. Obie's love for the sport is extremely evident, and I love seeing his passion shine through everything else he is grappling with.
Another huge topic in this one is bullying and discrimination. Obie's former best friend, Clyde, is extremely transphobic and constantly berates Obie. This leads to discussions about bullying and harassment in sports and in the classroom. These are important things for kids to learn that it's not okay to do from a young age, so I appreciate when books make this so glaringly obvious. Obie's other former best friend, Lucy, is also verbally harassed by a few girls who call her some pretty awful names. Note that this book uses some harsh language against trans people and young girls, but nothing that children can't handle. Just make sure to look into the language if some of these things are triggering to you personally.
This book uses Jason Reynold's "All American Boys" to showcase parallels between police brutality and racial discrimination and Obie's situation involving transphobia and harassment. It does go into great detail about the book at times, so if you haven't read it, there may be some big spoilers. However, the way that Obie learned to feel empathy towards the "bad guys" and came to realize that nobody is the villain of their own story through Reynold's book was done quite well. I think this added to the story immensely, but I have read "All American Boys" myself, so I'm not sure what others that haven't read it yet thought of this tidbit.
I honestly was not expecting this book to have a romance element due to the fact it's a middle grade book, but I actually didn't mind it. Charlie is a quirky young girl who loves to ramble, sing, and solve Rubik's cubes. She is such a sweet and understanding girl who helps Obie through many situations that he goes through, so it would be hard not to support the blossoming relationship between these youths. They are still so young, so who knows if it will last, but it is cute in the meantime regardless.
The way that Obie bonds with the Korean side of his family is quite precious. He makes kimchi with his grandparents, speaks to them in Korean, and goes over to their house quite often for dinner. It's unfortunate that many Asian families are still less accepting of queer children, but that is not the case at all with Obie's family. They are one hundred percent in support of their grandson, they just remind him that since his parents have no daughters, he has to remember to take care of them.
Overall, "Obie is Man Enough" is a stellar middle grade novel that trans kids may immensely relate to that should also teach cis kids how to approach certain topics with respect. The discussions about intersectionality, queer culture, bullying and harassment, as well as transphobia are all very powerful and handled quite eloquently. I thought learning more about competitive youth swimming was also fun and I actually came to enjoy the slight romantic subplot. I really enjoyed this one, so I look forward to checking out more of Bailar's work in the future!
A memoir in pictures that dives into N.D. Stevenson's life as an artist and showcases the ups and down he has experienced throughout his career.
As far as memoirs go, this one isn't all that in-depth. However, I think it is neat seeing a ton of N.D.'s blog pieces compiled together. Some of his comics are fantastic while others can be a tad confusing or boring, but they made for an interesting reading experience in the long run.
I found it interesting to learn more about N.D.'s career as an artist. I guess I was aware that "Nimona" turned ten in 2025, so that obviously means that N.D. has been successful for a while. I didn't know that he was so young at the time that "Nimona" started to blow up or they fact that he was working on such prestigious projects with places such as DC and Marvel at the same time.
The way that the author reflects on their life and shares it with their fans on a yearly basis is pretty neat. I've always thought it would be beneficial to make annual "years in review," so that it would be easier to look back on all of the things that I have accomplished. I think that these would especially help me out when I'm struggling with feelings of burnout or when I fear I'm not strong enough to achieve my dreams.
I must say, this one does feel a bit discombobulated at times and could have been greatly improved with a few more things added. I get that it's a memoir and the author is allowed to share as much or as little as they want with their audience, but I feel that this one was really missing the oomph it needed to be a great read.
Overall, "The Fire Never Goes Out" wasn't the strongest memoir I've ever read, but it was interesting to learn a bit more about the life of the creator of the iconic graphic novel/webcomic "Nimona." I will always love "Nimona" so getting a bit more insight on the man who made this beloved work was educational at the very least.
As far as memoirs go, this one isn't all that in-depth. However, I think it is neat seeing a ton of N.D.'s blog pieces compiled together. Some of his comics are fantastic while others can be a tad confusing or boring, but they made for an interesting reading experience in the long run.
I found it interesting to learn more about N.D.'s career as an artist. I guess I was aware that "Nimona" turned ten in 2025, so that obviously means that N.D. has been successful for a while. I didn't know that he was so young at the time that "Nimona" started to blow up or they fact that he was working on such prestigious projects with places such as DC and Marvel at the same time.
The way that the author reflects on their life and shares it with their fans on a yearly basis is pretty neat. I've always thought it would be beneficial to make annual "years in review," so that it would be easier to look back on all of the things that I have accomplished. I think that these would especially help me out when I'm struggling with feelings of burnout or when I fear I'm not strong enough to achieve my dreams.
I must say, this one does feel a bit discombobulated at times and could have been greatly improved with a few more things added. I get that it's a memoir and the author is allowed to share as much or as little as they want with their audience, but I feel that this one was really missing the oomph it needed to be a great read.
Overall, "The Fire Never Goes Out" wasn't the strongest memoir I've ever read, but it was interesting to learn a bit more about the life of the creator of the iconic graphic novel/webcomic "Nimona." I will always love "Nimona" so getting a bit more insight on the man who made this beloved work was educational at the very least.
A Cinderella-coded romantasy featuring a charming son of a marquess, elemental magic, and an immersive magical world.
Rose Robson has always been used as a political pawn by her uncle's abusive family. While at home she is forced to work as a servant. When she is away, she serves only as political collateral. After her uncle arranges a marriage with Nicholas Sharp, the son of an elite marquess, Rose fears that she will be used as a pawn once more. However, Rose soon begins to learn that Nicholas is a charming young lad who puts her first despite the political leverage that their marriage gives to his family. Unfortunately for the young couple, danger lurks just beyond the newlywed's household. The kingdom is wrought with danger and before long, Rose finds herself in predicaments more thrilling than she ever could have imagined.
I can't believe I almost passed on the chance to read an ARC of this one! It is so dang cute! I was so happy to read at the conclusion of this novel that it is part of a series and that the author has already penned a novella featuring some prominent side characters (which I will be reading ASAP!). I love this world so much, so I'm happy to know that I will be getting more of it.
At first glance, this book seems like a more magical version of Cinderella featuring a reluctant marriage, elemental magic, and politics for days. However, this story starts to quickly become filled with such depth and it hooked me on Rose and Nicholas' relationship so quickly. It also reminds me quite a bit of the "Fire Emblem" franchise (which I'm sure only like two people know what I'm talking about when I say this). Between the magic system, the complicated politics, and the overall aesthetic, it reminded me a bit of my favorite video game franchise, and this is honestly one of the biggest compliments I can dole out.
At its center, this book is a romance between two awkward and shy young nobles who are learning what love looks like for them. I love how patient and understanding Nicholas is about Rose's entire situation. He is honest and upfront with her at all times, which is something that I will always appreciate in a male love interest. Rose has been traumatized by her family, so having someone care for her the way Nicholas does has her instantly suspicious. It's so heartwarming seeing her open up to him and begin to trust him, too.
Something that I really appreciate about their romance is the physical intimacy. I feel that many authors will fall into the stereotypical boat that because characters are shy and it takes longer for them to trust, they are awkward and inexperienced in the bedroom. That is far from Nicholas and Rose's situation, which I really appreciated. It doesn't take much for Nicholas to turn Rose pink in the face, but this just makes all the steamy scenes that much cuter.
Beyond this budding romance, I love the family aspect in this one. Rose bonds immensely fast with her sister-in-law, Ava. These two have such a fun relationship and it was always a joy seeing these two interact. Ava was born a commoner, so she is often looked down upon by other nobles, as is Rose because she was raised in an orphanage for a while. The kindred nature of their spirits is great, and the way they support each other warms my heart.
The overarching conflict in this one is put in place by two things. One: Rose is going to be sent as a political hostage by the Sharp family, which has Rose reluctant to trust her new family. Two: There is a creepy shadow figure that stalks Rose and evidently wishes her harm. The tension that this first plot point establishes is immaculate. Rose doesn't know if she can trust Nicholas all while she is falling in love with his very nature. The second point of conflict seems a bit random, but it does flesh out the magical nature of this world a bit more, which I think will be greatly beneficial to future installments in this series.
Overall, I was blown away by how much I enjoyed "Pawns of Fate." This is the type of romantasy read that I can get behind one hundred percent. The romance is sweet, the spice isn't overbearing, and the characters are so lovable! The politics and magical systems in this world are easy to comprehend, and I never found myself confused by the nature of this fantasy world. Rose and Nicholas are so precious together, and I found their blossoming romance to be so endearing! I sincerely can't wait to read future installments of this series. I'm so glad that the author has a free novella that I can read now just by signing up for her newsletter. I'm not ready to leave this world yet, so I am immensely comforted by the fact that there is more to come in the near future! I'm watching you Trixie Woodlawn!
The start of an epic graphic novel series starring a bunch of teens who contain alien demons within them.
Ava has always been haunted by a demon that lives inside her. One fateful day, she learns that this demon is actually a powerful alien queen by the name of Wrathia. After a tragic accident takes Ava's life, she forms a pact with Wrathia to hunt down her elite warriors in exchange for a second chance at life. Now tasked to find other people who are harboring demons just like her, Ava must do all she can to help Wrathia get revenge against the all-powerful TITAN. Along for the ride is Maggie, Ava's former best friend and fellow refugee, Odin, an elusive teen with a stutter, and Gil, a brainwashed follower of TITAN. Ava doesn't know it yet, but three of Wrathia's warriors are closer than she ever could have imagined.
Note: This volume contains the first five chapters of the "Ava's Demon" webcomic. This series can be found here: https://avasdemon.com/
Honestly, this was a pretty confusing read all things considered, but I am also greatly intrigued. This world is insanely complex and has so many moving parts that I am unaware of thus far, which has me super intrigued to see what the heck this series actually entails in future installments.
I find fantasies that feature demons to be incredibly interesting. Making bargains and pacts with such suspicious creatures is always a gamble, which is certainly the case in this series. There is absolutely no way that all of the pacts that are going on aren't going to blow up in these teens' faces.
I am really enjoying the diverse cast of characters in this one. Ava is a shy, suicidal girl who just wants to find happiness. Maggie is a bit of a stuck-up snob who is desperate for love. Gil is a loyal to a fault sort of guy who just wants to know why he is the way he is. And Odin is a mysterious teen who is part of a strange organization with hidden goals and dubious origins. We only got to briefly meet all of their demons in this first installment, but it was interesting to see how they all blend together with their chosen bodies.
The art in this one is cute, but also really creepy at the same time. Ava is such a sweet girl and her base design shows it, but Wrathia is a fire alien who lives for revenge. The way that these two designs merge together is insanely sick and I'm looking forward to checking out the other characters merged designs as the series progresses. The character designs in this series are seriously sick and I'm looking forward to seeing more of them!
Overall, I found the first installment of "Ava's Demon" to be a bit confusing but in the best way possible. There is so much going on and so much lore to piece together; I found myself so enraptured by this world that Fus is stringing together. I am very intrigued to slowly make my way through the rest of this series. I'm not quite sure whether I'll wait for the physical versions to release, or if I'll consume the web version, but either way, I am curious to see where this story takes me!
Ava has always been haunted by a demon that lives inside her. One fateful day, she learns that this demon is actually a powerful alien queen by the name of Wrathia. After a tragic accident takes Ava's life, she forms a pact with Wrathia to hunt down her elite warriors in exchange for a second chance at life. Now tasked to find other people who are harboring demons just like her, Ava must do all she can to help Wrathia get revenge against the all-powerful TITAN. Along for the ride is Maggie, Ava's former best friend and fellow refugee, Odin, an elusive teen with a stutter, and Gil, a brainwashed follower of TITAN. Ava doesn't know it yet, but three of Wrathia's warriors are closer than she ever could have imagined.
Note: This volume contains the first five chapters of the "Ava's Demon" webcomic. This series can be found here: https://avasdemon.com/
Honestly, this was a pretty confusing read all things considered, but I am also greatly intrigued. This world is insanely complex and has so many moving parts that I am unaware of thus far, which has me super intrigued to see what the heck this series actually entails in future installments.
I find fantasies that feature demons to be incredibly interesting. Making bargains and pacts with such suspicious creatures is always a gamble, which is certainly the case in this series. There is absolutely no way that all of the pacts that are going on aren't going to blow up in these teens' faces.
I am really enjoying the diverse cast of characters in this one. Ava is a shy, suicidal girl who just wants to find happiness. Maggie is a bit of a stuck-up snob who is desperate for love. Gil is a loyal to a fault sort of guy who just wants to know why he is the way he is. And Odin is a mysterious teen who is part of a strange organization with hidden goals and dubious origins. We only got to briefly meet all of their demons in this first installment, but it was interesting to see how they all blend together with their chosen bodies.
The art in this one is cute, but also really creepy at the same time. Ava is such a sweet girl and her base design shows it, but Wrathia is a fire alien who lives for revenge. The way that these two designs merge together is insanely sick and I'm looking forward to checking out the other characters merged designs as the series progresses. The character designs in this series are seriously sick and I'm looking forward to seeing more of them!
Overall, I found the first installment of "Ava's Demon" to be a bit confusing but in the best way possible. There is so much going on and so much lore to piece together; I found myself so enraptured by this world that Fus is stringing together. I am very intrigued to slowly make my way through the rest of this series. I'm not quite sure whether I'll wait for the physical versions to release, or if I'll consume the web version, but either way, I am curious to see where this story takes me!
Ying takes to the high seas in the conclusion of the "Fall of the Dragon" duology.
It's been two years since Ying said goodbye to Ye-yang and left the Engineer's Guild in Fei. Trying to put all her past mistakes behind her, Ying is attempting to move on. When her fiancée is murdered in a brutal pirate attack, Ying has no choice but to return to the capital and meet her destiny. Her little sister, Nian is betrothed to marry Ye-yang, the High Commander of the Nine Isles. Unfortunately, he's distracted and has little time for her with all the war preparations. At least Nian is kept company by his younger brother, Ye-kan. As tensions rise, Ying, Ye-Yang, Nian, and Ye-kan must band together to save their people from utter destruction.
I must say, I definitely enjoyed reading this second installment more than the first book. If it wouldn't have been so long, I may have even liked this one. However, I found myself growing bored at the repetitive nature of this book and all the political turmoil that literally advanced the story nowhere.
It takes quite a while for the action in this one to even begin to pick up. Reuniting the main cast of characters took way too many pages, which definitely added to the length of this one. There is also a long section in the middle in which Ying's gang gets kidnapped by pirates (which was honestly one of the more interesting portions of the book), that caused the plot to get elongated immensely. Nian and Ye-kan meanwhile are stuck ruling the kingdom and trying to uncover the traitors in their midst (which was a super boring part of this story). The plot in this one had a bit of a hard time plotting, in my opinion.
This book didn't make me like Ying or Ye-yang any more than I already did, which was unfortunate. Going into a book that is over 400 pages long and not liking the main characters is a major oof. I still find their romance to be creepy, and I cannot get behind how controlling this man is. Luckily, Ye-yang has some growth before the end of this series, but still, yeesh.
My favorite part of this book was definitely getting to know Nian and Ye-kan more. Ye-kan was my favorite character in the first book and seeing him evolve from this nerdy dweeb into the temporary leader of a kingdom is pretty neat. The little romantic snippets between these two was honestly the only thing that kept me going at times, and it's still pretty mid for a romance all things considered.
I do like the messages about family, letting go of the past, and such that this book leaves the reader with. Unfortunately, these themes are nowhere near strong enough to make reading almost a thousand pages worth it.
The ending was also one of the most underwhelming things I have ever read. The way that half of the characters either end up betraying each other or dead just felt rather weak in my opinion. The lack of any actual conclusion was super annoying to me. I've spent so much time with these characters, and I feel that the author gave us literally nothing worthwhile in the end.
Overall, "The Blood Phoenix" was a disappointing conclusion to a disappointing series. I was so excited to dive into the "Fall of the Dragon" series, but this was actually one of the most underwhelming duologies I have ever read. I am definitely not a fan of this one, so I will not be reading any spin-off series set in this same world, that's for sure. It makes me so sad to rip into this one so extremely negatively, but I just couldn't bring myself to feel as though these books are worth the time commitment.
It's been two years since Ying said goodbye to Ye-yang and left the Engineer's Guild in Fei. Trying to put all her past mistakes behind her, Ying is attempting to move on. When her fiancée is murdered in a brutal pirate attack, Ying has no choice but to return to the capital and meet her destiny. Her little sister, Nian is betrothed to marry Ye-yang, the High Commander of the Nine Isles. Unfortunately, he's distracted and has little time for her with all the war preparations. At least Nian is kept company by his younger brother, Ye-kan. As tensions rise, Ying, Ye-Yang, Nian, and Ye-kan must band together to save their people from utter destruction.
I must say, I definitely enjoyed reading this second installment more than the first book. If it wouldn't have been so long, I may have even liked this one. However, I found myself growing bored at the repetitive nature of this book and all the political turmoil that literally advanced the story nowhere.
It takes quite a while for the action in this one to even begin to pick up. Reuniting the main cast of characters took way too many pages, which definitely added to the length of this one. There is also a long section in the middle in which Ying's gang gets kidnapped by pirates (which was honestly one of the more interesting portions of the book), that caused the plot to get elongated immensely. Nian and Ye-kan meanwhile are stuck ruling the kingdom and trying to uncover the traitors in their midst (which was a super boring part of this story). The plot in this one had a bit of a hard time plotting, in my opinion.
This book didn't make me like Ying or Ye-yang any more than I already did, which was unfortunate. Going into a book that is over 400 pages long and not liking the main characters is a major oof. I still find their romance to be creepy, and I cannot get behind how controlling this man is. Luckily, Ye-yang has some growth before the end of this series, but still, yeesh.
My favorite part of this book was definitely getting to know Nian and Ye-kan more. Ye-kan was my favorite character in the first book and seeing him evolve from this nerdy dweeb into the temporary leader of a kingdom is pretty neat. The little romantic snippets between these two was honestly the only thing that kept me going at times, and it's still pretty mid for a romance all things considered.
I do like the messages about family, letting go of the past, and such that this book leaves the reader with. Unfortunately, these themes are nowhere near strong enough to make reading almost a thousand pages worth it.
The ending was also one of the most underwhelming things I have ever read. The way that half of the characters either end up betraying each other or dead just felt rather weak in my opinion. The lack of any actual conclusion was super annoying to me. I've spent so much time with these characters, and I feel that the author gave us literally nothing worthwhile in the end.
Overall, "The Blood Phoenix" was a disappointing conclusion to a disappointing series. I was so excited to dive into the "Fall of the Dragon" series, but this was actually one of the most underwhelming duologies I have ever read. I am definitely not a fan of this one, so I will not be reading any spin-off series set in this same world, that's for sure. It makes me so sad to rip into this one so extremely negatively, but I just couldn't bring myself to feel as though these books are worth the time commitment.
A touching verse novel about a trans boy who finds comfort in writing letters to Mothman after the death of his best friend.
In the middle of Noah's sixth grade year, his best friend Lewis is tragically killed in a car crash. Lewis was addicted to all things cryptid (especially Mothman), so Noah begins to write letters to Mothman to feel closer to his deceased friend. What Noah never expected is that Mothman would respond back to his letters. As Noah gets closer to Mothman, he also befriends a group of girls who are a bit skeptical of his Mothman obsession but deem it worthy of hanging out with him regardless. Time passes, and the four begin to discover the secrets of Mothman all while Noah is slowly learning how to cope with his grief.
This book is so sweet and heartwarming. It is also tinged with sadness and grief, but the overwhelming sense of hope that this book bestowed upon me made it all worth it. A trans boy finding solace in writing letters to Mothman is so quirky yet absolutely adorable. It is so sad that Noah relates more to Mothman than his fellow peers, but it's so precious that Noah finds someone that he can relate to, even if it's a giant cryptid that lives in the woods.
I was happy to learn that this one is actually a verse novel. I wasn't aware of that when I first picked it up, but I feel as though it truly added to the experience. This story is also told in a bit of a multimedia format with letters from Noah to Mothman, Noah's personal thoughts, images Noah draws, as well as some segments told from his friend Hanna's point of view. The way that this book uses fonts and utilizes unique page layouts really enhanced the reading experience while making it super easy to understand exactly whose PoV one is currently reading.
Noah is a transgender boy who also happens to be autistic. This leads to many kids finding him strange and makes Noah feels as though he is a separate entity than everyone else. The way that Gow pens the letters to Mothman feels so personal and it was easy for me to empathize with how alienated many queer kids feel at such a young age. I'm glad that Noah has many supportive adults in his life that are there for him whenever he needs them.
The illustrations included in this book are so darn cute! Noah will draw pictures of him, Lewis, and Mothman that he often sends to his pen pal. The art style is so precious, and I'm so glad that these images made it into the final version of this book. They added a special touch to this already unique book.
This book includes many themes of growing up, discovering pieces of oneself, and finding the people that just get you. At its core though, is grief and the impossible journey of learning to cope with the loss of a loved one. Noah writes to Mothman because Lewis believed so fervently in him and it becomes Noah's lifeline. The journey it takes for Noah to realize the true reason he is writing these letters is a challenging one, but it portrays grief so accurately.
Overall, "Dear Mothman" is a wonderful verse novel that I will hold dear to my heart. It features the sweetest trans, autistic boy by the name of Noah who is going through some pretty hard times after he loses his best friend in a tragic accident. The themes are really powerful, and I think kids who have lost a loved one or grappling with their identities could really benefit from reading this one. The premise is a little bit quirky, but I think that makes this one that much more interesting of a read.
In the middle of Noah's sixth grade year, his best friend Lewis is tragically killed in a car crash. Lewis was addicted to all things cryptid (especially Mothman), so Noah begins to write letters to Mothman to feel closer to his deceased friend. What Noah never expected is that Mothman would respond back to his letters. As Noah gets closer to Mothman, he also befriends a group of girls who are a bit skeptical of his Mothman obsession but deem it worthy of hanging out with him regardless. Time passes, and the four begin to discover the secrets of Mothman all while Noah is slowly learning how to cope with his grief.
This book is so sweet and heartwarming. It is also tinged with sadness and grief, but the overwhelming sense of hope that this book bestowed upon me made it all worth it. A trans boy finding solace in writing letters to Mothman is so quirky yet absolutely adorable. It is so sad that Noah relates more to Mothman than his fellow peers, but it's so precious that Noah finds someone that he can relate to, even if it's a giant cryptid that lives in the woods.
I was happy to learn that this one is actually a verse novel. I wasn't aware of that when I first picked it up, but I feel as though it truly added to the experience. This story is also told in a bit of a multimedia format with letters from Noah to Mothman, Noah's personal thoughts, images Noah draws, as well as some segments told from his friend Hanna's point of view. The way that this book uses fonts and utilizes unique page layouts really enhanced the reading experience while making it super easy to understand exactly whose PoV one is currently reading.
Noah is a transgender boy who also happens to be autistic. This leads to many kids finding him strange and makes Noah feels as though he is a separate entity than everyone else. The way that Gow pens the letters to Mothman feels so personal and it was easy for me to empathize with how alienated many queer kids feel at such a young age. I'm glad that Noah has many supportive adults in his life that are there for him whenever he needs them.
The illustrations included in this book are so darn cute! Noah will draw pictures of him, Lewis, and Mothman that he often sends to his pen pal. The art style is so precious, and I'm so glad that these images made it into the final version of this book. They added a special touch to this already unique book.
This book includes many themes of growing up, discovering pieces of oneself, and finding the people that just get you. At its core though, is grief and the impossible journey of learning to cope with the loss of a loved one. Noah writes to Mothman because Lewis believed so fervently in him and it becomes Noah's lifeline. The journey it takes for Noah to realize the true reason he is writing these letters is a challenging one, but it portrays grief so accurately.
Overall, "Dear Mothman" is a wonderful verse novel that I will hold dear to my heart. It features the sweetest trans, autistic boy by the name of Noah who is going through some pretty hard times after he loses his best friend in a tragic accident. The themes are really powerful, and I think kids who have lost a loved one or grappling with their identities could really benefit from reading this one. The premise is a little bit quirky, but I think that makes this one that much more interesting of a read.
A Studio Ghibli-esque paranormal graphic novel featuring a boy who accidently summons a stubborn young girl when he tries to communicate with the ghost of his mother.
Between moving to a new high school and living with his evasive grandfather, Damian is desperate for someone to talk to. In a world in which magical flower can be used to summon ghosts, Damian decides that it's finally time that he has a chat with his mother. But when he accidently summons a rambunctious young girl by the name of Saskia, Damian finds that help sometimes arises in the least likely of forms.
This is a cute graphic novel with some sweet messages, but unfortunately, it wasn't anything all that special. It definitely reminded me of watching a Stuido Ghibli movie, especially with all of Saskia's antics. Crazy young children are sort of a staple for their movies, after all.
This novel is very much a slice of life novel that follows a boy named Damian who is trying to navigate life's obstacles. Between having a crush, being the new kid, and the void he feels due to his missing parents, Damian has a lot that he is dealing with.
My favorite part about this one is definitely the illustrations. The art style is so cute, and some of the panels are so detailed. It's simple, yet detail orientated, which I found soothing to the eyes.
I found Saskia to be cute, but she's also a tad annoying. Damian is super self-absorbed and doesn't always make the best decisions. None of the side characters are all that important or likable either, so I didn't connect heavily with anyone in this book.
I think the ending was rather abrupt and didn't reconcile much. I'm glad that Damian learns to be a little less selfish, yet we don't get much of a resolution on anything, which can be a major problem with some slice of life tales. This one is just a little too brief for my liking and lacked the depth I desired.
Overall, "Ditching Saskia" is a sweet read about a boy learning to discover himself while balancing the feelings of others. It's certainly a quick and easy read with merit, but nothing much stood out to me. The art is gorgeous, but the story is only fine. Fans of Studio Ghibli would probably enjoy this one.
Between moving to a new high school and living with his evasive grandfather, Damian is desperate for someone to talk to. In a world in which magical flower can be used to summon ghosts, Damian decides that it's finally time that he has a chat with his mother. But when he accidently summons a rambunctious young girl by the name of Saskia, Damian finds that help sometimes arises in the least likely of forms.
This is a cute graphic novel with some sweet messages, but unfortunately, it wasn't anything all that special. It definitely reminded me of watching a Stuido Ghibli movie, especially with all of Saskia's antics. Crazy young children are sort of a staple for their movies, after all.
This novel is very much a slice of life novel that follows a boy named Damian who is trying to navigate life's obstacles. Between having a crush, being the new kid, and the void he feels due to his missing parents, Damian has a lot that he is dealing with.
My favorite part about this one is definitely the illustrations. The art style is so cute, and some of the panels are so detailed. It's simple, yet detail orientated, which I found soothing to the eyes.
I found Saskia to be cute, but she's also a tad annoying. Damian is super self-absorbed and doesn't always make the best decisions. None of the side characters are all that important or likable either, so I didn't connect heavily with anyone in this book.
I think the ending was rather abrupt and didn't reconcile much. I'm glad that Damian learns to be a little less selfish, yet we don't get much of a resolution on anything, which can be a major problem with some slice of life tales. This one is just a little too brief for my liking and lacked the depth I desired.
Overall, "Ditching Saskia" is a sweet read about a boy learning to discover himself while balancing the feelings of others. It's certainly a quick and easy read with merit, but nothing much stood out to me. The art is gorgeous, but the story is only fine. Fans of Studio Ghibli would probably enjoy this one.
A heartwarming story about a group of teens learning to defy society's narrative, discover their true selves, and escape from the lives they've been previously trapped in.
Almost the entirety of Francis' life revolves around school. Everything she does is just another part of her plan to get into Cambridge, whether it's relentless studying or ruling the school as Head Girl. That is, everything except Universe City. This podcast hosted by the mysterious Radio Silence consumes almost all of her time outside of school. When Radio Silence reaches out to Francis about working together on Universe City, Francis' priorities begin to change. As she grows closer to the enigmatic Creator of the show, Francis starts to wonder if she really even wants to attend a university, or if that's just the path that the world expects her to take.
The themes in this one hit me so hard! I relate quite a bit to both Francis and Aled, so it's no surprise that I absolutely adore this book. And it doesn't hurt that some of my favorite characters from the Osemanverse (shoutout to Charlie, Tori, and Nick!) make an appearance. Learning more about Aled (Charlie's quiet friend who sporadically showed up throughout "Heartstopper") was such a joy, and it honestly checks out that his is just as traumatized by as many things as Charlie is.
One of the things I truly love about this story is the messages. Even reading the author's note at the beginning and learning that this story features students who think they have to go to university because school is all they are good at hit me in the feels. I must say, my entire high school career wasn't dictated by wanting to get into an Ivy League, but my entire teenage years were indeed consumed by school. Almost every waking moment of my time was spent studying, writing extravagent papers, and going above and beyond on projects. Up until my junior/senior years of high school, no one knew any part of the real me, much like the situation that Francis faces. I related to so heavily to her ambitions and I always figured I would go to college and study English literature to become a high school teacher myself. In the last few years, I realized that I just wanted to be happy and pursue things that brought me joy, such as reading and acting. Getting to explore my passions after high school made me feel that I was good at more than just being an academic. Let's just say, I related heavily to Francis' whole situation.
And Aled? My goodness do I relate to him, too. Aled also feels the burden of getting good grades, but he feels this weight due to his controlling mother. Luckily, my parents had the philosophy that as long as I was doing my best, they were proud of me. Unfortunately, that is not the case with Aled's mother. Nothing is ever good enough for her, which is why he keeps the one thing he truly cares about a secret. If his mother knew about his passion for the arts, she would blow a fuse, so I totally get why he suppresses his true, unapologetically queer and artistic self while he is at home. My family situation hasn't always been the best either, so I get it. Alright, I'll stop rambling about how much I relate to Francis and Aled now.
Something else that is truly amazing about this tale is that it is not a romance. It is truly a platonic tale of two besties facing the cruelty of the world together. You don't see this very often in YA books, so this was certainly refreshing. And Aled and Francis seriously go through so much together. People are constantly harassing them both about Universe City, which is sadly how most fandoms tend to act in this day and age. Rather than celebrating the creators of their favorite podcast, they are desperate to discover all their darkest secrets and expose them on the internet. Gods, I hate people sometimes (especially the people that send hate mail and death threats to public creators). Seriously, get a life. And like, be a decent human, please.
The deep dive into learning to express one's sexuality is an Oseman staple. Both Francis and Aled are queer, and they are definitely still learning the ropes of how to tell others and express themselves authentically. I always appreciate asexual and demisexual representation in books, so this just makes me love this one even more.
I must admit, applying and preparing for university in the United Kingdom sounds like a horrific experience. The extent that these students have to prepare years in advance scares me immensely, and the interview process to apply to universities sounds like the most stressful thing in the world. I'm feeling a tad grateful that I didn't have to go through all that as a young teenager trying to navigate life after (and through) high school.
The way that art is praised in this book warms my heart. Francis and Aled both hide the fact that they live for their nerdy hobbies, due to the fact that they want to appear "smart" and "studious" to their peers. However, as the story progresses, they both learn to embrace their secret hobbies and face society's disapproval, no matter how harsh it can be.
Overall, "Radio Silence" is another masterful novel penned by the lovely Alice Oseman. Her work is always so poignant and speaks about real world issues, and this one is certainly no exception. It was so great to be back in the Osemanverse and learning more about Aled's character was truly a treat. The themes in this book are immense, and I appreciate how much Oseman tackled with this book including defying society's expectations, exploring one's sexuality, the importance of platonic friendships, praising the arts, and so much more. The characters are so relatable, and I truly can't wait until I get to return to the Osemanverse once more!
Almost the entirety of Francis' life revolves around school. Everything she does is just another part of her plan to get into Cambridge, whether it's relentless studying or ruling the school as Head Girl. That is, everything except Universe City. This podcast hosted by the mysterious Radio Silence consumes almost all of her time outside of school. When Radio Silence reaches out to Francis about working together on Universe City, Francis' priorities begin to change. As she grows closer to the enigmatic Creator of the show, Francis starts to wonder if she really even wants to attend a university, or if that's just the path that the world expects her to take.
The themes in this one hit me so hard! I relate quite a bit to both Francis and Aled, so it's no surprise that I absolutely adore this book. And it doesn't hurt that some of my favorite characters from the Osemanverse (shoutout to Charlie, Tori, and Nick!) make an appearance. Learning more about Aled (Charlie's quiet friend who sporadically showed up throughout "Heartstopper") was such a joy, and it honestly checks out that his is just as traumatized by as many things as Charlie is.
One of the things I truly love about this story is the messages. Even reading the author's note at the beginning and learning that this story features students who think they have to go to university because school is all they are good at hit me in the feels. I must say, my entire high school career wasn't dictated by wanting to get into an Ivy League, but my entire teenage years were indeed consumed by school. Almost every waking moment of my time was spent studying, writing extravagent papers, and going above and beyond on projects. Up until my junior/senior years of high school, no one knew any part of the real me, much like the situation that Francis faces. I related to so heavily to her ambitions and I always figured I would go to college and study English literature to become a high school teacher myself. In the last few years, I realized that I just wanted to be happy and pursue things that brought me joy, such as reading and acting. Getting to explore my passions after high school made me feel that I was good at more than just being an academic. Let's just say, I related heavily to Francis' whole situation.
And Aled? My goodness do I relate to him, too. Aled also feels the burden of getting good grades, but he feels this weight due to his controlling mother. Luckily, my parents had the philosophy that as long as I was doing my best, they were proud of me. Unfortunately, that is not the case with Aled's mother. Nothing is ever good enough for her, which is why he keeps the one thing he truly cares about a secret. If his mother knew about his passion for the arts, she would blow a fuse, so I totally get why he suppresses his true, unapologetically queer and artistic self while he is at home. My family situation hasn't always been the best either, so I get it. Alright, I'll stop rambling about how much I relate to Francis and Aled now.
Something else that is truly amazing about this tale is that it is not a romance. It is truly a platonic tale of two besties facing the cruelty of the world together. You don't see this very often in YA books, so this was certainly refreshing. And Aled and Francis seriously go through so much together. People are constantly harassing them both about Universe City, which is sadly how most fandoms tend to act in this day and age. Rather than celebrating the creators of their favorite podcast, they are desperate to discover all their darkest secrets and expose them on the internet. Gods, I hate people sometimes (especially the people that send hate mail and death threats to public creators). Seriously, get a life. And like, be a decent human, please.
The deep dive into learning to express one's sexuality is an Oseman staple. Both Francis and Aled are queer, and they are definitely still learning the ropes of how to tell others and express themselves authentically. I always appreciate asexual and demisexual representation in books, so this just makes me love this one even more.
I must admit, applying and preparing for university in the United Kingdom sounds like a horrific experience. The extent that these students have to prepare years in advance scares me immensely, and the interview process to apply to universities sounds like the most stressful thing in the world. I'm feeling a tad grateful that I didn't have to go through all that as a young teenager trying to navigate life after (and through) high school.
The way that art is praised in this book warms my heart. Francis and Aled both hide the fact that they live for their nerdy hobbies, due to the fact that they want to appear "smart" and "studious" to their peers. However, as the story progresses, they both learn to embrace their secret hobbies and face society's disapproval, no matter how harsh it can be.
Overall, "Radio Silence" is another masterful novel penned by the lovely Alice Oseman. Her work is always so poignant and speaks about real world issues, and this one is certainly no exception. It was so great to be back in the Osemanverse and learning more about Aled's character was truly a treat. The themes in this book are immense, and I appreciate how much Oseman tackled with this book including defying society's expectations, exploring one's sexuality, the importance of platonic friendships, praising the arts, and so much more. The characters are so relatable, and I truly can't wait until I get to return to the Osemanverse once more!
A memoir by Jim O'Heir that shines a light on some of his favorite moments with the iconic "Parks and Recreation" cast that also dives into many of O'Heir's other Hollywood endeavors.
I want to start this review off with two statements of facts. One, this book is in fact a MEMOIR written by Jim O'Heir about his life and experiences. If you want to know all the juicy details about "Parks and Recreation," you won't be getting everything you desire in this book. Yes, this book showcases a ton of amazing memories on the set of "Parks," but it is no means an extensive guide or breakdown of the show. It truly only includes direct accounts with those that he is closest to.
Please remember that Jim O'Heir is more than just the character he portrayed in "Parks." Also keep in mind that this book doesn't dive that deeply into his personal life, so this one is sort of a mixed bag that may not satisfy either party all that much.
Secondly, I just want to forewarn those looking into this book that it has a ton of spoilers for "The Office" in addition to "Parks" (which I hope you could have surmised yourself). If you don't have a familiarity with "The Office" some parts of this book will probably seem pretty boring to you and may potentially spoil parts of the show if you do intend to watch it. You have officially been warned!
Now, let's move on to the meat of this book. Jerry was definitely never my favorite character in "Parks," but I still found learning about Jim's life to be interesting. I've read several of the other memoirs by his fellow cast members, so it was fun to see how their experiences compare to his. There were definitely some familiar stories from Nick Offerman's "Paddle Your Own Canoe." I wasn't aware how many members of this cast were originally from the Midwest (specifically Illinois), and I found this to be an interesting bit that O'Heir and Offerman both touch on.
I really like all the incidents that Jim shares about the show. It was truly nostalgic to walk down memory lane with him; it definitely made me want to rewatch certain parts of the show! His experience as a supporting role was really interesting to read about. I can totally understand why he was constantly stressed that Jerry was going to be cut. I mean, if they can write out Paul Schneider and Rob Lowe they can definitely write out the laughingstock that is Jerry.
Speaking of Pail Schneider, I found it comical that I literally forgot that Mark Brendanawicz existed. Despite having watched the show in the last year, I completely forgot about Mark's character and literally had to Google who he was. This isn't relevant to the book at all, but I found it to be comical.
Much of this book is honestly just Jim musing about all the different actors that graced the set of "Parks and Recreation." If you aren't overly invested in the cast, behind the scenes casting decisions, and guest collaborations, I could see how one could find this book to be boring. However, I am a great fan of this show and I found Jim's thoughts to be entertaining.
The thing that I think I loved most about this memoir is how strongly it presents the relationship between the cast members of "Parks and Recreation." It isn't terribly often that one comes across such an amazing found family as Jim did with his "Parks" colleagues. The love that they all have for each other is incredibly evident and it warms my heart to hear them discuss one another. Also, I was a bit blown away that Jim's closest cast members were Chris Pratt and Retta. I just found this to be an interesting tidbit.
Overall, "Welcome to Pawnee" is a great memoir filled with heart that reflects on a TV series that has touched so many people. Jim's life is filled with many interesting incidents, and it was great walking down memory lane with him and exploring "Parks and Recreation" in a new way. I enjoyed hearing about the found family that the cast established with one another and look forward to reading more about these people. I'm gonna check out Amy Poehler's "Yes Please" next, so I'm definitely excited for that!
I want to start this review off with two statements of facts. One, this book is in fact a MEMOIR written by Jim O'Heir about his life and experiences. If you want to know all the juicy details about "Parks and Recreation," you won't be getting everything you desire in this book. Yes, this book showcases a ton of amazing memories on the set of "Parks," but it is no means an extensive guide or breakdown of the show. It truly only includes direct accounts with those that he is closest to.
Please remember that Jim O'Heir is more than just the character he portrayed in "Parks." Also keep in mind that this book doesn't dive that deeply into his personal life, so this one is sort of a mixed bag that may not satisfy either party all that much.
Secondly, I just want to forewarn those looking into this book that it has a ton of spoilers for "The Office" in addition to "Parks" (which I hope you could have surmised yourself). If you don't have a familiarity with "The Office" some parts of this book will probably seem pretty boring to you and may potentially spoil parts of the show if you do intend to watch it. You have officially been warned!
Now, let's move on to the meat of this book. Jerry was definitely never my favorite character in "Parks," but I still found learning about Jim's life to be interesting. I've read several of the other memoirs by his fellow cast members, so it was fun to see how their experiences compare to his. There were definitely some familiar stories from Nick Offerman's "Paddle Your Own Canoe." I wasn't aware how many members of this cast were originally from the Midwest (specifically Illinois), and I found this to be an interesting bit that O'Heir and Offerman both touch on.
I really like all the incidents that Jim shares about the show. It was truly nostalgic to walk down memory lane with him; it definitely made me want to rewatch certain parts of the show! His experience as a supporting role was really interesting to read about. I can totally understand why he was constantly stressed that Jerry was going to be cut. I mean, if they can write out Paul Schneider and Rob Lowe they can definitely write out the laughingstock that is Jerry.
Speaking of Pail Schneider, I found it comical that I literally forgot that Mark Brendanawicz existed. Despite having watched the show in the last year, I completely forgot about Mark's character and literally had to Google who he was. This isn't relevant to the book at all, but I found it to be comical.
Much of this book is honestly just Jim musing about all the different actors that graced the set of "Parks and Recreation." If you aren't overly invested in the cast, behind the scenes casting decisions, and guest collaborations, I could see how one could find this book to be boring. However, I am a great fan of this show and I found Jim's thoughts to be entertaining.
The thing that I think I loved most about this memoir is how strongly it presents the relationship between the cast members of "Parks and Recreation." It isn't terribly often that one comes across such an amazing found family as Jim did with his "Parks" colleagues. The love that they all have for each other is incredibly evident and it warms my heart to hear them discuss one another. Also, I was a bit blown away that Jim's closest cast members were Chris Pratt and Retta. I just found this to be an interesting tidbit.
Overall, "Welcome to Pawnee" is a great memoir filled with heart that reflects on a TV series that has touched so many people. Jim's life is filled with many interesting incidents, and it was great walking down memory lane with him and exploring "Parks and Recreation" in a new way. I enjoyed hearing about the found family that the cast established with one another and look forward to reading more about these people. I'm gonna check out Amy Poehler's "Yes Please" next, so I'm definitely excited for that!
