Title: Sophie: Frankenstein’s Hound Author: Brian Anderson Genre: Graphic Novel, Children’s Publisher: Marble Press Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: Ebook Release Date: October 15, 2024 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
From the creator the much-loved webcomic, “Dog Eat Doug,” Sophie is a hilarious new graphic novel series,a sendup of family life from the perspective of one snarky dog who wants nothing more than to have everything—without ever having to share.
Life is good when you’re a dog and you have humans all to yourself. But what about when a new baby enters the picture . . . along with a couple of cats intent on taking over the world?
Full of mini adventures, pop culture spoofs, sharp jokes, adorable illustrations, and a sneaky dose of heart, Jurassic Bark and Frankenstein’s Hound are the perfect introduction to these characters and their world. Just right for the pet-obsessed among us no matter the age, while simultaneously appealing to the kids who love to giggle at Big Nate, Dog Man, Garfield, and Snoopy.
Review:
This is another adorable graphic novel about Sophie the chocolate lab and her human baby brother Doug. There were some new pets added to the family including two cats and foster dogs. The cats were hilarious. They were always plotting to take over the world. This book was even funnier than the first one.
Sophie: Frankenstein’s Hound is a funny kids graphic novel!
Thank you Marble Press for providing a digital copy of this book!
Title: Sophie: Jurassic Park Author: Brian Anderson Genre: Graphic Novel, Children’s Publisher: Marble Press Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: Ebook Release Date: October 15, 2024 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
From the creator the much-loved webcomic, “Dog Eat Doug,” Sophie is a hilarious new graphic novel series,a sendup of family life from the perspective of one snarky dog who wants nothing more than to have everything—without ever having to share.
Life is good when you’re a dog and you have humans all to yourself. But what about when a new baby enters the picture . . . along with a couple of cats intent on taking over the world?
Full of mini adventures, pop culture spoofs, sharp jokes, adorable illustrations, and a sneaky dose of heart, Jurassic Bark and Frankenstein’s Hound are the perfect introduction to these characters and their world. Just right for the pet-obsessed among us no matter the age, while simultaneously appealing to the kids who love to giggle at Big Nate, Dog Man, Garfield, and Snoopy.
Review:
Sophie: Jurassic Bark is such a cute kid’s graphic novel! Sophie, the chocolate Labrador, takes the baby Doug on adventures in her imagination. It reminded me of the Wishbone TV show from when I was a kid. I laughed out loud a few times while reading this one. I think kids and their parents will love this book!
Sophie: Jurassic Park is a great kid’s graphic novel!
Thank you Marble Press for providing a digital copy of this book!
Other books in the series:
Sophie: Frankenstein’s Hound
Have you read Sophie: Jurassic Bark? What did you think of it?
Title: I Shall Never Fall in Love Author: Hari Conner Genre: Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction, Romance, LGBTQ Publisher: HarperAlley Source: Library Format: Ebook Release Date: October 8, 2024 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
George has major problems: They’ve just inherited the failing family estate, and the feelings for their best friend, Eleanor, have become more complicated than ever. Not to mention, if anyone found out they were secretly dressing in men’s clothes, George is sure it would be ruination for the family name.
Eleanor has always wanted to do everything “right,” including falling in love—but she’s never met a boy she was interested in. She’d much rather spend time with her best friend, George, and beloved cousin Charlotte. However, when a new suitor comes to town, she finds her closest friendships threatened, forcing her to rethink what “right” means and confront feelings she never knew she had.
Inspired by Jane Austen and queer history, I Shall Never Fall in Love shines a light on what it means to be true to yourself and rewrites the rules for what makes a happily ever after.
Review:
This was such a cute historical romance graphic novel! It was like a modern version of a Jane Austen novel. The characters had to deal with the same sexism that Austen’s characters had to deal with, such as women being expected to marry and owning or managing a property not being socially acceptable. They also faced racism and explored sexual identities. I liked that there were some facts at the end of the story about people of diverse gender identities and people of colour during that time period in England.
I Shall Never Fall in Love is a great historical romance graphic novel!
Have you read I Shall Never Fall in Love? What did you think of it?
Title: Third Shift Society, Vol. 2 Author: Meredith Moriarty Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy Publisher: Webtoon Unscrolled Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: Ebook Release Date: October 29, 2024 Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
Eisner-nominated WEBTOON Third Shift Society is a story about stumbling head-first into a world of magic and mystery. Financially challenged Ellie discovers she has strong psychic powers and gets a job working for Ichabod, a paranormal detective with the head of a Jack-o-Lantern.
Life’s funny. One minute you’re jobless, deep in debt, and on the verge of eviction; the next you’re in a fight with a monster and getting a job working for a paranormal detective with the head of a Jack-o-Lantern. It’s an age-old story.
Now the clumsy but determined Ellie (who’s recently discovered she has strong psychic powers) and her pumpkin-headed boss Ichabod have to team up and fight the things that go bump in the night.
Ellie and Ichabod have some supernatural solves under their belts and Ellie has her psychic powers more (or less) under control. All they’re up against now are cryptic witches, sinister demons, and some ancient monsters hellbent on escaping their psychic prison. What could possibly go wrong?
This volume collects Season 2 of the bewitching WEBTOON comic.
Review:
Ellie, who has just discovered her supernatural powers, works with Ichabod, a man with a pumpkin head, to investigate the paranormal. Ellie must confess her dream of Alice, who left her with a real mark on her hand. Ichabod enlists the help of a witch to figure out what Alice’s plan is, while also investigating other paranormal creatures.
This was a fun second book in the series. There were a lot of fight scenes that made the story go by quickly. I love the mystery around Ichabod. There was some of his origin story in this story, but he is still secretive and a mystery. I’m excited to see where the story goes next!
Third Shift Society, Vol. 2 is a great spooky graphic novel!
Thank you Wattpad Books for providing a digital copy of this book.
Title: Third Shift Society, Vol. 1 Author: Meredith Moriarty Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy Publisher: Webtoon Unscrolled Source: Purchased Format: Paperback Release Date: March 5, 2024 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
Life’s funny. One minute you’re jobless, deep in debt and on the verge of eviction; the next you’re in a fight with a monster and getting a job working for a Paranormal Detective with the head of a Jack-o-Lantern. It’s an age-old story.
In one afternoon, Ellie discovers that monsters are real, she has latent psychic powers, and a well dressed man with a pumpkin for a head wants her to be his partner. It’s a lot to take in. Now the clumsy but determined Ellie and her Pumpkin-headed boss Ichabod have to team up and fight the things that go bump in the night.
Before she can say “boo,” Ellie finds herself tangled up in a magical world where monsters are real, demons tend bar, and psychic conversations take place in a super unsettling mystical void. And there are even more dangerous forces at work, just out of sight.
This volume collects Season 1 of the bewitching WEBTOON comic Third Shift Society .
Review:
After suddenly losing her job, Ellie discovers that paranormal creatures are real and she has magic powers. She meets Icabod, a man with a pumpkin head, who invites her to work with him as a detective at Third Shift Society. They must fight paranormal creatures to make the world a safer place.
This is such a fun graphic novel! I loved the way paranormal creatures were hiding in plain sight in the world of this story. I was surprised that people didn’t have a stronger response to seeing Icabod with a pumpkin head, but he was so charming, it was easy to forget that he didn’t look like a human.
Third Shift Society, Vol. 1 is a fun start to this graphic novel series!
Other books in the series:
Third Shift Society, Vol. 2
Have you read Third Shift Society, Vol. 2? What did you think of it?
Title: DeadEndia: The Divine Order (DeadEndia #3) Author: Hamish Steele Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Young Adult Publisher: Union Square and Co. Source: Publisher Format: Hardcover Release Date: April 23, 2024 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
Eisner Award–winning creator Hamish Steele’s DeadEndia series is Steven Universe meets Adventure Time for fans of Scott Pilgrim, Rick and Morty , Adventure Time , and Pumpkinheads .
In this diverse YA graphic novel, third in the DeadEndia trilogy, Barney, Norma, and friends team up with unlikely heroes to fight a battle for the fate of the universe, all while dealing with their greatest challenge of their love lives.
The battle between angels and demons rages on, and Courtney finds themselves restored to former glory in the realm of the angels with a new bring about a new Divine Order and create a fourteenth plane of existence to keep the demons at bay. On the seventh plane, known to us as Earth, Norma Khan and Barney Guttman have allied with the demons in a search for both freedom and peace. There’s just one thing standing in their the Guttman family reunion. Badyah has joined the resistance as well, honing her martial arts skills and getting ready to protect Norma in battle.
But Pael, the Divine’s lead angel, has tricks up their sleeve that throw everything into chaos as Norma, Barney, and Badyah learn the truth behind everything. The three friends struggle to stop Pael before their lives are changed forever, and a familiar friend returns with a power that just might save them all in this stunning conclusion to the DeadEndia series.
Review:
Barney, Norma, and their friends must begin their final fight to save the world. Their friend Courtney has returned to the angels and is trying to restore Divine Order to try to keep the demons away. Pael, the Divine’s lead angel, throws twists their way that causes chaos in the world, so Barney and Norma have a huge fight on their hands.
This is a great finale to the DeadEndia series. There were unexpected twists, but I really liked how everything came together at the end. This story has great inclusivity, with characters of different gender and sexual identities and cultural backgrounds. I’m excited to go check out the Netflix series that accompanies this series!
I highly recommend checking out the DeadEndia graphic novel series!
Thank you Union Square and Co for sending me a copy of this book!
Title: The Weirn Books, Vol. 2: The Ghost and the Stolen Dragon Author: Svetlana Chmakova Genre: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade, Fantasy Publisher: JY Source: Publisher Format: Paperback Release Date: October 15, 2024 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
In the Night Realm, shifters, vampires, weirns (a particular kind of witch), and other night things passing for human may prowl the streets, but school is still in session—and you still have to do your homework!
In The Weirn Books, Vol. 1: Be Wary of the Silent Woods (released June 2020), Ailis and Na’ya are pretty average students, but when a shadow starts looming and a classmate gets all weird, they’re the first to notice. It gets personal, though, when Na’ya’s little brother D’esh disappears. To get him back, she has no choice but to confront the secrets of the forbidden mansion in the Silent Woods!
Just in time for Halloween, The Weirn Books, Vol. 2: The Ghost and the Stolen Dragon (released October 15, 2024) takes readers back to Chmakova’s supernatural world full of magic, adventure, and… dragons! After her terrible adventures in the Silent Woods, Na’ya’s world seems to have returned to normal… that is, except for the nightmares that keep haunting her. What she needs is the power to protect everyone, and she has the perfect solution—she’ll turn into a dragon, once and for all! With help from Ailis and Jasper, everything seems to be going according to plan. But what’s that dark shadow slithering around the spell-casting range?
Review:
Ailis and Na’ya think their lives have returned to normal after defeating The Headmistress in the woods. Na’ya is going to focus on her goal of becoming a dragon. When a spell she casts goes horribly wrong, she accidentally summons a dragon to their town instead. Then, they discover a dark shadow sneaking around their school, so the evil Headmistress may not be gone after all.
This was a great sequel! The story was fast paced and action packed. There was more danger and intensity throughout the story than in the first book. It ended with such a good cliffhanger! I can’t wait to see what happens in the rest of the series.
The Ghost and the Stolen Dragon is a great middle grade graphic novel!
Thank you Publicity Prose and Yen Press for sending me a copy of this book!
Q: What draws you to your signature manga- and anime-influenced art style?
A: It’s just what I love and where I feel most comfortable as a creative, where I can express the widest range with my art—the silly, the profound, the funny, the dramatic, the beautiful, the ridiculous, the horrifying, etc. That whole branch of comics is an incredibly versatile approach to cartooning. Manga was a bedrock formative artistic experience for me, those random issues and volumes I managed to get my hands on were the first comics that made me go ‘this is so cool, I want to do something like that!’ The other formative artistic influence was ElfQuest by Richard and Wendy Pini, reading the first issue of that and then furiously creating something resembling a comics narrative for 4 pages/3 solid hours was the first memorable step in my comics-making journey.
Q: What is your creative process like? Which comes to you first — the story or the visuals?
A: My creative process is pretty messy and it starts with both writing and images—I’ll write down and sketch scenes or character interactions, locations, try to flesh out events with both words and drawings. Once I have enough notes I would start crafting a written script with many visual notes, followed by roughly sketched storyboards/page layouts for the entire narrative. My editor is a very big part of that process—she is my first line of defense against bad story and pacing choices; when I am writing without a proper break it is very difficult to maintain perspective and see what I wrote instead of what I wanted to write, so it’s invaluable to have a fresh set of eyes with the knowledge to recognize the rough spots that need fixing. Once both my editor and I agree that the storyboarded book reads well, I start finishing the designs for places/characters and final page art production starts.
Five (5) winners will receive a paperback set of The Weirn Books, Vol. 1: Be Wary of the Silent Woods and The Weirn Books, Vol. 2: The Ghost and the Stolen Dragon!
Title: Taxi Ghost Author: Sophie Escabasse Genre: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade, Paranormal Publisher: Random House Graphic Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: Ebook Release Date: September 3, 2024 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
At a certain age, every kid expects growth spurts and puberty…but no one mentioned the ability to see ghosts?! This hilarious and heart warming graphic novel about family secrets and the importance of community is great for fans of Witches of Brooklyn and Katie the Catsitter.
Adèle just wants to spend her winter break at the library, cozied up with her favorite books, and completely forgetting abut her friends who are all traveling to warmer climates. Unfortunately life has other plans…not only does Adèle get her first period…but she learns she comes from a long line of mediums!
And if seeing ghosts wasn’t enough of a surprise, Adèle learns that not only can she interact with them, but apparently they’ve been using her sister’s car to get around the city for years! These annoying ghosts won’t leave Adèle alone but maybe they will be exactly what Adèle needs for an exciting winter!
From Sophie Escabasse, the author of the beloved Witches of Brooklyn, comes a brilliant graphic novel that explores growing up and the importance of standing up for what you believe in.
Review:
Preteen Adèle wants to spend her winter break cozy at home with her books, but she gets her first period and discovers that she has inherited her grandmother’s talent of seeing ghosts. Her grandmother hates ghosts and does everything she can to stay away from them, but Adèle embraces her new skill and wants to help the ghosts move on to what’s next.
I love stories with ghosts. This was a great coming of age story. I liked that it started with Adèle getting her first period. Her family treated it as a celebration. There aren’t many middle grade books that talk about that, even though almost all preteen girls experience it. This was a fun read!
Taxi Ghost is a great middle grade graphic novel!
Thank you Penguin Teen Canada for providing a copy of this book.
Have you read Taxi Ghost? What did you think of it?
Title: Pablo and Splash Author: Sheena Dempsey Genre: Graphic Novel, Children’s Publisher: Bloomsbury Children’s Books Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: Ebook Release Date: September 3, 2024 Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
‘Irresistibly funny’ Guardian
Join time-travelling penguins Pablo and Splash on an unexpected adventure to the time of the dinosaurs in this brilliantly funny full-colour graphic novel. Perfect for fans of Bunny vs Monkey or Bumble and Snug.
Antarctic penguins Pablo and Splash are polar opposites and besties for life. Pablo is a home-bird and a careful planner. Splash is easily bored and hungry for adventure. Sick to her flippers of the harsh, freezing weather, Splash persuades Pablo to go on a holiday with her. But far from the luxury beach destination that Splash has in mind, the pair end up in a time-travel machine that takes them back to the age of the dinosaurs! Suddenly their icy homeland doesn’t seem so dull …
‘Joyful, fun and very silly indeed’ Louie Stowell, author of A Bad God’s Guide to Being Good
This is the first book in a series and further time-travel adventures await for Pablo and Splash.
Review:
Pablo and Splash are two penguins who live in Antarctica. Pablo likes his life on the ice, but Splash wants to go on an adventure somewhere hot. They end up escaping to a scientist’s lab and jump in a time machine that takes them to a beach. However, they have gone back in time to the age of dinosaurs. Pablo and Splash must find their way back to their safe, comfortable home.
This was such a cute graphic novel. I liked how Pablo and Splash were best friends but they were opposites in many ways, which gives two perspectives. This story taught them to love their home.
Pablo and Splash is a cute children’s graphic novel!
Thank you Bloomsbury Children’s Books for providing a digital copy of this book!
Have you read Pablo and Splash? What did you think of it?
Title: The Weirn Books, Vol. 1: Be Wary of the Silent Woods Author: Svetlana Chmakova Genre: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade, Fantasy Publisher: Yen Press Source: Publisher Format: Paperback Release Date: June 16, 2020 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
In the Night Realm, vampires, shifters, weirns, and other night things passing for human prowl the streets… but they still have to go to school! Ailis and Na’ya are pretty average students (NOT losers), but when a shadow starts looming and a classmate gets all weird, they are the first to notice. It gets personal, though, when Na’ya’s little brother D’esh disappears-It’s time to confront the secrets of the forbidden mansion in the Silent Woods!
Review:
Ailis and her cousin Na’ya are weirns, witches born with a demon guardian spirit who is bound to them for life. While they’re walking to school through the woods, Ailis sees a mysterious figure. After seeing the figure again, Na’ya’s little brother disappears. Ailis, Na’ya and their friends must go into the forbidden house in the woods to save Na’ya’s brother and the rest of their magic world.
This was a great magical world. It was well developed right from the beginning. Though Ailis and Na’ya went to a magic school where all the other students also had magic, they were bullied by the popular girl. Their bully actually had secrets and insecurities of her own that they discovered in the house in the woods.
Be Wary of the Woods is a great spooky middle grade graphic novel!
Thank you Publicity Prose and Yen Press for sending me a copy of this book!
Other books in the series:
The Weirn Books, Vol. 2: The Ghost and the Stolen Dragon
Have you read Be Wary of the Silent Woods? What did you think of it?
Jill's Book Blog 