Graphic Novel Reviews: Pumpkinheads and Mooncakes

I have been on a graphic novel and manga reading kick lately and I've read some awesome things! I have two graphic novel reviews for you today that I'd highly recommend if you're looking for some cute, fallsy reads.

Pumpkinheads
Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks
Release: August 31, 2019
Goodreads Amazon

Deja and Josiah are seasonal best friends.

Every autumn, all through high school, they’ve worked together at the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world. (Not many people know that the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world is in Omaha, Nebraska, but it definitely is.) They say good-bye every Halloween, and they’re reunited every September 1.

But this Halloween is different—Josiah and Deja are finally seniors, and this is their last season at the pumpkin patch. Their last shift together. Their last good-bye.

Josiah’s ready to spend the whole night feeling melancholy about it. Deja isn’t ready to let him. She’s got a plan: What if—instead of moping and the usual slinging lima beans down at the Succotash Hut—they went out with a bang? They could see all the sights! Taste all the snacks! And Josiah could finally talk to that cute girl he’s been mooning over for three years . . .

What if their last shift was an adventure?

Review:
Pumpkinheads was absolutely delightful! It was just so cute! And oh! so perfect for fall! I've read it twice in the last week and I can see this graphic novel becoming a go to if I need a quick mood booster read.

Josiah and Deja are seasonal best friends when they're working at the pumpkin patch. This graphic novel covers their last shift together and Deja has plans that see them escaping their normal post and eating as much delicious food as possible. Except, like any well-intended plans, things don't go as expected. They contend with all kinds of shenanigans as they say good-bye to their beloved pumpkin patch and they both have some realizations along the way.

This was so much fun and so full of heart! Pumpkinheads had so many of Rainbow Rowell's trademarks in it including a story that is very emotional and heartwarming. I read the book in one sitting and was so sad when I finished it that I immediately started it over. I'm slowly becoming a fan of Rainbow Rowell's books and this graphic novel made me want to read the ones I haven't gotten to yet.

I'm not very familiar with Faith Erin Hicks' work but this graphic novel makes me want to check out more of her stuff. Her art style is gorgeous and I loved the color palette. Plus, all of the illustrations really added to the whole fall vibe of the pumpkin patch.

Pumpkinheads is the perfect graphic novel if you want to get into the fall spirit and love stories about friendship. You probably shouldn't read it on an empty stomach! It'll make you crave all the food!

    

  5 / 5 Stars

Mooncakes

Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu

Release: October 15, 2019

Goodreads Amazon

A story of love and demons, family and witchcraft.

Nova Huang knows more about magic than your average teen witch. She works at her grandmothers' bookshop, where she helps them loan out spell books and investigate any supernatural occurrences in their New England town.

One fateful night, she follows reports of a white wolf into the woods, and she comes across the unexpected: her childhood crush, Tam Lang, battling a horse demon in the woods. As a werewolf, Tam has been wandering from place to place for years, unable to call any town home.

Pursued by dark forces eager to claim the magic of wolves and out of options, Tam turns to Nova for help. Their latent feelings are rekindled against the backdrop of witchcraft, untested magic, occult rituals, and family ties both new and old in this enchanting tale of self-discovery.

Review:

Guys! If you want a cute, paranormal romance read that is a great mix between the friends-to-lovers and second chance tropes, this is the graphic novel for you! I got some serious fall vibes from it plus it was adorable, romantic, and chock full of diverse characters.

And when I say it's diverse, I mean it's way diverse. Both of the main characters are Chinese-American which was so cool! The main witch character, Nova, has a hard time hearing and wears hearing aids. The main werewolf lead, Tam, identifies as non-binary and it was accepted as perfectly normal. I loved that! There was one discussion where they corrected the pronouns used to describe them and that was all that was needed to have everyone using the correct ones. And we can't forget Nova's Nanas! I loved that Nova lives with her married grandmas. The Nanas were amazing! I'd totally read a prequel book about their adventures.

My favorite part of this graphic novel besides the characters was the romance. I loved that it was a second chance, friends-to-lovers F/NB romance! I hardly see those two tropes mixed with that pairing and I am here for it. Also, it gave a new spin to a romance between a witch and werewolf.

The illustrations in this graphic novel were amazing! I loved the style from the first page. The story itself was good and wasn't overly complicated. I was able to guess the big bad but that was about it. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the story.

If you're looking for a cute and diverse paranormal graphic novel, you need to pick up Mooncakes.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley

    

  4 / 5 Stars

Graphic Novel Review: Bloom by Kevin Panetta and Savanna Ganucheau

Bloom
Kevin Panetta and Savanna Ganucheau
Release: January 19, 2019
Goodreads Amazon

Now that high school is over, Ari is dying to move to the big city with his ultra-hip band―if he can just persuade his dad to let him quit his job at their struggling family bakery. Though he loved working there as a kid, Ari cannot fathom a life wasting away over rising dough and hot ovens. But while interviewing candidates for his replacement, Ari meets Hector, an easygoing guy who loves baking as much as Ari wants to escape it. As they become closer over batches of bread, love is ready to bloom . . . that is, if Ari doesn’t ruin everything.

Writer Kevin Panetta and artist Savanna Ganucheau concoct a delicious recipe of intricately illustrated baking scenes and blushing young love, in which the choices we make can have terrible consequences, but the people who love us can help us grow.

Review: 
You know those books that not many people you know talk about and they kind of sneak up on you? This was that kind of book for me. I hadn't really heard about it until its release day when my best friend found it in Barnes & Noble and brought a copy home. As big fans of the webcomic/graphic novel Check, Please!, a graphic novel about two boys baking and falling in love was something that checked all of our boxes.

I will admit while I had a couple of little problems with the story this really was a cute graphic novel. But honestly, I fell in love with the art style first and enjoyed the story second. The monochromatic blue color scheme worked so well with the story as did the adorable cartoonishness of the characters. The baking montage pages that were absolutely beautiful and complex and added so much depth to the story. The art is seriously great and I have an overwhelming urge to check out the artist's webcomic because of it.

My biggest criticism for this book was that the story was pretty slow to start and rushed the ending. It also had a few time jumps that overall worked but I think the story would have flowed better if they had added in a few more scenes to explain things. My second criticism really isn't a criticism as much as something that annoyed me. The protagonist, Ari, is the definition of a moody teenager who doesn't know what he wants. I actually didn't mind that but I hated that he was kind of dick to everyone but it really bothered me how he treated Hector who was SUCH a sweetheart from the very first page. There's a part of me that feels like Hector deserves better and was a bit too forgiving about the thing that happens. 

The things I loved about this graphic novel far outweighs my two problems with it. I adored the family aspect of this book and seeing the relationship between Ari and his parents change and seeing how much Hector was an influence for that. I also loved that this is a story about not knowing what you want and that it is okay not to know. It explored different kind of friendships and that is so needed with both the good and the toxic. And even though he's kind of a dick, I found Ari and his struggles relatable. If you substitute out the music stuff with nerdy stuff, you pretty much have me at 18. I have never related to a scene so hard as I did the scene where Ari is sitting alone in a corner listening to music at his sister's wedding until he is forcibly thrown into being social and ends up having a great time.

One thing I really appreciated in this story was how being into someone of the same gender wasn't stigmatized at all. In the story it wasn't something that was focused on but everyone was so chill and supportive about it that it was one of those small things that are really big things. I need more queer stories like this in my life. Also, more stories that take place in family owned bakeries. I've discovered over the last couple of years that this is a setting I love in romances. The downside is that I end up craving all the baked goods and, in the case of this story, spanakopita.

If you're looking for a quick and cute read with lots of pictures, Bloom is definitely a graphic novel you need to look into. I'm going to just be over here with my fingers crossed that we'll get more books about Ari and Hector in the future. Now, if you'll excuse me, I really need to go find some sourdough bread to fill this empty hole in my stomach.

Recommended for fans of: Check, Please! by Ngozi Ukazu

   

  4 / 5 Stars

Book 3: Subway Uptown- Chef/Foodie Romance

Really Short Reviews: Ghosts, Cats, and Dressmakers

The Prince and the Dressmaker
Jen Wang
Release: February 13, 2018
Goodreads Amazon

Paris, at the dawn of the modern age:

Prince Sebastian is looking for a bride―or rather, his parents are looking for one for him. Sebastian is too busy hiding his secret life from everyone. At night he puts on daring dresses and takes Paris by storm as the fabulous Lady Crystallia―the hottest fashion icon in the world capital of fashion!

Sebastian’s secret weapon (and best friend) is the brilliant dressmaker Frances―one of only two people who know the truth: sometimes this boy wears dresses. But Frances dreams of greatness, and being someone’s secret weapon means being a secret. Forever. How long can Frances defer her dreams to protect a friend? Jen Wang weaves an exuberantly romantic tale of identity, young love, art, and family. A fairy tale for any age, The Prince and the Dressmaker will steal your heart.

Review:
This graphic novel is the most heartwarming graphic novel I've read in a while. There's something so delightful and whimsical about this story of a seamstress with dreams of being a great fashion designer and a prince with dreams of wearing those designs. The friendship in this books is what makes the story as magical as it is. I loved how this book approached the topic of identity and deconstructed accepted gender norms. Also, the illustrations were very excellently done and complimented the story well.

   

  4 / 5 Stars

Archival Quality

Ivy Noelle Weir and Steenz

Release: March 20, 2018

Goodreads Amazon

After losing her job at the library, Celeste "Cel" Walden starts working at the haunting Logan Museum as an archivist. But the job may not be the second chance she was hoping for, and she finds herself confronting her mental health, her relationships, and before long, her grasp on reality as she begins to dream of a young woman she's never met, but feels strangely drawn to. Especially after she asks Cel for help…

As Cel attempts to learn more about the woman, she begins losing time, misplacing things, passing out—the job is becoming dangerous, but she can't let go of this mysterious woman. Who is she? Why is she so fixated on Cel? And does Cel have the power to save her when she's still trying to save herself?

Review:

I've been waiting to get my hands on this graphic novel since it was announced. As much as I was into the story of a girl working at a haunted museum and trying to find out information about a ghost that is haunting her, I unfortunately I found the execution pretty meh. I wanted to love it. I did. But I just was bored throughout the whole thing. Plus, the ending felt rushed and anti-climatic.

I did love the character designs and how diverse the cast was though. Unfortunately, they just felt flat to me. I also liked the mental health rep in this graphic novel and how the author explored how people with mental health conditions have been treated and mistreated throughout psychiatric history. I can see lots of people really liking this but it just wasn't for me.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley

 1/2

  2.5 / 5 Stars

Herding Cats

(Sarah's Scribbles #3)

Sarah Andersen

Release: March 27, 2018

Goodreads Amazon

Sarah's Scribbles,  Goodreads Choice Award for 2016:  Best Graphic Novels & Comics

". . . author Sarah Andersen uses hilarious (and adorable) comics to illustrate the very specific growing pains that occur on your way to becoming a mature, put-together grownup. Andersen’s spot-on illustrations also show how to navigate this newfound adulthood once you arrive, since maturity is equally as hard to maintain as it is to find … "
--The Huffington Post

Sarah valiantly struggles with waking up in the morning, being productive, and dealing with social situations. Sarah's Scribbles is the comic strip that follows her life, finding humor in living as an adulting introvert that is at times weird, awkward, and embarrassing.

Review:

I have loved each and every Sarah Scribble's collection made and this one was no different. I always find her content to be funny, relatable, and relevant. I know when I pick up a book by Sarah Andersen that I will come out of reading it in a better mood and with sore sides from laughing. I'd recommend these comic based on their hilarity alone.

This collection also included an essay portion about Making Stuff in our Modern Era that I found to be an interesting read and super relatable. We've all come across trolls on the internet but it was interesting to see the creator side of things as the author talked about her anxiety and exposing one's self on the internet when everyone is a critic. It made for a thoughtful read.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.

   

  4 / 5 Stars

My reviews of other books in this series:
Adulthood is a Myth by Sarah Andersen
Big Mushy Happy Lump by Sarah Andersen

Really Short Reviews: White Sand and Monstress

White Sand, Volume 1
(White Sand #1)
Brandon Sanderson
Release: June 21, 2016
Goodreads Amazon

A brand new saga of magic and adventure by #1 New York Times best-selling author Brandon Sanderson. On the planet of Taldain, the legendary Sand Masters harness arcane powers to manipulate sand in spectacular ways. But when they are slaughtered in a sinister conspiracy, the weakest of their number, Kenton, believes himself to be the only survivor. With enemies closing in on all sides, Kenton forges an unlikely partnership with Khriss -- a mysterious Darksider who hides secrets of her own. White Sand brings to life a crucial, unpublished part of Brandon Sanderson's sprawling Cosmere universe. The story has been adapted by Rik Hoskin (Mercy Thompson), with art by Julius Gopez and colors by Ross Campbell. Employing powerful imagery and Sanderson's celebrated approach to magical systems, White Sand is a spectacular new saga for lovers of fantasy and adventure.

Review:

For me, I really enjoyed this first volume in the White Sand graphic novel series. I've been a huge fan of Brandon Sanderson from the beginning and I've not read a Cosmere novel I haven't enjoyed. This graphic novel was no exception. I think it was very successful for Sanderson's first foray into graphic novels.

As I said, I enjoyed it but I not much happened aside from the battle in the beginning. I was really confused at first because we were just thrown into the world. Personally, I feel like it would have been a better story as a novel where we could have gotten more details and some background information that would ease us into the world.

There are definitely limitations to writing graphic novels that you don't find when working with other forms of literature. It's harder to express the characters emotions and thoughts so the readers will not feel as much of a connection with the characters. The main one for me that makes or breaks a graphic novel for me is how the culture/world is portrayed because you don't have the page space to explain as much of the culture as you normally would in a full-length novel. And yet even with all those limitations, the story was able to be adapted into an entertaining read.

That said, the artwork was incredible and I really enjoyed the world that Sanderson gave us this time. The different kinds of magic systems that he gives us in every book he writes is so uniquely brilliant and is one of my favorite things about his work.

Overall, I thought White Sand was good but I would have preferred to have the story as a novel so we could have had more detail and more of an introduction to the world. I really want to get my hands on the next volume so I can see where the story is going.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley

   

  4 /5 Stars

Monstress, Vol. 1: Awakening
(Monstress #1-6)
Marjorie Liu
Release: July 19, 2016
Goodreads Amazon

Set in an alternate matriarchal 1900’s Asia, in a richly imagined world of art deco-inflected steampunk, MONSTRESS tells the story of a teenage girl who is struggling to survive the trauma of war, and who shares a mysterious psychic link with a monster of tremendous power, a connection that will transform them both. Entertainment Weekly praised MONSTRESS as “one of Image Comics’ most imaginative and daring new series” and dubbed it the “Best New Original Series” in their year-end “Best Comics of 2015” list.

Collects MONSTRESS #1-6

Review:

I have several friends who are big comics enthusiasts who have been just raving about the art and story of this comics. The pictures are absolutely beautiful! They were the first thing that grabbed my attention. The detail in almost all of the pictures was astonishing. That level of detail shocked me even when I read it through a second time. I immediately ordered a physical copy of this volume after finishing the eARC because I need to have it in my collection.

The story so far is more world-building and personal background, but I can feel it rapidly moving in the direction of having an epic story line. The characters are delightfully complex where the antagonists get as much attention as the protagonist and crew. I really appreciated that.

My absolute favorite thing about this comic though is the large female cast it has. Each lady kicks ass in their own way. And I appreciated that there were both female protagonists AND antagonists. There are too few female antagonists in comics in my opinion. I also like the representation of both the women and the men in this comic. There were no bumbling idiots or stereotypical filler characters. Each character pulls their own weight and I loved that!

All in all, the story contains several familiar tropes in it but none of the story feels forced or like it has been done before. It feels unique. In my opinion, this comic is the pinnacle of what comics should be. It wins hands down over the famous and more traditional superhero comics. I can't wait to get my hands on the next issues! You all need to start this comic series ASAP!

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley

    

  5 / 5 Stars!

Graphic Novel Review: Mercy Thompson: Hopcross Jilly

Mercy Thompson: Hopcross Jilly
(Mercedes Thompson Graphic Novels)
Written by Patricia Briggs and Rik Hoskin
Illustrated by Tom Garcia
Release: June 30, 2015
Goodreads Amazon

Mercy is a shapeshifting coyote and honorary member of the Tri-Cities werewolf pack. When the pack stumbles upon the buried bones of numerous dead children, she shapeshifts into a mystery of the legendary fae - a mystery that draws Mercy's stepdaughter Jesse into the fray! The supernatural romance series Mercy Thompson continues in this all-new, original story by New York Times bestselling author, Patricia Briggs, exclusively created for the comic book medium! 

We're all huge fans of Mercy Thompson here at the blog, but not necessarily of graphic novels. So
Gretl and Rose Red decided to review Hopcross Jilly together to give you both perspectives.

Our Review: Hopcross Jilly is set in the official Mercyverse continuity between Frost Burned and Night Broken (Mercy #7 and #8) and just after Dead Heat (Alpha and Omega #4.) This edition collects six issues of the Mercy Thompson comic book series.  

On Mercy Thompson and graphic novels:

Rose Red: You all probably don’t know this about me but I absolutely love graphic novels and comics! I’ve read a ton of them over the years. I love Patricia Briggs’ books so when I discovered that there were graphic novels set in both series, I picked one of them up. I got the Cry Wolf graphic novel and I was disappointed with it.

My problem wasn’t actually with the illustrations but with how the story was adapted for graphic novel form. It’s probably me just being nitpicky because I loved Cry Wolf so much! In my mind, it just wasn’t a good adaptation. That being said, it put me off picking up the Mercy Thompson ones even though those are more original stories and not adaptions. I’ve wanted to give them a try to see if that fact made a difference. So when Gretl informed that the new graphic novel Hopcross Jilly was on NetGalley, I knew I had to try it. I’m really glad to say that I enjoyed it! This graphic novel really was well done. It reinforced my belief that anything from Patricia Briggs can be expected to be amazing! And seriously, the art and storyline were on point!

Gretl: I wouldn't say I've never read a graphic novel, but I honestly couldn't tell you what I read or when. I think choosing a familiar subject like this - I've been a fan of the Mercy Thompson books for years - is a good way to get in to a new medium.

On Hopcross Jilly:

RR: Hopcross Jilly was a quick read with the perfect amount of words and images to tell the story in a gripping way. Like always, Mercy and Adam are the stars in the story which think is fantastic! I always want more of them when I finish any Mercy book. What I love most is that Adam’s daughter, Jesse, got her own story thread. We only get glimpses into Jesse’s life outside of the pack in the novels so I really appreciated that we got a more in depth look into her school life even though it was a little sad to see how she was being treated.

The story isn't very long or very challenging compared to others, but I still had a good time reading it. I actually figured out pretty quickly what was happening, but I enjoyed seeing how it all played out on the pages. The illustrations in this graphic novel were great! I really enjoyed getting to see the images to go along with the story. While I’m reading, I like to imagine each of the characters in my head so seeing the artist’s renditions of my beloved characters for the first time was pretty cool! I will admit that I picture most of them somewhat differently myself.

What I enjoyed the most was the interactions between Adam and Mercy as well as their interactions with Jesse. I love seeing the little moments they have as a family. I found the insight into Jesse's life at school a nice addition as well as the special scenes with her and Mercy. It was just a nice interlude between the novels that answered some questions I had from the series more directly.

G: At the same time, it's always weird for me to see the characters from books depicted outside my head. (I actually made a note that said "OMG! Zee looks like Thor!" while I was reading.) Whether it's in a movie, a book trailer or fan art, they never look exactly how I want them to. Though I admit that this Mercy comes pretty close to the book covers, which made her feel familiar.

The story alternates between Jesse at her high school, investigators at the crime scene, and flashbacks to other victims. I really liked the fact that Jesse was a big part of the story, but between her increased involvement, which reminded me of Night Broken, and the Fae killer, which is a lot like the one in Dead Heat, the story felt very repetitive to me. Although I did appreciate the clear, concise explanation for why some of the Fae are getting off their reservations which wasn't given in Dead Heat. I also felt like the end was a little anticlimactic since it was obvious who the killer was from the very beginning.

Final Thoughts:

RR: I gave it 4 stars. All in all, this story was an excellent addition to the Mercyverse. You can never go wrong with anything by Patricia Briggs, right? I think most Mercy Thompson fans will enjoy this story but I think those in the fandom who enjoy graphic novels will enjoy it the most. It’s one that I’d highly recommend!

G: I gave it  3.5 stars. Hopcross Jilly really captured the feel of the Mercy Thompson books for me. I think it would be great for someone new to the Mercy Thompson or Alpha and Omega series who wants to get an idea of what this world is like without investing the time in reading a whole novel. It's also good for those of us who need a quick fix while we're waiting for the next book to come out.

ARC provided by the publisher

 

and

Our reviews of other books in this series:
Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs 
Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs 
Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs
Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs
Night Broken by Patricia Briggs