Book Reviews 

After getting really into Pride and Prejudice, I wanted to know more about Mary Bennet, who is noted to be the plainest of the Bennet sisters. This book came up as a recommendation, and it goes through the Jane Austen's story before, during, and after the original. Mary talks us through the three people that she has loved in her life. 

I think the prose feels like an Austen story and the style was well captured. I really enjoyed the beginning, relating to the feeling of not being as pretty as those around you, but still wanting to dream of romance. The later half of the story was not my favorite. I wasn't a fan of the end pairing, and the romance before that was dreadful. It just ended up feeling like more of a tragedy, even with the decent ending Mary gets. I still found it interesting to read, and I might recommend it to a high schooler if they've got an interest in Pride and Prejudice. 

I was able to check out the next book in the Estranged series and I love how it explores the family dynamics between the two brothers (not technically brothers, but I'm going to stick with that). The parents visit the World Below, but the timing is a bit rocky due to the loss of magic from the realm.  Now it's up to Ed, Cinder, and Alexis to help find a solution. 

There is a budding gay romance and it's absolutely precious. The art, as always, is impeccable; it's still worth reading just for that alone. The story is a fun adventure and I really enjoyed this second installment with new challenges and danger. It's still perfectly suited for upper elementary and middle schoolers, though I think high schoolers would still like it as well. 

It seems I have been quite prejudiced against this book and Jane Austen altogether. I never had to read it for school, even in British Literature, and I've avoided it because it looked and sounded boring. Then I saw that Cinema Therapy did a YouTube video on it, and it got me wanting to read it. So I listened to the audiobook, then watched the movie, then the miniseries, and then the movie four more times. Needless to say, I was very wrong in my assumptions, and now I plan on reading all of Jane Austen's books. 

As this is a classic, most people might've read in school, I'll give a brief summary. Pride and Prejudice follows Elizabeth "Lizzy" Bennet and her four sisters. She is the second eldest to Jane who has caught the eye of Mr. Bingley, a wealthy man who just move into the area. Bingley is joined by Mr. Darcy, and while there is tension between Darcy and Lizzy, pride and prejudice cloud their view of each other and through many hardships and righting of wrongs, they are able to reconcile and come to love one another. 

The character development is astounding. Both Darcy and Lizzy show growth and understanding, and throughout the book they apologize for their misgivings. It plays into family dynamics and the treatment of women in society during that time. I don't want to go on too long, as I have more reviews to write, but I highly recommend reading it and watching the movie!

This is one of the best modern retellings I've ever read. The book follows Patroclus throughout his life as he meets and becomes enamored with Achilles, a demigod foretold to be the greatest warrior in all of Greece. They are faced with the impending Trojan war as well as Achilles' unapproving goddess of a mother, Thetis.

 The writing in this book is incredible. It truly feels like classic literature. The story of Patroclus and Achilles is a tragedy. For the most part, Patroclus is a fairly passive protagonist, but he acts when it matters, and he acts with his heart. There are parts of this story that are hard to read, there is sexual assault and coercion, as well as graphic violence. I would recommend this book to high schoolers, though I would let them know of the darker themes they'll find. This story made me cry and has lingered in my mind since I've read it.  

Estranged is a story about a human and a changeling. The human, having never been named, has been raised in the world below by the cold-hearted fae queen and king. When they are turned into rats, the human and his golem companion Whick must venture into the human world to find the real faerie prince. Edmund has lived as a human with loving parents and an annoying big sister. He has never truly felt at home, but when his counterpart comes knocking, suddenly his world is thrown into chaos. 

I really enjoy the artwork. Ink and watercolor are some of my favorite mediums, and together they create a gorgeous comic. The color palette is hues of blue, with occasional bright colors relating to the main characters. I like the characters and their motivations. The inner struggles they face are realistic despite the fantastical nature of the story. The side characters of Edmund's sister, Alexis, and Whick, are enjoyable. I would recommend this for late elementary, middle, and high school. The overall themes are found family and finding your place in the world. I'll definitely be reading the sequel, Estranged: The Changeling King.

This is a collection of short stories in comic form that go through different points of the Avatar: The Last Airbender animated series. Knowledge of the series is highly recommended, but they're still enjoyable stories. 

Some of these could've done well in the series, but there is a lot of filler. The choice to have different artists for some of the stories is commendable, though I think some of the artists struggled with accurately portraying the characters visually. The stories themselves shine the most for me when they are a bit longer and are interwoven more with the plot, though the smaller ones are still entertaining. Overall, if you're a fan of the series, you will most likely find enjoyment from reading this. 

Tomboy is a wonderful reflection of growing up outside the societal norms of gender. The author reflects on her own experience of bullying, puberty, and crushes. She describes the growing pains of being embarrassed and frustrated in a comedic way with her drawings. 

The drawing style is one I don't usually like, but it fit really well with the story's tone. I found myself relating a lot to Liz, as I considered myself a tomboy, though thankfully I didn't experience much bullying because of it. I definitely began fully rejecting feminine norms that were being pushed on me; the color pink, liking dresses and skirts, cheerleaders, and other things that are considered "girly". Furthermore, I have come to realize, like Liz, that it's not that I hated being a girl, I just wanted to be myself without feeling put down. 

There are topics like drugs and smoking, sex (nothing shown just discussed), sexuality, and puberty that could make certain people uncomfortable, but it's such an honest experience of growing up and should be kept on school shelves. I would recommend this for middle and high school. Having access to stories like this give students a sense of belonging, being understood, and help them to not feel alone. 

Witch Hat Atelier revolves around Coco, a girl who longs to be a witch, but unfortunately for her witches are born, not made. She happens upon a form of magic she never discovered, and it comes with dire consequences. Now she becomes an apprentice to Master Qifrey. The story follows Coco as she struggles to make friends and study magic. 

The art is stunning! There is a fantastic use of line to create shading and texture. The clothing and world is completely interwoven with magic as well. I like Coco as a character, and it's fun to explore magic with her. The other girls feel a bit flat, but that could just be because I'm only two volumes in. My main reservations about it so far lie with us seeing Master Qifrey taking in a bunch of young girls, not that they've done anything inappropriate, it's just a bit of an odd situation that gives me a little pause for concern. Olruggio, another male adult figure, is there to protect their home, so at least Qifrey isn't alone.  Other than that, I think there are interesting problems and the character's work together to find interesting solutions. I'm excited to learn more about the world. I'll probably write a review of the over all series once I finish it, so I don't spoil things with every new volume I read. 

I haven't had time to make it to the library yet, so I chose a book I've already read. Dreadnought is a book about a teen who witnesses the death of a beloved superhero. This hero transfers his powers to her. Originally born as a biological male, Danny was transformed into a girl. A dream come true, but now has to face enemies, including supervillians, family, and friends. 

To be honest, it wasn't my normal read, since I prefer magical fantasy as opposed to superhero fantasy, but this was a great story. I feel like it offered insight into the life of a transgender teen and provided real obstacles and encounters while also being an action-packed superhero novel. If you plan on reading it, be warned there are really difficult topics such as body dysmorphia, child abuse, and transphobia. I would recommend this books for high schoolers. Teens are already exposed to this on a daily basis, though, and it is incredibly important for kids to see themselves reflected in literature, as well as read stories from diverse perspectives. What better way to do that then to read a book about a transgender superhero?

I bought this graphic novel at an LGBTQIA+ outreach event, and the first thing that caught my eye was the colors. The Deep and Dark Blue is about two twins, both born as princes to the ruling family. They have to hide as girls, because of a coup that takes their family. Without giving spoilers, this is a beautiful story about being transgender and the obstacles one faces to become their true self. 

It's a fairly quick read, but that's because it was so engaging. The character designs, arcs, and personalities are great. The world building was very intriguing as well. There is careful consideration to the transgender character, though there are some moments of slight transphobia, such as misgendering and dead naming, just as a warning to those reading. I would recommend this for middle and high school. It was a great read though!