Tag Archives: first second

Book Title:
Bloom
Book Author:
Kevin Panetta
Book Illustrator:
Savanna Ganucheau
Page Count:
368
Publishing Date:
February 12th, 2019
Publisher:
First Second
Date Read:
January 6th, 2019
Format:
ARC
Source:
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review - Thank you!

Synopsis

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.

My Review

It’s been a while since I’ve picked up a graphic novel, and since I had the ARC of Bloom, I decided it was time to dive into it. I absolutely adore graphic novels, and this sounded like such a great … Continue reading

4 stars
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Book Tour
Book Title:
Spill Zone: The Broken Vow
Book Author:
Scott Westerfeld
Book Illustrator:
Alex Puvilland
Book Series:
Spillzone, #2
Page Count:
240
Publishing Date:
July 10th, 2018
Publisher:
First Second
Date Read:
July 10th, 2018
Source:
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review - Thank you!

Synopsis

All hell breaks loose in the second volume of New York Times–bestselling author Scott Westerfeld's visionary graphic novel duology.

Three years ago an event destroyed the small city of Poughkeepsie, forever changing reality within its borders. Strange manifestations and lethal dangers now await anyone who enters the Spill Zone. Addison got close enough to the Spill Zone to touch it, literally. She survived the encounter, but came back changed.

It turns out she's not alone. North Korea has its own Spill Zone, and a young man named Don Jae is the only one who made it out alive. Alive, but changed. Now Addison, Don Jae, and, curiously, a rag doll named Vespertine, share an unholy bond and uncanny powers.

From Scott Westerfeld, the inspired imagination behind the New York Times bestsellers Uglies and Leviathan, comes The Broken Vow, the second volume of our highly anticipated new graphic novel series.

My Review

Last year I read and reviewed the first book in this amazingly fun duolog, Spill Zone.  It was one of the first graphic novels that I had really gotten into, and truth be told, it sparked my obsession with graphic … Continue reading

4 stars
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Book Title:
All Summer long
Book Author:
Hope Larson
Book Illustrator:
Hope Larson
Publishing Date:
May 1st, 2018
Publisher:
Farrar Straus Giroux
Date Read:
May 16th, 2018
Source:
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review - Thank you!

Synopsis

A coming-of-age middle-grade graphic novel about summer and friendships, written and illustrated by the Eisner Award–winning and New York Times–bestselling Hope Larson.

Thirteen-year-old Bina has a long summer ahead of her. She and her best friend, Austin, usually do everything together, but he's off to soccer camp for a month, and he's been acting kind of weird lately anyway. So it's up to Bina to see how much fun she can have on her own. At first it's a lot of guitar playing, boredom, and bad TV, but things look up when she finds an unlikely companion in Austin's older sister, who enjoys music just as much as Bina. But then Austin comes home from camp, and he's acting even weirder than when he left. How Bina and Austin rise above their growing pains and reestablish their friendship and respect for their differences makes for a touching and funny coming-of-age story.

My Review

Hello, perfect summer read! I’m really loving all of the perfect-for-summer graphic novels that are popping up recently.  They’re really helping me to get into the mindset for summer (which I typically hate, by the way), with lazy days, friendships, … Continue reading

5 stars
7 Comments
Book Title:
Be Prepared
Book Author:
Vera Brosgol
Book Illustrator:
Vera Brosgol
Publishing Date:
April 24th, 2018
Publisher:
First Second
Date Read:
April 4th, 2018
Source:
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review - Thank you!

Synopsis

A gripping and hilarious middle-grade summer camp memoir from the author of Anya's Ghost.

All Vera wants to do is fit in—but that’s not easy for a Russian girl in the suburbs. Her friends live in fancy houses and their parents can afford to send them to the best summer camps. Vera’s single mother can’t afford that sort of luxury, but there's one summer camp in her price range—Russian summer camp.

Vera is sure she's found the one place she can fit in, but camp is far from what she imagined. And nothing could prepare her for all the "cool girl" drama, endless Russian history lessons, and outhouses straight out of nightmares!

Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier, Cece Bell, and Victoria Jamieson, Vera Brosgol's Be Prepared is a funny and relatable middle-grade graphic novel about navigating your own culture, struggling to belong, and the value of true friendship.

My Review

Remember a few months back when I reviewed Vera Brosgol’s Anya’s Ghost?  I had so many awesome things to tell you guys about that book, including how freaking awesome it was and how I couldn’t get enough of it.  Well, … Continue reading

5 stars
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Book Title:
This One Summer
Book Author:
Mariko Tamaki
Book Illustrator:
Jillian Tamaki
Page Count:
320
Publishing Date:
May 6th, 2014
Publisher:
First Second
Date Read:
February 27th, 2018
Source:
Purchased

Synopsis

Every summer, Rose goes with her mom and dad to a lake house in Awago Beach. It's their getaway, their refuge. Rosie's friend Windy is always there, too, like the little sister she never had. But this summer is different. Rose's mom and dad won't stop fighting, and when Rose and Windy seek a distraction from the drama, they find themselves with a whole new set of problems. It's a summer of secrets and sorrow and growing up, and it's a good thing Rose and Windy have each other.

In This One Summer two stellar creators redefine the teen graphic novel. Cousins Mariko and Jillian Tamaki, the team behind Skim, have collaborated on this gorgeous, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful story about a girl on the cusp of her teen age — a story of renewal and revelation.

My Review

This One Summer has been on my to be read list for a while now.  I finally bought it back in early November of 2017, but for whatever reason I just kept putting off reading it.  I either wasn’t in … Continue reading

5 stars
12 Comments
Book Title:
Little Sid: The Tiny Prince Who Became Buddha
Book Author:
Ian Lendler
Book Illustrator:
Xanthe Bouma
Page Count:
40
Publishing Date:
January 23rd, 2018
Publisher:
First Second
Date Read:
February 11th, 2018
Source:
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review - Thank you!

Synopsis

In this charming and accessible picture book, Ian Lendler and Xanthe Bouma offer a heart-warming account of the childhood of the Buddha.

A spoiled young prince, Siddhartha got everything he ever asked for, until he asked for what couldn’t be given ­― happiness.

Join Little Sid as he sets off on a journey of discovery and encounters mysterious wise-folk, terrifying tigers, and one very annoying mouse.

With Lendler’s delightful prose and Bouma’s lyrical artwork, Little Sid weaves traditional Buddhist fables into a classic new tale of mindfulness, the meaning of life, and an awakening that is as profound today as it was 2,500 years ago.

My Review

This book, wow.  I loved it.  Absolutely loved it.  There’s so much about this book that is important, especially in today’s day and age.  It’s the kind of book that both children and adults can learn and benefit from, and … Continue reading

5 stars
2 Comments
Book Tour
Book Title:
The Prince and the Dressmaker
Book Author:
Jen Wang
Book Illustrator:
Jen Wang
Page Count:
288
Publishing Date:
February 13th, 2018
Publisher:
First Second
Date Read:
January 31st, 2018
Source:
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review - Thank you!

Synopsis

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.

My Review

I love graphic novels, and when you combine a graphic novel with a fantasy/fairy tale theme, I find that it becomes something that I love so much I don’t even know how to put it into words!  There is so … Continue reading

12 Comments
Book Title:
Anya's Ghost
Book Author:
Vera Brosgol
Book Illustrator:
Vera Brosgol
Page Count:
221
Publishing Date:
June 7th 2011
Publisher:
First Second
Date Read:
November 8th, 2017
Source:
Trade

Synopsis

Anya could really use a friend. But her new BFF isn't kidding about the "forever" part . . .

Of all the things Anya expected to find at the bottom of an old well, a new friend was not one of them. Especially not a new friend who's been dead for a century.

Falling down a well is bad enough, but Anya's normal life might actually be worse. She's embarrassed by her family, self-conscious about her body, and she's pretty much given up on fitting in at school. A new friend—even a ghost—is just what she needs.

Or so she thinks.

Spooky, sardonic, and secretly sincere, Anya's Ghost is a wonderfully entertaining debut graphic novel from author/artist Vera Brosgol.

My Review

I go through a lot of times when I don’t feel like I have the attention span to really keep interest in reading an actual novel, and then there are times when I am recovering from a book hangover from … Continue reading

5 stars
7 Comments
Book Tour
Book Title:
Pashmina
Book Author:
Nidhi Chanani
Book Illustrator:
Nidhi Chanani
Page Count:
176
Publishing Date:
October 3rd, 2017
Publisher:
First Second
Date Read:
September 21st, 2017
Source:
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review - Thank you!

Synopsis

Priyanka Das has so many unanswered questions: Why did her mother abandon her home in India years ago? What was it like there? And most importantly, who is her father, and why did her mom leave him behind? But Pri's mom avoids these questions--the topic of India is permanently closed.

For Pri, her mother's homeland can only exist in her imagination. That is, until she find a mysterious pashmina tucked away in a forgotten suitcase. When she wraps herself in it, she is transported to a place more vivid and colorful than any guidebook or Bollywood film. But is this the real India? And what is that shadow lurking in the background? To learn the truth, Pri must travel farther than she's ever dared and find the family she never knew.

In this heartwarming graphic novel debut, Nidhi Chanani weaves a tale about the hardship and self-discovery that is born from juggling two cultures and two worlds.

My Review

Pashmina was one of my most anticipated releases for this year – I heard about it months ago and haven been counting day the days until it releases.  I was so excited when I had the chance to participate on … Continue reading

6 Comments
Book Title:
The Dam Keeper
Book Author:
Robert Kondo, Dice Tsutsumi
Book Illustrator:
Robert Kondo, Dice Tsutsumi
Book Series:
The Dam Keeper, #1
Page Count:
160
Publishing Date:
September 26th, 2017
Publisher:
First Second
Date Read:
September 18th, 2017
Source:
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review - Thank you!

Synopsis

Life in Sunrise Valley is tranquil, but beyond its borders lies certain death. A dangerous black fog looms outside the village, but its inhabitants are kept safe by an ingenious machine known as the dam. Pig’s father built the dam and taught him how to maintain it. And then this brilliant inventor did the unthinkable: he walked into the fog and was never seen again.

Now Pig is the dam keeper. Except for his best friend, Fox, and the town bully, Hippo, few are aware of his tireless efforts. But a new threat is on the horizon—a tidal wave of black fog is descending on Sunrise Valley. Now Pig, Fox, and Hippo must face the greatest danger imaginable: the world on the other side of the dam.

Based on the Oscar-nominated animated short film of the same name, The Dam Keeper is a lush, vibrantly drawn graphic novel by Tonko House cofounders Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi.

My Review

First off, let me talk about how visually stunning The Dam Keeper is.  It has a hardcover format, and a dust jacket that is absolutely beautiful.  The gold lettering on the cover really adds to the book’s look, and the … Continue reading

4 stars
2 Comments