Completely Full Bookshelf

So remember last week when I said I had a plan to read so many  books? Well, what happened was that I went out of town with 10 graphic novels in tow, and— I read all 10 graphic novels!!! It was wild! I don't think I've ever actually read all  the books I packed for a trip in my entire  life—this is genuinely bizarre. And I'm kind of beat—I might give my brain a rest and stream some TV for a few days instead! Because I read so voraciously, I'm actually going to split my reviews across two weeks! This week, I'm going to share the first five books I read—and I'm going to get right to it, except  that I wanted to rank my favorite books from my travels, so let's do that first! My favorites of the 10: Skim My Last Summer with Cass  (review coming next week!) Isla to Island Scout Is Not a Band Kid Freestyle  (review coming next week!) OK, now for the reviews! Middle Grade: Isla to Island Written and illustrated by Alexis Castellanos Graphic novel · 2022 Add it on...

Fun fact—this post contains two  made-up hashtags and  an unprompted Star Wars  reference! You're welcome. Also, I'm continuing with my Raina Telgemeier re-read  with the eternal classic. I'm probably going to pause the re-read for a bit, but I'll be pumped to get to Sisters  and Guts  soon! For now, though, let's talk about the book that changed everything... Smile ! Middle Grade Smile Written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier Graphic memoir · 2010 · Re-review ( see original review ) Add it on Goodreads · Preview the illustrations · · · The publisher says: · · · Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But one night after Girl Scouts she trips and falls, severely injuring her two front teeth, and what follows is a long and frustrating journey with on-again, off-again braces, surgery, embarrassing headgear, and even a retainer with fake teeth attached. And on top of all that, there’s still more to deal with: a major earthquake, boy confusion, and fr...

Hey y'all! I've been buying tickets to the Studio Ghibli Fest that's bringing different Ghibli movies back to theaters, since I've never seen them before. And this week I got to see Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind , which was incredible —the visuals were stunning, the story was rich with depth, and I cried at the end. The plot was confusing at times, but really, who cares?! You can go watch it on Max (you know, the streaming service named after me) if you missed the theatrical showing. (Not to keep blithering, but for the first of the three Ghibli movies I've seen, I saw it dubbed—and as high-quality as the dub was, I feel like seeing them subbed is so much  more natural.) Anyway , I commenced the Raina Telgemeier re-reading spree I described last week, so let's talk about it! Middle Grade: Drama Written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier Graphic novel · 2012 Add it on Goodreads · Preview the illustrations · · · The publisher says: · · · Callie loves theate...

Hey y'all! I'm exhausted at this very moment on Saturday, but that doesn't mean I can't format a post of two great MG graphic novels for you. Let's dive in! Middle Grade Lucy in the Sky Written by Kiara Brinkman and illustrated by Sean Chiki (they're a couple!) Graphic novel · 2021 Recommended by Karen Yingling Add it on Goodreads · · · The publisher says: · · · It’s the first day of seventh grade, and everything is going downhill for Lucy Sutcliffe. At school, she has the feeling her friends are all leaving her behind. At home, her single father is in a rut, and her perpetually traveling photojournalist mother is more absent than ever. Worst of all, Lucy’s grandmother is undergoing chemotherapy and is no longer the warm, vibrant presence that her family has come to depend on. But everything changes the day Lucy discovers a box of her father’s Beatles records. Inspired by their music, she gets a drum set and forms an all-girl rock band with her friends. But can ...

I'm feeling pretty good as of Saturday morning, writing this! Two stressful things in the past week went better than I expected, and I've been totally enjoying a new-to-me album by one of my favorite artists ( Close It Quietly  by Frankie Cosmos). I've got two books to share today! Just a heads-up, if you're short on time, my review of  Parachute Kids  is long and conflicted, while my review of Gender Queer  is shorter and unequivocally positive, so I suggest you skip ahead to that one if you have to choose. Let's dive into some books! Middle Grade: Parachute Kids Written and illustrated by Betty C. Tang Graphic novel · 2023 Add it on Goodreads · Preview the illustrations · · · The publisher says: · · · A DREAM TRIP TO AMERICA TURNS INTO A NIGHTMARE! Feng-Li can’t wait to discover America with her family! But after an action-packed vacation, her parents deliver shocking news: They are returning to Taiwan and leaving Feng-Li and her older siblings in California on t...