THE LOST BOY

Author:  Greg Ruth

Genre:  Sci-Fi YA Graphic Novel, Standalone

Published:  2013

Personal Rating:  1/5 (Don't Bother)

Format:  Book

Yearly Count:  2

From Goodreads:

Some mysteries are too dangerous to ignore. . .

After Nate moves into his new house, he discovers an old tape recorder in his bedroom and is suddenly thrust into a dark mystery about a boy who went missing many years ago. Now, as strange creatures begin to track Nate, he must partner with Tabitha, a local sleuth, to find out what they want with him. But time is running out, because a powerful force is gathering strength in the woods at the edge of town, and before long Nate and Tabitha will be forced to confront a terrifying foe and uncover the truth about the Lost Boy.

This is not the genre for me! I'm sure there are many, many people who thoroughly would love this graphic novel. The artistry was terrific, but again -- just not for me.

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BRAVE

Author:  Svetlana Chmakova

Genre:  YA Graphic Novel, Awkward #2

Published:  2017

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)

Format:  Book

Yearly Count:  51


From Goodreads:

In his daydreams, Jensen is the biggest hero that ever was, saving the world and his friends on a daily basis. But his middle school reality is VERY different - math is hard, getting along with friends is hard...Even finding a partner for the class project is a big problem when you always get picked last. And the pressure's on even more once the school newspaper's dynamic duo, Jenny and Akilah, draw Jensen into the whirlwind of school news, social experiment projects, and behind-the-scenes club drama. Jensen's always played the middle school game one level at a time, but suddenly, someone's cranked up the difficulty setting. Will those daring daydreams of his finally work in his favor, or will he have to find real solutions to his real life problems?

I've been reading this series backwards, but no matter. They can all be read independently. This is a good story for middle grades - maybe teach them a thing or two. The art work is terrific - loved it.

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THIS ONE SUMMER

Author:  Mariko & Jillian Tamaki

Genre:  Fiction, Standalone

Published:  2014

Personal Rating:  3/5 (just okay)

Format:  Book

Yearly Count:  50

From Goodreads:

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.

Not much to say about this graphic novel. Some of it felt realistic and some not, but whatever. I continued to read, so that says something.

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UPGRADE SOUL

Author:  Ezra Claytan Daniels

Genre:  Sci-Fi Graphic Novel, Standalone

Published:  2018

Personal Rating:  2/5 (eh)

Format:  eBook

Yearly Count:  43

From NetGalley:

For their 45th anniversary, Hank and Molly Nonnar decide to undergo an experimental rejuvenation procedure, but their hopes for youth are dashed when the couple is faced with the results: severely disfigured yet intellectually and physically superior duplicates of themselves. Can the original Hank and Molly coexist in the same world as their clones? In Upgrade Soul, McDuffie Award-winning creator Ezra Claytan Daniels asks probing questions about what shapes our identity-Is it the capability of our minds or the physicality of our bodies? Is a newer, better version of yourself still you? This page-turning graphic novel follows the lives of Hank and Molly as they discover the harsh truth that only one version of themselves is fated to survive.

This one started out interesting, but then it just got to be too much for me.  I didn't care for the characters' look, and it sorta turned me off reading it.  I stopped for a bit.  When I went back to finish it, the eBook had disappeared (expired on NetGalley).  I did check it out from the library to finish it, but wasn't happy about the whole experience.

Thoughts of Joy

My thanks go to Lion Forge and NetGalley for providing me with this eGalley.

THE KITE RUNNER

Author:  Khaled Hosseini

Genre:  Graphic Novel, Standalone

Published:  2011

Personal Rating:  4/5 (very good)

Format:  Book

Yearly Count:  37


From Goodreads:

Since its publication in 2003, nearly 7 million readers have discovered The Kite Runner. Through Khaled Hosseini's brilliant writing, a previously unknown part of the world was brought to vivid life for readers. Now, in this beautifully illustrated graphic novel adaptation, Hosseini brings his compelling story to a new generation of readers.

This graphic novel version of The Kite Runner was very good.  I had forgotten much of the story, so this was a great refresher.

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CRUSH

Author:  Svetlana Chmakova 

Genre:  YA Graphic Novel, Awkward #3

Published:  2018

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)

Format:  eBook

Yearly Count:  35

From NetGalley:

Jorge seems to have it all together. He's big enough that nobody really messes with him, but he's also a genuinely sweet guy with a solid, reliable group of friends. The only time he ever really feels off his game is when he crosses paths with a certain girl... But when the group dynamic among the boys starts to shift, will Jorge be able to balance what his friends expect of him versus what he actually wants?

Perfect for YA (and others as well)!  :)  The characters were true to life, as well as the scenarios.  The drawings were terrific, and it read very smoothly.  I discovered that this is the third book in this series.  Oops!  However, that made no difference in my reading pleasure.  I will be picking up the others.

Thoughts of Joy

My thanks go to Yen Press and NetGalley for providing me with this eGalley.

SHEETS

Author:  Brenna Thummler

Genre:  Graphic Novel, Standalone

Published:  2018

Personal Rating:  2.25/5 (not enjoyable +)

Format:  eBook

Yearly Count:  26

From NetGalley:

Marjorie Glatt feels like a ghost. A practical thirteen year old in charge of the family laundry business, her daily routine features unforgiving customers, unbearable P.E. classes, and the fastidious Mr. Saubertuck who is committed to destroying everything she’s worked for.

Wendell is a ghost. A boy who lost his life much too young, his daily routine features ineffective death therapy, a sheet-dependent identity, and a dangerous need to seek purpose in the forbidden human world.

When their worlds collide, Marjorie is confronted by unexplainable disasters as Wendell transforms Glatt’s Laundry into his midnight playground, appearing as a mere sheet during the day. While Wendell attempts to create a new afterlife for himself, he unknowingly sabotages the life that Marjorie is struggling to maintain.

Sheets illustrates the determination of a young girl to fight, even when all parts of her world seem to be conspiring against her. It proves that second chances are possible whether life feels over or life is over. But above all, it is a story of the forgiveness and unlikely friendship that can only transpire inside a haunted laundromat.

This was not for me.  I didn't realize that it was Sci-Fi/Fantasy, so it wasn't an enjoyable read.  The illustrations were very good, but the entire storyline was baffling.  With apparently a big message hidden inside, I hope that others find it comforting or can derive something positive from it.

Thoughts of Joy

My thanks go to Lion Forge and NetGalley for providing me with this eGalley.

BIG MUSHY HAPPY LUMP

Author:  Sarah Andersen

Genre:  Graphic Novel, Standalone

Published:  2017

Personal Rating:  4/5 (very good)

Format:  Book

Yearly Count:  8

Sarah scribbles about her life through these comics.

I enjoyed breezing through this book.  Some were relatable and some were not, but definitely fun to see the humor in some serious and some not so serious topics.

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RE-GIFTERS

Author:  Mike Carey, Sonny Lieu & Marc Hempel

Genre:  YA Graphic Novel, Standalone

Published:  2007

Personal Rating:  3.75/5 (good +)

Format:  Book

Yearly Count:  52  (Phew!  Made it!)

Oh goodness.  This is actually a re-read, which I never do!  I recognized the storyline immediately, but couldn't find it on my blog, so I continued to read thinking it may have been a DNF.  Afterwards, I looked again . . . lo and behold, it was there!  Error on my part, but I still enjoyed the book just as much.  Below are my thoughts that I wrote in 2014.  I feel exactly the same.  :)

Dixie, a martial arts enthusiast, gets wrapped up in her thoughts of true love around the time of a tournament.

I enjoyed this graphic novel.  I was interested in the storyline and artwork . . . even the second time around!

Thoughts of Joy

       

PARK BENCH

Author:  Christophe Chaboute

Genre:  Graphic Novel, Standalone

Published:  2017

Personal Rating:  2.75/5 (eh +)

Format:  eBook

Yearly Count:  34

From NetGalley:

From its creation, to its witness to the fresh ardor of lovers, the drudgery of businessmen, the various hopes of the many who enter its orbit, the park bench weathers all seasons. Strangers meet at it for the first time. Paramours carve their initials into it. Old friends sit and chat upon it for hours. Others ignore the bench, or (attempt to) sleep on it at night, or simply anchor themselves on it and absorb the ebb and flow of the area and its people.

I have mixed emotions about this graphic novel. The lack of color was interesting, yet it turned out to be very boring and drab; however, it was apropos for its purpose.  The scenarios depicted with a variety of people was fine, but incredibly repetitious -- again, apropos for its purpose.  The stories that developed were okay, nothing exciting or intriguing.  I just kept turning the pages.  Now, the actual drawings themselves were very good, especially using only black and white.  They felt like the black was etched off to create a white scene.  I liked that a lot.  Ultimately, mixed emotions remain.

Thoughts of Joy

My thanks go to Gallery Books and NetGalley for providing me with this eGalley.

ROUGHNECK

Author:  Jeff Lemire

Genre:  Graphic Novel, Standalone

Published:  2017

Personal Rating:  4.25/5 (very good +)

Format:  Book

Yearly Count:  29

An ex-hockey player and his sister reunite and attempt to bring their broken lives to a better place.

I sat down and read this in a very short period of time.  Obviously, as a graphic novel it's going to go fast, but I was intrigued by the story and the graphics, which encouraged me to keep turning the pages.

Thoughts of Joy

  

LOST AT SEA

Author:  Bryan Lee O'Malley

Genre:  YA Graphic Novel, Standalone

Published:  2003

Personal Rating:  2/5 (not enjoyable)

Format:  Book

Yearly Count:  42

Raleigh is on a road trip with 3 other students from high school.

What?!  This was just a bunch of rambling thoughts of nothing.  I kept reading because it's a graphic novel (short) and was hoping something would come of it.  Nope.

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THE PRIVATE EYE (Deluxe Edition)

Author:  Brian K. Vaughan

Genre:  Graphic Mystery, Standalone

Published:  2015

Personal Rating:  1.5/5 (ugh)
Format:  eBook

From NetGalley:

THE PRIVATE EYE is an eerily prescient sci-fi mystery about an unlicensed private investigator who stumbles onto the most important case of his life. The series is set in 2076, a time after "the cloud has burst", revealing everyone's secrets. As a result, there is no more Internet, and people are excessively guarded about their identity, to the point of appearing only masked in public.

I thought the description was intriguing, but by the time I reached 1/2 way, I disconnected.  Apparently, it is a rather loved comic.  It just didn't work for this reader.

Thoughts of Joy

My thanks go to Diamond Book Distributors and NetGalley for providing me with this eGalley.

TALES FROM THE FARM

Author:  Jeff Lemire

Genre:  Graphic Novel, Essex County #1

Published:  2007

Personal Rating:  3.75/5 (good +)

Format:  Book

Yearly Count:  49

Lester is a 10-year-old boy who now lives with his bachelor uncle after his mother's death.  

This was a very sparse story, but one that also had a lot of depth.  I enjoyed the illustrations and plan on reading the other 2 in this series.

Thoughts of Joy

THROUGH THE WOODS

Author:  Emily Carroll

Genre:  YA Graphic Novel, Standalone

Published:  2014

Personal Rating:  2/5 (not enjoyable)

Format:  Book

Yearly Count:  39

This is a collection of 5 short horror stories based on fairy tales.

This was a random pick during a hunt at the library for some graphic novels.  I didn't know what it was about -- had I known, I would not have chosen it.  I am not a fan of horror in any medium.  Also, I did not know these stories were based on fairy tales.  I've never liked fairy tales, so I was unable to identify the inspiration.  On a positive note, they do convey creepiness, so the theme prevails, and I did continue to turn the pages.

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SECONDS

Author:  Bryan Lee O'Malley

Genre:  Graphic Novel, Standalone

Published:  2014

Personal Rating:  3/5 (just okay)

Format:  Book

Yearly Count:  38

In her late 20's, Katie has things going for her until she doesn't.  A house spirit appears and gives Katie a solution to all her problems.

Once the house spirit appeared, I disconnected a bit . . . that's just not my thing.  Also, the manga-ish appearance of the characters didn't help either.  I picked it up because I wanted to read another graphic novel, and it had very high ratings.  The actual story (which is a message) turned out to be just okay for me.  

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TRASHED

Author:  Derf Backderf

Genre:  Graphic Novel, Standalone

Published:  2015

Personal Rating:  2/5 (not enjoyable)

Format:  eBook

Yearly Count:  37

From NetGalley:

Every week we pile our garbage on the curb and it disappears—like magic!  The reality is anything but, of course.   Trashed, Derf Backderf's follow-up to the critically acclaimed, award-winning international bestseller My Friend Dahmer, is an ode to the crap job of all crap jobs—garbage collector.  Anyone who has ever been trapped in a soul-sucking gig will relate to this tale.  Trashed follows the raucous escapades of three 20-something friends as they clean the streets of pile after pile of stinking garbage, while battling annoying small-town bureaucrats, bizarre townfolk, sweltering summer heat, and frigid winter storms.  Trashed is fiction, but is inspired by Derf's own experiences as a garbage­man.  Interspersed are nonfiction pages that detail what our garbage is and where it goes. The answers will stun you.  Hop on the garbage truck named Betty and ride along with Derf on a journey into the vast, secret world of garbage.  Trashed is a hilarious, stomach-churning tale that will leave you laughing and wincing in disbelief.

Oh goodness.  I decided to read this, because I was in need of a graphic novel, and I really liked Backderf's, My Friend Dahmer.  Backderf has incredible drawing skills, but this story left me blah.  I didn't know exact numbers, but I know, in general, what happens to the garbage picked up on my curb, so I really didn't learn anything new in that arena.  

The story was NOT hilarious, didn't leave me laughing by any means, and I wasn't wincing in disbelief (see above blurb).  It's filled with childish bathroom humor that 12-year-old boys would crack up over.  The story was definitely not for me.  It received a 2, because the guy is an artist, and I did feel disgusted and physically dirty after reading it, so he provoked some emotion from me regarding trash.  He got his point across by beating me over the head and leaving me in a disgusted daze.  Not quite the best strategy to encourage change.

Thoughts of Joy

      
My thanks go to Abrams ComicArt and NetGalley for providing me with this eGalley.

TWILIGHT

Author:  Stephenie Meyer

Genre:  YA Graphic Novel, Series #1

Published:  2010

Personal Rating:  3/5 (just okay)

Format:  Book

Yearly Count:  104

Yes.  This is THE "Twilight" book in a graphic format.

The graphic format made this a light version of the whole story.  I, surprisingly, enjoyed the first book in this series.  It was my introduction to vampires, and it explained the hows and whys, etc.  This book lacked any detail of any thing.  I understood what was going on, because I could fill in the holes.  Due to that, it turned out to be just okay, instead of a confused reader.

The best news . . . it has fulfilled my GoodReads 2014 Reading Challenge.  WOO!!!  

Thoughts of Joy

   

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

Author:  Jane Austen

Genre:  YA Graphic Novel, Manga Classic Series

Published:  2014

Personal Rating:  4/5 (very good)

Format:  eBook

Yearly Count:  98

From NetGalley:

Pride & Prejudice is delightfully transformed in this bold new manga adaptation. All of the joy, heartache, and romance of Jane Austen’s original, perfectly illuminated by the sumptuous art of manga-ka Po Tse, and faithfully adapted by Stacy E. King.

Pride and Prejudice.  Never read it.  Now I have.  I will not venture into reading the novel version, but I am so glad I finally know this story.  The graphics were incredibly detailed and fully developed the characters and their feelings.  It was a pleasurable read . . . backwards and all!  :)

Thoughts of Joy

My thanks go to Udon Entertainment and NetGalley for providing me with this eGalley.

THE SCARLET LETTER

Author:  Nathaniel Hawthorne

Genre:  YA Graphic Novel, Manga Classic Series

Published:  2015

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)

Format:  eBook

Yearly Count:  97

From NetGalley:

A powerful tale of forbidden love, shame, and revenge comes to life in Manga Classics: The Scarlet Letter.

Faithfully adapted by Crystal Chan from the original novel, this new edition features stunning artwork by SunNeko Lee (Manga Classics: Les Miserables) which will give old and new readers alike a fresh insight into the Nathaniel Hawthorne's tragic saga of Puritan America.

 I enjoyed the idea of reading a Manga style graphic novel again and found this one to be pretty good.  The graphics were done well, but nothing compels me to say it was any better than that.  I definitely love the idea of reading classics in this format.  That idea is a 5/5!  :)

Thoughts of Joy

My thanks go to Diamond Book Distributors and NetGalley for providing me with this eGalley.