**spoiler alert** It is important to note that most of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, therefore, tou**spoiler alert** It is important to note that most of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, therefore, touches on these topics as well. Many people might find the book's subject matters & those detailed in my review overwhelming. I would suggest you steer clear of both if this is the case. Please note that from this point forward I will be writing about matters which contain reflections on parental neglect, the death of a child, grief, mental illness, harassment, & others.
The magical realm of ghosts & spectres concludes in a shimmering wave of goodbyes & unanswered questions. Where once there was a blooming & complex friendship, now Wendell & Marjorie part ways, heading on to new adventures alone. Readers of this series might hope to find more of Wendell in this last instalment; previous books saw him play second fiddle to stories that miscalculated the interest of the reader. In so doing, the adventure of the protagonist remains independent of the reader’s favourite.
In this third & final book, the cast of characters of which the reader will by now be overtly familiar, find themselves faced with a final project; solving Wendell’s murder. Eliza & Marjorie’s friendship is once again in turmoil as Marjorie seeks the companionship of people who participated in tormenting both of them a few months before, all in the name of desperation. Perhaps this is harsh, maybe there are only five (5) people in the town with whom Marjorie can be friends. Regardless, the story becomes redundant as both Eliza & Marjorie attempt to live out their truth; experiencing an array of different things with the people that matter.
All the while, Wendell longs to remember what he has forgotten. Readers will remember that in the first book, The Land of Ghosts is filled with the spirits of people who have been forgotten by people in the land of the living. Rather than maintain this truth, the author chooses a new pathway & alters the story she has built in order to accommodate a scene that may leave a less sensitive reader rolling their eyes.
The main plot of this story sees the three friends (Wendell, Eliza, & Marjorie) roaming the town exploring different things as friends. Marjorie longs to do more traditional girlie things—sleepovers, nail polish, rom-com movies—but she has no one to do these things with. Eliza learns that her hyper-fixation does not leave room for her friend to feel appreciated within their friendship. At its core, the development of this key piece of the friendship is a nice addition to the story as a whole. It was positive to see the girls attempt to ensure that each other was being respected & valued.
Unfortunately, the resurgence of the bullies was a tired trope in this third book. The story had already explored the turmoil of befriending those who seek to do harm to others. Yet, once again, these same characters come back around to confront the same issue as before. Marjorie is rather intent on remaining friends with these girls even though she states that she is not. What makes this scenario all the more awkward to read about is the participation of her father in all of the events.
I kept wondering when Marjorie’s father was going to be written as an adult rather than a moaning incompetent who required his children to make all the adult decisions for the household. Yet again, we find him where we left off, with no character development & a rather annoying character to read about. He never listens to his children, & does whatever he thinks is best—which was categorically seen as not the best choice. I grew tired of seeing him make decisions for Marjorie without paying attention to her whatsoever in the process. There was never a moment within the entire series where I felt an ounce of pity for her father.
In that same breath, the main antagonist of this story is Wendell’s babysitter—whom I am not altogether convinced wasn’t an adult for the majority of this book. The reader comes to learn that before his death, Wendell’s parents—who were chronically unavailable to him; always travelling & working; leaving him behind—put him in the care of one of the ballerinas at the studio while they voyaged independently.
The person whom Wendell refers to as the “Sea Witch” was meant to be his guardian for what we might assume to be months. The author pens this interaction as though hoping the reader will view it as more heartwarming than it actually was. Once again, it feels impossible not to draw on one’s own lived experiences when reading about Wendell’s experiences with his caretaker—if you hate kids, don’t be around kids; they do not deserve to be the brunt end of your angst & turmoil.
Rather than see any positive interactions between the two, Wendell is subjected to an array of crude & irresponsible actions, situations, & conversations. The Sea Witch treats Wendell like trash. The reason for this is said to be her own annoyance at having to work to pay for her enrolment in the School of Ballet. Surely, readers may be able to draw some level of sympathy for the Sea Witch. While everyone else seems to glide through life, she is required to pay her way. However, there is a discrepancy between what the reader is shown & what actually takes place.
I am glad that Wendell feels that there were a great number of positive experiences shared with his babysitter. The reader sees one such experience but it is nowhere near enough to comfort the shrill redundancy of cruel behaviour that Wendell experiences. Wendell drowns as a consequence of the babysitter’s eagerness to audition for the School of Ballet. Why she could not simply bring Wendell with her is a mystery to me.
Overall, there was something innate missing within this story. I was glad to see the story focus more closely on Wendell but, once again the inclusion of so much dreary material—unexplained & given none of its due weight in severity—is glossed over within a book that is intended for younger readers who deserve to understand what is happening. It is not enough for a character to state that the Sea Witch was a dangerous person & for the reader to then see her crying when Wendell’s ghost appears. The girth of this story felt flimsy & rushed. Whereas I suppose I am hesitant to say that this deviates from any of the instalments, it felt particularly crass in this final book as a beloved character does not get their happy ending.
Ultimately, I am glad to have read this series. I loved the illustration style & the colour schemes. I found the transition between sequences superb as emphasis was given to the environment in which the story takes place. With that being said, I think more time could have been given to bring the characters outside of their one-dimensional statuesque poses to render them just as colourful & kind as the illustrations made them appear.
I am glad to see Wendell find some semblance of peace in the knowledge that he was neglected & therefore died through no direct fault of a villain in the bushes. I hope that each of the characters finds some level of ease in the flow of what life will surely hold for them in the world in which they live. As for myself, I am left feeling a bit letdown, overall, but, such is life.
Thank you to NetGalley, Oni Press, & Brenna Thummler for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!...more
**spoiler alert** It is important to note that most of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, therefore, tou**spoiler alert** It is important to note that most of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, therefore, touches on these topics as well. Many people might find the book's subject matters & those detailed in my review overwhelming. I would suggest you steer clear of both if this is the case. Please note that from this point forward I will be writing about matters which contain reflections on suicidal ideations, the death of a child, grief, the death of a parent, parental neglect, mental illness, harassment, extreme forms of bullying, & others.
Before exploring the essence of my review, I would like to make it abundantly clear that this story deals outwardly with sentiments of self-loathing, suicidal ideations, & attempts at self-harm in children. There are scenes which depict a group of children encouraging another child to kill themselves; scenes that highlight the feelings that are often evoked when dealing with detrimental levels of self-deprecating thoughts, depression, & low self-esteem. Though this story explores these topics I am not of the belief that it was done well. There are no clear discussions surrounding the repercussions of dealing with suicidal ideation nor of what happens if someone commits suicide.
The characters in this book are young—ranging from four/five (entering the first grade) to twelve/thirteen (entering the eighth grade). The weight of living with suicidal ideations is never explained in the context of the age of the characters nor is it explored in terms of the depth of these illnesses. I would caution all guardians & readers of all ages to be kind to yourself if you or someone you know endeavours to read this book. One does not need to be a veteran reader to understand the implications of the scenes presented in this story. Should you not be in a position to read about graphic emotions that deal with depression, harassment, heightened levels of bullying, self-harm, & suicidal ideations, I welcome you to leave off reading the rest of my review & the book as a whole.
Following a paranormal encounter of the cutest kind, Marjorie’s life has seemingly returned to normal. A year has passed since her family’s laundromat was threatened, the bullies that harassed her are set upon being her friend, & Marjorie has met a boy whom she thinks holds the key to a bright & new adventure—young love & summertime chocolate fish. However, as tends to happen, things did not go as planned for Marjorie. The summer she envisioned brought change. At the beginning of eighth grade, Marjorie is presented with a new set of obstacles, some of which are partly recycled due to a lack of parental presence in Marjorie’s life.
I have never been one to mince words. I spend time writing these reviews as both a practice that is cathartic to me as well as a project that is put forward with the intention of making the world of books a better place. When I was young, I had many reading role models. I was brought to the library for a reading circle, the adults in my life always had books lining multiple shelves in their homes; I was encouraged to be critical when reading, always seeking the deeper meaning, all while being asked to define my feelings in tangible words; what does it mean to enjoy something? What part of a book made it unpleasant? For this matter, I was greatly influenced by the royal readers that create safe spaces for growing minds—think LeVar Burton & his “Reading Rainbow” (1983).
My experiences do not leave me roaming the ocean alone. Many readers seek to understand what they have in their hands. What is important to remember—what I keep in mind when reading books intended for younger audiences—is that not everyone was as lucky as me. The adults in my life listened to my queries & helped me look for answers when my philosophizing young mind brought forwards a riddle unbound. Their guidance & encouragement allowed me to flourish into the person whose reviews you read today. I employ the same tactics I did all those years ago & overall, I am not shy to say, I adore stories all the more for it.
Yet, for young readers who might ponder the written word & who may be left with lists of similar queries, the absence of a helping hand may lead them to feel rather neglected & ultimately, less able to gauge the story they are consuming. I highlight this fact because this story was shocking & I shall be very disappointed to find that young readers become overwhelmed & pained as a consequence of a book that did a pitiful job at exploring a reality that impacts children in shadow.
It is a cruel world that sees children plagued with suicidal ideations, depression, self-harm, & many other illnesses of the mind. One does not need personal experience in the domain to understand that these feelings are horrifically difficult to deal with. Children are bound to guardians & in sad circumstances, these adults do not act as protectors; leaving children to be faced with similar circumstances as Eliza experienced in this story. I should not want my comments to come across as though parents & guardians should always know when something is wrong. Part of dealing with mental illness is the need for self-preservation. After all, mental illness is still an illness, it can feel embarrassing & belittling to live with.
Eliza’s character is introduced to the reader via her quirky & unfortunate circumstances. Having failed the eighth grade the year before, Eliza will have to repeat a year. What the reader comes to find out is that Eliza is a character who has obsessive tendencies. I am not in a personal or professional position to reflect on the accurate representation of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). My observations come from a place of earnest assumption. With that being said, Eliza reads as a person who might very well be Autistic. Her behaviours, favoured patterns & clothing material, her struggle to socialize & discuss subject matter not associated with her hyper-fixation, etc, all contribute to my conclusion. I would wager to say that many adult readers might clock the possibility of ASD in Eliza as well.
For that reason, the journey her character undergoes in this book is quite simply repulsive. It would be repulsive had it happened to anyone however, much of what takes place within this story seems to shine a light on the lived experiences of children who are undiagnosed & whose parents tiptoe around the quirky behaviour their child exhibits, all of which leaves them ostracized from society. Eliza & Marjorie (the main character) are in the same class when their paths cross. Readers will be reminded that Eliza’s father is the swim teacher & so, is around the school playing “cool guy” while his daughter gets the brunt end of horrific bullying, all the while he remains utterly oblivious.
I am getting ahead of myself. In essence, this second book sees Marjorie opt to be in the popular group—which is arguably not the popular group at school if everyone hates the members given they are all bullies but, I digress—in lieu of spending another year without friends. I was quick to empathize with Marjorie because I remember what it was like to live through difficult things at a young age & I remember being young. Her inability to stand up to the group of bullies felt authentic—she just wanted to belong to a group of friends. I should highlight that Marjorie’s father remains a deadbeat. Though I can appreciate that he is grieving the loss of his wife, he has two children who have had to become adults in an attempt to keep the peace & so the family does not become destitute. I have no pity nor any fond feelings for Marjorie’s loser father.
Wendell is still a most beloved character to read about. His joy & eagerness to be part of something good & warm was exceedingly welcomed by me. I wish we had gotten more opportunities to see his character throughout this book. Rather than have any of the ghosts play any type of role, Marjorie’s friend group troubles take up the bulk of this story. For readers who might have been looking for the continuation of personal growth, fun times with ghost buddies, & the healing of a family unit; this book will be both a bore & a disappointment. I appreciate the transition this book took to engage with the authentic representation of a person who is struggling to make their way in the world without adult encouragement. However, this is a long book & it went nowhere fast.
With this being said, the main conflict in this book arises as Eliza attempts to befriend Marjorie who in return lies to her & opts to remain highly engaged with a group of kids who bullied her the year before. There is no explanation that sheds light on the reasons why Marjorie decided to become friends with a boatload of bullies but, such is life. Other than a curiously dull crush, Marjorie seems to remain friends with the group so that she is not alone & I am inclined to believe that this is enough of a reason for many people do to & say silly things.
As a consequence of Marjorie playing sides & shying away from Eliza as she tries to be social, the group of bullies chides Eliza for being highly invested (obsessive) in paranormal phenomena. They ridicule her every single day at school & out around town; they make snide comments at her expense & treat her like a second-class citizen. Meanwhile, Eliza’s parents are apparently fully involved with Eliza’s two other siblings—which is never explained—so much so that they are totally unperturbed by their daughter’s solitary existence at the age of thirteen (13).
I found it difficult to read this book. Eliza confronts her parents about the insistent bullying (harassment) she is experiencing on a daily basis & instead of being patient & helpful, they tell her to give people less of a reason to think she’s weird. What kind of moronic thing to say was that? Are children supposed to read this section & feel connected to the neglect Eliza’s parents are feeding her? Don’t get me wrong, I was a child in the 90s, I understand how the story goes but, this is a book that was written within the past five (5) years, it would be to the story’s benefit not to have characters bemoaning the child who is suicidal because of her quirky pastimes & rather refocus the dialogue to explain that harassment is not acceptable. Her father is a teacher at the school for crying out loud.
This scene divulges the painful experience that Eliza lives through wherein the group of bullies corners her in the tower of a lighthouse & tells her to kill herself. Eliza has asked for help, she has turned to the people who were meant to be there & they told her to change who she was so that she wasn’t the subject of vile people’s loser lives. I find it rather tedious at best, & malicious at worst, to read a story intended for middle-grade audiences wherein their doppelgänger is treated like barn decay & not once in the entire book does the narrative shift to reflect the poverty of such a stance.
I would like to highlight, once again, that I understand—fully & completely—that human beings are not mind readers. Regardless of the circumstances, suicide is a devastating occurrence. What I am trying to state in this review is that there is no better moment than the present to be an active listener. When you decide to have children you endeavour to create safety for the life you have welcomed into the world, via whatever way this might mean. The second best moment to be an active listener is when a saving grace allows you to be. Eliza’s parents are able to sit with their daughter & listen to her recount all the ways in which she felt that suicide was the best option.
Eliza’s parents get her a therapist & they ensure that her lifestyle changes—she is not directly exposed to triggers for a while. This is great & I was glad to see that happen. With all the good that takes place, we also see some difficult conversations happen among friends. Sometimes, we do not realize that our actions can hurt someone. We might have loved & cherished another person for all of the days of their lives & still, there would come a time when our actions or words resulted in pain. It’s important to discuss that this is part of life. We gain so much as human beings when we engage in understanding our own behaviour. I was glad to see Marjorie be made aware of what it meant to be a bystander & in consequence, be part of a problem.
These discussions open up the floor for readers to explore very crucial life experiences. It’s good to be able to apologize & it’s wonderful to understand that mistakes happen & we are able to take from that & be better the next time. With that being said, I do not think that Eliza should have needed to apologize to the person who told her to kill herself. Though the photographs of Tess in her house were a clear invasion of her privacy, it was not Eliza who distributed them. Tess legitimately was egging someone to suicide & yet there is never a moment of remorse on her part though she is made aware that Eliza was moments away from committing suicide. I found this ending rather morose & disappointing.
Ultimately, this book was a huge disappointment. The subject matter was poorly explored & does a great disservice to the younger readers who will come across reflected images of themselves among the illustrations. I was eager to meet the characters again & was curious to see where the story would go now that the weird uncomfortably familiar villain of the first book was out of range.
However, I think that there is much tenderness that remains to be seen in this book. It is my belief that a good book, is a good book & everyone deserves that, regardless of age or reading ability. This story purports truths in graphic malevolence, ignoring the purity that could exist when young people open their hearts, as they have done before, to the ghostly apparitions of tenderness in friendship, connection, & fun.
Thank you to NetGalley, Oni Press, & Brenna Thummler for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!...more
**spoiler alert** It is important to note that most of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, therefore, tou**spoiler alert** It is important to note that most of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, therefore, touches on these topics as well. Many people might find the book's subject matters & those detailed in my review overwhelming. I would suggest you steer clear of both if this is the case. Please note that from this point forward I will be writing about matters which contain reflections on grief, the death of a loved one, financial insecurity, & others.
Marjorie is treading water. At just thirteen (13) she must maintain her family’s laundromat, take care of her preschool-aged younger brother, go to school, & flow through the parental responsibilities that her father has long since abandoned. Since her mother's passing in a freak swimming accident at the local lake, Marjorie has been faced with turmoil, stress, & a slew of dread, all of which she has had to wade through alone. The family business suffers as she teeters to attempt to maintain some normalcy in her young life. The grownups around town show her no mercy, almost berating her for needing to attend school because she was not able to open the laundromat on the hour. In what appears to be the final hour, reprieve comes via the dirty sheet of a young ghost, Wendell.
Before moving forward with this review I would like to take a moment to highlight the content warning. This story deals almost exclusively with grief. Marjorie’s mother died & her father has all but physically abandoned his children as a consequence of what one might assume is Depression. Marjorie is faced with very detrimental circumstances. Her parent's passing is present throughout this story & emphasis is placed on the act of dying. While this is taking place, Wendell’s death at the age of eleven (11) is detailed & used as a means of reflecting on mortality. It is my opinion that the subject matter was approached with tact. However, for young readers who might not yet have been exposed to this topic or who may be particularly sensitive to the concept of loss—specifically the loss of a loved one—I would caution parents & guardians to approach this book ready to discuss what it means to pass away; where we go when we die; what happens to the people left behind. As always, be kind & gentle with yourselves & the young readers in your environments.
I have had this graphic novel sitting on my wish list for some time. It was a stroke of luck that it was made available to me by the publishers. I’m not sure what I had been expecting when I began reading this book. My mind’s eye was caught by the beautiful illustrations & I would be lying if I said these did not play a rather large role in my enjoyment of the book. Though the story itself is interesting & coy, the comic strips themselves were the reason I enjoyed this book so much. All of the characters felt so very alive; they had texture & colours, & their lives were full & detailed. At times, I found myself skipping the written word to delve further into the art.
This story adopts a very morbid stance. Marjorie is just a child & her circumstances were difficult to stomach. I have been the reader that I am today for many moons—my tendencies towards the absurd, the philosophical, the morbid, & overwhelming have been present all the reading years of my life. For some readers, that is not the case. I like to believe that I keep this group in mind when I read stories intended for younger readers. Because of this, I found this story’s tone to be quite shocking. The reader watches the main character shuffle through life, absolutely consumed with the dreadful consequences of her family situation. I won’t lie—I wanted the father to step up his game & found myself frustrated, not on one occasion, by the presence of the adults in this story.
I remember what it was like to be thirteen. I remember what these sentiments felt like. I remember walking through crowds alone to the gaze of grownups who were meant to know better than to let me be on my way. Being placed in this role, the neutral & silent reader was uncomfortable. This is why I must grant praise to the author. One is so often reminded of one’s own experiences, it is not easy to forget where we have come from. The ease by which this book encourages the reader to adopt the mature & theological stance is lovely. I am inclined to believe that it does not necessarily matter if a reader is an adult or a younger person; the author encourages & asks the reader to be present & kind toward Marjorie, & we oblige.
It would be unkind to say that the main obstacle Marjorie faces is the dreadful moustached man & his ploy to boot the family out of their home. Marjorie’s life is consumed by responsibilities. She is in charge of running the family business all on her own while going to school. This leads me to a small qualm. The duress that Marjorie is experiencing is already quite high—obscenely high for a child of her age. I do not believe there needed to be multiple antagonistic adults pinning for her demise all while the reader watches her delve deeper into herself & further away from the world.
The inclusion of multiple grownups looming over her shoulder, waiting for her to fail, felt particularly unfair & rather like overkill. The point is driven home in multiple instances; Marjorie is without parental protection. The main antagonist is breaking into the laundromat to vandalize it in the hopes of using the building for his yoga resort. All the while, Marjorie is suffering from a lack of sleep & is then expected to wake up the next morning & take care of her younger brother, then go to school. I recognize that I am an adult with many years of life experience on my tab. Therefore, I am taking this to heart. However, as I indicated earlier, I have some rather proximate experience in the furrow of Marjorie's life. The wee level of reprieve that is granted to Marjorie via the help of the ghosts is not enough to ease the story forward. One is left feeling horrible for a child who has legitimately no one looking out for her.
Sure, the swimming teacher & his family are kind to Marjorie but, the entire story revolves around the terrible time she is having, daily, surviving life with absent parents & tormenting local adults. I would have appreciated it if she had been given more freedom to be kind. One antagonist is enough, the entire town didn’t need to ride her back until it broke.
The first half of this story was very slow-moving & this worked to its benefit. Tensions were high as the characters were being introduced & readers were given the opportunity to understand each of the two main kids. Wendell’s character was such a vivid light in the darkened shades of his surroundings. Again, the illustrations that were paired with this part of the story were lovely & did an exceedingly good job of setting the tone of these sequences. I very much appreciated that each of the young protagonists felt like they were, indeed, kids of their age. This is perhaps aided by the fact that this story takes place in the 90s. The lack of media & collectivized gadgets eases the reader into the moment.
I opt to bring forth my adult perspective in the case of Wendell’s death; when we learn that all of the ghosts residing in the black & white town are the spirits of those that were forgotten, I felt a great pang in my heart. All those young children were left behind by the forgetfulness of people who were meant to be their guardians. Perhaps I am reading too much into this. The young boy who was killed by a train might have died many, many years ago—we are not given the logistics of the time of forgetting. Yet, I could not help but feel sad. Wendell died all of two (2) years ago & he is stuck because, as the story indicates, his own parents have forgotten about him.
Rather than twiddle thumbs, the story catapults itself forward after the main conflict has arisen. Wendell & his ghost friends arrive in the night to help Marjorie save her laundromat & give her special ghost detergent that will clear away any & all stains. Had the book set itself at a quicker pace throughout its entirety the ending might not have felt so rushed. Given the amount of information the reader is given, about both protagonists & the antagonist, I think it would have been to its benefit to see a greater restraint in terms of pacing.
This is the first book in what appears to now be a series of graphic novels, all of which I am eager to read. I am hopeful for the second instalment & will tune in for the third. This story set the tone for nostalgia & realism, all while guiding young readers through beautiful illustrations, reminiscent of a coastal town in autumn. I am rather glad to see this style of book remain beloved & highlight the very important subject matters that it does. In all, this was a good book. Readers will surely find characters to root for & questions to ask. If anything, this story might delight the curious reader, one who is eager to ask questions & delve deeper.
Ultimately, I am glad to have met Marjorie & Wendell. The pair of friends, once brief acquaintances, now lifetime soulmates, shed light on the love that can be shared when you have a friend. There is something to be said for the quaint breeze of youth that reminds us of how good it felt to be cared about by a friend; to have someone to call on when we needed a laugh or someone to share a favourite snack with. This book reminds me of the starting point of many of my friendships & how thankful I am for the ones that have lasted since far before my thirteenth year.
Thank you to NetGalley, Oni Press, & Brenna Thummler for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!...more
**spoiler alert** In the woods, where the land is vast & the trees overshadow greens, there is a Bear with a cone on his head. He sits alone & without**spoiler alert** In the woods, where the land is vast & the trees overshadow greens, there is a Bear with a cone on his head. He sits alone & without speaking we know, we have been the bear once too.
This graphic novel is not one I might typically leave a content warning for, given nothing is said; there is no writing of any kind. However, I would not feel right leaving this review without a word of caution regarding the content that is hinted at through the detailed illustrations provided across the pages. This book, in my opinion, casts a very bright light on what it is to live with mental turmoil, mental unrest, & a burden on the heart & the mind. There are certainly ample ways to interpret this story but, regardless of which way you lean, what is clear is that Bear is dealing with very distressing emotions. This story should be read when one is prepared to be reminded that in the world of thorns, bushes, sharp edges, & gloom, someone loves you. If that person is yourself or another, inside or outside your being, you are worthy of tenderness & care.
With this being said, I feel confident that many readers will find themselves as I did; confused. At first, it appears as though Bear is simply stuck. He has a bucket, or maybe it’s a cone, on his head & he cannot get it off. After trying for what seems like forever, Bear finally gives up. Then, along comes the Hare.
Bear tries to welcome the help that this other creature is trying to give to him but we see that it is difficult; almost impossible to accept. Soon, the two are at odds & we come to realize that the cone represents so much more than a tunnel through which Bear views the world, it is all the ways that he is held back. The cone might be viewed as a physical blocker; something that Bear tries to work past with his hands & tools. It is also a metaphorical obstacle which we see when Bear roams away from Hare, on his own.
What is most moving within this graphic novel is the instance in which we see Bear free from the confines of the cone. He realizes that he is free & yet, he remembers the anger & unkind behaviour he exhibited on Hare. Perhaps he believes that he should be in the cone; perhaps he believes that his powerful emotions, the ones leaving him feeling sadness, seclusion, & fear, are what he deserves. When we are faced with this scene, the story becomes quite overwhelming.
The reader can easily see that Bear has done what any person might do, he was upset because he has spent so long held back by the confines of the cone. Though the Hare tries to help him, this aid takes time & because Bear does not see any progress or any positive conclusion in sight, so he pushes the Hare away. I should wager to say that this sentiment is one which many people are familiar with, unfortunate as that might be.
This book offers readers a tangible glimpse into what many of us live with every day. The illustrations within this book are incredible. They bring to life such vivid sentiments & secrets held within the world of mental illness, I was quite blown away, seeing them displayed in such a moving manner. I would hope that everyone has the opportunity to read books in which they might see themselves reminded that what they hold deep inside is not innately something they deserve to carry. Pain, distress, & sorrow are not emotions that should be cast onto us like penance for being alive. Books such as this one remind us kindly that our worst wounds, our deepest burdens, & our most cataclysmic fears can be set to rest with tenderness toward ourselves.
Thank you to Edelweiss+, Seven Stories Press, & Staffan Gnosspelius for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!...more
**spoiler alert** It is important to note that the majority of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, theref**spoiler alert** It is important to note that the majority of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, therefore, touches on these topics as well. Many people might find the subject matters of the book as well as those detailed in my review overwhelming. I would suggest you steer clear of both if this is the case. Please note that from this point forward I will be writing about matters which contain reflections on the death of a loved one, grief, physical illness, mortality, & others.
On the night of her 8th birthday, Nora is far from being in a celebratory mood. She misses her mother & cannot fathom welcoming a birthday without her; life is not the same & never will be again. Her father offers her his best words of encouragement & comfort as he gifts her one of her mother’s prize possessions, a music box. What ensues is a world-bending adventure that sees Nora become the hero to an ailing woman & her two (2) desperate children who seek to offer her medical aid in the world of the music box.
My first impression when reading this comic strip was that much has changed since the times in which I used to roam the library shelves for the French comics of my youth. Carbone's work, having been originally written in French, does not accurately translate into a story that is as warm as I know it would have been in its original language. I am glad to see the diversity in plot lines; the reality that many children are parented by a single figure, whether that be a biological one or not, needs to be addressed in literature & I am glad that this is present throughout this story. However, the essence of the narrative is lost in the speedy language of English.
So many moments of this story felt like a translation. That is not to say that the translator did a poor job but that what was trying to be said could not be translated. The world in which Nora lives is brimmed with fantasy & lore; nothing is ever as it seems. However, nothing is actually given to the reader so we might deduce that for ourselves. We hardly got a moment to know Nora before we see her dive head-first into a music box to save someone who needed help. Later in the story, we learn that Nora’s mother was a nurse & that Nora learnt a great deal from her. Yet, the intermingling of her ever-present grief with this odyssey quest does not leave me with any semblance of enthusiasm for the narrative.
The story flies by in such quick succession that I was curious to know why Nora, a girl who is seemingly able to set aside her own fear, sadness, & emotions to help another person, would not be blown away by the monstrous figures that inhabit this land. We certainly do not need a long-drawn-out scene for this to be showcased but, some extra pieces of dialogue would bode well in crafting the world & the characters so that they appeared to be entities with depth & beings who lived lives outside of the scenes in which we meet them.
This aside, I believe that this story would be a welcomed series to all those young readers who might wish to see the ghoulish differences that exist within the Fantasy genre, in something of a beginner step in their journey. This book would serve as a lovely commencement to a lifetime of love for all things magical & cinematic. The illustrations by Jérôme Gillet paint this world to be one that is a rainbow of detail & sunshine. I was immediately in awe of the vivacity of the colour scheme & the effort that went into ensuring that this tale was told through the eyes of a person who sees the world for all the beauty it holds.
I would recommend this book to young readers, younger than Nora, who might be able to better appreciate the choppy transition of dialogue & scenes; appreciating the land, the sky, the background & the lore they hope to encounter in the next instalment.
Thank you to NetGalley, Capstone, & Bénédicte Carboneill ("Carbone") for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!...more
**spoiler alert** It is important to note that the majority of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, theref**spoiler alert** It is important to note that the majority of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, therefore, touches on these topics as well. Many people might find the subject matters of the book as well as those detailed in my review overwhelming. I would suggest you steer clear of both if this is the case. Please note that from this point forward I will be writing about matters which contain reflections on abuse, psychological distress, domestic violence, parental neglect, mental illness, the psychological duress of a child, & others.
Jamie is four (4) years old & is an only child. He has a favourite stuffed toy in the form of a bat with a heart-shaped nose; he never goes anywhere without it. The reader learns so much about Jamie as a consequence of his parents paying him no attention. Though he is but a wee lad in the background, he carries the weight of the world on his tiny shoulders & is a person worth knowing. What I want to stress with this short introduction is that for those of us who recognize ourselves in Jamie, or for those who find the subject matter of parental neglect & the psychological distress of a child, overwhelming &/or debilitating, I would strongly suggest you be kind towards yourself when deciding whether or not to read this story.
I am both pleasantly surprised & terribly disappointed in this book. On the one hand, I had not selected it because I thought it would scare me—seldom do Horror stories set anything in my heart alight but the malignant beat that prevails over the hours. I enjoy Horror because there is so much that can be done under the umbrella that shelters the genre; so many stories to tell, & so much innate terror to be shared. What left me feeling disappointed was not the story itself but how it made me feel.
I am disappointed that after all these years, people are unable to recognize psychological distress when it presents itself so outwardly. I am disappointed because night terrors & sleep paralysis are domains that have been more clearly spoken about, if not fully understood. It does not take a child psychologist to know that Jamie is experiencing excruciatingly high levels of stress. All the while, as he cries for his parents to help him, to keep him safe from the ghoulish alien-shaped monster that haunts his closet, they ignore him & focus on their screaming bouts which do nothing but spook the termites eating the base of the home from the inside.
I really loved this story because it became something I hadn’t thought it would be. When I requested this book I thought I might come upon a classic tale of goblins on the rooftop; demons under the sheets; boogeymen in the corners. What was held within this story was far scarier than the worst villains the mind can fabricate because it is real. Thom & Maggie exist in the world today as adults who are struggling to find their way. Yet, that is not enough. It is not enough to ignore your child who is evoking signs of serious anxiety due to the neglect & toxic environment they foster.
The illustrations by Gavin Fullerton are a marvel. The sombre colour pallet stroked across the seams by Chris O’Halloran marks a story worth investigating. Together, the two set the stage for the horrors that are found within a domestic setting, the homes where children & parents sleep under stilted roofs with flowers littering the property.
I was hopeful every time someone clocked Thom for the annoyance he was. Everything was so acutely about him & his experiences; his development, his life, his memories, his age. So little time was spent looking at the child in the room who had tears drenching the elbow crevices of their pyjamas. It frustrated me to read the monologues of a person who could not seem to get a grasp of real life; could not muster the courage to be who they were, ever so much as that being was a hollow trunk of a human person. It made me happy to see other adults vocalize what I felt.
In all, I am glad to have read this story. It was horribly sad but, I suppose that was the point. So often we view the dangers as creeping from darkened forests, sloshing through the neighbourhoods, & knocking from outside the house. Whereas, in reality, the danger is perpetrated by those who know us best; the demonic entities we have no choice but to trust, the vampiric beasts that linger when we go to sleep; those we know dearly as caretakers. Like flowers in the attic, we grow through the floorboards & meet the goons that transform the unconscious state into a minotaur’s lair of terror.
Thank you to Edelweiss+, Diamond Books, & James Tynion IV for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!...more
I suppose that being alone can mean something entirely different to every single human living on this planet today. I should be interested in hearing I suppose that being alone can mean something entirely different to every single human living on this planet today. I should be interested in hearing the rationals, the meanings, the personified inventories, & the origins of every one of those reasons. Though this sentiment is one which many might draw on, it also alienates us by its vast morbidity; redefining the emotional depth of each of us every single day. What does it mean to be alone?
In a grainy, gutting, gritty strip of illustrations, Gauld formatted the life of a singular police officer, roaming the cratered surface of the moon. My esteemed short story companion, « Scott », chose this week’s tale for what it held within the imagined sentiment of such a singular being, this one & only judicial man & the life we saw him lead. I wrote to my friend after I read the story, as is our habit, with the feelings of grimy displeasure remanent in my mind from the jaunt I pursued on the distant planet. This was not a feeling that I attribute to the quality of the work, more so, the amplitude of my uselessness in remaining an invisible being whilst another member of my species fade into the darkened sky.
Why did I feel such a pull for this Moon cop? The simplicity of the comic strip was at once something that made me question this week’s reading whilst also inviting me to play on my own patience; something more will arise from this dry deserted land. I was rewarded—though not in the brimming bright way one may attribute to the word—by my patience with the reveal that the Moon cop was indeed a dwindled being for the lack of help & resources granted to him by his own peers.
When he wrote home, requesting a transfer, he was denied—he can not be spared. When he watched others return to earth, he remained—he could not leave. Where would he go? Everyone with whom he formed a connection had deserted their own posts after a series of days, like the others, suffocated in the mundane truth of their own lack of purpose.
If I have taken anything away from this story it is that our ability to weave emotions surpasses our inability to connect with each other. I have always advocated for the nuance that exists in communication. We might talk or laugh, hug, side-eye, brush, share, or sit silently & read; communication is our ability to make a tapestry out of everything unsaid.
I suppose that might just be how I feel & therein lies my own acknowledgement of the truth. For some, the plain written, spoken, or read word is a fact; there is nothing between silence & seconds. For myself, I live in the pauses. Just as the Moon cop watches over the stars so too do I watch over him, longing for the tide to turn; for him to feel at home....more
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