Speak Up! by Rebecca Burgess
Speak Up! is a fantastic middle grade graphic novel about Mia and her alter-ego, music sensation Elle-Q. Mia is different from the other kids in school in that she is autistic, and through the course of the novel she learns to speak her truth and be herself authentically.
First of all, I’m so glad this graphic novel exists! I think a lot of kids will find camaraderie with Mia, as she deals with a lot of things all kids go through and also some things that autistic kids especially can relate to. I appreciated how colorful and yet easy to read the layout of the panels and each page was – it was definitely easier on my eyes and senses than a lot of other graphic novels can be, even those geared for younger audiences. And the characters were all great, too; I especially loved Charlie, Mia’s best friend and “musical genius” behind Elle-Q’s sound.
I’d highly recommend this for any autistic person, anyone who loves an autistic person, or anyone who just wants a feel-good graphic novel. This delivers on all fronts!
Thank you to Quill Tree Books and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.
Wait Till Helen Comes [graphic novel] by Mary Downing Hahn
Wait Till Helen Comes is a graphic novel adaptation of the story of the same name by Mary Downing Hahn. I can’t say I’ve read the original story, but it does follow along many of the quintessential horror tropes, so it’ll probably feel familiar to you as it did to me.
There’s a lot to like here – the artwork is crisp, the story flows well, the character designs are great. It’s clear that the folks who worked on this are true professionals. My one complaint – and it’s minor – is that there is a lot of text on every page. This makes sense as it’s based on an actual story, but it can be a lot to take in all at once, especially when there are no episodes or chapters to provide a reading break for your eyes.
Overall, I think this is a great horror graphic novel for those who either love the original story; are just dipping their toes in the water of the genre; or who want a polished, self-contained read.
Thank you to Clarion Books and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.
![Wait Till Helen Comes [graphic novel] by Mary Downing Hahn](https://i0.wp.com/readandburiedblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/cover260759-large.png?fit=536%2C780&ssl=1)
Ducks by Kate Beaton
Ducks is a graphic memoir about the author’s experience working in the oil sands in Alberta. I’ll admit I really wasn’t familiar with the setting at all, so it was really interesting to get a glimpse into mid-2000s Canada. Beaton is unflinching in showing her experience as a woman in a very male field, and I could tell as I was reading that this will be a story that stays with me for a long time. As far as execution goes, this is the perfect graphic memoir. I’m grateful that Beaton is willing to share this part of herself, and I’m glad I was able to read it.
Thank you to Drawn & Quarterly and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.
Radium Girls by Cy.
Radium Girls retells a story that thankfully has gotten more coverage in the last few years: that of the radium watch dial painters of the 1910s and 1920s. The author’s choice to use colored pencil makes for a stunning read, and one that matches well with the concept of ghosts and glowing.
My biggest issue was that I had trouble distinguishing some of the characters at first, as there are quite a few who look similar and the novel isn’t long enough for each to form a strong impression in the reader’s mind individually. I don’t think this is necessarily a bad thing – their combined efforts are what make the end of the story – but it definitely was a distraction for me from the rest of the story itself.
Overall, though, this is a great adaptation of a story that has seen more coverage in recent years. I think the art style makes it stand out from other graphic novels and other interpretations of the same story, and ultimately I think the combination provides another avenue for folks to learn about these important women.
Thank you to Letter Better and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.
Open Bar by Eduardo Medeiros
Open Bar is the story of the friendship between Beardo and Lenny, from childhood through adulthood. Beardo ends up inheriting his dad’s bar, and he and Lenny end up running it together with help from Lenny’s ex, Amanda. I really liked the art style, and I liked how the author played with perspective in a few of the panels (blurring the foreground, etc.).
Unfortunately, there was a lot that didn’t work for me. The only female characters that have any page time are, uh, not shown in the best light – a fact I was reluctantly willing to forgive for most of the novel considering how great the other aspects of it were. But then the ending shows up out of nowhere, and the reader is chewed up and spit back out on the most cliche of endings. It almost felt like the author wasn’t quite sure how they wanted it to end, so they went with a trope that will leave the reader feeling betrayed for their time and trust.
It makes me sad to say I wouldn’t recommend this book. There was so much potential there, and I was willing to overlook something I don’t let most books get away with because I trusted the author – and that trust was thrown back in my face with the ending. I’m sure there’s an audience out there for this; it just isn’t me.
Thank you to Oni Press and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.
