Leigh Bardugo is an author whose growth has impressed me a great deal. The Language of Thorns reflected that same journey.
A MONSTER CALLS by Patrick Ness
A Monster Calls was amazing in the complexity it conveyed through a simple story. I really wasn’t expecting it to be so heart-wrenching, let alone a cathartic read. Aimed at a much younger reader than I am, I thought I’d walk away liking this book, at best. Middle Grade to Young Adult books for younger teens rarely hold my attention anymore the way they used to, so I tend to avoid them.
SECONDS by Bryan Lee O’Malley
Life choices, second chances and changing the past are major themes in Seconds. That’s why I think it’s a graphic novel that appeals to a wide audience, even if the medium isn’t something one usually reads. It’s natural to wish things had gone differently, lamenting that everything could’ve turned out better, dwelling on the perpetual if only…
THIS ONE SUMMER by Jillian Tamaki & Mariko Tamaki
Flip open This One Summer and you’ll be greeted by beautiful graphics. They’re art pieces in and of themselves. The illustrations are set in monotone though rather than black ink, dark blue has been chosen. This adds softness to the images fitting for the contemporary summer setting of this graphic novel. I could stare at the pages over and over again, allowing my eyes to feast upon the beauty. Sadly, that’s all that my two stars are for.
NIMONA by Noelle Stevenson
Nimona was something else. All I knew was that it’s a hyped up graphic novel and for someone clueless about them, I was looking for a place to start. I found my library had it, so I decided to borrow it the rest is history. I thoroughly enjoyed Nimona for being so refreshingly different. While the style of graphics didn’t entirely match my taste, it was consistent and very well done. Coupled with the premise, I found myself wanting me when I was done and closed the book.
