Lila Danisa

"Larry, popularity doesn't mean right. Often, the path we take is the smartest path, and hard work doesn't lead to results. Smart decisions do."

My son is familiar with leprechaun from his videos and this book gave a little bit different lesson about making smart decisions through boy leprechaun named Larry.

I said this book different is because other books my son read mostly taught about hard work and never give up. However, in this book, different yet realistic perspective is presented on how sometimes indeed hard work doesn't lead to good ending but smart decisions do. Larry's simple story in this book was so helpful to make my son understand that new realistic perspective. I still needed to elaborate with the subject since my son had quite many follow-up questions. At the end, I think my son understood that we need to both making smart decisions and still do hard work if needed.

The illustrations were good and strengthen the storyline. Since it's about leprechaun, the green is dominant color in the illustrations. Yet we (my son and I) didn't feel overwhelmed with the bright colors.

Thank you to Alan Howard and NetGalley for the ARC.

Light and humorous story about Amelia Shadows, the daughter of famous dark magician. For me, Amelia was so much like the real life teenager who has famous parent and wanted to be as good as said famous parent. She was sarcastically funny too.

Amelia had ghost mentor. One day, her father sent a new head ghost to evaluate her daily life. That's where the story got interesting. Simple and quiet entertaining story. I think this graphic novel is perfect for middle-graders.

The illustrations fit the theme of the story. Quite detailed too.

Thank you to Matthew Dow Smith, Papercutz, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Actual rating: 2,75 stars!

Wow what a chaotic story. So many weird things going on need to be discussed I don't know where to start.

The characters were equally a joke. No one serious in this story. Sarcastically funny and satire at the same time. Think about it more, I believe the story and the characters were like a mocking to the reality. How incompetent each character was really reflects the many people who run the country.

The ending was awful. I didn't know what that ending was supposed to mean and I didn't want to think about it hard enough. I left it like that. No explanations, nothing.

Nevertheless, thank you to Eliot Rahal, Mad Cave Studios, and NetGalley for the ARC.

What a fun book!

My son loved this book so much. This book had been in our reread shelf for long time. The hide and seek part of the book was my son's favorite. He already knew by heart where the animals hide but he still reread this book so many times.

My son already knew almost all the animals mentioned in this book though he didn't know that they were native (?) European animals. His favorites were fire salamander, ibex, and xylocopa.

The illustrations were definitely so good. Especially in hide and seek parts because some animals really blended in with the illustrations and made it (kinda) hard to find.

Thank you to Anna Finch, Finch Press, and NetGalley for the ARC.

The story's idea in this book is actually very good. How two kids from (very) different places became friend because of youth program. But unfortunately, for me, the delivery was not good enough. The writing style was so flat and unengaging at all. I don't know how to explain it, but the words used in this book were weirdly disjoining the characters with each other and the story too. I personally didn't like the illustrations neither. Again, I can't explain it, but the illustrations were also giving a weird style for my likes.

The concept of this book is actually good. Especially about Kliptown Youth Program (KYP). However, for me, the authors missed the explanation details on how Alizea and Thando meet through KYP. The book has no detail about Alizea and Thando were parts of KYP and explaining the good sides of that youth program.

Nevertheless, thank you to Alizae Kurtzig, Thando Maluleke, We Are One Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC.

While the message of this book is good, which you should never wait until tomorrow to do good things, the delivery was not well enough. I don't think children would understand just by reading the story because my son didn't understand at all. Yes, he is only 5 years old, but usually his comprehension was good if the story of the book was being delivered good. I needed to explain to him many times before he (seemed) to understand the message of the story.

While the illustrations were good enough, I kinda suspect that they were AI generated. I hope I am wrong.

Nevertheless, thank you to Fernando Kirreh and NetGalley for the ARC.

What a funny adventurous read!

This book is so perfect for middle-graders. I loved how true to the real middle-graders the characters were. The story was also so relatable for kids who still looking for their self identities.

I personally loved the writing style in this book. Easy to understand and again, perfect for middle-graders and kids in general. I read this book to my 5 years old son and even him understood the story easily. I just needed to explain some parts where he didn't relate (yet).

The illustrations were also fit the story. Simple yet strengthen the storylines.

The ending was realistic and I also loved it. No glorified ending yet still carrying the messages for the (young) readers.

Thank you to Jenny Pearson, Union Square & Co, Sterling Publishing, Union Square Kids, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Sunny Bunnies were so cute! My son loved them so much. He said they looked so fluffy and perfect for bag charms. Yeah, my son is such as a gen alpha.

The definition of each feeling was actually almost the same like other books my son read about feelings. But in this book, there were example scenarios in which each feeling may be occurred. I discussed it with my son and we made our own examples and scenarios based on why and how we might feel the feelings explained in this book.

This book also provided single acts to regulate each feeling. Most of them my son already practices in his daily life.

Thank you to Carine Laforest, Chouette Publishing, CrackBoom! Books, and NetGalley for the ARC.

What a hard life for 3rd grade kid 😢

I know kids back then built different but still AJ seemed barely enjoyed his childhood. I also understand that everything was hard in The Great Depression era and everyone needed to contribute something for the family. But still it was frustrating to read how AJ's struggle in one full day.

What made it even worse, for me at least, was the writing style. It was so flat and boring. The writing style made me hate almost all characters in this book. AJ's strings of bad events made me sympathize with him, yes, but it stopped there. The writing style didn't make me like him more than that.

I personally also didn't like the illustrations much. They also didn't help strengthen the storyline. For me the illustrations were not significant for the book.

Despite some points I didn't like, this book delivered the messages for the (young) readers to be brave, confident, and responsible. I loved that AJ handled the consequences of his actions like a champion. So proud of him. I also believe middle-graders who read this book could learn many things from how hardworking AJ was.

Thank you to Sherry Roberts, Solander Press, and NetGalley for the ARC.

The story was actually really good. Humorous sci-fi. But for me the delivery was not that satisfying. I personally didn't like when the same book, the same story, the same timeline has different styles of illustrations. This comic/graphic novel has (I think) 3 different styles of illustrations. I liked the first one better because it fit the story and the characters. The second one was too dark for my likes. And I don't like the third one at all. It made the story and the characters so different from how they got introduced. It affected my enjoyment in reading this book. For me, the illustrations in the last part of the story disjointed the story and the characters all over.

Ignoring (my) problems in illustrations, this comic/graphic novel was entertaining to read. The characters, especially K, were weirdly funny. I would love to read more of their adventure(s) since the ending was hinting it.

Thank you to Buddy Beaudoin, Dead Sky Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC.