Lunar Boy by Jes and Cin Wibowo

 

Over the past two days, I read Lunar Boy by Jes and Cin Wibowo. This science fiction graphic novel is about Indu, a transboy who is found on the Moon and adopted by an astronaut captain, Dariya Muliadi. For the next several years, he lives with Dariya on a spaceship called the Eyesun, but when she gets married to her friend, Crisanto, they move to New Earth. On New Earth, he struggles to connect with his stepfamily, which includes two siblings, Alon and Lastri. School is also challenging because the other kids think he's weird and he doesn't speak Bahasa Indonesia well and has to work with a peer tutor, Aminah, after school. Although he develops a crush on his pen pal, Noah Wong, he's not sure if Noah likes him back. Meanwhile, he can't talk to his mom about his feelings because she's always busy. As time goes on, he occasionally hears the Moon call out to him whether he's awake or dreaming, and when he is desperately lonely, he begs the Moon to take him back. Although Indu wants to leave immediately, the Moon agrees to bring him home on the first day of the New Year. As he continues to adjust to his new life on New Earth by beginning to make friends and bond with his new family, he has to decide where he truly belongs when the Moon calls again.

This was such a beautiful story. I loved it so much. The illustrations were vivid and gorgeous, and the main character, Indu, was so relatable. Like him, I moved when I didn't really want to and had to adjust to what felt like a whole new life at the time, even if I can't imagine living anywhere else now. I thought his crush on Noah was adorable and it was sad when Noah stopped talking to him. I didn't understand why (until later in the story) because it was one of the few things that was going well for Indu. On the other hand, I enjoyed the incorporation of Indonesia culture and it made me really happy when things turned around for Indu. I especially liked how he connected with his stepdad, Crisanto, and stepsister, Lastri. His stepbrother, Alon, was definitely harder for Indu to figure out and it took the help of his peer tutor and Alon's girlfriend, Aminah. Overall, Lunar Boy shows how change is good, which is one of main themes of the story, along with family and discovering your identity. Any kid who is experiencing change in their life or enjoys LGBTQ+ stories should read this book.

Finn and Ezra's Bar Mitzvah Time Loop by Joshua S. Levy

 

Yesterday, I finished reading Finn and Ezra's Bar Mitzvah Time Loop by Joshua S. Levy. This science fiction novel is about Finn and Ezra, two boys who become stuck in a time loop over the weekend of their bar mitzvahs, which just happen to be at the same hotel in New Jersey. Ezra comes from a big family, having four siblings, and feels ignored, while Finn is an only child doted upon by his parents even though he doesn't have any real friends. Although they don't have much in common, both boys are unexcited about reliving their bar mitzvahs over and over again and just want to move forward and grow up. After they meet each other and realize they're not alone, they come up with different schemes to break the loop. Despite trying everything they can think of, nothing works and they get more desperate and frustrated with each plan. As they believe they're getting closer to finally being free from the time loop, they begin to realize they may have to deal with their real life problems first.

I enjoyed this book so much. It was exciting and funny, but at the same time, there were truly moving moments, especially as the story gradually revealed the challenges that the families of Ezra and Finn were facing. The different plans that the two boys devised were absolutely hilarious, and I was surprised when some of them actually worked. It made me feel bad, though, when they hurt the people they cared about with their schemes. They also got in trouble a lot when they weren't successful. It was obvious how frustrated they were getting, particularly when they clashed with each other. There was even a plot twist towards the end that made a lot of sense in hindsight. Additionally, I liked how the author incorporated the Jewish ritual of bar mitzvah and how family was an important theme through Finn and Ezra growing to appreciate their families over the course of the story. The end was delightful and there was one final reveal in the last chapter that completely shocked me. I never thought Finn would actually be right about one of his theories. I had a great time reading Finn and Ezra's Bar Mitzvah Time Loop and I'd recommend it to any kid who enjoy humor, family stories, and/or science fiction.

The Girl Who Sang by Estelle Nadel & Sammy Savos

 

This morning, I finished reading The Girl Who Sang by Estelle Nadel & Sammy Savos. This graphic memoir is about Estelle, a vibrant Jewish girl once known as Enia Feld who lived in the small Polish village of Borek with her family and enjoyed singing. In 1939, shortly before she turned five years old, the Nazis invaded Poland and everything changed. Within four years, her parents, her older sister Sonjia, and her oldest brother Moishe were murdered by the Nazis. As time went on, Enia and her two older brothers, Shia and Minashe, had to rely on their neighbors to hide them. She even lost her voice. When the war was finally over, the three siblings crossed multiple European borders to the Ranshofen Displaced Persons Camp in Austria before they journeyed across the Atlantic Ocean to New York City.

This book was absolutely breathtaking. From the very beginning, I found myself caring deeply about Enia and her family. It was devastating when she lost multiple members of her family over the years and I wondered how she, Shia, and Minashe would survive. They had multiple close calls over the years and even decided to separate for a short period of time. What was most scary was when Enia and Shia were imprisoned in a basement jail cell and there was only a small window that they could escape through if they could reach it. Although Estelle's story is definitely dark at times, it ends with hope and shows the strength of family in the face of impossible odds. I also loved the beautifully detailed illustrations and really enjoyed learning more about the illustrator's process in the Behind the Scenes! section towards the end of the book. Additionally, the backmatter includes an afterword, notes from Estelle and Sammy, photographs, and resources. On the whole, The Girl Who Sang is a wonderful choice for anyone with an interest in the Holocaust and survival stories.

Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All by Chanel Miller

 

Yesterday, I finished reading Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All by Chanel Miller. This illustrated mystery novel is about Magnolia Wu, a ten-year-old Chinese American girl who pins lost socks to a bulletin board at her parents' laundromat in New York City, even though no one seems to notice the socks, nor Magnolia herself. After she befriends Iris Lam, a new girl from California, while celebrating her birthday during the summer, they decide to explore the city to solve the mystery of each missing sock based on Iris's plan. As they go to different places in the city, including Washington Square Park, the subway, a barbershop, a diner, a knitting shop, a plant store, a pizzeria, and a bookstore, and question the people they meet to determine the owner of each sock, they make discoveries about themselves and the world around them.

It was an absolute pleasure reading this book and I would almost describe it as cozy. Most of the story was cute and funny and I loved Magnolia and Iris's adventures to solve the sock mysteries. That's not to say there weren't serious moments in this story, making it feel more real. The two girls have to deal with anti-Asian American racism and get into an argument after Iris thinks Magnolia would rather be friends with another girl, Jessica. However, what I really liked was the eclectic mix of people they met. Some of the mysteries were easy for Magnolia and Iris to figure out, while others were more difficult. I particularly enjoyed their adventure to find the owner of the flamingo sock because Magnolia learned more about her mom and it showed a hidden depth to a character who wasn't always very nice to Magnolia. I also thought Magnolia's crush on Luis was adorable. By the end of the story, I was very satisfied and appreciated the growth of Magnolia's relationship with her mom and her friendship with Iris. Additionally, there is an author's note about her inspiration for writing Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All. Anyone who likes mysteries with low stakes or stories of friendship, family, and community should read this book.

Iveliz Explains It All by Andrea Beatriz Arango

 

Over the weekend, I read Iveliz Explains It All by Andrea Beatriz Arango. This realistic fiction novel in verse is about Iveliz Margarita Snow Medina, a twelve-year-old seventh-grade girl who is coping with depression and anger issues. After her grandmother Mimi moves in from Puerto Rico, Iveliz is determined to make this school year better than the year before. She wants to make a new friend and stop getting in trouble at school, but it is challenging, especially when people keep saying things that make her mad and frustrated. Life isn't much easier at home either. Although Mimi has Alzheimer's, she doesn't understand why Iveliz needs to take medication for her mental health issues. While she is able to write her thoughts down in the new journal that her mom Mami gave her, she struggles to explain her feelings to others and sometimes keeps secrets.

Although the title reminded me of a show I watched when I was a kid (Clarissa Explains It All), I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this book. I liked how the pages actually looked like a lined journal and the illustrations were a nice touch, but the story itself ended up being so much more. This book was heartbreaking and, at times, a little heavy. Iveliz is really struggling and she doesn't think others will understand, so she bottles it up inside and lashes out when everything gets to be too much. While I enjoyed how Iveliz bonded with Mimi through gardening, it really frustrated me how she didn't understand how medication was helping Iveliz. I wasn't surprised when their relationship reached the boiling point. Additionally, I could understand the challenges that Iveliz faced with making and maintaining friendships because she has miscommunication issues with her friend Amir and new friend Akiko when explaining her thoughts and feelings doesn't come easily to her. What broke my heart the most was the major reveal of what happened to Iveliz to cause her depression. I knew something huge had happened, but I wasn't exactly sure what because the hints were vague. Overall, I did enjoy reading Iveliz Explains It All because Iveliz herself is likeable and her story shows how both medication and therapy can help a young person who is dealing with depression. The backmatter includes an author's note and resources. I'd recommend this book to anyone, but especially middle school students who feel alone in their struggles.

The Love Report 1 by BeKa & Maya

 

Yesterday, I read The Love Report by BeKa & Maya. This romantic graphic novel is about Lola and Grace, best friends who have different viewpoints about love and romance. Living with her mom, Lola has a crush on Noah and wants to know why he's been avoiding her, while Grace's longest relationship lasted ten days and her parents have been fighting. Although they have their differences, they both have a lot of questions about love. After watching a romantic comedy, they decide to investigate love at their middle school and record their findings in a notebook as a report. Lola and Grace get started by asking a classmate, Charlie, about the different couples at their school, and over the course of a week, they learn why the most popular girl, Felicity, doesn't have a boyfriend, an eighth grade girl, Adele, has a reputation, and couples break up. Then, as the weeks go by, they experience love, new friendships, and heartbreak.

For the most part, I thought this graphic novel was adorable. Like Lola, I've always enjoyed romantic comedies, so I could relate to her fascination with romance and wanting to know more about why some relationships work out and others don't. I could also understand Grace's skepticism about romance because of what she was experiencing at home with her parents arguing. Furthermore, I appreciated getting to know their classmates better, especially Felicity and Adele. I thought it was so cool that Felicity was interested in space and becoming an astrophysicist because I love astronomy, too. It was easy to see why she didn't want to date anyone who just liked her for her looks and didn't know anything else about her. Additionally, I thought Adele's story was particularly moving because it broke my heart that the first boy she ever kissed took things too far and then started rumors about her. I liked how she didn't want Lola and Grace to make the same mistakes she did and wished that the adults in her life had cared enough to help. The only thing that disappointed me was the relationship between Lola and Noah. I didn't really like how it distracted Lola from what was going on with Grace and her parents and it showed how love can take over your life when you're young. While I had hoped that Lola and Noah would be a positive example of middle school romance, I think what actually happened was important to Lola's character growth and demonstrating the importance of friendship. I particularly enjoyed how Grace got closer to Adele in that time. As for the illustrations, they were absolutely gorgeous. The vivid colors were like a feast for my eyes, and I loved the details in the hair and outfits. I could definitely see Maya's inspiration from manga. Overall, The Love Report is a sweet choice for anyone who likes romance and friendship stories, and it's the first book of a series.

Mabuhay! by Zachary Sterling

 

Yesterday, I finished reading Mabuhay! by Zachary Sterling. This adventurous and fantastical graphic novel is about JJ and Althea, first generation Filipino siblings who are struggling to fit in at school. While JJ has a crush on Haley P, one of the most popular girls in school, Althea's group of friends ditched her because they thought she was too weird. It doesn't make matters any easier that they have to help their parents run the the family food truck and listen to their mom's lessons from Filipino folklore. After their uncle, Tito Arvin, shows up at their home to warn them that they are in danger, an ogre, witches, and other creatures from their mom's stories come after JJ, Althea, and their family. With the witches planning a treacherous ritual that will take place during an eclipse, JJ and Althea must embrace their heritage and save their family and the world.

This story was such a joy to read because it was humorous and felt like a celebration of Filipino culture. JJ and Althea's experiences at school were relatable and I could totally understood how embarrassing it was for them to have to help their parents with the family food truck, The Beautiful Pig. I definitely felt bad that JJ was the one who would have to actually wear the Beautiful Pig costume, especially because his family and the food truck had a gig at his crush's end-of-the-year party...so mortifying. As a fan of horror movies, I thought it was really cool that Althea enjoyed them and it made me sad when I learned that her friends chose boys over seeing one with her after her mom had already bought tickets. What I loved the most, though, was when the fantasy elements started kicking in. It was absolutely fascinating how the characters and creatures in their mom's Filipino stories turned out to be actually real and I was so excited when their mom revealed that she has magical powers. It was even more thrilling when JJ and Althea discovered that they could use magic, too. I adored the final battle towards the end because it had a twist that was as surprising as it was satisfying. The backmatter of Mabuhay! includes a recipe for chicken adobo, an author's note, and a glossary of Filipino words used throughout the story. Anyone who likes fantasy, action, and adventure should read this graphic novel.