Review: Meal by Blue Delliquanti and Soleil Ho

Yarrow is a young chef determined to make her mark on the cutting edge of cookery with her insect-based creations. Though her enthusiasm is infectious, it rubs some of her fellow cooks the wrong way, especially Chanda Flores, Yarrow's personal hero and executive chef of an exciting new restaurant. Her people have been eating bugs for centuries, and she's deeply suspicious of this newbie's attempt to turn her traditions into the next foodie trend. While Chanda and her scrappy team of talented devotees struggle to open on time, Yarrow must win over Chanda—and Milani, the neighbor she's been crushing on for weeks—or lose this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to achieve her dreams. Co-written with chef and food writer Soleil Ho, Blue Delliquanti's sweet coming-of-age story takes us deep into a world of art, mystery, and memory on the culinary frontier.

Review: I picked this book up based on a librarian recommendation and this graphic novel really does have it all, we have food, we have diversity and we have representation of marginalized groups. I really enjoyed this and it felt so different from anything I've read recently. 

I love the fact that this book introduces us to eating bugs, how to, what to and the history of where in the world eating bugs is part of the tradition and culture. I had no idea it was such a normal prat of cuisine in such culture and was really happy to learn about it through this graphic novel. 

I also really love the fact that the characters in this book are so diverse and really represent inter-sectional feminism at its b est. I loved watching relationships and friendships both professional and personal grow and develop. This graphic novel also contains some recipes and a note from world class chef and food pod caster Soleil Ho. It was such an interesting mix, I loved the story arc and I loved all the extras that came with this book.

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Review: Black Canary Ignite by Meg Cabot

Thirteen-year-old Dinah Lance knows exactly what she wants, who she is, and where she's going. First, she'll win the battle of the bands with her two best friends, then she'll join the Gotham City Junior Police Academy so she can solve crimes just like her dad. Who knows, her rock star group of friends may even save the world, but first they'll need to agree on a band name. When a mysterious figure keeps getting in the way of Dinah's goals and threatens her friends and family, she'll learn more about herself, her mother's secret past, and navigating the various power chords of life. Black Canary: Ignite is an inspirational song that encourages readers to find their own special voices to sing along with Black Canary!

Review: Well I enjoyed this graphic novel a lot more than I expected to. I had just watched the movie Joker and so my head was already in Gotham City so it was good to imagine myself there but this graphic novel gives a really good setting and the illustration of the characters and the background is excellent. 

My big takeaway from this book was female friendship which I love in any kind of book so it was wonderful to find it in this DC series. I loved the female friendship between the main characters and liked the context of the school and the band. 

I also really enjoyed the family in this novel. The parents both relate to our main character in different ways and for different reasons (no spoilers here) but they both love her and support her in their own ways. I would love to hear more from this world and can't wait to read the other graphic novels in the series. 

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Review: Short and Skinny by Mark Tatulli

New from syndicated comic strip artist Mark Tatulli comes a full-color middle grade graphic novel that centers on Mark's own experience in the summer after seventh grade.

As a middle schooler, Mark finds himself on the smaller side of the physical spectrum--being short AND skinny has really wreaked havoc on his confidence. So to end his bullying woes and get the girl--or at least the confidence to talk to the girl--he starts to explore bulking up by way of the miracle cures in the backs of his comics. But his obsession with beefing up is soon derailed by a new obsession: Star Wars, the hottest thing to hit the summer of 1977. As he explores his creative outlets as well as his cures to body image woes, Mark sets out to make his own stamp on the film that he loves.

Mark Tatulli's graphic novel debut is a humorous and heartfelt take on body-image, finding a creative outlet, and spending a summer in the 70's.

Review: this was the first graphic novel I have read all of, I normally struggle with them and so I think a graphic memoir was a great place for me to start. I was endeared to the setting, time wise, straight away and loved the fact that not only is this a memoir but takes place when Mark is in middle school in the 70s, what a great period in recent history. 

I also loved the illustrations in this novel. I actually liked the black and white that was used, especially for the more dramatic pages when there is a lot of dark in the story and on the page, as well as the illustrations of the Star Wars parody, they looked great in black and white so I am VERY curious to see how this one looks when it is out in full colour. 

I really liked Mark's story, being short and skinny but finding something he loved to do and was good at. He goes through everything we all do as teenagers, but this is also a fab example of male body positivity in a novel-so great to see. I love the fact that he calls himself short and skinny and we see what that does to him and the reaction of his classmates and yet he doesn't let that stop him from winning friends and trying something a lot of people wouldn't go to the effort to. 

I will definitely be seeking out more from this author and publisher because I really enjoyed this and will certainly be looking for more graphic memoirs in the future!

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US