Everything Is Beautiful, and I'm Not Afraid: A Baopu Collection by Yao Xiao (graphic novel) - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book as an eARC from Andrews McMeel Publishing via NetGalley. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

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Title: Everything Is Beautiful, and I'm Not Afraid: A Baopu Collection
Creator: Yao Xiao
Upcoming Release Date: March 3, 2020


Synopsis: Everything Is Beautiful, and I'm Not Afraid perfectly captures the feelings of a young sojourner in America as she explores the nuances in searching for a place to belong. Baopu is a monthly serialized comic on Autostraddle, and this book includes beloved fan favorites plus new, never-before-seen comics.

This one-of-a-kind graphic novel explores the poetics of searching for connection, belonging, and identity through the fictional life of a young, queer immigrant. Inspired by the creator's own experiences as a queer, China-born illustrator living in the United States, Everything Is Beautiful, and I'm Not Afraid has an undeniable memoir quality to its recollection and thought-provoking accounts of what it's like to navigate the complexities of seeking belonging—mentally and geographically. 

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Review: This graphic novel feels like a poetry collection. It is a collection with each page almost self-contained, but it all fits together into a memoir-ish story. There are so many topics of identity dealt with. Each page could stand alone framed on a wall. 

I felt like this would make a great coffee table book to leave out and flip through leisurely. It would be jarring to try and read through all of the book in one sitting. I give this book a 4/5.


--PAUL

Geraldine and the Most Spectacular Science Project (picture book) - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book as an eARC from Schiffer Kids via Edelweiss. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

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Title: Geraldine and the Most Spectacular Science Project 
Author: Sol Regwan
Illustrator: Denise Muzzio
Upcoming Release Date: February 28, 2020


Synopsis: Geraldine is an energetic, spirited second-grader with dreams of becoming an astronaut. She knows that she's clever and inventive, but can she create the winning entry in her class science contest? Armed with nothing but her strong will and the broken parts of her parents' old gadgets and gizmos, she sets out to invent an amazing contraption. Will her invention wow her classmates and transform her from class troublemaker to creative scientist?

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Review: This is a fun and inspirational picture book. Geraldine is a daydreamer who wants to be an astronaut...or maybe an inventor. Or both. There's a science contest coming up and Geraldine wants to have the best project. The messaging in this book is great. I love seeing science-enthusiastic kids. I did want more science in this book, though. Realistic science. I give this picture book a 4/5.


--PAUL

The Orville Season 1.5: New Beginnings (comic) - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book as an eARC from Dark Horse Books via Edelweiss. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

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Title: The Orville Season 1.5: New Beginnings
Author: David A. Goodman
Illustrators: David Cabeza & Michael Atiyeh
Upcoming Release Date: February 18, 2020


Synopsis: The crew of the Orville continue their space explorations, encountering new alien civilizations and confronting old enemies in these stories by Executive Producer David A. Goodman!

Picking up where season one of Seth MacFarlane's space adventure TV series leaves off, this volume contains four episodic chapters.

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Review: The Orville is Seth McFarlane's comedy sci-fi tv show reminiscent of Star Trek. This graphic novel compiles two story arcs that take place between season 1 and 2 of the show. 

The first story finds Ed and Gordon on their way to a conference when they receive a distress beacon from a hundred year old vessel. They get shot down and end up stuck on a desert planet. Meanwhile, on the Orville some romance may be starting to blossom. I found this story entertaining. It felt very much like a story that would be in an episode. I would give this story a 3.5/5. 

The second story focuses on a group of xenoanthropologists about to enter Krill space. Someone from John's past comes into play. I found the details of Krill religious beliefs interesting. I give this story a 4/5. 

Overall, I thought this graphic novel is great ancillary material. It feels just like the show. The content also directly connects to plot points in the show. This is a great example of tie-in material. I give this whole book a 4/5.  


--PAUL

Disney Aladdin: Four Tales of Agrabah (comic) - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book as an eARC from Dark Horse Books via Edelweiss. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

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Title: Disney Aladdin: Four Tales of Agrabah
Author: Corinna Bechko
Illustrators:  Pablo Andes, Diego Galindo & Lalit Kumar Sharma
Release Date: May 7, 2019


Synopsis: A graphic novel anthology expanding on the live-action movie directed by Guy Ritchie, Disney's Aladdin.

Travel through the vibrant city of Agrabah in four interconnected tales connected to Disney's live-action film. Follow a day in the lives of Aladdin, Jasmine, and Genie, and discover what friends Abu, Raja, and Magic Carpet are up to.

Writer Corinna Bechko (Angel Season 11, Once Upon a Time), brings the individuality and spirit of Aladdin and friends to the forefront in this fun-filled anthology.

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Review: This graphic novel compiles four different tales featuring characters from the live-action remake of Disney's Aladdin. Honestly, I did not like this book. The artwork imitates the film's look, but is very poor quality. The details in the images are not great. The stories told are unnecessary. They're very basic and don't have much depth. Aladdin helps out a kid on the streets and shows him how people help each other in the city. Jasmine and Raja run from palace guards and then talk about books versus experiences. 

The characters just interact, talking about their themes from the film. This story does not add anything new or different. These tie-ins or ancillary material should strengthen the original content, but this is just boring. 

I give this book a 2/5. And that's probably generous. I don't often find books like this that seem to be just rushed out to meet demand. The stories are not good and the artwork is lacking.  


--PAUL

Diana: Princess of the Amazons (graphic novel) - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book as an eARC from DC Comics via NetGalley. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

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Title: Diana: Princess of the Amazons
Author: Shannon Hale & Dean Hale
Illustrator: Victoria Ying
Release Date: January 7, 2020


Synopsis: Eleven-year-old Diana leads an idyllic life on the island of Themyscira. Cut off from the rest of the world, she's beginning to feel more and more isolated. Though she has a loving mother and many "aunties," she is an only child. THE only child child on the island, in fact.

After an escapade goes wrong, Diana gets in trouble for not living up to the Amazonian standard. She just can't seem to measure up no matter what she does. Every other person on the island is an adult proficient in their trade and mighty in body, while she is gangly, sometimes clumsy, and not particularly good at anything. She's not Wonder Woman ... yet. What Diana needs is a friend; someone her own age whom she can talk to. But when she decides to take matters into her own hands, she may just make a monster instead of a friend. 

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Review: This middle grade graphic novel finds Diana as a lonely only child. Literally, there are no other children in her society. This is many years before she takes on the role of Wonder Woman. Diana is at that stage of her life where she feels the pull of two worlds. Childhood is starting to disinterest her. Dolls have been left behind. 

Diana ends up finding a friend her own age, but her new pal is quite mischievous. It's new to Diana to have a peer. They're definitely going to get into trouble.

This is a cute simple story. The story works great for a middle grade audience and could even be read to younger fans. I give this book a 3.5/5.


--PAUL