Pilu of the Woods (graphic novel) by Mai K. Nguyen - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book as an eARC from Oni Press 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: Pilu of the Woods
Creator: Mai K. Nguyen
Upcoming Release Date: April 17, 2019

Synopsis: A heartwarming story of friendship, loss, and finding your way home from debut author/illustrator Mai K. Nguyen!

Willow loves the woods near her house. They’re calm and quiet, so different from her own turbulent emotions, which she keeps locked away. When her emotions get the better of her one day, she decides to run away into the woods.

There, she meets Pilu, a lost tree spirit who can’t find her way back home—which turns out to be the magnolia grove Willow’s mom used to take her to. Willow offers to help Pilu, and the two quickly become friends.

But the journey is long, and Pilu isn’t sure she’s ready to return home yet—which infuriates Willow, who’s determined to make up for her own mistakes by getting Pilu back safely. As a storm rages and Willow’s emotions bubble to the surface, they suddenly take on a physical form, putting both girls in danger… and forcing Willow to confront her inner feelings once and for all. 

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Review: This graphic novel is adorable! It has such great messaging about some pretty serious subjects. Willow's mother has recently passed away and she's having a hard time processing it. She's being bullied at school and crying in the bathroom. She takes out her emotions on her older sister and runs off into the woods. In the woods, she meets a crying girl who helps her to understand more about how to process her emotions and how to be protective of nature. 

Emotions are compared to mushrooms is such a great way. Every forest has them; you just have to figure out which ones are good and which ones can hurt you. This book would be great for a middle-grade audience.  

This comic has the looks of the Netflix show Hilda or the tv series Over the Garden Wall and has the emotional pull of the Pixar film Inside Out.

I give this book a 5/5. It's adorable and tells a heartfelt story about emotions and nature.   


--PAUL