grid's review against another edition
4.0
Liked this well enough. The story lines with the bully kinda bugged me, but otherwise they were all pretty great. I was especially impressed by the diversity of art (while still keeping very consistent colors and character designs!) in general, great compilation.
tishreads's review against another edition
4.0
Read this one a few months ago and forgot to review - great fun, imaginative, and would be great for inspiring older kids to get creative with cardboard and role playing.
internationalkris's review against another edition
5.0
A really terrific graphic novel that celebrates imagination. These kids are in no way cardboard characters, all have very individual stories. A wonderful book.
deservingporcupine's review against another edition
5.0
After reading this 3 times, Zeke handed it to me and I love it. It was lovely to read a story about kids who are allowed to exist as they are — aspects of identity from gender fluidity to being loud get to be explored really naturally while we watch kids just be kids.
msvenner's review against another edition
4.0
I was lucky to get this as an ARC and will be happy to place it in my libraries. This is a great graphic novel for younger kids that celebrates the imagination while addressing issues important to younger reader such as bullies, making friends and disagreements. It also touches on more difficult subjects like gender identity with a deft hand and normalizes lifestyles to which some kids may not have been exposed. The imagination of these you characters and the whimsical illustrations make this a great book for all young readers but the graphic novel format and low word count will be especially great for struggling readers.
sarabaggins's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this! Super cute and nostalgic with fun, colorful illustrations. I also enjoyed the variety of kids and their aliases.
banana83854's review against another edition
4.0
Short stories about neighborhood kids full of imagination and wonder
mehsi's review against another edition
5.0
A neighbourhood of kids, big adventures, tons of imagination and cardboard.
I am just so delighted I finally had the chance to buy this one and then read it. Now that I read it I can just say that I loved it. How it is all adventure, all imagination, but also discusses real issues. For instance Seth, aka The Gargoyle, whose parents are divorcing (his dad is apparently cheating on his mom). Or Roy who is kind of a dick until you find out why (though it still doesn't excuse his crummy behaviour from the past stories). Each girl or boy has a story, and I just adored getting to meet all of them and getting to know them better. To see what kind of creature or fantasy person they would become. From gargoyles to banshees to sorceresses to beasts.
We eventually even had an evil faction with kids who preferred to be a bit more evil. Which made everything even more interesting, and also a bit more hilarious. I am glad the other kids also accepted these kids and that they had quite a few interesting battles and scenarios.
These kids were so creative with their cardboard boxes, and with using their surroundings. I just loved reading about the stories they created, the adventures they had. Or how they could quickly form a big monster to defeat a villain.
Plus everything just connected so beautifully. I was a bit worried as we have so many characters, but I shouldn't have worried.
I loved the illustrations between the stories, they were just so much fun.
I just have two characters I didn't quite like, though later on there was only one of them left. Roy was one of them, he was just terrible. But after his story I just liked him more. Again, I am not excusing him from what he did, but I can imagine why he was so mean. Then there is Alice. I just didn't like her and how she was just way to hyperfocussed on her work (first lemonade than something else). I felt she was quite rude and mean at times, going way overboard.
Thanks to the author(s) for adding a map at the beginning with each of the houses. And also pictures of all the kids, though I wish that one also had their names.
All in all, I just had so much fun reading this book, and I would recommend it to all.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I am just so delighted I finally had the chance to buy this one and then read it. Now that I read it I can just say that I loved it. How it is all adventure, all imagination, but also discusses real issues. For instance Seth, aka The Gargoyle, whose parents are divorcing (his dad is apparently cheating on his mom). Or Roy who is kind of a dick until you find out why (though it still doesn't excuse his crummy behaviour from the past stories). Each girl or boy has a story, and I just adored getting to meet all of them and getting to know them better. To see what kind of creature or fantasy person they would become. From gargoyles to banshees to sorceresses to beasts.
We eventually even had an evil faction with kids who preferred to be a bit more evil. Which made everything even more interesting, and also a bit more hilarious. I am glad the other kids also accepted these kids and that they had quite a few interesting battles and scenarios.
These kids were so creative with their cardboard boxes, and with using their surroundings. I just loved reading about the stories they created, the adventures they had. Or how they could quickly form a big monster to defeat a villain.
Plus everything just connected so beautifully. I was a bit worried as we have so many characters, but I shouldn't have worried.
I loved the illustrations between the stories, they were just so much fun.
I just have two characters I didn't quite like, though later on there was only one of them left. Roy was one of them, he was just terrible. But after his story I just liked him more. Again, I am not excusing him from what he did, but I can imagine why he was so mean. Then there is Alice. I just didn't like her and how she was just way to hyperfocussed on her work (first lemonade than something else). I felt she was quite rude and mean at times, going way overboard.
Thanks to the author(s) for adding a map at the beginning with each of the houses. And also pictures of all the kids, though I wish that one also had their names.
All in all, I just had so much fun reading this book, and I would recommend it to all.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
jennifermilanovic's review against another edition
5.0
Yay! The first graphic novel that I enjoyed! Next I have to try New Kid.
theladydoor's review against another edition
4.0
Well-written and well-drawn series of vignettes about the incredible imagination of a neighborhood crew of kids. Anyone who reads this will find at least one character to identify with, and it touches upon subjects like divorce and bullying with compassion.