ash_among_the_stars's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
1.75
The plot jumped around too much. There were to many time leaps eg "6 months later" without actually telling us what happened in-between. The story felt too packed with detail in too sort of a page count. Things didn't feel as fleshed out as they could have been. It was a great concept and the art was decent but as a whole poor execution.
mehsi's review
4.0
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
I just love horror and I love it when the horror is in graphic novel form. So I just had to request this one!
I was quite interested in the Yearbook Club. I only know of the club thanks to YA novels and series. We never had something like that in high school. But it is something I do like reading about because it just seems so much fun to be part off. To make something for people and give them some fun memories. It was a bit of a shame that the Yearbook club in this graphic novel seemed to do not much. Mostly they seemed to just talk and have fun or try to get through the time they have.
But the peeps in there, well, except for some guy named Press, were fun. I especially loved the twins and I love how Whit just knew who was who which shocked the twins. I can imagine, haha. All this time everyone just confuses them for the other and then there is this new kid who just knows. The twins were just so silly, over the top, and fun, and I loved how accepting they were of Whit (especially if you look at Press’ his reactions).
Whit was an interesting kid and I loved that he is so much into photography and then especially the old-school variant of it. With a dark room, a Leica, and all that. I loved that he didn’t give up when he saw spooky things happening in his photographs, instead he went to find help and went to seek out the truth. I did like that while he was so brave, you could also see he was scared poopless. And I love that because really? Who wouldn’t be scared when you see dead people everywhere? And you have no clue if they are good or bad? I was really rooting for him to figure things out and get the school free of whatever was haunting it.
I just wasn’t a fan of Whit’s mom all the time. She was just too overprotective, and we do learn why, but still. Your kid isn’t a baby any more. Let him be a bit more free.
The haunting stuff was good, though maybe it could be explained just a bit more and not just feel like a random grab out of the thin air. I mean, I had no clue about the culprit, and I still wonder what happened to them truly.
The art was pretty good, I liked the style. The ghosts were delightfully frightening and scary!
I was frankly very shocked that the school did NOTHING. I mean, for many many years, decades even, each year a kid just disappears. Just ups and vanishes. And no one does a freaking thing? No one thinks to just demolish that creaky old building? I mean, it was already on the brink of falling apart when Duncan disappeared, but 30 years later it is even more a wreck. It just seemed very odd, as if people did know something but just didn’t care.
All in all, despite those two things mentioned above, I had fun reading this one! It was a fun and at times scary read.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I just love horror and I love it when the horror is in graphic novel form. So I just had to request this one!
I was quite interested in the Yearbook Club. I only know of the club thanks to YA novels and series. We never had something like that in high school. But it is something I do like reading about because it just seems so much fun to be part off. To make something for people and give them some fun memories. It was a bit of a shame that the Yearbook club in this graphic novel seemed to do not much. Mostly they seemed to just talk and have fun or try to get through the time they have.
But the peeps in there, well, except for some guy named Press, were fun. I especially loved the twins and I love how Whit just knew who was who which shocked the twins. I can imagine, haha. All this time everyone just confuses them for the other and then there is this new kid who just knows. The twins were just so silly, over the top, and fun, and I loved how accepting they were of Whit (especially if you look at Press’ his reactions).
Whit was an interesting kid and I loved that he is so much into photography and then especially the old-school variant of it. With a dark room, a Leica, and all that. I loved that he didn’t give up when he saw spooky things happening in his photographs, instead he went to find help and went to seek out the truth. I did like that while he was so brave, you could also see he was scared poopless. And I love that because really? Who wouldn’t be scared when you see dead people everywhere? And you have no clue if they are good or bad? I was really rooting for him to figure things out and get the school free of whatever was haunting it.
I just wasn’t a fan of Whit’s mom all the time. She was just too overprotective, and we do learn why, but still. Your kid isn’t a baby any more. Let him be a bit more free.
The haunting stuff was good, though maybe it could be explained just a bit more and not just feel like a random grab out of the thin air. I mean, I had no clue about the culprit, and I still wonder what happened to them truly.
The art was pretty good, I liked the style. The ghosts were delightfully frightening and scary!
I was frankly very shocked that the school did NOTHING. I mean, for many many years, decades even, each year a kid just disappears. Just ups and vanishes. And no one does a freaking thing? No one thinks to just demolish that creaky old building? I mean, it was already on the brink of falling apart when Duncan disappeared, but 30 years later it is even more a wreck. It just seemed very odd, as if people did know something but just didn’t care.
Spoiler
I also found it odd that only Duncan could be saved. I mean, he is from 30-ish years ago?? So that means between him and now are around 29 other kids that could potentially be saved. Then again, do you want to be saved? It seemed very painful for Duncan, but in the end he came out healthy and OK.All in all, despite those two things mentioned above, I had fun reading this one! It was a fun and at times scary read.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
chardeemacdennis's review
2.0
2.5 stars
It was just alright. It was lacking in story and character growth.
It was just alright. It was lacking in story and character growth.
gabbyreadswithtea's review
3.0
Rating: 2.5
Middle school! Group of outcasts! Missing students! Ghosts!
This was a quick read that didn’t require much brainpower. The story was simple but I feel like could have been fleshed out with an extra volume or two. It was okay but overall forgettable. We didn’t get as much time with the characters as I wish we had and the storyline didn’t have much explaining which I feel could have worked in its favour.
If you like classic ghost stories, maybe give this a try but don’t expect much.
Thank you to Diamond Book Distributors for providing me an e-copy of this graphic novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Middle school! Group of outcasts! Missing students! Ghosts!
This was a quick read that didn’t require much brainpower. The story was simple but I feel like could have been fleshed out with an extra volume or two. It was okay but overall forgettable. We didn’t get as much time with the characters as I wish we had and the storyline didn’t have much explaining which I feel could have worked in its favour.
If you like classic ghost stories, maybe give this a try but don’t expect much.
Thank you to Diamond Book Distributors for providing me an e-copy of this graphic novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
allysunsun's review
4.0
A quick fun read about a very deadly school! I will say I thought these kids were older than sixth grade as they looked and seemed like it.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!
strange_fish's review
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, I received this arc in exchange for an honest review. This was a really fun middle grade read. I liked the characters and I loved some of the visual jokes put in by the artist. The one complaint I have would be that I felt it could have been longer or even a series just to set up the stakes and give the characters a bit more room to breath. But who knows that might still happen even if this did wrap itself up just fine as a standalone. Overall I enjoy this book enough to read it all in one sitting and will keep an eye out for more stuff from this team.
emilyctrigg's review
2.0
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an advanced copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
Fearbook club is a graphic novel about a new student-- Whit-- who takes photographs to deal with his dad's death. He finds himself at a new school and forced into the yearbook club. Unfortunately, he has started seeing ghosts through his camera lens every time he takes photos.
Parts of this story were really intriguing. The mystery was good and definitely threw me for some twists. I also liked the art style quite a bit. The yearbook advisor character was HILARIOUS. I totally loved him.... probably more than I was supposed to.
Sad to say, that's about all I enjoyed about this book. The story itself was pretty chaotic-- I had a hard time keeping up with what was happening and found myself rereading a bunch of panels to see if I had missed something (I hadn't). While the resolution of the mystery was pretty satisfying, the ending wasn't. I felt like there were a lot of unanswered questions and things that were glossed over. Additionally, the characters were barely one-dimensional. I needed a lot more character development to be able to genuinely enjoy this title.
Fearbook club is a graphic novel about a new student-- Whit-- who takes photographs to deal with his dad's death. He finds himself at a new school and forced into the yearbook club. Unfortunately, he has started seeing ghosts through his camera lens every time he takes photos.
Parts of this story were really intriguing. The mystery was good and definitely threw me for some twists. I also liked the art style quite a bit. The yearbook advisor character was HILARIOUS. I totally loved him.... probably more than I was supposed to.
Sad to say, that's about all I enjoyed about this book. The story itself was pretty chaotic-- I had a hard time keeping up with what was happening and found myself rereading a bunch of panels to see if I had missed something (I hadn't). While the resolution of the mystery was pretty satisfying, the ending wasn't. I felt like there were a lot of unanswered questions and things that were glossed over. Additionally, the characters were barely one-dimensional. I needed a lot more character development to be able to genuinely enjoy this title.
ljrinaldi's review
3.0
Whit has to go to a new school. His father has died, and left him his camera, and so that is what he clings to.
And this school that he goes to has an older campus that has ghosts.
But the ghosts have been forgotten.
Until Whit discovers them.
That is the basic story, but the problem is, we have to go all around Robin Hood's barn to get there. It is never clear that this has been going on a long long time, and that no one has noticed it, until Whit discovers that there is a missing child in each year in the year books, dating back to when the school was founded.
Could be better executed, but not bad.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
And this school that he goes to has an older campus that has ghosts.
But the ghosts have been forgotten.
Until Whit discovers them.
That is the basic story, but the problem is, we have to go all around Robin Hood's barn to get there. It is never clear that this has been going on a long long time, and that no one has noticed it, until Whit discovers that there is a missing child in each year in the year books, dating back to when the school was founded.
Could be better executed, but not bad.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
twiinklex's review
3.0
Happy Pub Day!
This was a fun read that turned out to be unexpectedly meaningful. The author did a brilliant job in highlighting bullying and its lasting impact through the lens of a horror story.
I enjoyed the 80s vibes and subtle nods to classic movies such The Shining. There was even a Joker lookalike. The book also reminded me of Stranger Things and Cabin In The Woods
While the story and execution didn't wow me, what I loved best about this creative tale are the themes of embracing our individuality and standing up to our fears as well as the power of friendship and love.
Don’t miss the author's note!
I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley.
This was a fun read that turned out to be unexpectedly meaningful. The author did a brilliant job in highlighting bullying and its lasting impact through the lens of a horror story.
I enjoyed the 80s vibes and subtle nods to classic movies such The Shining. There was even a Joker lookalike. The book also reminded me of Stranger Things and Cabin In The Woods
While the story and execution didn't wow me, what I loved best about this creative tale are the themes of embracing our individuality and standing up to our fears as well as the power of friendship and love.
Don’t miss the author's note!
I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley.