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samchase112's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
An absolutely lovely, comforting, beautiful, emotional end to a fantastic series. Despite all the sadness and loneliness, this book is really just a warm hug of friendship. The art is gorgeous as always — that scene of Marjorie and her dad by the Christmas tree might be one of the prettiest things of all time — and the characters are so lovable and well-rounded. Wendell is my little cinnamon roll of a ghost boy, and I'm SO HAPPY he's a dancer just like me :) I'm sad to see this story end, but I'm so happy I spent so much time with Marjorie, Eliza, and WENDELL!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Bullying, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
clarabooksit's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
This is such an odd series for me. I liked the first one, loved the second one, and thought this last was just okay. While I know many people are probably thrilled to get Wendell’s story, at last, I thought it was kind of disappointing. Not because I was expecting something epic—these are not those kinds of books—but because it didn’t inspire any feelings in me.
[Minor spoiler:am I the only one who didn’t realize Wendell was a lot younger than Marjorie? ]
Where these books shine is in the nuanced, realistic depictions of friendship and this one continues that beautifully. It’s nice to see a character like Marjorie grow and stumble in her relationships just like we all do. Eliza is and always will be my favorite character and it was lovely to see her grow and learn here, too.
The only main character that didn’t expand was Wendell, so maybe that’s where my disappointment stems from. I don’t know.
As always, Thummler’s art, especially her landscapes and two-page spreads, are breath-taking and worth the read themselves.
Overall, I liked LIGHTS but I didn’t love it. I guess I wanted more.
I would definitely still recommend the series as a whole. They’re cute, melancholy books about the everyday moments of a middle school girl who has just lost her mother and who befriends the nice ghosts that haunt her family’s laundromat.
[Minor spoiler:
Where these books shine is in the nuanced, realistic depictions of friendship and this one continues that beautifully. It’s nice to see a character like Marjorie grow and stumble in her relationships just like we all do. Eliza is and always will be my favorite character and it was lovely to see her grow and learn here, too.
The only main character that didn’t expand was Wendell, so maybe that’s where my disappointment stems from. I don’t know.
As always, Thummler’s art, especially her landscapes and two-page spreads, are breath-taking and worth the read themselves.
Overall, I liked LIGHTS but I didn’t love it. I guess I wanted more.
I would definitely still recommend the series as a whole. They’re cute, melancholy books about the everyday moments of a middle school girl who has just lost her mother and who befriends the nice ghosts that haunt her family’s laundromat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Death and Abandonment
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