Pretty good, but the ending is not what I would have liked. Morgan is an introvert. And she’s a lesbian. Ever since her dad left the family, things have been getting tense between her and her mother and her brother. So one night, after a big fight, she goes down to the rocks. She slips and falls into the ocean, almost drowning. A silky rescues her, and Morgan is convinced that it is a near death experience when she kisses her. But when Kelpie shows up the next day with human legs, things get awkward.

Aster and Charlie defeated Mikasi. Now, Charlie made a new friend named April. Trouble is, April is a witch, but she doesn’t know how to control her magic. Aster is finally able to take classes with the witches, but he’s still getting tested differently, so he takes an internship under his grandmother. Together, her and Aster start to drain Mikasi’s bad magic, but it’s taking some time. Now Aster and Charlie have to save April before it’s too late.

Aster is a boy. This is not a problem in itself, but he wants to be a witch. And in his family, girls are witches, and boys are shifters. It’s plain and simple. No exceptions. Aster sneaks around, learning the secrets, and is cast out every time. One day, he goes out, and meets a new friend, Charlie. Later, Aster has to take part in a family ritual where shifters get their animal spirits, and his cousin Sedge is taken in front of his eyes! Together, he and Charlie unearth long buried family secrets, and have to fight an old foe. Can they do it?

Are you a fan of Sonic The Hedgehog and all his awesome friends? Do you like high-speed action adventures? Are you just looking for a good comic book to read while you kick back with an afternoon chili dog? If so, then this is the perfect book for you! The amazing first installment in this action-packed series, writer Ian Flynn wows his readers with the latest escapades of the Blue Blur himself! Set after the story of the new Nintendo Switch release Sonic Forces, the collection follows Sonic as he races around the world following the war with his arch-nemesis Dr. Eggman, who has seemingly disappeared. However, his maniacal machines are still a threat to Green Hill, and Sonic, with his best friends Tails, Amy, and Knuckles, along side Princess Blaze, all must shut them down. Can Sonic solve the mystery that presents itself as events unfold? Featuring pages of magnificent cover art and the debut of a brand new character, this super-powered comic is guaranteed to be a smash hit!

Now that I'm older, I really should be reading at a level closer to that of my peers. However, there's just something about some children's books that draws me to them, and The Popularity Papers definitely has that spark.
Lydia and her best friend Julie are in their last year of elementary school. Lydia's older sister underwent a dramatic change between elementary and middle school, in which she embraced goth fashion, secluded herself from others, and generally became a stranger to them. To avoid becoming like her, Julie and Lydia decide to observe and emulate the "popular" kids in order to get more friends before going into sixth grade.

First off, this book has no clear antagonist. Instead of "the popular kids" and the "nerds" being a black-and-white distinction, its easy to see how all the children in the story are just that - children. For example, popular girl Gretchen has no qualms over calling out another girl's odd and homophobic questioning of Julie's two dads.
I also love the diary-style dialogue in which Julie and Lydia communicate through scribbled notes in the margins, and the art in this story is very unique.
The book embodies a child's curious, scatter-brained nature while still being entertaining and maintaining themes of kindness, authenticity, and finding friends in unexpected places. It's a favorite of mine to re-read, and I highly recommend this book to read with young siblings, to clear the mind between heavier books, or just as a fun, rainy-day read.

I loved this book so much! It is set in the future, where humanity has expanded and moved to Mars. We follow a girl called Clem, and her robot SENA, who have moved to Mars for an internship with Clem’s idol. While working at the internship, Clem meets a personal build humanoid robot named Kye. Soon, Kye starts to malfunction, and the only one who can help him is Clem. They both have to delve deep into their pasts to solve what’s going on, and they become very close along the way. This book is filled with mystery, romance and secrets hidden in the past. 10/10 recommend!

Sonic The Hedgehog Volume 4: Infection is Sonic-speed thrills from cover to cover! Dr. Eggman is gone for good. A happily retired handyman, he’s a threat no longer — or so everyone thought. Now, a new foe has emerged from the shadows and signs are pointing to the return of the doctor’s dark side. As Eggman’s allies slowly increase in numbers, Sonic must rush to find him again. It won’t be easy, though— the devious doctor and his fiendish friends are cooking up a new superweapon that even Sonic and friends can’t contain!!! Combing Ian Flynn’s story writing skills and the art of Adam Bryce Thomas, Diana Skelly, Tracy Yardley and Jack Lawrence, Sonic The Hedgehog Volume 4: Infection is a real treat!

Sonic is back for more way-past-cool adventures in Ian Flynn’s Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 3: Battle For Angel Island! Neo Metal Sonic, the super-powered steel nemesis, has conquered Angel Island and claimed the Master Emerald as his prize. Now, Sonic, alongside Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Shadow, and the rest of the Resistance fighters, must prepare for the fight of their lives in order to prevent Neo Metal Sonic from reviving Dr. Eggman’s terrifying Empire. As the battle goes on, though, Neo Metal Sonic becomes increasingly stronger. Can Sonic stop the robot’s rampage, or will he succumb to the “perfect version” of himself? With awesome art by Tracy Yardley and Evan Stanley, no Sonic fan will be able to resist Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 3: Battle For Angel Island!

Ready for more exciting adventures? Sonic The Hedgehog Volume 2: The Fate of Dr. Eggman has just that! Since Dr. Eggman’s mysterious disappearance, Sonic has been dashing around the world hunting for him — and whoever is controlling his robot army. But when Sonic, with the help of the Chaotix Detective Agency, finally locates him, he’s in for a big surprise! And that’s not all— Shadow, Sonic’s grim rival, is also hunting for Eggman. While dealing with this problem, Sonic also must uncover the true identity of the Eggman Empire’s new leader. Sonic will have to be at his fastest if the day is going to be saved! Written by Sonic super-enthusiast Ian Flynn and featuring art by Tracy Yardley, Adam Bryce Thomas, and Evan Stanley, along with tons of fantastic cover art, this comic collection is essential for any action lover!

Having only really experienced Kate Beaton's web comic, Hark! A Vagrant and her sillier material, I was interested to see how a graphic novel of her life would play out on the printed page. I was shocked to find her somewhat whimsical style had so much emotion for a story that was assuredly a difficult one to tell. Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands is as gripping as it is frustrating that such working conditions remain this dangerous for women.

Telling the story of how Beaton paid off her student loans from art school in the fastest way possible, Ducks highlights the misogyny and sexism present in the (frankly) male-dominated field of petroleum. Working on the oil sands isn't safe in a physical sense, but add to that the "hanging with the guys" tropes that eventually lead to assault. It was hard to read sections of this book, knowing that men should be better than this. Beaton pours her trauma out on the page and it stuck with me in a way that only a graphic novel like this could convey.

I'd say that this book should be required reading for both men and women going into these fields, but I know it probably wouldn't change anything. There's too much inertia to effect the significant changes that would need to happen. This shouldn't lessen discussions about the depression, substance abuse, and suicide that men in these jobs endure, but instead highlight the tenuous strengths and inevitable weakness of humans pushed to their breaking points. For some, though, it is a lifestyle. For the lucky ones, they make it out alive in as little time as possible—which is still long enough to have lasting negative effects on their lives.

A deeply moving memoir about women working in a male-dominated field, I give Ducks 5.0 stars out of 5.