Summer

Haru #2

by Joe Latham

Return to The Valley, where magical creatures and adventures await! Follow along as Haru, Yama, and their friends continue their quest and unearth the secrets of their world in the much-anticipated sequel, Haru Book 2: Summer.

Haru, Yama, and the rest of the gang return for the next chapter in their epic adventure. Continuing their quest to reach The Beacon, Haru and Yama discover more challenges (and find more answers) along their way. Meet new figures such as Blight's new relentless hunter and the bothersome Void Fly, while we discover what happened to Goose and Herb. With more beautiful illustrations by author and artist Joe Latham, Haru Book 2: Summer is full of adventure, friendship, and magic for readers to enjoy.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Animals, Childrens, Graphic Novels Comics, Adventure

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2024

Reviews

[Sera · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations are gorgeous! Some of the creepy parts are a bit too icky for me, but overall it’s so well done.

[aforestofbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Damn I want the next one now

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely adore the artwork in this series. 5 stars for the artwork...but when it comes to the story...the story is far too slow and meandering for me feel invested in it. The ending should have left me shocked and stunned and heartbroken...but I felt nothing. I'm not eagerly waiting for the next book. I'll read it...because I was to see the beautiful artwork. But the story just hasn't captured my attention even after 2 volumes.

[D.T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deeply unsettling but interesting, this story has a murky 'water cup for the paintbrushes' quality. Its depressive theme still has the littlest bundle of hope around the corner. The worldbuilding isn't defined, but I enjoy the Spirited Away vibes

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is weird and unique and I don't know how to rate it.

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art is still cute, the world is still wonderful, but I felt the story in this Part was less tight than the first. Still interested in seeing where the story goes!

[Michael · Rating 1 out of 5]

my real review was deleted. this book is the worst written graphic novel I've ever read. do not recommend it to anyone

My complaints are threefold, from smallest concern to biggest:
1. slightly excessive with the evil, blurring of light and dark/morality/wrong and right - just got a little excessive, unclear, and confusing for younger minds
2. super whiny and annoying characters
3. poorly worded trans content that didn't seem to fit the story nor did it seem age appropriate.

[Allison · Rating 2 out of 5]

A beautifully drawn graphic novel with a weak, muddled story. I want to like this series as the characters are very cute and the areas are nicely drawn and atmospheric, but there often seems to be randomness in the story, and not the good kind. I would rate this 1 star, but I'll give it an extra one for the art, the brief lore given by the Ancient, and the surprising twist at the end.

[Ollie Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25⭐️ I feel like volume two was better than volume one which felt jumpy and choppy. This volume followed a plot line and seemed to stay with the story better. I enjoyed this volume more than the first and the odd narration of the first volume seemed to change to fit the story more in this one.

[Corina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gorgeous artwork but meandering/hard to follow story in this middle grade graphic novel series. Has some pretty spooky stuff (so many arms!) for readers with sensitive dispositions. Not an improvement on the first book sadly - I think I mostly just read these for the art.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Haru is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel, intended as a coming-of-age story showcasing the four seasons. The series began with the Spring volume and has now been followed by Summer. Each book should be read in order.

The first couple of pages of the book are black and white, or a blue tinged with a white feature of billowing clouds. A rocket ship is seen taking off and the message alludes to centuries of life slowly coming back, via sprouts returning with color. Meanwhile something sinister is seen lurking, waiting for its strength to build. The story then jumps ahead to a midnight blue or night scene of a ghost bird in search of Haru. Haru and Yama are seen leaving the mall from the previous book as they continue their quest toward the Beacon, following the clues of the Oracle. Frei (a small fly) is trying to get Herb to help locate Goose who is in danger, while in an all-red cave a skeleton-ish creature has captured Haru's brother.

The colors of each page vary dependent on where each of the characters are. They are often bright and vibrant shades. Although this is titled Summer, it would work for a Halloween read because of the darker, more menacing tones of this book. There are eerie pages dripping in red and the Blight's new hunter is well, menacing. Summer to me was meant to highlight the sibling bird's relationship, familial bonds, their caring, love and sacrifice for one another. The plot moves along with the introduction of new characters and the shifting in action between Yama running off, Haru at the ancients and Goose being captured. The curse item Yama is stuck with gives off some Harry Potter (HP) vibes in that it seems to be changing them and not for the better. Like in HP they have to trade off wearing it. Herb begins using self-depreciating statements and his words bleed off him withering the plants and killing all that they touch. And he begins to grow, or as the sadder he gets, the taller he seems to become. It's like all light is being absorbed and "negativity is being spread."

The artwork conveys a lot of darker versus lighter shades and there is a lot still to be explored in the story. The ending felt a little rushed to me (the new addition of the mice and ancients needed a little more explanation) and what was with that cliffhanger? I'm also a little confused because the third book appears to only be 52 pages, and I can't fathom how that will bring things together more clearly. Summer will appeal to readers that have already read the graphic novel, Spring, enjoy the artists illustrations, and like me, want to continue with the series. I will probably need to start from the beginning again before the third book releases, but it's well worth it for the illustrations alone.

[Abigail Pankau · Rating 4 out of 5]

While Haru and Yama are trying to get the Heart to the Beacon, Haru’s brother Goose is kidnapped by the Blight. Goose escapes, but the Blight makes a stone golem to chase after him. Meanwhile, the Heart keeps whispering to Yama, so she runs away to deliver the Heart on her own. Herb feels like he has failed his new friends, and his depression makes him grow as he tries to run away from it. Haru finds Goose, and the two go to find the Oracle that Haru saw in a vision. Will the Oracle have the answers that Haru needs, or will she just create more questions for them?

A super cute mid-grade graphic about exploring the world, being oneself, friendship, and fighting against depression. It’s definitely mid-grade as it’s a bit jumpy and the story isn’t very complicated, but it’s very cute. This continues where the first book left off, so you need to read that first.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't have a lot of words for this but I do have a lot of feelings. Once again, the colour palettes for each of the characters is just stunning. I hate that the creature inside the golem is suffering, even though they are a shell of their former selves. I'm sad that Herb has been brainwashed by that horrid little bug but I think he is cute even though he is huge now. I'm also sad the Haru and Yama have split up. But pleased that Goose and Haru have come back together. And my heart breaks for their mother searching for them. I love the mice, they are like little monks! A beautiful book. Can't want for the next (and final) volume.

[Mabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much like the first book, it’s hard to give it five stars without any real conclusions to the plot. I will be awaiting the 3rd book with much anticipation but its release is still months away. Strong characters that help each other with their problems is always a delight to read in middle grade works.

[Staf]

De abrupte sprongen van deel 1 worden hier voor een groot deel opgelost en het taalgebruik is minder off (nog een paar keer een vreemde 'bud'), maar de toon blijft niet erg consequent. Soms heel schattig, soms griezelig, bv. de rode pagina's met de duistere Blight. Wel steeds machtig getekend.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art is still incredible and I liked this part of the story more than the first one! But beware, it does get much darker. I love how cinematic the narration is, and I felt like it was easier to follow the different journeys in this book than the first.

[Ashlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one a lot more than the first. I appreciated all the different journeys the characters were taking and how they became interconnected at the end. The ending though? I can’t wait to read the next one!

[Mee Too · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad but definitely think the writer should just go ahead and put this one to bed and move on. I cant see this story progressing in an interesting way.

3✨ with the hope that vol 3 is the last one.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the art in these books. Sometimes the story lines are a bit tricky to follow (a lot going on), especially for younger kids (also a little scary). Still! We are jazzed for the next installation to see how it all ends. C'mon YAMA!

[Kiley · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars

Darker and creepier than vol. 1, which puts it beyond my preferences. I think leaving Haru dead at the ending was so messed up. Glad Goose and his mom are together and Yama has Herb and Frei though.

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

A phenomenal sequel. You can feel the little ways storytelling and imagery has been scaled up. It's better than ever. Herb suffering is not my favourite, but his friends are simply the best. That ending though - JOE?!?! Excuse you!!?!!???

[Renée S]

I love the art, which drew me into the series in the first place. But the story still fell flat. I feel like I should find the story more compelling than I do. The art gets five stars, the story gets two.

[Eleanor · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5)

[Onder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Schattige personages en mooie kleuren en tekeningen maar de tovenaar met dodenlegers is een afknapper. Tevens mis je wat vaart in het verhaal.

[Katherine Medbery-Oleson · Rating 3 out of 5]

“A stray cat questions her life choices. I have so many regrets.” P. 147

[Arizona Harvey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is cute style-wise, but so hard to keep up plot wise. There's so much going on that it is hard to keep track of? It just doesn't make sense.

[Jacob Benjamin Paramore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it better than the first one.

[Ronda Canary · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Evan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful drawings and nice characters but… so hard to do something deep in so few words. Still zoomed through it

[Rhi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 Stars