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Home Time #1
Home Time, Vol. 1: Under the River
The last school bell has rung and it's finally HOME TIME! Even though they're twins, Lilly and David don't agree on much... except that the last summer before high school is the perfect time for relaxing with friends. But their plans for sleepovers, fantasy games, and romance are thrown out the window when the whole gang falls into a river and wakes up in a village of fantastic creatures. Hailed as magical spirits and attacked by lizards, these kids must find their way home -- if they don't throttle each other first.
228 pages, Hardcover
First published August 22, 2017
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456 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
February 12, 2018
I certainly wanted to like this one, but it didn't do much for me. It's sort of a kids' portal fantasy, about a group of kids who, on their way to a sleepover on the last day of school, fall into the river and wake up in a strange fantasy world populated by what seem to be living plant people known as Peaches who think they are some sort of magical spirits. It's a very detailed world, full of interesting stuff, but the characters have weird reactions to their circumstances, either taking things in stride, wanting to find a way home, or sort of withdrawing into themselves. There was certainly a lot of thought put into the mechanics of this world, but the actual story being told isn't all that compelling. The shifting art styles look really nice, and I think they're supposed to fit the mood of each character, since each chapter follows one kid, but it doesn't really work as well as it should. Ultimately, I didn't find much to latch on to while reading this, so I was ultimately left cold by the characters, the presentation, and the plot. Too bad.
April 4, 2017
Get onto this book when its released in June 2017
Amazing fantasy work with a whole new feel to it. Whyte's shifting art styles are totally off the chart. So good ... I don't think I'll survive waiting for the second half of the story.
Amazing fantasy work with a whole new feel to it. Whyte's shifting art styles are totally off the chart. So good ... I don't think I'll survive waiting for the second half of the story.
September 28, 2017
Marketed for young adults, this is one of those resonating works will appeal across ages. It's easy to identify with the protagonists, recent graduates of elementary school, during that monumental shift from childhood to adulthood...and then things get weird. In the best way. Like his young protagonists, Whyte doesn't shy away from the rough edges of life's experiences, whether it's an uncomfortable rivalry between friends, or a grisly predator in the wild. Even with the high fantasy concept the danger feels real, and suspense builds deliciously throughout.
I struggled a little bit each time the art style changed, but adapted after a couple of pages. I *loved* the "extra bits" framing the story: music, maps, etc., which pulls us deeper into the world without feeling didactic. What's rough is that by the time you get to the end of this one, you're so invested that you can't wait for the next book...
I struggled a little bit each time the art style changed, but adapted after a couple of pages. I *loved* the "extra bits" framing the story: music, maps, etc., which pulls us deeper into the world without feeling didactic. What's rough is that by the time you get to the end of this one, you're so invested that you can't wait for the next book...
May 19, 2018
This was a bit of a hard book to get started since I didn't like or relate to any of the characters, and it was really hard to tell where it was heading. Once I got into it, the setting and the situation are interesting enough that I would like to see how it turns out, though I continue to feel indifferent to most of the characters.
Various thoughts:
- I feel neutral on the varying art style used throughout the book. I assume the justification is that each section follows one of the characters, and may therefore reflect their view of the world . It feels a bit gimmicky, but also not so intrusive that I really dislike it. And now that I look back in it, is the first chapter monotone-sepia in contrast to the later full color chapters sort of like in the movie of The Wizard of Oz as the contrast of the mundane world with the fantastic otherworld, or is it because it is Laurence's chapter?
- I like the two-page sketchbook-like spreads between each chapter providing details about the world. I always like sketchbooks, and it also acts as a fairly elegant way to provide necessary information about the world, since many of the details would feel a bit awkward if brought up in the story.
- It annoys me that there is no consistent presentation of the double spiral staircase inside their tree-house. The few major images that show most or all of the interior seem to show them both spiraling clockwise upwards. This of course is a very stupid design because it means the paths never intersect and given the apparent lack of balconies or like structures, you could easily start up one staircase only to realize it doesn't go where you want to and have to go all the way back down to take the other. Lacking such connections, an elegant solution would be to have the spirals twist in opposite directions, periodically intersecting and lessening the need for backtracking; and indeed in many images characters are shown on a stair that appears to rotate clockwise downwards, but this is not reflected in floor plans or wide-angle shots and seems to just be inconsistency on the part of the artist.
- It seems strange but almost certainly intentional that we never see the lizards the peaches are at war with; mostly the strangeness come from the fact that some characters have seen them, just never as part of what is illustrated.
- I like the fire-rocks; they are neat. Also cool is the inclusion of extinct Australian megafauna, like the thylacoleo (I assume that is what it is, though it looks a bit too cat-like in my opinion).
Various thoughts:
- I feel neutral on the varying art style used throughout the book. I assume the justification is that each section follows one of the characters, and may therefore reflect their view of the world . It feels a bit gimmicky, but also not so intrusive that I really dislike it. And now that I look back in it, is the first chapter monotone-sepia in contrast to the later full color chapters sort of like in the movie of The Wizard of Oz as the contrast of the mundane world with the fantastic otherworld, or is it because it is Laurence's chapter?
- I like the two-page sketchbook-like spreads between each chapter providing details about the world. I always like sketchbooks, and it also acts as a fairly elegant way to provide necessary information about the world, since many of the details would feel a bit awkward if brought up in the story.
- It annoys me that there is no consistent presentation of the double spiral staircase inside their tree-house. The few major images that show most or all of the interior seem to show them both spiraling clockwise upwards. This of course is a very stupid design because it means the paths never intersect and given the apparent lack of balconies or like structures, you could easily start up one staircase only to realize it doesn't go where you want to and have to go all the way back down to take the other. Lacking such connections, an elegant solution would be to have the spirals twist in opposite directions, periodically intersecting and lessening the need for backtracking; and indeed in many images characters are shown on a stair that appears to rotate clockwise downwards, but this is not reflected in floor plans or wide-angle shots and seems to just be inconsistency on the part of the artist.
- It seems strange but almost certainly intentional that we never see the lizards the peaches are at war with; mostly the strangeness come from the fact that some characters have seen them, just never as part of what is illustrated.
- I like the fire-rocks; they are neat. Also cool is the inclusion of extinct Australian megafauna, like the thylacoleo (I assume that is what it is, though it looks a bit too cat-like in my opinion).
August 6, 2018
There was clear thought and care put into this book. The world is very charming and well thought of and has extended note pages on how certain things work/look. The art style changes depending on who's character's story it is. Also has the bonus of being summer vibes with kids falling into another world, which might be a bit more sinister than it seems!
Yet there still was something that didn't quite grab me and I can't put my finger of what it was? Maybe I was craving more character development or dynamic? I might pick up the next book to see if more of the world, mystery, and fate of these kids. I would highly recommend picking it up.
~Ashley
Yet there still was something that didn't quite grab me and I can't put my finger of what it was? Maybe I was craving more character development or dynamic? I might pick up the next book to see if more of the world, mystery, and fate of these kids. I would highly recommend picking it up.
~Ashley
January 26, 2018
I really wanted to like this one more than I did. Australian artist, gorgeous art, and a style that changes from chapter-to-chapter, with one being stylized like a 16 bit RPG. The problem was there was too much world building and not enough core - it fleshed out the world without bothering as much with the characters or the plot. I was a little disappointed.
December 14, 2020
Home Time is a scrumptious feast of beautiful, painstakingly illustrated, portal fantasy. I don’t think I have ever seen a graphic novel with so much attention to detail in the lush and diverse illustrations, combined with a school-kid friendly story that will take you on a journey to a distinctly realised fantasy world. It is the perfect book to sit down and consume on a rainy Saturday morning. For older readers you will have a pang of Nostalgia for the hand-crafted films of your youth like Labyrinth and Hook or stories you made up from your own childhood imagination. My only disappointment with this book is knowing that a sequel can’t come soon enough.
Bonus: For those that grew up in the Author’s far away home city of Perth, Australia, there are many easter eggs to pick up and enjoy.
Bonus: For those that grew up in the Author’s far away home city of Perth, Australia, there are many easter eggs to pick up and enjoy.
September 20, 2018
Giving this four stars because the artwork was really great. I especially liked the old school two bit video game type section.
That said, the story was lacking. Maybe lacking isn't the right word. The story was overfull. Packed to the brim with things we, as readers, didn't see and had no way of getting. It just jumped (literally) right into this whole fully fleshed out word inside the author's mind. The problem was the author/artist was the only person who understood this flesh and I just had no idea what the fuck was even going on.
The closest I could come was that the kids died and this was some dream world, but even then that didn't seem right.
Also I couldn't tell if this comic was for kids, teens, or adults, because there were some pretty heavy themes in it. Including, but not limited to, the whole "drugs are super awesome" ayahuasca scene.
That said, the story was lacking. Maybe lacking isn't the right word. The story was overfull. Packed to the brim with things we, as readers, didn't see and had no way of getting. It just jumped (literally) right into this whole fully fleshed out word inside the author's mind. The problem was the author/artist was the only person who understood this flesh and I just had no idea what the fuck was even going on.
The closest I could come was that the kids died and this was some dream world, but even then that didn't seem right.
Also I couldn't tell if this comic was for kids, teens, or adults, because there were some pretty heavy themes in it. Including, but not limited to, the whole "drugs are super awesome" ayahuasca scene.
November 20, 2017
The amount of love the author poured into each page is palpable. Each chapter is crafted in an art style unique to the child it focuses on, and the level of care Whyte put into the smallest details makes rereads worthwhile, especially if you're familiar with some of the inspirations. For example, there's a panel that's a callback to shoujo manga with faded flowers in the background, but in this case, he used Western Australian natives instead of the typical roses. Perth comes to life as the setting for a fantasy story in ways we don't often see, and even just for that, it's worth a read. Fans of Over the Garden Wall in particular will enjoy this book. I can't wait for the second and final installment.
September 22, 2017
Home Time is a book that deserves to be lovingly pored over.
The artwork is detailed, rich, and demands attention and time. Each of the five main character has his/her own chapter, drawn in a style that reflects their individual motivations and psychology. Their interactions and stories build gradually, weaving together into something brooding and complex.
Here’s what it’s like to read Home Time:
It’s a hot summer afternoon and you decide to go for a swim. You jump in the water and paddle around happily. You’re so engrossed that you don’t notice the strong current pulling you out to sea. By the time you do notice it’s far to late. And there’s a storm brewing.
Read it.
It’s awesome.
The artwork is detailed, rich, and demands attention and time. Each of the five main character has his/her own chapter, drawn in a style that reflects their individual motivations and psychology. Their interactions and stories build gradually, weaving together into something brooding and complex.
Here’s what it’s like to read Home Time:
It’s a hot summer afternoon and you decide to go for a swim. You jump in the water and paddle around happily. You’re so engrossed that you don’t notice the strong current pulling you out to sea. By the time you do notice it’s far to late. And there’s a storm brewing.
Read it.
It’s awesome.
March 21, 2018
The artwork was gorgeously whimsical. The world building was impressively extensive. However, I thought the dialogue and plot were abysmal.
I really disliked the interactions between the characters. The children’s constant bickering was trite and overdone, and the characters themselves were not well fleshed out.
The storyline felt like it was created with a Mad Libs notebook. Then the ending goes off the rails and suddenly becomes dark, which just didn’t fit in with the first three quarters of the book. The plot ultimately didn’t cohere as a whole and left me completely uninterested.
I really disliked the interactions between the characters. The children’s constant bickering was trite and overdone, and the characters themselves were not well fleshed out.
The storyline felt like it was created with a Mad Libs notebook. Then the ending goes off the rails and suddenly becomes dark, which just didn’t fit in with the first three quarters of the book. The plot ultimately didn’t cohere as a whole and left me completely uninterested.
March 16, 2017
PDF - Your mileage will certainly vary, but this book fell flat for me. The characters didn't pop off the page in any way; 200+ pages and none of the characters' names or personalities made any impression on me. The pacing is plodding, the mysteries formless, the characters bland. The art is effective, however. The premise - kids transitioning from elementary school to high school, lost in a fantasy world - is ripe with storytelling potential.
February 3, 2019
Meh. It was weird and nothing was really resolved.
January 17, 2018
A group of kids head off to a sleepover to celebrate their last day of school before high school. Along the way they are swept into a river and wake up in an unknown world populated by a race called the Peaches. The detailed art and the character development really drive the story. The world-building aspects reminded me of the group projects for a utopia/dystopia course I took, and that may not be a good thing. Although this is apparently the first volume with more to come, it doesn’t really have an arc and ends abruptly. Maybe this will be redeemed by future volumes, but as thread after thread is opened and none are resolved, I’m wondering whether Whyte has a plan.
February 28, 2018
I was so disappointed in this book. I wanted to like it. I’m a graphics lover and this appeared to offer something different (I know its aim is younger, but that doesn’t usually bother me). Most of all, the pages burst with color. And the overall story line is compelling. But the plot and the characters were all over the place. Just a few minutes after reading and I’ve already forgotten names and characteristics. I won’t be getting Book Two.
October 14, 2018
I’m not at all sure why this is in the adults graphic novel section at my library. It’s a kids or YA comic about a group of adolescents who fall into a fantasy world. I really wanted to like it but it was lacking. It had beautiful art and a cool world building but it was lacking depth of character, plot, interesting dialogue and intrigue. The characters were two dimensional and too many of them, they were also unpredictability mean and didn’t seem to relate to each other realistically.
July 4, 2021
An amazing blend of art styles that help to flourish the story, I have never seen anything like this! The story is set in Perth and alternate universe (over grown by trees) Perth, where a group of friends are unravelling the mysteries of the Peach People and learning the art of tea brewing. But something sinister is going on, are they ever going to make it home? Will they even want to? Read the book to find out!! Highly recommend ❤️
February 4, 2018
Well this book was a bit odd and hefty. It's about a group of students who end up in a different world on summer break and there's some crazy stuff going on. I loved the illustrations and it was quite a fun romp. Not a favorite but definitely a fun read.
June 16, 2018
An ambitious book, but the story falls flat with weak character development and a story that doesn't really go anywhere. The art is great, but the story didn't pull me in and I won't be reading the next book.
May 3, 2018
Couldn't get into the characters or story. Different art styles throughout was cool.
March 13, 2020
Cute book set in a cute world, the art outshines the story. Can't wait to see what happens in part 2.
December 6, 2023
what the hell? the cliffhanger? why?????
in all seriousness, i loved the changing art styles throughout the book. they were all so unique yet had elements of continuity throughout. i would have probably found it easier to understand if the beginning of the story had been illustrated with colour but its alright, i got there. now ill have to read the next one!
in all seriousness, i loved the changing art styles throughout the book. they were all so unique yet had elements of continuity throughout. i would have probably found it easier to understand if the beginning of the story had been illustrated with colour but its alright, i got there. now ill have to read the next one!
January 17, 2024
The art styles alone are 5 stars. So beautiful and detailed; a literal showcase of pure talent!!!!
However the story was just okay to me, but I still enjoyed it. At times the characters annoyed me and I didn’t really vibe with them but that’s just personal opinion . Overall cute and enjoyable graphic novel.
However the story was just okay to me, but I still enjoyed it. At times the characters annoyed me and I didn’t really vibe with them but that’s just personal opinion . Overall cute and enjoyable graphic novel.
October 15, 2020
3.5/5 ⭐
December 13, 2022
⭐️⭐️ only because I enjoyed the art. The story itself was lacking.
July 16, 2023
I picked this up on a whim at my library and really enjoyed the art style! I’ve never experienced something quite like it before. I could see myself much younger being obsessed with this. I will comment that the story is a bit confusing to follow but overall it was a good bit of escapism and some exceptional art to look at.
May 27, 2024
8,5 Another review on here said it well, when describing what reading this book is like: 'It’s a hot summer afternoon and you decide to go for a swim. You jump in the water and paddle around happily. You’re so engrossed that you don’t notice the strong current pulling you out to sea. By the time you do notice it’s far to late. And there’s a storm brewing.' I heard of this book on the YouTube-channel 'For the love of comics' and found myself interested enough to buy it. I was especially intrigued by the comment that the children who find themselves transported in another world (in itself a standard portal fantasy trope and not enough to pique my interest) each react in a different way to their new situation. The young teenagers and their different characters are well introduced in the first chapter and their development in the new world they find themselves in is well developed. Each chapter is from another point of view, which in this case also means changes in the art styles, fitting with each character. There's one chapter like a 16 bit videogame. The world is interesting too, with some fascinating mysteries. I thought the 'peaches' maybe a bit too whimsical for a fantasy race at first, but their society slowly gains depth. There's some great world building in the interludes between the chapters. And I was fascinated by the prehistoric creatures (like ancient marsupials Diprotodon and Thylacoleo) and the 'stone forest' that seems to be comprised of empty buildings from our time. The metaphor is maybe a bit on the nose: this is about leaving childhood behind (the protagonist are transfering to high school). Some want to be grown up too much and are not able to enjoy imagination. Others long to get lost in fantasyworlds without taking responsibility. Even so, the detailed art and the well thought out pace make this a book to get lost in. This book is like a good cup of tea, one you have to take your time to let steep and then drink slowly, when first you taste the surface but then find you appreciate the deeper, subtler tastes ... I liked it. I recommend it to lovers of portal fantasy, world building and play with art styles.
February 2, 2024
I really enjoyed this art style, and it was easy to get in to, but if I'm honestly the characterization of some of the kids kind of bled together for me? I felt like they were all very similar (in character, not looks) and I had trouble remembering which one said which thing in previous chapters (like which ones were hesitant, and which ones were bold about the new world they entered). Definitely left on a cliffhanger, which is not my favorite ending to a book, but I'll just have to check out the sequel
June 13, 2020
3.5
While I thoroughly enjoyed the world building in this, the characters and their dialogue didn’t always work as well for me. Also while I really appreciate and admire the effort that went into each of the shifting art styles, through the book I did end up enjoying some more than others.
I’ll definitely be checking out book two though!
While I thoroughly enjoyed the world building in this, the characters and their dialogue didn’t always work as well for me. Also while I really appreciate and admire the effort that went into each of the shifting art styles, through the book I did end up enjoying some more than others.
I’ll definitely be checking out book two though!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews