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Odessa #1
Odessa
Three siblings search for their missing mother across a ruined America in this original graphic novel perfect for fans of Scott Westerfeld and Neal Shusterman.
Eight years ago an earthquake—the Big One—hit along the Cascadia fault line, toppling cities and changing landscapes all up and down the west coast of the United States. Life as we know it changed forever. But for Vietnamese-American Virginia Crane, life changed shortly after the earthquake, when her mother left and never came back.
Ginny has gotten used to a life without her mother, helping her father take care of her two younger brothers, Wes and Harry. But when a mysterious package arrives for her eighteenth birthday, her life is shaken up yet again. For the first time, Ginny wants something more than to survive. And it might be a selfish desire, but she's determined to find out what happened to her mother—even if it means leaving her family behind.
Eight years ago an earthquake—the Big One—hit along the Cascadia fault line, toppling cities and changing landscapes all up and down the west coast of the United States. Life as we know it changed forever. But for Vietnamese-American Virginia Crane, life changed shortly after the earthquake, when her mother left and never came back.
Ginny has gotten used to a life without her mother, helping her father take care of her two younger brothers, Wes and Harry. But when a mysterious package arrives for her eighteenth birthday, her life is shaken up yet again. For the first time, Ginny wants something more than to survive. And it might be a selfish desire, but she's determined to find out what happened to her mother—even if it means leaving her family behind.
328 pages, Paperback
First published November 10, 2020
29 people are currently reading
1436 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Hill
8 books47 followersJonathan Hill is an Ignatz-nominated cartoonist, illustrator, and educator living in Portland, OR.
Some of his clients include the Viet Nam Literature Project, the Willamette Week, Fantagraphics Books, Image Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Tor.com, Lion Forge, The Believer Magazine, and Powell's City of Books.
His first graphic novel, Americus, was published by First Second Books in Fall 2011. It was picked as an ABC New Voices 2011 title, nominated by the YALSA as a 2012 Best Graphic Novel for Teens, was a Fall 2011 Junior Library Guild Premier Selection.
In 2012 Americus won the NAIBA's Carla Cohen Free Speech award, becoming the first graphic novel to win the award. The first chapter of Americus was published in Papercutter #7 (Tugboat Press) and was nominated for the Best Short Story Ignatz Award in 2008.
His short story 'Jeremiah' was selected as part of the 2016 Society of Illustrators Comic and Cartoon Annual exhibit and publication.
His second graphic novel, Wild Weather: Storms, Meteorology, and Climate was also published by First Second in April 2019.
Jonathan also teaches comics and visual narrative for various organizations around Portland. He is an associate professor in the Illustration Department at the Pacific Northwest College of Art, teaches comics and has taught at The Oregon College of Art and Craft and through Literary Arts' Writers in the Schools Program.
He serves on the Board of Directors for Literary Arts as well as chairs the Youth Programs Advisory Council.
He is currently working on two graphic novels: Odessa, his first solo graphic novel, will be published by Oni Press 2020 and True Tales of a Seventh Grade Lizard Boy will be published by Walker Books in 2022.
Some of his clients include the Viet Nam Literature Project, the Willamette Week, Fantagraphics Books, Image Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Tor.com, Lion Forge, The Believer Magazine, and Powell's City of Books.
His first graphic novel, Americus, was published by First Second Books in Fall 2011. It was picked as an ABC New Voices 2011 title, nominated by the YALSA as a 2012 Best Graphic Novel for Teens, was a Fall 2011 Junior Library Guild Premier Selection.
In 2012 Americus won the NAIBA's Carla Cohen Free Speech award, becoming the first graphic novel to win the award. The first chapter of Americus was published in Papercutter #7 (Tugboat Press) and was nominated for the Best Short Story Ignatz Award in 2008.
His short story 'Jeremiah' was selected as part of the 2016 Society of Illustrators Comic and Cartoon Annual exhibit and publication.
His second graphic novel, Wild Weather: Storms, Meteorology, and Climate was also published by First Second in April 2019.
Jonathan also teaches comics and visual narrative for various organizations around Portland. He is an associate professor in the Illustration Department at the Pacific Northwest College of Art, teaches comics and has taught at The Oregon College of Art and Craft and through Literary Arts' Writers in the Schools Program.
He serves on the Board of Directors for Literary Arts as well as chairs the Youth Programs Advisory Council.
He is currently working on two graphic novels: Odessa, his first solo graphic novel, will be published by Oni Press 2020 and True Tales of a Seventh Grade Lizard Boy will be published by Walker Books in 2022.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 422 reviews
August 27, 2020
It’s a shame Odessa wasn’t all that I’d hoped. Hearing that this was a post apocalyptic own-voices novel featuring Vietnamese main characters really peaked my interest.
In a world ravaged by the aftermath of massive earthquakes and societal divide, the Crane family thought they’d been through the worst. Then their mother left without explanation.
It’s eight years later, and Virginia Crane has grown accustomed to caring for her father and younger brothers. When she receives a birthday gift from her mother, Virginia and her brothers set out on a journey to find their mom.
While the art style didn’t play into my personal tastes, I will admit that it fits the post apocalyptic theme well. The characters were drawn using bizarre and played up features, which wasn’t for me, though the black and white drawings accented by pink were nice.
I found it really difficult to connect with anyone in this graphic novel. Virginia and her brothers are the protagonists, yet they undergo very little character development by the end. The supporting cast didn’t serve much purpose except for plot convenience, and the antagonists’ motives weren’t very believable.
By the halfway mark, I’d lost virtually all interest in this story. There were too many coincidences for my liking, and a lot of events happened simply out of convenience. While there are others who may enjoy this story, it really wasn’t for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Oni press for the E-arc!
In a world ravaged by the aftermath of massive earthquakes and societal divide, the Crane family thought they’d been through the worst. Then their mother left without explanation.
It’s eight years later, and Virginia Crane has grown accustomed to caring for her father and younger brothers. When she receives a birthday gift from her mother, Virginia and her brothers set out on a journey to find their mom.
While the art style didn’t play into my personal tastes, I will admit that it fits the post apocalyptic theme well. The characters were drawn using bizarre and played up features, which wasn’t for me, though the black and white drawings accented by pink were nice.
I found it really difficult to connect with anyone in this graphic novel. Virginia and her brothers are the protagonists, yet they undergo very little character development by the end. The supporting cast didn’t serve much purpose except for plot convenience, and the antagonists’ motives weren’t very believable.
By the halfway mark, I’d lost virtually all interest in this story. There were too many coincidences for my liking, and a lot of events happened simply out of convenience. While there are others who may enjoy this story, it really wasn’t for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Oni press for the E-arc!
July 1, 2020
*Thank you to the publisher for sending me a review copy through Netgalley. This in no way influences my opinion of the book.
Ehhhhh. This graphic novel just didn't do it for me. The premise of a journey through a post-apocalyptic world sounded fab, like a huge adventurous undertaking to follow along with (call me a mythology nerd but I literally thought "Odessa" was a play on the Odyssey...it's not). But it sadly ended up being a fairly mundane trek, full of handy conveniences of adults coming to save the day. Apparently the characters are sifting through a dangerous world of gang wars, but I didn't believe the motives behind any of the villain people besides them being overly angry about petty inconveniences. Sure, they could just be bad guys, but I like my bad guys to be believable.
While the art style really wasn't my thing, I will say it suits the rough-and-tumble style of the post-apocalyptic world. Also, bonus point for the beginnings of a F/F relationship.
Other than that, I'd have to say this was a complete miss for me. The characters were kind of annoying to follow, with them bickering throughout 80% of the book. There were some heartwarming moments thrown in, and I suppose you could say it's an authentic depiction of siblings, but the extent in which they were shown bickering vs actual progression of the story didn't balance out enough. It also felt far too long . This graphic novel is actually just the beginning of a series, meaning it acts largely as a set up for future plot lines. That being said, it's over 300 pages long, and I definitely felt that drag. Especially when the first half was so drawn out compared to the random - and seemingly unquestioned - events in the last chapter.
So...yeah. Not a fan I'm afraid.
Ehhhhh. This graphic novel just didn't do it for me. The premise of a journey through a post-apocalyptic world sounded fab, like a huge adventurous undertaking to follow along with (call me a mythology nerd but I literally thought "Odessa" was a play on the Odyssey...it's not). But it sadly ended up being a fairly mundane trek, full of handy conveniences of adults coming to save the day. Apparently the characters are sifting through a dangerous world of gang wars, but I didn't believe the motives behind any of the villain people besides them being overly angry about petty inconveniences. Sure, they could just be bad guys, but I like my bad guys to be believable.
While the art style really wasn't my thing, I will say it suits the rough-and-tumble style of the post-apocalyptic world. Also, bonus point for the beginnings of a F/F relationship.
Other than that, I'd have to say this was a complete miss for me. The characters were kind of annoying to follow, with them bickering throughout 80% of the book. There were some heartwarming moments thrown in, and I suppose you could say it's an authentic depiction of siblings, but the extent in which they were shown bickering vs actual progression of the story didn't balance out enough. It also felt far too long . This graphic novel is actually just the beginning of a series, meaning it acts largely as a set up for future plot lines. That being said, it's over 300 pages long, and I definitely felt that drag. Especially when the first half was so drawn out compared to the random - and seemingly unquestioned - events in the last chapter.
So...yeah. Not a fan I'm afraid.
April 14, 2022
To be truthful I picked this up from the library because I thought it was going to be about Odessa, Ukraine, and I am trying to read more about that area, literary tradition, and so on, but it's really not. A post-apocalyptical story that uses one color, pink, the same one-color I recall François Vigneault using in his fantasy/sci fi series. It is Jonathan Hill's first solo effort (he has illustrated others), and he said it took home basically more than ten years to come to publication. So from one author to another, or from any readers to a persistent writer, he gets points for this.
The story reminds me of another comic I just read, Snow Angels by Jeff Lemire, where the kids are suddenly on their own braving the great unknown, the wilderness, without adults, which is one version of a coming-of-age story, or orphan story (Oliver Twist, and so on).
The set up: Earthquakes have completely destroyed much of the American West, so there are some survivors encampments, raiders for remaining resources, and so on. A guy raises three kids after his wife left eight years ago. She gets a package with a letter from mom and they leave Dad to find Mom. This is, we discover at the end, is To Be Continued, so that is disappointing, as the story actually feels long already, and not all that eventful, really. But I like the artwork (though 300 pages of pink is a little over the top). But good for you, Jonathan. I wish you all the best.
The story reminds me of another comic I just read, Snow Angels by Jeff Lemire, where the kids are suddenly on their own braving the great unknown, the wilderness, without adults, which is one version of a coming-of-age story, or orphan story (Oliver Twist, and so on).
The set up: Earthquakes have completely destroyed much of the American West, so there are some survivors encampments, raiders for remaining resources, and so on. A guy raises three kids after his wife left eight years ago. She gets a package with a letter from mom and they leave Dad to find Mom. This is, we discover at the end, is To Be Continued, so that is disappointing, as the story actually feels long already, and not all that eventful, really. But I like the artwork (though 300 pages of pink is a little over the top). But good for you, Jonathan. I wish you all the best.
June 21, 2020
Post-apocalyptic fiction is all the rage in these mid-apocalyptic days, at least Odessa's apocalypse is something different to your usual fare - the west of the US has been devastated by earthquakes (think The Big One times a hundred), the East Coast supposedly was unaffected but did plonk a huge big wall in the middle of the country so as to easier forget about those West Coast losers.
Society in the west has crumbled and turned into what you'd normally expect in this genre - small semi-self-sustaining settlements, raiders raiding everything that can be raised, big cities built on urban ruins full of danger, etc.
Ginny lives in such a settlement with her dad and her two smaller brothers. Their mother, Odessa, left them years ago, for some unknown reason. Then the mom sends a letter and a photo to Ginny for her birthday, and Ginny decides to try and find her. She leaves against the wishes of her father, and she's barely left the town before discovering her little brothers have followed her.
The book is over 300 pages long, yet only one character really gets developed - and it's not Ginny or either of her brothers. So many pages, and I still would have a hard time telling you what actually happens. A lot of the obstacles feel repetitive, and there's time wasted on plot choices that make me wonder what the point of them is, storywise. Some characters exhibit plot driven stupidity, which is always a shame.
To top it all off, the book ends on a stonking big cliffhanger, something which isn't indicated anywhere beforehand (say, on the cover). It's fine to tell a story in several volumes, but then give some indication, or at least fullfil a complete story arc in this volume.
I did like the art, although it works better for characters and less so for landscapes, where it can be a bit too crude. The black-white-pink colour template works well, but does become slightly headache inducing.
It's a weird one - I'd say wait for there to be a second volume, but then if you don't get the first volume, that would probably erase the chance of a second volume appearing.
(Kindly received an ARC from Oni Press through NetGalley)
Society in the west has crumbled and turned into what you'd normally expect in this genre - small semi-self-sustaining settlements, raiders raiding everything that can be raised, big cities built on urban ruins full of danger, etc.
Ginny lives in such a settlement with her dad and her two smaller brothers. Their mother, Odessa, left them years ago, for some unknown reason. Then the mom sends a letter and a photo to Ginny for her birthday, and Ginny decides to try and find her. She leaves against the wishes of her father, and she's barely left the town before discovering her little brothers have followed her.
The book is over 300 pages long, yet only one character really gets developed - and it's not Ginny or either of her brothers. So many pages, and I still would have a hard time telling you what actually happens. A lot of the obstacles feel repetitive, and there's time wasted on plot choices that make me wonder what the point of them is, storywise. Some characters exhibit plot driven stupidity, which is always a shame.
To top it all off, the book ends on a stonking big cliffhanger, something which isn't indicated anywhere beforehand (say, on the cover). It's fine to tell a story in several volumes, but then give some indication, or at least fullfil a complete story arc in this volume.
I did like the art, although it works better for characters and less so for landscapes, where it can be a bit too crude. The black-white-pink colour template works well, but does become slightly headache inducing.
It's a weird one - I'd say wait for there to be a second volume, but then if you don't get the first volume, that would probably erase the chance of a second volume appearing.
(Kindly received an ARC from Oni Press through NetGalley)
September 5, 2020
This book is set in a dystopian world where an earthquake destroyed almost everything. This is the story of Ginny who lives with her father and two younger brothers. On her birthday she receives a gift from her mother. This convinces her that her mother misses her as much she missed her mother. So she goes on a journey to find her mother even though her father was against it. Her two younger brothers also joins her on this journey.
I did not enjoy this book. Firstly, nothing happens in this book. The story is very slow and nothing special happens. This storyline is very bland and I did not like any of the characters. I lost interest halfway through the book. Secondly, I wasn't a big fan of the art style as well. The illustrations are a very important part of a graphic novel, but in this one the illustrations weren't flattering and I did not like it that much.
I did not enjoy this book. Firstly, nothing happens in this book. The story is very slow and nothing special happens. This storyline is very bland and I did not like any of the characters. I lost interest halfway through the book. Secondly, I wasn't a big fan of the art style as well. The illustrations are a very important part of a graphic novel, but in this one the illustrations weren't flattering and I did not like it that much.
September 19, 2020
Wow! This one was pleasantly surprising. I'm happy that I was able to get my hands on this graphic novel, especially since it turned out to be a very promising first volume.
My first impressions, of course, had to do with the art style. I might be the unpopular opinion here, but I liked it . It was simple, and definitely not what you'd call "cute", but it worked for me for some reason. Also, I found the choice of colour quite strange: when I see pink, I think of something light and fluffy, even romantic, but this graphic novel, against all odds, was actually quite dark, especially towards the end. My assumption is that the author did this on purpose, but I might be overthinking it. Anyways, I liked it and I found it to be an interesting element.
Because of the blurb, I knew the story would deal with family dynamics (which by now you all know how much I love), and I was interested to see how the dystopian aspects would be like as well. These were the main things that made me want to read this book, together with the cover because, as I said before, I really LOVE that pink colour.
This is the first volume in the series, so I wasn't exactly surprised that it felt, in my opinion, like a big introduction. For the first quarter of the book, we mostly see how the main characters, Virgiana and her two younger brothers, live their day-to-day lives in a sort of post-apocalyptic world. Then the middle portion of the book focused more on their journey, and the story dragged a little at this point. Nothing much happened for a while, and I almost feared the rest of the novel would be the same, but luckily things started to pick up again, and the last chapters were very action-packed and exciting. The only downside to this was that these events happened in a rather rushed way, which I believe was due to the fact that the author had only a few chapters left to develop the story up to a certain point. Some things also felt too convenient, but that didn't prevent me from liking how this volume wrapped up.
The worldbuilding was ok, but I expected a more thorough explanation of the eartquakes, or at least some details of how the characters felt when they ocurred. Although we get commentary on the aftermath, it wasn't enough for me to properly grasp the severity of the situation. Virginia, being the oldest, was the only one of the siblings that remembered the earthquakes, but when she talked about it, it was so vague that it almost felt as if it had happened to someome else. I really hope we get to see flashbacks of the actual disaster in the future.
Virginia's character was the most captivating: she clearly loves her family and wants to protect them with all her might, and although she may be a little temperamental sometimes, her actions speak loudly for her, showcasing her selflessness and her dedication in order to do what's best for her father and brothers. She is in no way perfect, but I personally like that a lot better. She's also very smart and strong, qualities that make her a very likeable character. Also, I had my suspicions regarding a possible romantic interest that turned out to be correct and I think I'm going to love the ship A LOT. We got some hints towards the end that make me think that romance will ensue, who knows, maybe in the next volume? I can't wait to see it!
Harry and Wes were... I don't know how to describe them exactly. Their personalities are different, but I don't think I know them well enough yet. Wes is the more mature of the two, something that the reader can witness throughout the story, but Harry was not as developed, and there were some parts in which I even found him a little annoying. However, after that very unexpected twist in the end, I'm now expecting a deeper exploration of his character and the difficulties he will have to face, and I'm really looking forward to his growth.
I love stories that focus on sibling relationships, and I enjoyed following these three siblings in their adventure. Their bond was very cute and I loved how close they were and how they trusted each other. The ending sort of broke my heart a little and almost made me sob because I want them to be alright. It's no suprise though; I have a weakness for families, but I seriously came to care for all of them and I'm eager to see where their mission will take them.
Overall, I think this is a very solid start to a new series, and I'm curious to see what else this story has to offer. I'm definitely going to stay tuned and read the rest of the volumes, but for now I hope this graphic novel gets a lot of attention once it's finally released because I think it has great potential!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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My first impressions, of course, had to do with the art style. I might be the unpopular opinion here, but I liked it . It was simple, and definitely not what you'd call "cute", but it worked for me for some reason. Also, I found the choice of colour quite strange: when I see pink, I think of something light and fluffy, even romantic, but this graphic novel, against all odds, was actually quite dark, especially towards the end. My assumption is that the author did this on purpose, but I might be overthinking it. Anyways, I liked it and I found it to be an interesting element.
Because of the blurb, I knew the story would deal with family dynamics (which by now you all know how much I love), and I was interested to see how the dystopian aspects would be like as well. These were the main things that made me want to read this book, together with the cover because, as I said before, I really LOVE that pink colour.
This is the first volume in the series, so I wasn't exactly surprised that it felt, in my opinion, like a big introduction. For the first quarter of the book, we mostly see how the main characters, Virgiana and her two younger brothers, live their day-to-day lives in a sort of post-apocalyptic world. Then the middle portion of the book focused more on their journey, and the story dragged a little at this point. Nothing much happened for a while, and I almost feared the rest of the novel would be the same, but luckily things started to pick up again, and the last chapters were very action-packed and exciting. The only downside to this was that these events happened in a rather rushed way, which I believe was due to the fact that the author had only a few chapters left to develop the story up to a certain point. Some things also felt too convenient, but that didn't prevent me from liking how this volume wrapped up.
The worldbuilding was ok, but I expected a more thorough explanation of the eartquakes, or at least some details of how the characters felt when they ocurred. Although we get commentary on the aftermath, it wasn't enough for me to properly grasp the severity of the situation. Virginia, being the oldest, was the only one of the siblings that remembered the earthquakes, but when she talked about it, it was so vague that it almost felt as if it had happened to someome else. I really hope we get to see flashbacks of the actual disaster in the future.
Virginia's character was the most captivating: she clearly loves her family and wants to protect them with all her might, and although she may be a little temperamental sometimes, her actions speak loudly for her, showcasing her selflessness and her dedication in order to do what's best for her father and brothers. She is in no way perfect, but I personally like that a lot better. She's also very smart and strong, qualities that make her a very likeable character. Also, I had my suspicions regarding a possible romantic interest that turned out to be correct and I think I'm going to love the ship A LOT. We got some hints towards the end that make me think that romance will ensue, who knows, maybe in the next volume? I can't wait to see it!
Harry and Wes were... I don't know how to describe them exactly. Their personalities are different, but I don't think I know them well enough yet. Wes is the more mature of the two, something that the reader can witness throughout the story, but Harry was not as developed, and there were some parts in which I even found him a little annoying. However, after that very unexpected twist in the end, I'm now expecting a deeper exploration of his character and the difficulties he will have to face, and I'm really looking forward to his growth.
I love stories that focus on sibling relationships, and I enjoyed following these three siblings in their adventure. Their bond was very cute and I loved how close they were and how they trusted each other. The ending sort of broke my heart a little and almost made me sob because I want them to be alright. It's no suprise though; I have a weakness for families, but I seriously came to care for all of them and I'm eager to see where their mission will take them.
Overall, I think this is a very solid start to a new series, and I'm curious to see what else this story has to offer. I'm definitely going to stay tuned and read the rest of the volumes, but for now I hope this graphic novel gets a lot of attention once it's finally released because I think it has great potential!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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August 31, 2020DNF @ 50%
I feel bad DNFing this because I usually try not to DNF graphic novels, especially when they're review copies... but this just wasn't doing anything for me and since I'm already clawing my way out of a month-long reading slump, I can't justify boring myself with this any longer.
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this review copy in exchange for an honest review!
I feel bad DNFing this because I usually try not to DNF graphic novels, especially when they're review copies... but this just wasn't doing anything for me and since I'm already clawing my way out of a month-long reading slump, I can't justify boring myself with this any longer.
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this review copy in exchange for an honest review!
October 31, 2020
Set at an unknown time in the near future, Odessa tells of an American West Coast that has been left devastated by a massive earthquake. Many people died in the quakes and many more died in the dangerous wasteland of a society that is left behind. People survive by trading goods and scavenging in ruined buildings. Ginny is a young woman who lives with her father and two younger brothers. Ginny's mother left shortly after the quake, but when Ginny receives a package from her mom, she decides to go in search of her. She sets off south towards what remains of San Francisco.
This was an adventure of a book. Life is not easy in Ginny's world, with much of the west coast ruled by violent gangs. Ginny runs into many dangers while searching for her mother. The book presents a mostly realistic world but with some definite elements of fantasy thrown into the mix. The post-Earthquake scenario was a nice change up from the other "end of the world as we know it" books that I've read lately which have mostly been about climate change and rising ocean levels.
The book was written and illustrated by Jonathan Hill and he did a great job with both the artwork and the storytelling. This was an #ownvoices story featuring Vietnamese American main characters. The characters were a little flat but I still enjoyed the book. I liked that the color scheme was all black, white, and pinkish/peach. It definitely helped give the book a certain vibe.
3.5 stars.
What to listen to while reading...
Earthquake by Deerhunter
Apocalypse by Cigarettes After Sex
Spectre by Radiohead
Something in the Way by Nirvana
Too Late to Say Goodbye by Cage the Elephant
Wildflower by Beach House
Thank you to the author and publisher for the review copy of this book!
This was an adventure of a book. Life is not easy in Ginny's world, with much of the west coast ruled by violent gangs. Ginny runs into many dangers while searching for her mother. The book presents a mostly realistic world but with some definite elements of fantasy thrown into the mix. The post-Earthquake scenario was a nice change up from the other "end of the world as we know it" books that I've read lately which have mostly been about climate change and rising ocean levels.
The book was written and illustrated by Jonathan Hill and he did a great job with both the artwork and the storytelling. This was an #ownvoices story featuring Vietnamese American main characters. The characters were a little flat but I still enjoyed the book. I liked that the color scheme was all black, white, and pinkish/peach. It definitely helped give the book a certain vibe.
3.5 stars.
What to listen to while reading...
Earthquake by Deerhunter
Apocalypse by Cigarettes After Sex
Spectre by Radiohead
Something in the Way by Nirvana
Too Late to Say Goodbye by Cage the Elephant
Wildflower by Beach House
Thank you to the author and publisher for the review copy of this book!
October 26, 2020
I received this as an ARC from Oni Press. Thank you.
This was a very thought provoking story. I am looking forward to the next part.
I will say this. I kept thinking of “The Grave of The Fireflies” while I was reading it.
This was a very thought provoking story. I am looking forward to the next part.
I will say this. I kept thinking of “The Grave of The Fireflies” while I was reading it.
May 31, 2020
3.25 stars
I feel conflicted :/
On one hand, Odessa is a very heart-warming graphic novel about a sister and her two younger brothers on a journey to find their mom. On the other hand, Odessa wasn’t much of anything.
This graphic novel is set 8 years after an earthquake wrecked the world. Life changed for everyone, including Virginia Crane, who’s mother left shortly after the incident. When on her 18th birthday she receives a gift from her mother, Ginny is set on finding her and goes on a journey throughout post-apocalyptic America with her brothers.
If there’s one thing I can say about this book, it’s that there wasn’t anything special to it. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, however. Not all books need to be revolutionary in order to be considered good, but this one fell below my expectations.
Starting off with the things I liked: the art. I don’t read graphic novels very often, and I sure ain’t no art connoisseur, but I loved the illustrations. The way Jonathan Hill portrays this post-apocalyptic world in his drawings just amazes me. Most of my favourite drawings were landscape shots of the ruins. Being able to capture the essence of this sort of world in three colours just amazes me.
While I can’t say this about most of the other characters, I also really liked Four Dollars. While he is a changed man, there’s still a part of his old life he can’t seem to shake off. Four Dollars stood out to me the most and his conflicting motives and loyalties made me appreciate him as a character. His dialogue was also my favourite out of all the characters, and the way he interacted with Ginny and her brothers really warmed my heart... except for when they first met him and he almost scammed them out of all their money but that is besides the point.
Now onto the not so good parts: the characters. With Four Dollars aside, I could not make myself feel anything for these characters. Ginny had nothing else going for her except being a heroic bigger sister. Wes was just another one of those kids who wanted to grow up, and Harry was just...plain. I understand that this is Hill’s first attempt at writing and drawing a book all by himself, and I get it, characters are hard to write. But feedback is feedback, and I have to say that the characters are just too static for me to enjoy. I couldn’t sense any development throughout the novel despite a lot of the harrowing events the group goes through.
As they went along their journey, I was just waiting for something to make me like these characters, but nothing happened. I felt so detached to them that I didn’t care much for their story at all. For example, why did Ginny abandon everything she knows just because of a necklace? What made her suddenly have an urge to find her dead mother despite her having left them years ago? In this sense, I don’t see what Ginny’s true aim is here. It seems as though this is a sudden impulse which is never a good motivation for a character; it’s just lazy.
One good thing I can say for all the characters is that I do appreciate the representation of Asian-Americans and queer characters in the novel, so brownie points for you, Jonathan Hill :D
With all that aside, I did like how this chapter of the story ended. While I’m not too sure if I’d read the second part, maybe something in me will want to give this story another go.
Overall, if you’re looking for a nice graphic novel to pass the time during quarantine, you might want to give this one a go. Maybe you’ll enjoy it more than I did.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
also two reviews in one day! quarantine summer really making me read more:')
I feel conflicted :/
On one hand, Odessa is a very heart-warming graphic novel about a sister and her two younger brothers on a journey to find their mom. On the other hand, Odessa wasn’t much of anything.
This graphic novel is set 8 years after an earthquake wrecked the world. Life changed for everyone, including Virginia Crane, who’s mother left shortly after the incident. When on her 18th birthday she receives a gift from her mother, Ginny is set on finding her and goes on a journey throughout post-apocalyptic America with her brothers.
If there’s one thing I can say about this book, it’s that there wasn’t anything special to it. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, however. Not all books need to be revolutionary in order to be considered good, but this one fell below my expectations.
Starting off with the things I liked: the art. I don’t read graphic novels very often, and I sure ain’t no art connoisseur, but I loved the illustrations. The way Jonathan Hill portrays this post-apocalyptic world in his drawings just amazes me. Most of my favourite drawings were landscape shots of the ruins. Being able to capture the essence of this sort of world in three colours just amazes me.
While I can’t say this about most of the other characters, I also really liked Four Dollars. While he is a changed man, there’s still a part of his old life he can’t seem to shake off. Four Dollars stood out to me the most and his conflicting motives and loyalties made me appreciate him as a character. His dialogue was also my favourite out of all the characters, and the way he interacted with Ginny and her brothers really warmed my heart... except for when they first met him and he almost scammed them out of all their money but that is besides the point.
Now onto the not so good parts: the characters. With Four Dollars aside, I could not make myself feel anything for these characters. Ginny had nothing else going for her except being a heroic bigger sister. Wes was just another one of those kids who wanted to grow up, and Harry was just...plain. I understand that this is Hill’s first attempt at writing and drawing a book all by himself, and I get it, characters are hard to write. But feedback is feedback, and I have to say that the characters are just too static for me to enjoy. I couldn’t sense any development throughout the novel despite a lot of the harrowing events the group goes through.
As they went along their journey, I was just waiting for something to make me like these characters, but nothing happened. I felt so detached to them that I didn’t care much for their story at all. For example, why did Ginny abandon everything she knows just because of a necklace? What made her suddenly have an urge to find her dead mother despite her having left them years ago? In this sense, I don’t see what Ginny’s true aim is here. It seems as though this is a sudden impulse which is never a good motivation for a character; it’s just lazy.
One good thing I can say for all the characters is that I do appreciate the representation of Asian-Americans and queer characters in the novel, so brownie points for you, Jonathan Hill :D
With all that aside, I did like how this chapter of the story ended. While I’m not too sure if I’d read the second part, maybe something in me will want to give this story another go.
Overall, if you’re looking for a nice graphic novel to pass the time during quarantine, you might want to give this one a go. Maybe you’ll enjoy it more than I did.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
also two reviews in one day! quarantine summer really making me read more:')
October 3, 2020
Post-apocalyptic stories are far from my favorite, and it takes a lot for something in that genre to wow me. While Odessa was a good story, it wasn't a great one. The pink and black art was interesting, the characters were endearing, and there were some well-explored themes around family and change and what it does to you to try and survive (although those do seem pretty post-apoc standard). But the relentless cruelty and bone-crushing hopelessness of the setting didn't help, as did the mostly standard plot beats. The worst part, though. was ending a 300+ page comic on a major cliff hanger. Unsatisfying.
**Thanks to the artist, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
**Thanks to the artist, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 21, 2020
Odessa was an okay graphic novel that follows three siblings navigating a post-apocalyptic world in search for a mother that left them and their father eight years before.
I really enjoyed the colour palette, and the art style was all right. But I felt that the plot was dragged out a bit too far, it could have easily been under 200 pages and probably would have been a better, more concise story. Instead, this one felt messy and very tropey, all the while, being extremely text heavy. I wasn't very engaged in the plot or invested in the characters. Finding the motivation to continue reading was a bit difficult. But if you like post-apocalyptic graphic novels this one might be right up your alley!
I really enjoyed the colour palette, and the art style was all right. But I felt that the plot was dragged out a bit too far, it could have easily been under 200 pages and probably would have been a better, more concise story. Instead, this one felt messy and very tropey, all the while, being extremely text heavy. I wasn't very engaged in the plot or invested in the characters. Finding the motivation to continue reading was a bit difficult. But if you like post-apocalyptic graphic novels this one might be right up your alley!
September 7, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
In a post-apocalyptic world which had been struck by severe earthquakes, Ginny receives a letter on her birthday from her mother who had abandoned their family eight years before. Prompting her to leave behind what she knows in search of her mother only to have her two younger brothers decide to follow her and join the journey much to her dismay.
I liked this well enough. I love a good little adventure story and feel this story has quite a bit of promise. I would be interested to read the next one and see where it goes next.
I don’t know if the art style was really my thing, but I liked the pink colour scheme. The world-building of this was done really well and that was probably my favourite part of the whole thing so I’m interested to learn more about it. Plot-wise there was definitely promise in it as a concept but it was very slow and dragged out that I found myself getting bored a lot of the time. As for the characters, I don’t know if I was crazy about any of them whilst I’m sure given the circumstances they’ll grow and develop in further iterations but throughout this, I just found them a bit annoying and not as fleshed out as they could have been.
Overall despite not being super invested in this one, I’m definitely interested in reading more to see where the story goes.
In a post-apocalyptic world which had been struck by severe earthquakes, Ginny receives a letter on her birthday from her mother who had abandoned their family eight years before. Prompting her to leave behind what she knows in search of her mother only to have her two younger brothers decide to follow her and join the journey much to her dismay.
I liked this well enough. I love a good little adventure story and feel this story has quite a bit of promise. I would be interested to read the next one and see where it goes next.
I don’t know if the art style was really my thing, but I liked the pink colour scheme. The world-building of this was done really well and that was probably my favourite part of the whole thing so I’m interested to learn more about it. Plot-wise there was definitely promise in it as a concept but it was very slow and dragged out that I found myself getting bored a lot of the time. As for the characters, I don’t know if I was crazy about any of them whilst I’m sure given the circumstances they’ll grow and develop in further iterations but throughout this, I just found them a bit annoying and not as fleshed out as they could have been.
Overall despite not being super invested in this one, I’m definitely interested in reading more to see where the story goes.
February 20, 2021
Okay, first, be aware this book is not a self-contained story, ending with a big ol' To Be Continued. Also be aware that I have no desire to ever find out how this story ends if it means having to read another long, dull book like this.
Basically, a 17-year-old girl runs away from her family to find out why her mother ran away from the family a decade earlier. The complicating problem is that this is a post-apocalyptic world, though at first it seems the only impact of that is to allow a throwback story of a runaway doing the hitchhiking hobo life without cell phones and a coordinated police response putting a quick end to the tale. Eventually, if you can endure the journey, we get to gangs, cannibals, and some supernatural crap.
And a non-ending. Blurg. I just cannot care.
Basically, a 17-year-old girl runs away from her family to find out why her mother ran away from the family a decade earlier. The complicating problem is that this is a post-apocalyptic world, though at first it seems the only impact of that is to allow a throwback story of a runaway doing the hitchhiking hobo life without cell phones and a coordinated police response putting a quick end to the tale. Eventually, if you can endure the journey, we get to gangs, cannibals, and some supernatural crap.
And a non-ending. Blurg. I just cannot care.
May 29, 2020
I read this in one sitting! I'm not usually a fan of graphic novel but this was compared to Neal Shusterman and Scott Westerfeld so I knew I had to request this immediately. I really enjoyed this, it was heart warming and heart breaking at the same time. I thought the drawings were nicely done (even though it was 3 colors only) and I love the cover. I also enjoy the end of the world settings. Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for this advanced copy!
July 10, 2020
Eight years ago, after a massive earthquake, Virginia Crane's mother left and never came back. Ginny had gotten used to a life without her mother, helping her father take care of her two younger brothers, Wes and Harry. But on her eighteenth birthday, when she receives a mysterious package from her mother, her life is shaken up yet again.
She's determined to find out what happened to her mother—even if it means leaving her family behind. What she doesn't expect, is to discover her younger brothers following her despite all her attempts to leave in secret.
The novel then follows the journey of the three siblings, as they search for their missing mother across a ruined America.
This was a quick read. All the main characters were good including Four Dollars. The art and illustrations were good but I felt at times the plot was slightly slow in between.
But I loved the way the novel ended. There are so many unanswered questions- What is the secret of Jinx Root? Is Harry okay? Do they find their mother?. It has already built up my anticipation for the next book in the series!
Thank You to NetGalley and Oni Press for this ARC!
She's determined to find out what happened to her mother—even if it means leaving her family behind. What she doesn't expect, is to discover her younger brothers following her despite all her attempts to leave in secret.
The novel then follows the journey of the three siblings, as they search for their missing mother across a ruined America.
This was a quick read. All the main characters were good including Four Dollars. The art and illustrations were good but I felt at times the plot was slightly slow in between.
But I loved the way the novel ended. There are so many unanswered questions- What is the secret of Jinx Root? Is Harry okay? Do they find their mother?. It has already built up my anticipation for the next book in the series!
Thank You to NetGalley and Oni Press for this ARC!
December 16, 2020
Stars: 3/5
Thank you for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I'll start with the good things and things I like about this novel. The relationships and the way they were presented in this story was really good. I liked the relationships between Ginny and her brothers and the realistic banter, fights and brutal honesty.
There were plot twists I half didn't see coming, which of course made the story much more interesting. There was also a scene toward the end that was heartbreaking oh my goodness.
I think the story has a lot of potential, especially going forward into the sequels but I struggled at times due to a few things.
I didn't like the illustrations. Wasn't my style. At all. I liked the pink and grey aesthetic of it. Very pretty and made for an interesting mood, but the art style reminded me of a crappy 90s kid show... that I didn't like. That's not to say the art wasn't good, I liked all the background art of the destruction and post-apocalyptic world, but the characters... no thank you.
I struggled with the characters a bit. I liked Ginny and her brothers occasionally. I really struggled to match with them. I could relate but I struggled to get invested in them. This might be because I feel like the plot was half pulling random things from nowhere. Sure, things were explained but it still felt so random.
WARNINGS: bombs, gun violence, gangs
RECOMMEND: for people who like to read graphic novels, 90s style cartoons, post-apocalyptic worlds and sibling relationships
Thank you for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I'll start with the good things and things I like about this novel. The relationships and the way they were presented in this story was really good. I liked the relationships between Ginny and her brothers and the realistic banter, fights and brutal honesty.
There were plot twists I half didn't see coming, which of course made the story much more interesting. There was also a scene toward the end that was heartbreaking oh my goodness.
I think the story has a lot of potential, especially going forward into the sequels but I struggled at times due to a few things.
I didn't like the illustrations. Wasn't my style. At all. I liked the pink and grey aesthetic of it. Very pretty and made for an interesting mood, but the art style reminded me of a crappy 90s kid show... that I didn't like. That's not to say the art wasn't good, I liked all the background art of the destruction and post-apocalyptic world, but the characters... no thank you.
I struggled with the characters a bit. I liked Ginny and her brothers occasionally. I really struggled to match with them. I could relate but I struggled to get invested in them. This might be because I feel like the plot was half pulling random things from nowhere. Sure, things were explained but it still felt so random.
WARNINGS: bombs, gun violence, gangs
RECOMMEND: for people who like to read graphic novels, 90s style cartoons, post-apocalyptic worlds and sibling relationships
August 15, 2020
I thought the book was just fine. I thought there were a lot of coincidences that drove the plot forward and I didn’t really connect with any of the characters or their motivations. I did however liked the simplicity in the art style
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinions.
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinions.
July 21, 2024
This was a cool end-of-the-world story. I couldn't help drawing some similiarities here between this and Parable of the Sower--this is like a Young Adult version of that. I loved the characters here and the bonds between these siblings! I also really enjoyed the way the author used only ink and pink to create illustrations that felt both vivid and left room for imagination. However, that cliffhanger!! I really hope a sequel comes soon, and I'm curious pacing-wise how long this series will be.
July 30, 2020
Disclaimer: An eARC was provided via The Publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The Thoughts, opinions & feelings expressed in the review are therefore, my own.
I have been on a graphic novel kick lately – and something about the post – apocalyptic nature of the plot of Odessa–a quest of a teenage girl to cross the post-apocalyptic city to find her mother who left their family before a day long earthquake brought on the end of the world.
I absolutely adored the premise of the end of the world scenario –especially the illustrations (I really hope that the drawings are called illustrations; if not please do let me know) are portrayed realistically and somehow EXACTLY what I had imagined the world to be like if it had actually ended through some natural disaster (is it weird that I think about such things?); so it was actually amazing to see such detailed illustrations as well as the color palette is such the perfect combination that it was a treat to read through this graphic novel.
As for the plot itself – it took a little while for the plot to start and the characters weren’t easy to like – Virginia took off to on a whim to find her mother in a world that is hard to navigate and survive after receiving just one letter from her; one letter after years of silence from her – so it was really hard for me to like or even root for her. Plus, the fact that she is aggressive and rude showing her immaturity in circumstances where she should have been mature leader; didn’t endear me either!
Though I loved how her younger brothers kept her in line; and the Vietnamese + the surprise LGTBQIA+ rep in the storyline had me squealing with joy! All in all; Odessa was a surprising read; and interesting enough that I will be keeping an eye out for the sequel!
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September 18, 2020
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
WARNING: This is the first book. Don’t go in it like me and expect a full story, don’t be disappointed, like me when I found out that after 328 pages there is a to be continued. But yeah, this why I am rating this one lower, I wanted a conclusion. The story already felt too long.
A girl decides to go search for her mother after she receives a package from her mother on her birthday. Her brothers tag along and so begins a long long long journey across the country. And yes, that does sounds fun/interesting.
What I expected: girl and her brothers go to find their brothers in a desolate and destroyed America. What I got, Mad Max x Maffia x Chinese/Asian Crime Syndicates. It was just too much at times and instead of thinking OMG action, I was just thinking, Oh lord another one? Oh lord, something else? Good grief. It just got ridiculous and I think if that all was cut and we just got some normal stuff we could have gotten to mom by now.
There was also way too much dialogue for my liking. Sometimes a lot of dialogue works and it is OK, but in this one I just had a hard time and didn’t seem to get through the book, I kept checking my page numbers to see if I made progress.
The revelation about Maya, thanks Ginny’s brothers, was nice and had me giggling, especially seeing Ginny’s reaction. However it did feel kind of underwhelming given the situation.
Then there is the jinx root which seems like such a magnificent thing.. but there is something off about it. Which caused me to roll my eyes at the situations that followed. It just didn’t seem well executed/thought about. The idea is there… but the rest needs working.
I do would like to know what is left of the world. Probably not much given what we are being told, I am guessing tsunamis have gone across the world, but I would think that there are still places left that are still safe.
I did like the art. That was pretty nicely done and I love the colours used. I did like Ginny she was a sweet independent and strong girl who wasn’t afraid to kick some butt and got especially protective when things happened to her brothers. I liked seeing how that part of America looked after the big quake.
But I am just so disappointed in this in overall, if I had known this was the first book in a series… I probably wouldn’t have read it. Or have dropped it because I was really dragging myself throughout the book was since this was supposed (going by NG and GR) one book and I wanted to see the reunion. Because I am definitely not interested in more of this series.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
WARNING: This is the first book. Don’t go in it like me and expect a full story, don’t be disappointed, like me when I found out that after 328 pages there is a to be continued. But yeah, this why I am rating this one lower, I wanted a conclusion. The story already felt too long.
A girl decides to go search for her mother after she receives a package from her mother on her birthday. Her brothers tag along and so begins a long long long journey across the country. And yes, that does sounds fun/interesting.
What I expected: girl and her brothers go to find their brothers in a desolate and destroyed America. What I got, Mad Max x Maffia x Chinese/Asian Crime Syndicates. It was just too much at times and instead of thinking OMG action, I was just thinking, Oh lord another one? Oh lord, something else? Good grief. It just got ridiculous and I think if that all was cut and we just got some normal stuff we could have gotten to mom by now.
There was also way too much dialogue for my liking. Sometimes a lot of dialogue works and it is OK, but in this one I just had a hard time and didn’t seem to get through the book, I kept checking my page numbers to see if I made progress.
The revelation about Maya, thanks Ginny’s brothers, was nice and had me giggling, especially seeing Ginny’s reaction. However it did feel kind of underwhelming given the situation.
Then there is the jinx root which seems like such a magnificent thing.. but there is something off about it. Which caused me to roll my eyes at the situations that followed. It just didn’t seem well executed/thought about. The idea is there… but the rest needs working.
I do would like to know what is left of the world. Probably not much given what we are being told, I am guessing tsunamis have gone across the world, but I would think that there are still places left that are still safe.
I did like the art. That was pretty nicely done and I love the colours used. I did like Ginny she was a sweet independent and strong girl who wasn’t afraid to kick some butt and got especially protective when things happened to her brothers. I liked seeing how that part of America looked after the big quake.
But I am just so disappointed in this in overall, if I had known this was the first book in a series… I probably wouldn’t have read it. Or have dropped it because I was really dragging myself throughout the book was since this was supposed (going by NG and GR) one book and I wanted to see the reunion. Because I am definitely not interested in more of this series.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
August 26, 2020
Odessa is a heartwarming story of three children searching for their mother in a post-apocalyptic type world whilst encountering all kinds of dangers. I felt as though the story was good and I did enjoy the story, although it felt really hard to get hooked on this book. I did read it all in one go, but I had to take a short minute or two every few chapters to recompose myself and almost force myself to read more. The art style however is absolutely adorable and I really loved it.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 17, 2020
I love stories about siblings, graphic novels and dystopias. So why didn't I love this one?
The drawing style isn't really my thing. But I like the colours, black outlines and a reddish colour. That fits the feeling of this world very well.
The Story started promising but I got confused quckly. How is it possible that only a part of America is completely destroyed and after 10 years, the rest of the world and America lives on like nothing happened? This is so illogical.
I also didn't like a single character. They were annoying and flat.
In the end I'm just sad and frustrated that I couldn't like this story.
Thanks to Oni Press and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The drawing style isn't really my thing. But I like the colours, black outlines and a reddish colour. That fits the feeling of this world very well.
The Story started promising but I got confused quckly. How is it possible that only a part of America is completely destroyed and after 10 years, the rest of the world and America lives on like nothing happened? This is so illogical.
I also didn't like a single character. They were annoying and flat.
In the end I'm just sad and frustrated that I couldn't like this story.
Thanks to Oni Press and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2020
Odessa is a amazing story full of adventure, family and survival. I love the characters and it is beautifully illustrated!
Read
December 20, 2020Spot on calling this good for Scott Westerfeld or Neal Shusterman.
For me, the story wasn't as satisfying as the art -- and the palate of pink and black is awesome -- and perhaps because it felt like there were too many fight scenes and not enough emotionally-hefty scenes. WHY is Ginny so invested in finding her mother? Why does her father ultimately let her go? What compels her to bring the younger brothers? I felt like those got a bit overshadowed by the warring factions in the post-apocalyptic world.
Not having noticed this was the first in a series, I found the ending disappointing. I think there were places it could have been cut and the continuation carried through in one volume.
I do love a disaster read, and this one follows eight years after "the big one" earthquake destroys San Francisco. But, again, I wanted more of that emotional arc and less of the who-fights-who that emerged. Readers who like more action will be drawn in, as will readers eager to see a story with a Vietnamese American lead by a Vietnamese American creator.
For me, the story wasn't as satisfying as the art -- and the palate of pink and black is awesome -- and perhaps because it felt like there were too many fight scenes and not enough emotionally-hefty scenes. WHY is Ginny so invested in finding her mother? Why does her father ultimately let her go? What compels her to bring the younger brothers? I felt like those got a bit overshadowed by the warring factions in the post-apocalyptic world.
Not having noticed this was the first in a series, I found the ending disappointing. I think there were places it could have been cut and the continuation carried through in one volume.
I do love a disaster read, and this one follows eight years after "the big one" earthquake destroys San Francisco. But, again, I wanted more of that emotional arc and less of the who-fights-who that emerged. Readers who like more action will be drawn in, as will readers eager to see a story with a Vietnamese American lead by a Vietnamese American creator.
May 23, 2021
✨ "Things never end. They just change."
Well, this certainly wasn't what I was expecting. Not in a bad way, just that I thought it would be a more grounded read about disaster survival and maybe the Asian-American experience. But it's actually more geared towards a post-apocalyptic world with... monsters.
Ginny was really rude, annoying and not as street-smart as she thinks she is. I found myself often wishing she would just do as told instead of getting everyone into trouble. Wes and Harry are such sweethearts, however.
The story was a bit confusing at times due to the lack of text in some panels. However, I liked how the author used just two colours (pink and black) in the illustrations. He explained his choice of colours at the back of the book and I thought it was quite interesting.
Note that this is not a standalone and ends with 'to be continued'.
July 20, 2020
This graphic novel was overly long at more than 300 pages. It did keep me engrossed, though, in the post-apocalyptic world that had destroyed cities and bubbled up criminals and other unwanted characters from underground, literally. But I felt there could have been less space given to the journey that Ginny and the kids took and a little more to life that was before. Ginny's life when her mother was around. Or a little more detail about the big earthquake itself instead of passing references. After all, that was what changed everything.
Nevertheless, an interesting read. There is the hint of a sequel in the end, and I am intrigued to see if that will make the first one whole.
Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Nevertheless, an interesting read. There is the hint of a sequel in the end, and I am intrigued to see if that will make the first one whole.
Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
August 26, 2020
This is a dystopian graphic novel about 3 kids who leaves their home and go find their mom in the this destruid and dangerous world. The art it's so simple and so beautiful
I really enjoy this story and i can wait to continue reading it.
I really enjoy this story and i can wait to continue reading it.
June 14, 2020
Honestly this was me the entire time:
Set in a post-apocalyptic world that has been devastated by a large earthquake, Odessa tells the story of a group of siblings who set out to find their mother.
I'm really sad that I didn't enjoy this graphic novel as much as I thought I would. The premise was initially super interesting and what caught my attention the most was that Virginia and her brothers are Vietnamese American. However, the author doesn't go into their cultural identity and if it wasn't for the plot description, I wouldn't have known they were Asian at all, save for the slant in their eyes (which I'm not sure if that's problematic but I digress).
This graphic novel was honestly just meh. The characters felt dull and unlikable, especially Virginia. She seems so selfish and wishy washy at times, and it made it really hard to root for her. I found myself rolling my eyes every time she goes on a little monologue to justify her choices.
However, I did enjoy Four Dollars and his character development. I also like the lgbt representation within the novel. Even though it's very brief, it's still there and I'm hoping Hill will explore this theme more.
I feel like things only picked up for me at the last 30 pages of the book. Everything else just felt so uninteresting and I wasn't really into the plot. However, I do really like the art and the color scheme! It was interesting to see how Hill paints the story in only white, black, and pink.
Odessa was overall an enjoyable read, but nothing truly memorable about it. I doubt I'd pick up the sequel and I don't think I'd recommend this to my friends to read.
Special thanks to Oni Press and Netgalley for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review!
Set in a post-apocalyptic world that has been devastated by a large earthquake, Odessa tells the story of a group of siblings who set out to find their mother.
I'm really sad that I didn't enjoy this graphic novel as much as I thought I would. The premise was initially super interesting and what caught my attention the most was that Virginia and her brothers are Vietnamese American. However, the author doesn't go into their cultural identity and if it wasn't for the plot description, I wouldn't have known they were Asian at all, save for the slant in their eyes (which I'm not sure if that's problematic but I digress).
This graphic novel was honestly just meh. The characters felt dull and unlikable, especially Virginia. She seems so selfish and wishy washy at times, and it made it really hard to root for her. I found myself rolling my eyes every time she goes on a little monologue to justify her choices.
However, I did enjoy Four Dollars and his character development. I also like the lgbt representation within the novel. Even though it's very brief, it's still there and I'm hoping Hill will explore this theme more.
I feel like things only picked up for me at the last 30 pages of the book. Everything else just felt so uninteresting and I wasn't really into the plot. However, I do really like the art and the color scheme! It was interesting to see how Hill paints the story in only white, black, and pink.
Odessa was overall an enjoyable read, but nothing truly memorable about it. I doubt I'd pick up the sequel and I don't think I'd recommend this to my friends to read.
Special thanks to Oni Press and Netgalley for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review!
December 21, 2020
A cute unexpected little gem to help finish out my year of reading (big thank you to Quinn for the early Christmas present)
It’s not perfect, but for the first graphic novel drawn and written by Hill, I’m confident in his ability to expand on what he’s created and keep getting better with future books. The world building and open ended questions at the end are more than enough to keep me around for more.
It’s not perfect, but for the first graphic novel drawn and written by Hill, I’m confident in his ability to expand on what he’s created and keep getting better with future books. The world building and open ended questions at the end are more than enough to keep me around for more.
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