Middle Grade Madness! discussion

How It Works:
- You can recommend 1-3 graphic novels for our list (read more about that below) OR you can just take part.
- There's no need to sign up to take part, just join in the conversation below.
- This readathon starts in July 2021 (countdown below).
- Create a new Goodreads shelf for the Graphic Novel Readathon so you can keep track of what you’ve read for it if you want!

- Recommendations for our list closes on 20th June.
- I will feed the graphic novels from our list into a random picker.
- Using the link below (not yet added), access the random picker, spin the wheel, and it’ll randomly pick a graphic novel from our lists for you to read.
- Read the graphic novel and let us know your thoughts on it below!
- Then spin the wheels of the random picker again and it’ll choose another graphic novel for you.
- Try to read what the random picker picks for you but if you don’t have access to that graphic novel yet or if it chooses a graphic novel you’ve already read for the readathon or that you've already read before or that you don't want to read/have DNF'ed/aren't interested in, then spin it again and it’ll choose something different.
- Alternatively, you can just ignore the random picker and read anything on the list that you like, but the random picker makes it more fun and spontaneous!


IF YOU WANT TO RECOMMEND A GRAPHIC NOVEL FOR THE LIST:
The Rules on Recommending:
- It must be a graphic novel.
- Please do not recommend a single issue of a comic or a single chapter of a manga. If you want to recommend from a comic series or manga series please recommend a collected edition (a volume). Also do not recommend from the middle of a series, only recommend a first volume from a series.
- The graphic novel must be in English or translated to English. For manga series please recommend using the English name so we can avoid confusion.
- The graphic novel(s) you recommend can be MG, YA, Adult or New Adult and can be any genre but please make sure the recommendation(s) is/are appropriate.
- I would really love it if you could leave a comment here or on the poll comments explaining why you recommend the graphic novel(s) (without spoilers of course). You don't have to do this but it'd be nice!

RECOMMEND YOUR GRAPHIC NOVEL(S) FOR THE LIST HERE:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...
Or let me know below and I can add it to the poll for you!

Link to countdown: https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown...
Link to random picker: https://www.online-stopwatch.com/rand...

Graphic Novel List: (names in italics are the recommender)
The Promised Neverland, Vol. 1 by Kaui Shirai - Kadi
Primer by Jennifer Muro - Kadi
Y: The Last Man, Vol. 1: Unmanned by Brian K. Vaughan - Kadi
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson - Marie & Shijia
New Kid by Jerry Craft - Becky
Allergic: A Graphic Novel by Megan Wagner Lloyd - Becky
Pawcasso by Remy Lai - Rebecca
Lightfall: The Girl & the Galdurian by Tim Probert - Cristal
Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell - Tina
Runaways, Vol. 1: Pride and Joy by Brian K. Vaughan - Tina
Spill Zone by Scott Westerfeld - Tina
Twins by Varian Johnson - Critter
Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang - Brandee
El Deafo by Cece Bell - Brandee
When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson - Brandee
The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang - Ilsen
Heartstopper: Volume One by Alice Oseman - Ilsen
Always Human by Ari North - Ilsen
Drama by Raina Telgemeier - Grace
Bunny vs Monkey: Book 1 by Jamie Smart - Helen
The Oracle Code by Marieke Nijkamp - Tiffany
Aquicorn Cove by Kay O’Neill - Tiffany
They Called Us Enemy by George Takei - Tiffany

Ok so this is a great opportunity to create some awareness about supporting the graphic novel industry!

I know it can be super hard to get your hands on a graphic novel, even moreso than it is to find books. And for that reason it's even more important to support comic/manga/graphic novel creators.

If you're based in the US or Canada it's possible that your library has signed up for Hoopla which gives you access to an extremely wide variety of comics and graphic novels to read digitally. Hoopla is really fantastic and I love and recommend it to everyone.

If you're based in the UK it's possible that your library has signed up for Borrowbox which gives you access to some digital comics too.

I just noticed the recommendations have already closed! :(
I meant to add a few, but oh well. I'm sure I'll have fun participating at least! :)

Hey Tiffany I'm actually doing the admin for it right now! If you want to list your recommendations I can still add them! Just let me know below or private message me, whichever suits you best.

Kadi wrote: "Hey Tiffany I'm actually doing the admin for it right now! If you want to list your recommendations I can still add them! Just let me know below or private message me, whichever suits you best."

Oh, okay! If it's not too late, here's a few I've read and enjoyed-

The Oracle Code (young adult, but definitely suitable for most middle grade readers)
This has great disability representation! It's in the DC universe but doesn't require a ton of background knowledge.

Aquicorn Cove (middle grade)
The artwork in this is so adorable! I like the environmental theme (specifically, protecting coral reefs and the oceans) and the fantasy elements.

They Called Us Enemy (young adult, but also suitable for middle grade)
I thought the balance of historical facts and personal memories in this was really well done.

Awesome choices! I've actually read The Oracle Code and really didn't like it. I remember I thought it had potential but just didn't do enough. I have always wanted to read They Called Us Enemy though, so I'm excited to get the chance to now. I've added them all above and the whole list is up now!

Hey everyone, so the full reading list is now above and here's the link to the random picker: https://www.online-stopwatch.com/rand...
Using a new website for the random picker this time because the old one has way too many annoying ads, this one is much cleaner!

Can't wait to start reading some cool graphic novels for this readathon!

Hey guys so my first graphic novel is going to be New Kid!

What are you guys planning to read first?

Kadi wrote: "Hey guys so my first graphic novel is going to be New Kid!

What are you guys planning to read first?"

I think I'm gonna start with Aquicorn Cove since I love the Tea Dragon Society~

Wow I got the New Kid first too! I had to request it from the library though so I spun again and again until I got The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang! I’ve owned that one for a while so I’m excited. My other spins are They Called Us Enemy and Primer so hopefully I get to those as well

@Kadi I liked Oracle Code, but I agree the story could have been stronger, mostly because I found the mystery to be pretty predictable. But it's so rare to get well done disability representation, and I loved that about it. I'm disabled and use a wheelchair, so it was very cool to read! :D

The spinner is fun, but what I actually end up reading depends on what I can get from the library this month. I have a few on hold and just picked up Primer today. Very excited for this readathon!

Can't wait to see what you all think of what you're reading! Especially Tiffany and Ilsen because Primer was my recommendation and I loved it.

Also @Tiffany I definitely liked the representation. That part was really great to see because it's not a topic often broached. I'm so glad you could relate to that aspect and that it did the seriousness of the topic justice!
Actually here's my review of it if you're interested in seeing what else I thought of it: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

@Ilsen one of my spins also got They Called Us Enemy. I'm really intrigued by it so I got the extended edition (I always love the bigger editions). Not sure what extra content it has but more likely some behind the scenes stuff than an extra short story. Will read it after New Kid hopefully!

I tried to get my holds today and I ordered some other graphic novels as well as those to have a wider variety. I got:

Bloom by Kevin Panetta
Check Please! by Ngozi Ukazu
Sheets by Brenna Thummler
Orange: The Complete Collection (Manga) by Ichigo Takano

I want to try to get to most of these along with the ones I spun and also I wanted to read some more Dork Diaries books because I want an easy reading month

@Ilsen I loved Sheets, so hopefully you'll like it too. It's a really touching story.

AND OMG YOU'RE GOING TO READ ORANGE?! I so can't wait to hear what you think of it so share your thoughts on here if you want! I want to watch the anime because a friend recommended it to me and I've really been getting into anime lately. Normally I watch the anime and then read the manga which is definitely the wrong way around but that way I find I enjoy them both as opposed to just loving the manga and hating the inadequacy of the anime.

My best friend loves the manga!!! I’ve been wanting to read the manga collection because of her!

@Ilsen definitely let me know how you find it! I was supposed to watch the anime with a friend yesterday but my Discord stream wouldn't work so I'm probably going to watch it next week now.

So I’ve finished my first graphic novel for this readathon!
New Kid
Rating: 3.8 stars out of 5
Here’s my review if anyone’s interested in reading it: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This graphic novel was pretty good. The exploration of racial issues and class issues was very relevant to today and great to see.

Next I’m reading: El Deafo!

I’m currently reading New Kid! I do like it even though the art style is not my thing. I finished The Prince and the Dressmaker a couple of days ago and it was perfect!

I absolutely loved the art style as the story could not have been told any other way and it’s a beautiful story about acceptance and identity! 😍

@Ilsen Oh yeah I forgot to say that New Kid's art is awful😂 I mean like they tried. At least the message of the story is good, I guess!

I tried finding myself a copy of The Prince and the Dressmaker but I couldn't. I really wanted to read every graphic novel on the list but some of them are just not available through Hoopla. I still need to check Overdrive but I doubt it'll be on there.

Awww it’s ok Kadi. I bought that one long ago when I went to New York with my sisters so it was a treat for me. Also I understand some books are hard to get.

For example, when I recommended Always Human, I could have sworn it was available in my library to request. But now when I look it up, nothing comes up 🙃. So it changes and now I may need to buy it eventually. But it’s fine. I understand availability is different for everyone

@Ilsen yeah graphic novels are particularly hard to find especially for a cheapskate like me that doesn't want to buy them😂 Hoopla is extremely reliable for comics but not so great for all graphic novels in general. Overdrive is even worse but that's more library specific.

Did you end up buying Always Human? It sounds interesting and has nice cover art so I want to read it too but I can't find a copy so... will probably not read it for this event at least.

I don’t think I’m reading Always Human for this event either. I pretty much set up the rest of my graphic novels in stone for the rest of the month and I don’t think I’m reading graphic novels next month :( But I do think that one is on my wishlist to buy because I still really want to read it!

As for the graphic novels I have finished, I read New Kid and liked it! The art style wasn’t my thing but I did like the topics it did touch upon. It was good. As for Kadi’s recommendation, Primer, I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!! Primer really is a bad ass but also a realistic tween and I loved reading about her! Also there’s no way that there isn’t going to be another volume because that ending??? I’m fangirling but I’m totally here for a Primer volume 2. I love the concept of the superpower paint and the supportive foster family! And the art style is beautiful! I think this one and Prince and the Dressmaker are my favorites so far!

@Ilsen omg I'm so happy you liked Primer!!!! As soon as I read it I was like wow this is literally the best DC graphic novel for kids out there. They have some really bad ones so the bar is low but Primer is just so fun and still realistic with fantastic art and colours. And yes I thought there must be plans for a sequel after that ending! Still, there hasn't been any announcement about that from DC or the artist who I follow on instagram.

It's just such a fun and unique concept that I'd really love to see Primer make her way to the comics too, that would be so awesome. Maybe like the new Peter Parker of DC (in terms of being a young newcomer who could become popular and well known)...

I finished El Deafo recommended by Brandee a few says ago! I really did not enjoy it😬

Rating: 2 stars out of 5
Here’s my review if anyone’s interested in reading it: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The protagonist was so uncooperative and vain, the message wasn't uplifting or inspirational, and it had some weird romance aspect.

Next I'm reading: They Called Us Enemy!

@Kadi Awww man. I feel bad you didn’t like El Deafo. That was one I was looking forward to. Also it would seem weird for a romance to be there so I would probably be frustrated as well.

Also yea I really loved Primer with the cool concept and how heartwarming it all was. It would be cool to see them adapt it into DC.

So far I've read two graphic novels this month.

The first was Primer, which I loved! I do wish the background with her dad and being in foster care was expanded a bit more, but I also felt like it left that open to explore in a sequel, which I would totally read! I'd love for it to be a whole series, honestly. The super-powered paint is such a cool, unique concept and would allow for so many awesome story possibilities!

I also read El Deafo, which I had super mixed feelings about. I feel like it's hard to critique the storyline since it's a memoir, but I still think the story arc could have used some work. I agree that the "first crush/romance" part felt awkward and out of place. There were some things about it that were so great, but I didn't love it like I had expected to. I wish there was a similar work by a culturally Deaf author. It would be interesting to compare the two.

I have Allergic and American Born Chinese (same author as Dragon Hoops, but I could get this one quicker) to hopefully read before the end of the month. There's a few others I still have on hold at my library, but it doesn't look like I'll get them in time for this readathon.

@Tiffany aah it's so great to see you loved Primer too! I really wanted the background with her dad to be explored too but I know with these mg graphic novels DC really limits the writer and artists with a certain amount of pages because I guess they think kids won't want to read super long books. Because of that almost all DC mg graphic novels suffer but Primer did do well enough. I hope they can explore more about her dad and stuff in a future sequel!

I really get what you mean about finding it hard to critique El Deafo because it's a memoir but the author did say in her note at the end that she took artistic licence to make some parts up. In which case she could've also unmade some of the terrible parts too but she didn't. The concept was somewhat interesting and the potential was there but it seemed like the author didn't really know how to have the most impact on her reader whilst staying true to her past in an autobiographical way.

How were Allergic and American Born Chinese? Have you finished them yet? I haven't picked up They Called Us Enemy u in like a week now, I'm still at the start of it!

@Kadi Yes! With El Deafo, the story seemed messy. But not in a true-to-life because real life is messy way. More like the story could have been told better and focused on an actual narrative. I didn't care for the superhero sequences either, but again that's something she really made up as a kid, so I don't know how to critique it...

I did read both American Born Chinese and Allergic!

I really didn't care for ABC. I can't say why because I don't want to give away spoilers, but there's this big twist at the end that I just didn't get. The more I thought about it after I finished reading, the less sense I could make of it. Plus the way women are treated and objectified in it was awful.

I adored Allergic! It was such a sweet story and the artwork was so cute!

I thought that would be all for this readathon, but my hold on When Stars Are Scattered came in at the library and I picked it up today, so I might sneak in one more before the end of the month. If not, hopefully it will fit one of the challenges next month.

You'll have to let me know what you think of They Called Us Enemy! You got the expanded edition, right? I only read the original because that's what my library had.

@Tiffany did you manage to read When Stars Are Scattered then?
Ugh my Hoopla borrow of They Called Us Enemy expired before I managed to even get 1/4 through it. I could always reborrow it and read it but I just put it back on my TBR shelf for now. From what little part I read it was pretty good so I feel like I should pick it up again in the future...

I didn't yet. I still have it checked out, but it's due back to the library next Wednesday. I'm not sure if I'll get to it in the next few days or not since I've been focused on reading for the August challenge categories.

@Tiffany oh that's a shame but I feel you on that. All the ones on the list I didn't get to that I'm interested in I'm planning on reading in September.

If you did end up reading When Stars Are Scattered it would count for tasks 2, 23 and bonus task 6 so it would still contribute to the challenge all the same. It's up to you!