The Many Lives of Charlie by Kid Toussaint & Aurélie Guarino

As with many comics published by this publisher, there is something different about the content in this one. There are discussions about the great beyond and the mundane tasks for those left behind. Charlie is a spark of colour in an otherwise drab office where they deal with the conversion of the remains of dead…

Avocado Magic by Taltal Levi

This book is a short and sweet picture book. It is not exactly a graphic novel with panels, but it depends heavily on the graphics to enhance the reading experience.Even adults will need to hunt deep to find the patience to garden since the results take forever to appear. This story is of a child…

The Other Jerusalem by Michel Kichka

I read the author's previous childhood memoir in the same format. It was my window into the country of Israel since I had known nothing about the country or its history previously. I have since learned a few things, especially given the news cycle towards the end of last year (although I cannot believe we…

Lights by Brenna Thummler

This is the third in a series, and I am torn between calling it an excellent standalone for just one reason. The reason is that the emotional ride the characters have been in in the past two books makes this more satisfying, but even if you stumbled on this without prior knowledge, I'd think it…

Genetics at Heartby Philippe Amouyel & Héloise Chochois

I wish I could label this non-fiction because that is what this almost is. The story at the centre of the plot, which is used to talk about the topic itself, does pull it away from the non-fiction title (although I might be wrong).We have two main plotlines. One is of a woman sitting down…

Parenting Is Weird by Chesca Hause

I have seen the author's work previously online. Although not a regular follower, I was familiar with the style of the comic panels and liked the sense of humour.This book contained all the panels that I had not seen earlier, which is always a treat. The author begins with an introduction about herself and her…

Monstrous by Sarah Myer

The one word that I could best use to describe this graphic novel would be 'raw'. We have a child who was adopted by a white couple, but her Asian features make her stand out in their neighbourhood. This book is a story of her life.She is the younger of two adoptees and the less…

Swamp by Johann G. Louis

I was not a fan of the art in this book, but it did work for the emotions that ran rampant in the story. We have an unlikely friendship between two boys of the same age but different races in a small southern town in the US. There are racial issues that are causing the…