Please note: I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.
Synopsis (from Goodreads):
When a tragic accident
takes the life of 17-year-old Raven Roth's foster mom—and Raven's
memory—she moves to New Orleans to recover and finish her senior year of
high school.
Starting over isn't easy. Raven remembers everyday
stuff like how to solve math equations and make pasta, but she can't
remember her favorite song or who she was before the accident. And when
impossible things start happening, Raven begins to think it might even
be better not to know who she was before.
But as she grows closer
to her new friends, her foster sister, Max, and Tommy Torres, a guy who
accepts her for who she is now, Raven has to decide if she's ready to
face what's buried in the past... and the darkness building inside her.
From #1 New York Times
bestselling author Kami Garcia and first-time graphic novel artist
Gabriel Picolo comes this riveting tale of finding the strength to face
who you are and learning to trust others—and yourself.
Review:
I have long enjoyed Kami Garcia's Beautiful Creatures books. She created such a moody atmosphere in that Southern Gothic genre. Now, along with illustrator Gabriel Picolo, she has taken a stab at graphic novels. What a wonderful start to what I hope will be a series (please, please, please).
via GIPHY
What I Liked:
Illustrations:
Sticking to a color palette of blacks and purples, illustrator Gabriel Picolo creates an angsty atmosphere. His use of giant raven shadows was eerie and created a sense of foreboding. He was also able to play with ways to show thoughts and inner dialogue that was fresh and original.
Setting:
The story is set in New Orleans. Even though some of the scenes take place at a voodoo shop and a cemetery, it doesn't feel clichéd. Much of the action happens either at Raven's high school. Given how diverse New Orleans is, I like how lots of different kinds of teens are shown, including students with disabilities.
Story:
Raven is a person going through a terrible trauma. Her foster mother was killed in a car accident right in front of her, leaving her with amnesia. Even though she can't really feel sad for a person she can't remember, she does harbor feelings of intense guilt for surviving the crash. Is the evil voice she hears in her head hinting that she was a terrible person before the accident? Or is something trying to lead her astray? People can have a variety of thoughts, both good and bad. This is what make people complicated. Realizing this is a step towards adulthood. What a subtle, sophisticated subtext!
I also liked the use of headphones to help Raven deal with noise. Lots of people are really sensitive about noise in public spaces. Aside from having better sound quality for music, perhaps people are using them more for shutting out all the noise around them.
Overall:
This was a great start to a graphic novel series. The mood, setting, and story set the stage for us to get to know Raven, her aunt, and her cousin. I really hope this book does well, so we will get more of this series in the future.
Rating:
Release Date: July 2nd, 2019
Author: Kami Garcia
Illustrator: Gabriel. Picolo
Publisher: DC Ink
Genre: YA Fantasy Graphic Novel
Page Length: 192 Pages
Source: NetGalley
Format: E-Book (PDF)
Recommendation: Read it! A great introduction to a complicated character.
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Please Note: I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions of my review in any way.
Synopsis (From GoodReads):
Seventeen-year-old
Frankie Devereux would do anything to forget the past. Haunted by the
memory of her boyfriend’s death, she lives her life by one dangerous
rule: Nothing matters. At least, that’s what Frankie tells herself after
a reckless mistake forces her to leave her privileged life in the
Heights to move in with her dad—an undercover cop. She transfers to a
public high school in the Downs, where fistfights don’t faze anyone and
illegal street racing is more popular than football.
Marco Leone
is the fastest street racer in the Downs. Tough, sexy, and hypnotic, he
makes it impossible for Frankie to ignore him—and how he makes her feel.
But the risks Marco takes for his family could have devastating
consequences for them both. When Frankie discovers his secret, she has
to make a choice. Will she let the pain of the past determine her
future? Or will she risk what little she has left to follow her heart?
Review:
Kami Garcia is one of my favorite authors. I found the Beautiful Creatures series to be fun with great fantasy elements. So I was really looking forward to her new book, The Lovely Reckless. While there were many enjoyable aspects to this book, I also had trouble with some overused plot points that came across as silly, and an ending that tied things up a little too nicely.
What I Liked:
Romeo & Juliet vibe:
I
enjoyed how the book started out like the classic Shakespeare play.
Two kids from opposite sides see each other and there is an instant
attraction. Frankie's father would never approve of Marco. Marco's
friends are openly hostile towards Frankie. There are many parallels
that are fun to pick out (even Frankie's dog, Cujo, seems to guard her
much like Juliet's nurse does in the play).
Fish-out-of-water plot:
The
fun of the book comes from Frankie having to move in with her dad and
change to a public high school. I liked how Frankie is the reader's
eyes, taking in her new school, and new classmates, and learning how to
navigate her changed circumstances. Frankie has royally messed up and
now needs to win back to trust of her dad. Seeing herself as her dad (a
cop) sees most people is sobering for Frankie.
Female Characters:
I loved all the female characters in this book!
Frankie, Cruz, and Lex are all strong females who are each dealing with difficult family and life issues. I especially liked the friendship between Frankie and Lex. After Frankie's boyfriend Noah dies, Lex feel shut out of Frankie's life. But hanging out with Lex and her boyfriend Abel brings back too many memories of Noah. She is just not ready to get past Noah's murder. I thought their misunderstandings and awkwardness rang so true.
What I Didn't Like:
Cliches:
With the notable exception of Frankie's dad, this is a book with a serious case of "missing parent" syndrome.
via GIPHY
There never seems to be an adult around checking up on the teens, making sure they are okay. And why is it that all of the rich kids have parents who seem bored by parenting, while the poor kids all have parents who are either dead or in jail?
This bothers me to no end because I live in a city much like the one depicted in this book. There is definitely a troubled downtown and a relatively calm suburb where I live. I take offense to the notion that all the parents of the poor kids were criminals. Most parents in my town are working hard to provide for their families and check to make sure their kids arrive at school clean, fed and ready for learning. There are also people who have personal problems that make it challenging to be the parents they want to be. But income does not determine these things. Couldn't the author have shown just one positive image of a working parent (or an caring rich, stay-at-home parent for that matter)?
The Ending:
It is my policy to keep my reviews spoiler-free, so I will not go into specific details. But when everything is resolved so quickly after the main event, I wonder how insurmountable these orbital problems could have been in the first place. Nearly everyone got a happy ending and each kid's family situation seemed to be resolved with lightening speed. It was as if a fairy-godmother had arrived and solved everyone's problems with a flick of her wand!
via GIPHY
If you can overlook these problems, I think you will find The Lovely Reckless to be an entertaining, if superficial book. The strong female characters, setting, and action make it a fun read.
Rating:
Release Date: October 4th, 2016
Genre: YA fiction
Source: NetGalley
Format: ARC E-book
Recommendation: An entertaining Romeo & Juliet type melodrama. Just don't take the stereotypes too seriously.
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