Tag Archives: Noelle Stevenson

Book Review: Lumberjanes, Vol 5: Band Together by Noelle Stevenson And Lumberjanes, Vol 6: Sink Or Swim by Shannon Watters

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Book: Lumberjanes, Vol 5: Band Together by Noelle Stevenson, Shannon Watters, Carolyn Nowak (Illustrator), Grace Ellis, Brooke A Allen (Illustrator)

Published December 2016 by BOOM!Box|112 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed the paperback from the library

Series: Lumbejanes Collected Edition #5

Genre: YA Graphic Novel

What gives, two-legs?!

It’s a battle of the bands… with mermaids! April takes it upon herself to restore a friendship that has fallen apart, but will she be in over her head as her above water friendships take a hit? When friendships are challenged, can the Lumberjanes save the day? Don’t miss out on this exciting collection!

This New York Times bestseller and multiple Eisner Award-winning series written by Noelle Stevenson (Nimona, Runaways), Shannon Watters, and Kat Leyh and illustrated by the tremendously talented Brooke Allen (Home for Mr. Easter) and Carolyn Nowak (Rungs).

I can’t believe I’ve read 5 volumes of the Lumberjanes already!  Volume 5 is my favorite one, I think.  For some reason, I really liked the mermaid battle of the bands, and while I liked seeing the start of camp, it felt out of place.  Like, why wait until volume 5 to show the arrival at camp?  That part, I didn’t particularly like, and it made the timeline a little off.

Still, it was nice to see how they became friends, and maybe we’ll see more of it in the future.  I like that friendship is important to the girls, and while I want to see more of how they became friends, I also am not sure about the flashbacks.  Maybe I’ll feel differently if they come up in the future.  I also think I tend to take their friendships as presented- they’ve always been friends, as far as I’m concerned, but I have mixed feelings about actually seeing it.  Maybe I just wasn’t ready or in the mood for it.  Or maybe it was just unexpected.

Basically, I liked it but it wasn’t something I loved.  It was nice, though.

And you can’t go wrong with mermaids.  I hope we see more of the lake and what’s living in it.  It can’t be just mermaids, and I hope we see more of whatever else is living in the lake.  Considering everything else that’s living near the camp, it wouldn’t be a surprise if there were other creatures in that lake.

4 stars.  I did like (but didn’t love) the flashback of seeing the girls meet each other.  I also loved the mermaid battle of the bands.  It was fun to read!

Book: Lumberjanes, Vol 6: Sink Or Swim by Shannon Watters, Noelle Stevenson (Creator), Kat Leyh, Grace Ellis (Creator), Carey Pietsch (Illustrations), Maarta Laiho (Colorist), Brooke A Allen (Creator)

Published April 2017 by BOOM!Box|112 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed the paperback from the library

Series: Lumberjanes Collected Edition #6

Genre: YA Graphic Novel

Knot on your life!

All is fair in love and badges! Or so April, Jo, Mal, Molly, and Ripley thought until they met the mysterious counselor, Seafarin’ Karen. When the Lumberjanes decide it’s time to learn more about the theatrical yet intriguing counselor, things take a turn for the strange. Between a sudden storm hitting the camp, shapeshifters, and strange portals,
this is one badge that the Lumberjanes must go above and beyond for.

This New York Times bestseller and multiple Eisner Award-winning series is written by Shannon Watters and Kat Leyh(Super Cakes) and illustrated by Carey Pietsch (Adventure Time: Marceline Gone Adrift).

Collects issues 21-24.

I liked Seafarin’ Karen!  You can’t go wrong with portals and shapeshifters and mysterious counselors.  Seafarin’ Karen is cool, and while I have the feeling that she’s made her one and only appearance, I hope we see her again someday.

The pirate ship was cool, and pirates are pretty awesome.  I’m just waiting for ninjas to show up.  I’m curious to see what else we’ll see.  Anyway, I liked their adventures at sea.  It’s odd, though, because I don’t have much to say about this volume.  It’s fun, and there are a lot of wacky adventures, which is what I love about this series.  At this point, I just don’t have a lot to say about this one.  Maybe I’ll have more to say about the following books.

4 stars.  I really liked it and it’s fun.  Seafarin’ Kare and the selkies are pretty cool.

Book Review: Lumberjanes Vol 3: A Terrible Plan, and Lumberjanes Vol 4: Out Of Time by Noelle Stevenson

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Book: Lumberjanes, Vol 3: A Terrible Plan by Noelle Stevenson, Shannon Watters, Carolyn Nowak (Illustrator), Maarta Laiho (Colorist), Aubrey Aiesa (Letterer), Brittney Williams (Illustrator), Aimee Fleck (Illustrator), Faith Erin Hicks (Author/Illustrator), Rebecca Tobin (Illustrator), Felicia Choo (Illustrator), T. Zysk (Illustrator)

Published April 2016 by BOOM!Box|112 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed the hardcover from the library

Series: Lumberjanes Collected Editions #3

Genre: YA Graphic Novel

IF YOU GOT IT, HAUNT IT!

Trying to take advantage of the first quiet day at camp in a while, Mal and Molly’s date takes a bizarre turn with the appearance of the Bear Woman! Back at camp, Jo, April, and Ripley must stay on their toes as they try and earn every badge possible, which ends up being a lot harder than any of them ever planned.

This New York Times bestselling series continues with Lumberjanes #9, “If You Got It, Haunt It Badge;” #10, “Abscence Make the Heart Grow Fondant Badge;” #11, “Go Ball-istic Badge;” and #12, “Oldie but Goodie Badge.”

The more I read Lumberjanes, the more I like it!  Each girl has their own personality, and you can really see that in the ghost stories they choose to tell.  It wouldn’t be summer camp without ghost stories told around the camp fire!

You also see the girls go off in different directions for a “quiet” day at camp.  No day is quiet with these girls around, and two of our wayward campers have this epic adventure, while the rest of them try to earn badges- unsuccessfully, of course.  I almost forgot about the whole badge aspect of the Lumberjanes, and that they’re actually supposed to be earning badges.  You’d think their adventures would result in earning badges, and learning new skills but I guess it’s hard when the supernatural and weird takes over.

Still, I’d be both surprised and disappointed if they had a normal day at camp.  Even the typical day of activities becomes interesting and I like not knowing what’s going to happen, and what adventures are in store for our Lumberjanes.

We see more of the Bear Woman, and I have the feeling she’s not going anywhere.  I hope we see more of her, and get more of her story.  She seems pretty interesting.

I’m not really sure what else to say about the Lumberjanes.  I liked this one.

4 stars.  I really liked it, especially the ghost stories and how different they were.  I’ll definitely keep reading.

Book: Lumberjanes, Vol 4 by Noelle Stevenson, Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis (Co-Creator), Maarta Laiho (Colorist), Aubrey Aiese (Letterer), Brooke A Allen (Illustrator)

Published July 2016 by BOOM!Box|112 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed the paperback from the library

Series: Lumberjanes Collected Edition #4

Genre: YA Graphic Novel

The mystery of history!

Jen just wants a normal lesson with her cabin, teaching Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley the basic survival skills needed without any supernatural intervention. But when a blizzard hits camp, Jen finds herself separated from the girls and in more trouble than ever… until a mysterious taxidermist swoops in to save the day. Who is she and what is her relationship to Rosie? Join Jen as she finds a way back to her girls, and a way to save the day!

This New York Times Bestseller and Eisner Award-Nominated series is written by Noelle Stevenson (Nimona, ADVENTURE TIME™), and Lumberjanes co-creator Shannon Watters, and illustrated by Brooke Allen (A Home For Mr. Easter).  

The Lumberjanes continues with Volume 4, and it seems pretty standard that while I don’t love it, I still really like it.  It’s fun, of course, and like with every other volume I’ve read, there are some really fun adventures!

It seems like their camp has had quite the history, and I liked seeing one of the campers who’s living in the woods.  It makes me hope that we see more history of the camp, because I have the feeling the weirdness of the forest and the camp isn’t limited to this group of campers.

I really like Jen, and she just wants a normal day at camp, where she teaches the girls survival skills without something weird happening.

So something weird happens…what else but a blizzard is going to happen?  And of course, Jen gets separated from the campers, where she comes across an old camper who just happens to know Rosie and the Bear Woman, and that is where we get some camp history.  I liked it because it put the camp in perspective, and you get the sense that things have really changed.

It makes me wonder what else has happened at the camp, and what else is in the woods.  It’s a strange area, but maybe that’s the whole point.  Maybe there is a reason this camp is located in this place.  Or maybe not but weird things just have a tendency to happen.  Either way, it makes it fun, because I like seeing all of the craziness at this camp.

4 stars.  I really liked it, and I feel like with each volume, we’re learning more about the camp and the campers!

Book Review: Lumberjanes, Vol 1: Beware The Kitten Holy And Vol 2: Friendship To The Max by Noelle Stevenson

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Book: Lumberjanes, Vol 1: Beware The Kitten Holy, by Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis, Brooke A Allen (Illustrator), Shannon Watters, Kat Leyh, Brooke Allen (Illustrator), Carolyn Nowak (Illustrator), Various (Illustrator), Carey Pietsch (Illustrator)

Published April 2015 by BOOM!Box|128 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed the paperback from the library

Series: Lumberjanes Collected Editions #1

Genre: YA Fiction/Graphic Novel

FRIENDSHIP TO THE MAX!

At Miss Qiunzilla Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s camp for hard-core lady-types, things are not what they seem. Three-eyed foxes. Secret caves. Anagrams. Luckily, Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley are five rad, butt-kicking best pals determined to have an awesome summer together… And they’re not gonna let a magical quest or an array of supernatural critters get in their way! The mystery keeps getting bigger, and it all begins here. 

Collects Lumberjanes No. 1-4.

I feel like I’ve heard a lot about Lumberjanes, and I really wanted something that wouldn’t take forever to read, so it seemed like time to pick it up.  I’m glad I finally did, because it’s really cute!  I know I’m late to the Lumberjanes bandwagon, and if you haven’t picked it up, you really should!

So, I wasn’t sure if I’d like it or not, so I only requested the first one from the library.  I ended up liking it so much that I requested the rest of the series from the library.  I kind of wish I had done that in the first place, because right now, I’m wishing I could just read all of the volumes that are out, instead of having to wait to read it.

I didn’t love it, and I think it’s because it seemed so short!  I don’t normally go for graphic novels (I know I’ve read the March series and a couple of the Mouse Guard ones, but that’s about it), and while I really liked the story, the characters and the illustrations, I also felt like I didn’t have enough time to really get into it.  It didn’t seem like enough story, but it does seem like graphic novels are pretty short, so maybe I’m just not that used to it.  I’m much more used to novels, so it’s probably just me, and not actually the book.

I’m torn, because on the one hand, I want to read each one and let it sink in before starting the next one.  But at the same time, I feel like I’ll like it a lot better if I just binge-read them- maybe that will make it easier to get into.

I liked the setting- it’s summer camp for a Girl Scout type organization, and I like that each chapter (or section, whatever you want to call it) has a little introduction about different badges and that at the end of each chapter, you get photographs of the different adventures these girls have.  It definitely has a summer camp feel to it, and I can’t wait to see what hijinks ensue for this group of girls.

I liked the artwork as well.  I liked the colors, and it’s very summer camp.  Not surprising, with that being the setting- there’s a lot of greens and blues and browns, and it all comes together very nicely.

It’s definitely great for middle grade and up, but I think everyone would like it.  Actually, now that I’m thinking about it, it had more of a comic book feel to it instead of a graphic novel, but since I’ve never picked up a comic, I think I just automatically jumped to graphic novel.

I loved the friendships the girls had with each other, and it’s nice seeing them be friends and getting along.  Not that we don’t see it in middle grade and YA, because we do.  There’s just something nice about friendships, where one of them doesn’t leave the others behind for the more popular crowd.  And it’s nice to see a group of friends, instead of a character with, like, one friend.  Maybe it’s just on my mind because I’ve read a few books recently where I’ve encountered a friend making friends with someone in the more popular clique, or books where someone’s trying to figure out what happened to their only friend, who happens to be missing.

Anyway, I didn’t love it, but I did really like it!  I don’t know if I’ll get the strong feelings for this series that everyone else seems to have, but maybe I just need a little more time than everyone else.

4 stars.  I really liked Lumberjanes, and I loved the friendships the campers have with each other.  I just think I need a little more time with Lumberjanes to really get into it.

Book: Lumberjanes, Vol 2: Friendship To The Max by Noelle Stevenson (Writer, Creator), Grace Ellis (Writer, Creator), Shannon Watters (Creator), Maarto Laiho (Colorist), Brooke A Allen (Illustrator)

Published October 2015 by BOOM!Box|126 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed the paperback from the library

Series: Lumberjanes Collected Editions #2

Genre: YA Graphic Novel

What a mystery!

Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley are not your average campers and Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady-Types is not your average summer camp. Between the river monsters, magic, and the art of friendship bracelets, this summer is only just beginning. Join the Lumberjanes as they take on raptors and a sibling rivalry that only myths are made of.

This New York Times bestseller and Eisner Award-nominated series is written by awesome all-star Noelle Stevenson and brilliant newcomer Grace Ellis, and illustrated by the tremendously talented Brooke Allen.

Lumberjanes, Vol. 2: Friendship to the Max includes issues 5-8 and the first fourteen pages of Giant Days, Vol. 1 by John Allison.

I really liked The Lumberjanes so far!  It’s really cute, and I love the friendships between all of the girls.  There are a lot of hijinks and shenanigans, and it was a fun volume to read.

I did enjoy it more than the first volume, and I think it’s because I was more into the story and the characters.  Some characters, we see more than others, and while I’m not sure who is who, this group of campers definitely seem to find trouble.  I liked seeing Jen, and she has her hands full with this group.  I am getting used to the characters, and they all have their own personalities.  I’m sure I’ll get to know them more in the volumes to come.

I am glad we learn what was going on the first volume.  The craziness makes a lot more sense now than it did in the first volume, and I’m glad it was explained.  Considering how things seem to go for these campers, it’s not surprising that weird and crazy seems to follow them.  Things are calm and peaceful one minute, and the next…something bizarre happens.  It makes it fun, because you never know what’s going to happen next, but at the same time, the story doesn’t exactly seem…coherent.  It works, though, and I’m starting to like how calm things are one minute before they veer off into something weird.

I also like that each chapter is a different badge.  It does connect, and it makes it seem more Girl Scout-type summer camp.  I love the polaroid pictures at the end of each chapter, and those have a scrapbook feel to them.  Overall, I love that’s a field guide sort of format, and sometimes, it seems like each adventure the girls have is a different chapter in the field guide.

The campers are such good friends, and I really like that about Lumberjanes.  Things aren’t always perfect, but they are there for each other, and they know they can rely on the other girls to help them out.  It’s weird how little you see awesome friendships in YA (at least in my experience, but maybe it’s because I tend to gravitate towards things with at least a little romance in them), but it’s fun to see friends having adventures and good times.

The setting is perfect for all the weird things that happen, and there are a lot of possibilities.  It’ll be fun to see what else these campers have to deal with.

4 stars.  I didn’t love it, but I still really enjoyed Lumberjanes, Vol 2  I think it’ll keep getting better as it goes on.