I picked this up for the Trans Rights Readathon. I didn’t realize it was happening until pretty late, so I wanted a book I could read quickly, and this short graphic novel fit the bill. It’s a fast-paced, cozy YA fantasy, though I would say it reads as young YA and could potentially be suitable for late middle grade. But adults can enjoy it, too, as I did.
The book is set in a fantasy land that seems to include both human and non-human species who live together. Juniper (June) and Hadley are close friends living in the town of Larkspur. June works in a bakery and Hadley does bakery deliveries and is trying to make it as a bard; Hadley also has some magical abilities. They pair goes on a trip to gather mushrooms to fulfill a bakery request and encounters just the adventure Hadley was looking for.
I have been looking for cozy reads that aren’t just low stakes but are practically no stakes, which is challenging to find. Up until now, the only books I’ve read that seem to fit that search were Becky Chambers’s Monk and Robot novellas, but this one meets that criteria. There is a conflict, but it’s mild, and simply from the length of the book (147 pages), you know it’s going to be resolved quickly. Honestly, there isn’t a lot of substance here, and that’s ok. It’s a light, fluffy read, perfect for when that kind of mood strikes or you need a palate cleanser after a more intense book. There’s overt non-binary representation, which I appreciated, though I did feel that a discussion about Hadley’s gender came out of the blue. Had this book been written for adults, I think the representation could have remained subtle, though still clear through the pronouns used throughout the book. However, I can see why more overt representation would be helpful for younger readers.
The art is beautiful. The cover is quite vivid, but the panels within the book lean toward a pastel palette.
I enjoyed this quiet, cozy read and rated it 3.5 stars, rounded down to 3. This was Haught’s debut graphic novel. It shows a lot of promise, and I will definitely be on the lookout for more work by them.
Pie Chart Challenge – Diversity