Mini Reviews: a Comic, a Novella and Feminist Essays

The Backstagers by James Tynion IV and Rian Sygh

All the world’s a stage . . . but what happens behind the curtain is pure magic literally!
When Jory transfers to an all-boys private high school, he s taken in by the only ones who don t treat him like a new kid, the lowly stage crew known as the Backstagers. Not only does he gain great, lifetime friends, Jory is also introduced to an entire magical world that lives beyond the curtain. With the unpredictable twists and turns of the underground world, the Backstagers venture into the unknown, determined to put together the best play their high school has ever seen.
James Tynion IV (Detective Comics, The Woods) teams up with artist Rian Sygh (Munchkin, Stolen Forest) for an incredibly earnest story that explores what it means to find a place to fit in when you’re kinda an outcast.”

I recently got an eARC of The Backstagers through Netgalley, and I had such a fun time reading it! The artwork was very cute and colorful, the the cast was very diverse and fun (and I see a potential squad forming and I love it!!!), and has a wonderful and magical setup. I will definitely be picking up the other volumes!

The Melody of You and Me by M. Hollis

After dropping out of university and breaking up with her girlfriend of three years, Chris Morrison’s life is now a mind-numbing mess. She doubts that working at the small neighborhood bookstore is going to change that. The rest of her time is spent mostly playing guitar and ignoring the many messages her mother keeps sending her about going back to college.

But one day, an adorable and charming new bookseller waltzes her way into Chris’s life. Josie Navarro is sweet, flirty, and she always has a new book in her hands. The two girls start a fast friendship that, for Chris, holds the promise of something more. But is she reading too much into this or is it possible that Josie feels the same way?

I. Loved. This. So. Much. The Melody of You and Me is one of the cutest f/f romances I’ve ever read, plus it’s set in a bookstore, so what’s not to like? And even though the novella is only 100 pages, I felt very connected to the characters, and was incredibly invested in the romance.
Just in case I haven’t convinced you to read it yet, let me sum up some other reasons why you should read it: the MC is pansexual, there’s a Filipino lesbian love interest, and it’s sex positive. Oh, and it’s free on Amazon Kindle this weekend 😉

Here We Are: Feminism for the Real World by Kelly Jensen

Let’s get the feminist party started!

Here We Are is a scrapbook-style teen guide to understanding what it really means to be a feminist. It’s packed with essays, lists, poems, comics, and illustrations from a diverse range of voices, including TV, film, and pop-culture celebrities and public figures such as ballet dancer Michaela DePrince and her sister Mia, politician Wendy Davis, as well as popular YA authors like Nova Ren Suma, Malinda Lo, Brandy Colbert, Courtney Summers, and many more. Altogether, the book features more than forty-four pieces, with an eight-page insert of full-color illustrations.

Here We Are is a response to lively discussions about the true meaning of feminism on social media and across popular culture and is an invitation to one of the most important, life-changing, and exciting parties around.

This was incredible. Here We Are: Feminism for the Real World teaches people about feminism, while also talking about intersectionality, gender, sexuality and so much more. And besides consisting of a lot of essays by amazing people, it also includes book recommendations, comics and playlists (also, by amazing people). It’s diverse, thoughtful and I wish I could get every single person on earth to read this.

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