Gettin' Graphic, Vol. 2: The Tea Dragon Society + everyone's a aliebn when ur a aliebn too

Y'all, she's back! I first introduced Gettin' Graphic back in 2014 (yes, *four* years ago) and never continued on with it. Story of my life. But I'm starting this up again because 1) there are so many good graphic novels and comics I've been meaning to pick up and share with you guys, plus 2) I want to have a separate place to highlight these differently-formatted books I'm reading. (I was going to call 'em a different "genre," but the internet says that's a no-no. Got it.)

If you have any graphic novel or comic recommendations, please let me know below!



THE TEA DRAGON SOCIETY BY KATIE O'NEILL

Release Date: October 31, 2017
Publisher: Oni Press
Format: Hardcover // 72 pages
Rating: 5 stars

From the award-winning author of Princess Princess Ever After comes THE TEA DRAGON SOCIETY, the beloved and charming all-ages book that follows the story of Greta, a blacksmith apprentice, and the people she meets as she becomes entwined in the enchanting world of tea dragons. After discovering a lost tea dragon in the marketplace, Greta learns about the dying art form of tea dragon care-taking from the kind tea shop owners, Hesekiel and Erik. As she befriends them and their shy ward, Minette, Greta sees how the craft enriches their lives—and eventually her own.

The Tea Dragon Society follows a girl named Greta who returns a lost Tea Dragon to Hesekiel, a tea shop owner, and ends up learning how to take care of them. These Tea Dragons grow tea leaves out of their horns and antlers "that, when brewed correctly, has magical properties." It was such a lovely reading experience! I want to frame every page in this book and put it up on my walls. The art is *gorgeous* and the coloring matches the story and atmosphere so well. Even if you picked this up to flip through and look at the illustrations, it would be worth it. There are a few pages at the end of this graphic novel that describes each Tea Dragon and some other fun tidbits, which I loved referencing whenever we were introduced to something new. The ending feels like it's open to a sequel, so I'm crossing my fingers that it'll happen one day!

Also, side note/a funny thing that happened while I was reading this: I was reminded I forgot my tea downstairs, lol.

everyone's a aliebn when ur a aliebn too by Jomny Sun

Release Date: June 27, 2017

Publisher: Harper Perennial

Format: Hardcover // 304 pages

Rating: 4 stars

Through this story of a lost, lonely and confused alien finding friendship, acceptance, and love among the creatures of Earth, we will all learn how to be a little more human. And for all of us earth-bound creatures here on this planet, we can all be reminded that sometimes, it takes an outsider to help us see ourselves for who we truly are.

"day 3: being small does not mean the same thimg as being insignificamt"

"day 33: it apears that some humabns like being busy more than they like being friemds"

I don't know how else to describe everyone's a aliebn when ur a aliebn too besides sweet and innocent. The main character, Jomny, is sent to earth—or, as aliebns call it, "Earbth"—to find out facts about humans. (The funny thing is that he actually doesn't encounter any humans, but that's besides the point of this story.) It's basically a book presenting many truths (and some ... could-be truths?) about life in a funny and simple way. The illustrations, and even misuse of grammar, perfectly matched the feel of the story, but it wasn't anything *spectacular.* I do think that this is a hit or miss, depending on your style of humor, so I'm happy to say I was on the side of enjoying it.

Another side note: I'm pretty sure my auto-correct is all out of whack after typing all my favorite parts down in my Notes app 😂

GRAPHIC NOVELS + COMICS I'LL BE READING SOON

Bake Sale by Sara Varon

Deadly Class, Vol. 1: Reagan Youth by Rick Remender

Giant Days, Vol. 1 by John Allison (a re-read!)

Week Notes #6

Sunday, November 25 to Friday, November 30

Joe and I started watching Limitless (the TV show) together, and I have to say it's really good! He actually watched it by himself first, but he knew I'd like it so now he's re-watching it with me. Each episode is very packed, in a good way. Case in point: I thought we were on the last episode of the season but when I went to check, it was only the SIXTH one. It follows this guy named Brian Finch who is given a drug that allows him to use every neuron in his brain. It has deadly side effects, which he begins to experience, but a mysterious senator gives him an immunity shot—with strings attached, of course. He ends up working with the FBI, who gives him more of this drug to continue taking so he can help them, but they have no idea how he's immune. So I guess they're trying to figure out why he can handle this drug (and I say "I guess" because this part doesn't take up too much of the storyline, although I have a feeling it's going to blow up toward the end of this season) while Brian is solving cases with them. If you like White Collar, I think you'd like this show. It's a shame they cancelled it after the first season though. I guess I'll find out why soon?

I finally visited my local library! (The one I work at is farther away.) It takes me about twenty minutes to get there by foot, but I don't mind at all because the road there is actually a nice trail. It was a surprise—a good one—because you can't get this in the city. Which I've lived in my whole life. Normally, you have to take a car if you want to get somewhere like this. But now I can walk there! Add that to my happy list.

I tried to work on cleaning and organizing my desktop computer this past week in preparation for 2019 (yes, I am a "new year, new me" kind of person) but not much happened because it's littered with stuff I've saved to read. Mostly recent, but some from literally *years* ago. So it's not exactly unorganized ............ I guess the new goal now is to READ STUFF I'VE SAVED IN A TIMELY MANNER.

My reading is slowly getting back to normal. THE SLUMP IS LEAVING ME. I started a little bit of The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine and already in the first chapter, it feels like a fairy tale. Of course, I haven't continued since lol ... but at least I am thinking of the book positively, and I *am* looking forward to diving back in. But I finally have the Harry Potter boxed set, so I gotta get to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix first!!!

BOOKS I FINISHED RECENTLY

A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi

SOME GOALS FOR THIS WEEK

• Finish reading James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl and start Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
• Start writing wedding thank you cards (I've really been putting this off ...)
• Finish moving all photos from phone to computer to prep for end-of-year posts

FAVORITES FROM AROUND THE WEB

• Rachel from Hello, Chelly shared some of her favorite underrated YA contemporary romance stories, which includes some of my favorites too.
• Madalyn from Novel Ink shared book gift guides based on Hogwarts houses! Here are the ones for Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Hufflepuff and Gryffindor coming soon :)

🖤🖤🖤

What are you currently reading?
Were there any blog posts you enjoyed reading this past week?

December TBR + New Releases

Let it Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle always ends up on my December TBR because I never get around to picking it up! My intentions are there, but I always forget about it because no one talks about it anymore.

The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine is a high priority read because it's related to a project I'm working on for this blog! I don't want to give away too much since it's in the works, but you can probably figure it out if you track what I'm reading for these next couple of months.

I'm diving back into the magical world of Harry Potter, starting with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling because it's one of three I haven't re-read yet. I have a little bit more time this year, so I'm going to try and participate in Harry Christmas to You! I'm excited to re-watch the movies (my husband put the collection on our wedding registry and one of my friends, a fellow Harry Potter fan, gifted it to us!) and maybe even watch the musicals for the first time ☺️

I've left a lot of series hanging this year, so I need to start finishing them! Out of all the ones I'm in the middle of, I think I'm most likely to read Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han. I loved To All the Boys I've Loved Before and P.S. I Love You so much, there's no doubt I'll love this series ender too.

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl is part of another project/reading challenge that I'm getting a head start on. There are a ton of stories from Mr. Dahl's collection I haven't read yet—including Matilda (yes I heard you screaming from over here)—so I am going to try and read all of the ones I can find in 2019!

NEW RELEASES

Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare // December 4th
I've only read City of Bones, the first book in this ever-growing world, but I wanted to share this anyway!

Stronger, Faster, and More Beautiful by Arwen Elys Dayton // December 4th
"For fans of television shows Black Mirror and Westworld, this compelling, mind-bending novel is a twisted look into the future, exploring the lengths we'll go to remake ourselves into the perfect human specimen and what it means to be human at all."

🖤🖤🖤

What are you planning to read in December to close out 2018?

Books I Read in October 2018

Sorry it took me so long to get this up! I was waiting for some of the books to come in from the library so I could take a picture 😅

Everybody, Always by Bob Goff // 2 stars
I read this (via audiobook) under the impression that Bob Goff wanted to share how knowing Jesus has impacted him to love people, but the entire thing felt like a "humble brag." Yes, he gave a lot of good examples of how he has shown love to those who don't deserve it, but he never directly talks about WHY. It's obvious he's a Christian, so I think it's okay to hold him to this standard. It seems like he wrote Everybody, Always as an encouragement to the general audience and not just Christians, but ... I don't know. I don't think you can call this a "Christian" book and not talk about the things that make you a Christian. He might talk a lot about what Jesus said, but none of it is stuff mentioned in the Bible? I'm still learning to read with discernment, so this whole thing might sound confusing. But I found this review that I agree with, so maybe it will help you too. (It is the only post I've read so I can't say I agree with the rest of his blog, but solely because I haven't looked at anything else.)

City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab // 5 stars
This may be a middle grade but I think anyone, no matter your age, can read City of Ghosts and love it! I didn't take many notes while reading—and I do, in detail, with every book I read—so that can serve as proof for how immersive and good this book is. As an adult (yep, still strange to call myself one) there isn't too much of a mystery. It's easy to see where the story goes, but the atmosphere and journey of getting there is what makes it so enjoyable.

"I have one foot in winter and one in spring. One foot with the living, and one with the dead."

Other reviews for City of Ghosts: Madalyn from Novel Ink • Emma from missemmareadsalot

You by Caroline Kepnes // 3.5 stars
Considering the fact that this was a book written in a stalker's perspective, I was surprisingly not as creeped out as I thought I'd be. I felt pity more than disgust, which is probably what makes this story so interesting. We only know Beck, the love interest, through Joe's thoughts and observations, and those were definitely biased so we never get the full story. I think this is why I felt so detached. I wanted to know what was going on inside Beck's head, which is kind of ironic because "you," the reader, ARE Beck! You is a really twisted book, so approach cautiously. It was also too sexual for me (and I had no idea it would be) so that's something to take note of if you're considering this read.

The Art of Losing by Lizzy Mason // 5 stars
Yet another character-driven story that I absolutely loved. This is a book about sisters, family, more-than-just-second chances, and forgiveness. It captured addiction and explored relationships really well, with flawed characters but ones you will find yourself understanding deeply. The Art of Losing comes out on February 19, 2019 and I highly recommend picking up a copy! (This is where I write "review to come" but putting it out there might be the end of it lol. So ... we'll leave it at that!)

None Like Him by Jen Wilkin // 5 stars
EXCELLENT book on the attributes of God, how He is different from us humans, and why that's a good thing.

🖤🖤🖤

I also read everyone's a aliebn when ur a aliebn too by Jomny Sun, but I'll talk about that in a future Gettin' Graphic post! It's coming back, y'all!