Graphic Novel Wrap Up | #2

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

 This was a really interesting story about Jin, Danny, and a monkey king. Jin is a young Chinese-American boy who has just moved to a new school and just wants to fit in with everyone else. Danny is an All-American boy who is embarrassed annually when his cousin Chin-kee comes to visit. The monkey king struggles with wanting to be the master of everything and not wanting to be a monkey. Each story adds a new facet to a great story of self-discovery, understanding your worth, and being comfortable with who you are. Each character damages their lives with choices they have made and now they need to right the wrongs. This is a great story for anyone to read because it makes you think about choices you have made. Plus it is just a fantastic graphic novel with beautiful art and story telling. ★★★★

Seconds by Bryan Lee O'Malley

This was such a fun read! If you have ever thought back on an event in your life and wanted to change it thinking that it would only get better this book illustrates just how wrong you might be. Katie has it pretty good, she helped start an amazing restaurant and is now moving on to owning a new restaurant but things are not happening the way she wants them and when given the chance she is able to write her mistakes away. I love Katie and Lis and would love to read more of this story and the magic involved. The art in this book is gorgeous and the story was so intriguing and quick to read. ★★★★

Through the Woods by Emily Carroll

Through the Woods is a collection of "spooky" stories based around the woods. Knowing that this is a Middle Grade/YA book I new that it would not be super scary but it was spooky enough to be perfect for the month of October when I read it. I really enjoyed the second story of the book. It had a good rhythm and flow to it. The rest of the stories were just okay. None of the stories in this book blew me away but I definitely appreciate what Carroll was trying to do. I kind of wish the stories fit together better and that the conclusion would have tied all of the stories together. The art is lovely and the stories are unique and interesting. ★★★

Here by Richard McGuire

Here is a graphic novel that focuses on the corner of a living room and how that one corner evolves over billions of years. The most interesting thing about this book for me was that it was not a linear progression of time and that multiple years of time were depicted in one image. It was so interesting to see how time and history can be shown through a fixed point. This is such a surreal and thought provoking novel that makes me think of how the would may have changed over the course of time in my own fixed point, my own corner of the world. What was here 50, 500, 5 million years ago? What will be here in my place in another 500 years? I definitely recommend you leaf through this a few times to get the full impact. I have noticed something new each time. ★★★★

Saga Vol. 5 by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples

Saga is a FANTASTIC sci-fi graphic novel!

"When two soldiers from opposite sides of a never-ending galactic war fall in love, they risk everything to bring a fragile new life into a dangerous old universe."

Saga is all about this family and their fight to stay together despite all of the attacks coming at them for being from two different races and having a child together while their planet and moon are fighting a civil war. This story is crazy, awesome, action-packed, and graphic. It is definitely for mature audiences. I have enjoyed every single volume of this story, so much that I had to start buying the individual issues to sate my obsession. The art style and the amazing cast of characters are just two more reasons you should dive into this story sooner rather than later! ★★★★★

Bookish Subscription Boxes

Subscription boxes are becoming very popular in the lives of many pop culture geeks and nerds of the world as well as foodies, readers, and homemakers. If you are into geeky gamer gear you may have your eye on Lootcrate, Nerdblock, or 1up Box. If you are a foodie you may get a Graze Box or Nature Box. If you enjoy getting things for your dog friends there is always the Bark Box. If you are a fan of jewelry you may have seen the Flitwicks Box and the Fandom of the Month Club. The list goes on and on!

For readers like me, and probably you too since you are on my blog, there are several book related boxes that have become all the rage recently especially in the realm of YA literature. Here are just a few of the boxes that I know of that contain books and book related goodies and a few quick notes about them:

• Owlcrate - YA book box based in Canada - each monthly box has a theme
• Uppercase Box - YA book box based in the US - 3 price level options
• The Book Drop - book box based in US - run by an independent bookstore
• The YA Chronicles - YA book box based in Australia - boxes center around a theme
• Illumicrate - YA book box based in UK - boxes are delivered quarterly
• The Bookworm Box -  book box based in the US - all profits are donated to charity
• The Bookish Box - book related home, beauty, and apparel products - based in the US

There are so many great options and surprises wrapped up in these boxes of goodies. I have seen the products that all of these boxes have put out (not all in person unfortunately) and I am really impressed with the quality that each box puts forth. Out of the ones above I have personally purchased the Owlcrate, Uppercase, and The Book Drop boxes and I will go a little more in-depth on what each of these boxes are and my opinions on the boxes. If you are interested in other boxes mentioned above please click on the links and visit their websites where you will be able to find out more information about the different services they provide. Now, on to the reviews!

Owlcrate - "Magical Monthly Reads"

What comes in the box?

The Owlcrate box always comes with a new release YA book (sometimes an adult book) and the book is usually a new release from the month that the box ships out (example: the November box has a November new release book in it). Along with the book there are usually 3-5 other bookish goodies and some kind of exclusive from the author or publisher. Each month is curated around a specific theme and items are usually from other small businesses such as Etsy shops. 

How long have I been subscribed?

I have been subscribed to this box since March 2015  which was the first ever box they released.

What purchase options are there?

There is currently only one type of box being offered but you can subscribe for 1, 3, or 6 months at a time.

What is something special about this box?

I love the themed aspect of this box. Each month has a theme and that is all we know about the box until it is dropped off by the owls. I always try to venture a guess at the book and sometimes I am wrong and sometimes I am right! The theme also gives me a hint as to what books to stay away from when book shopping.

What is my overall impression of the box?

I love this box! Each one gets better and better and I am always surprised as to what will be in the box. The attention to detail and the wonderful owners behind the box make this a subscription that you shouldn't miss out on! I even got a book that was slightly damaged and they were quick to respond and get a replacement sent to me right away.

Uppercase Box - "YA Books Delivered to You"

What comes in the box?

The Uppercase box delivers a new release YA book and 1-2 exclusive book related items. You also get an online interactive "Uppercase Reading Experience" via codes placed throughout the book that you enter on the Uppercase website to get exclusive content or be a part of the discussion on the book with other Uppercase subscribers.

How long have I been subscribed?

I have been subscribed to this box since October 2015 (and a one box trial back in March 2015).

What purchase options are there?

There are currently 3 plans available for you to choose from:

• The lowest price option is the Book Exclusive plan and costs $17 a month before shipping. This plan only includes the book (which is the same as the Expert plan book) and the Uppercase Reading Experience. 
• The second option is the Expert plan which includes the book, 1-2 bookish goodies, and the Uppercase Reading Experience. The cost for the Expert box is $23 per month before shipping. 
• The third plan is the Personalized Plan which is tailored to you and is not a "cookie cutter" box that everyone receives. This plan is $29 per month and includes a new released book and 1-2 bookish items. The personalized plan does not have an online, interactive component nor are the books guaranteed to be signed/include a bookplate.

The Expert and Book Exclusive plans also guarantee that the book will be signed or come with a signed book plate and usually come with a promotional item.

What is something special about this box?

One of the perks of the Uppercase box is the fact that you get a signed book or a bookplate to put in your book each month. I love having that little piece of a connection with an author especially since signings just don't happen that often in my area. I also think the fact that this box only has 1 or 2 items will appeal to those who don't want a bunch of extra trinkets. 

What is my overall impression of the box?

This is a fantastic box! It is well worth the price and the items are high quality and usually exclusive to the Uppercase Box. The packaging is different because the "box" is actually a bag and it is delivered inside a padded envelope. 

The Book Drop - "Run by an independent bookstore at the beach"

What comes in the box?

The Book Drop box comes with one paperback book and usually some kind of extra bookish item. Most of the time the book comes signed or with a bookplate or signed swag. On rare occasions the lovely people at Bethany Beach Books includes a bonus book or item! I receive the YA box called A Little Bit of Everything.

How long have I been subscribed?

I have been subscribed to this box since August 2015!

What purchase options are there?

This box has the most options that I have seen in a subscription box yet! There are adult boxes - the Jane and the Ernest, 3 genre based YA (14+) choices, and 3 genre based children's (8-12 yo) boxes. The Jane box includes a book that is either contemporary, historical fiction, or literary fiction. The Ernest box includes a book that is either thriller, action, or non-fiction. The YA box choices are Romance/Love, Action/Adventure, or A Little bit of Everything. The Children's box choices are Pleasant Reads, Action/Adventure, or A Little bit of Everything.

What is something special about this box?

I love that this box is so diverse an that there is literally something that could please everyone! I also really love that this is a box that is run by an independent bookstore from my state and that this is a great way for me to support them even when I can't make a trip there as often as I do the more local indies near me. These boxes have a very personal feel to them and are always packaged with great care.

What is my overall impression of the box?

This box has its own little niche to serve of people who prefer paperbacks or don't want the newest most hyped books out there. I am so impressed that I have gotten books that I haven't really heard of before (aside from A Thousand Pieces of You) and that they have been some fantastic reads.

In Conclusion

I seriously love each of these boxes and it has been so much fun getting a surprise each month. It is like Christmas or your birthday each month when a box pops into your mailbox. Anyways, I hope that my reviews of these boxes help you gain a better understanding of what these products are and why they are such a hit with loads of people. I wish I could review all of the bookish boxes out there for you but I have to draw the line somewhere. :)

If you receive any of the boxes featured in this post or know of any other boxes that should be on my list please leave a comment below sharing your experiences and varied knowledge!