Lights - Brenna Thummler - ★★★.½

-
AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR: Brenna Thummler
SERIES: Sheets, #3
GENRE: Middle-grade Graphic Novel. RATING: 3.5 stars.

In a Nutshell: A nice finish to the trilogy, though it takes a while to get going. As the focus is on Wendell, I was motivated to read on.

Story Synopsis:
The plot takes place immediately after the events of the second book.
Marjorie and Eliza are still stumbling into being friends. And Wendell is still trying to come to terms with Marjorie having more friends in her life. But all three are united in one idea – they need to find out more about Wendell’s death as his memory of his human life is growing hazy. Eliza’s ghostly interests and Marjorie’s sincerity might just provide a resolution, but things turn somewhat problematic when Marjorie becomes friends with two girls who used to bully Eliza.


The storyline is almost as strong as it was in 'Sheets' - the first book of this series. However, the pacing is more like it was in the second book – 'Delicates', which is why we need to have a lot of patience in the first half of the book.

‘Delicates’ made the mistake of putting Wendell’s track on the backburner, but ‘Lights’ shines the spotlight (or maybe, the ghostlight) on him yet again, thereby immediately enhancing the impact of the story. Wendell’s spirit [pun intended] is captured beautifully, especially in the backstories where his childhood adventures and imaginative mind are displayed. I wish we could have had some kind of closure regarding Wendell’s family, but all mysteries in life aren’t meant to be sorted out, and the end of his track as is, is heartwarming though bittersweet.

Marjorie is somewhat better in this book as compared to the earlier book, but only in the second half. The initial pages see her exactly as she was in ‘Delicates’, caught between two friends and lying to each of them in a silly attempt to keep them satisfied, but ending up hurting their feelings anyway. The change in her attitude occurs after she asks her dad for advice when she feels stuck. I hope kids see a little lesson in that. Most parents are happy to help or guide you and all you need to do is ask. Compromising on your feelings to keep friends happy is never a solution. Eliza also learns some great lessons courtesy her dad. I loved the line he tells her about being supportive working both ways. Both the dads have minimal roles in this book, but they end up leaving their mark.

While there are no major dark themes this time around unlike the first two editions, there are still plenty of emotional moments. Through Marjorie’s dilemma of choosing between her friends and Eliza’s conundrums over fitting in, we also get some nice thoughts and quotable quotes to mull over.

The illustrations, while not that impressive in the first two books as well, are really disappointing this time around. It was so tough for me to believe that most characters in this book were teenagers. The faces are not convincing at all. Marjorie’s hair is also quite weird. This is one graphic novel series where the plot has remained my main motivator to move ahead. Then again, art is always a subjective taste, so maybe these graphics will work exceptionally with other readers.

You might remember that I had been reading this series with my little one in tow. After the lacklustre second book, she was not in the mood to read this at all. When I finally managed to convince her, she did join me but kept complaining about how boring it was, for more than 200 pages. It was only the ending that made her a little happy for her favourite Wendell. But she refused to commit to a rating this time around. 😄

For me, this was a good finale to the series, and should make fans happy if they can keep their patience with the slower first half. The story generates a variety of emotions, ranging from laughter to tears, and the climax makes the journey worthwhile.

Recommended only to those who have read and enjoyed the first two volumes as this is not a standalone.

My thanks to Oni Press and NetGalley for the DRC of “Lights”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Comments

Post a Comment

Explore more posts from this blog:

Takeout Sushi - Christopher Green - ★★★★

-
Image
  AUTHOR: Christopher Green GENRE: Contemporary Short Story Collection, Japanese Fiction. PUBLICATION DATE:  May 2, 2024 RATING: 3.9  stars. In a Nutshell: An interesting collection of stories, with most of them set in Japan. Loved the writing style and enjoyed the diverse emotions. Much recommended! This story collection has, as the title suggests, a strong Japanese flavour. So let me begin by confessing that I am not a fan of Japanese literature. Most Japanese fiction that I tried hasn’t suited my reading tastes, so I generally keep away from this genre. The reason I picked this collection up is... No, no, the sushi had no role to play in my decision; I can’t stand even the thought of sushi! The reason I wanted to read this is that the author is NOT a Japanese! 😁 I know this sounds quite silly to declare, but had the author been Japanese, I would have resisted opting for this. But by virtue of his being an “outsider”, I thought it was a great opportunity to get a look at Japan witho
Read More»

Big Bad Wolf Investigates Fairy Tales - Catherine Cawthorne - ★★★★★

-
Image
AUTHOR: Catherine Cawthorne ILLUSTRATOR: Sara Ogilvie GENRE: Children's Nonfiction PUBLICATION DATE: April 25, 2024 RATING: 5 sparkly, scientifically accurate stars. In a Nutshell: This book and I were a match made in book heaven! Loved the approach that combines humour and logic to debunk the sillier elements of some fairy tales. Strongly recommended! I enjoy fairy tales. I love scientific thinking. I adore logic. I relish humour. Seeing all four of these together in a single work was almost a “bookgasmic” moment for me! 😆 Had the book not delivered on any of these factors, I might still have been happy reading it. But the content not only reaches but also surpasses the promise made by the title and cover. All of us know that there are several logically impossible elements in fairy tales. In childhood, we might have oohed and awwwed at the stories without overthinking the practicalities. In adulthood, we might have cringed at the gender bias, wealth bias, and the lack of conse
Read More»

The Great Divide - Cristina Henríquez - ★★★★.¼

-
Image
AUTHOR: Cristina Henríquez GENRE: Historical Literary Fiction PUBLICATION DATE: March 5, 2024 RATING: 4.25 stars. In a Nutshell: A literary fiction focussed on Panama during the time of the construction of the Panama Canal. Note that this isn’t a book directly about the canal or its construction, but about the people connected to the canal in some way or the other during that period. A great book if you go in with the right expectations and enjoy character-oriented fiction. Plot Preview: 1907, Panama. Francisco, a Panamanian fisherman, hates the commercialisation of his country under the foreigners, and hence resents his son Omar’s joining the canal construction crew. Omar, however, wants to learn and earn more than his little village can offer him. Sixteen-year-old Ada has heard about Panama having many jobs. She has stowed away to Panama, hoping to get some work and earn enough for her ailing sister’s surgery back in Barbados. Her mother Lucille, a tailor, doesn’t yet know of her ru
Read More»

Red Runs the Witch's Thread - Victoria Williamson - ★★★★

-
Image
  AUTHOR: Victoria Williamson GENRE: Historical Fiction, Horror. RATING:  4 stars. In a Nutshell: A psychological horror inspired by the last witch burning in Scotland in 1697. A disturbing yet compelling read. I wanted more closure at the end for my own peace of mind, but other than that, this was a satisfying book. Recommended! Plot Preview: 1722. Paisley, Scotland. Thirty-seven-year-old widow Christian Shaw is obsessed with perfecting her thread bleaching process. She wants to make the thread the purest white, so it can sell better and restore their family fortunes. In the absence of any male family members, it is up to her as the eldest daughter to ensure the security of their house, her mother and two younger sisters, and her late father’s social position as the laird (landowner.)  However, Christian’s mind is troubled. With the 25th anniversary of the witch burnings of 1697 approaching, Christian’s thoughts go frequently to the past, and to the role she played in the burning of s
Read More»

Making Up the Gods - Marion Agnew - ★★★★.¼

-
Image
AUTHOR: Marion Agnew GENRE: Contemporary Fiction PUBLICATION DATE: October 15, 2023 RATING: 4.25 stars. In a Nutshell: An indie drama with some quirky characters and a great setting in Lake Superior, Canada. Mellow in tone, genuine in content, thought-provoking in themes. I enjoyed this unusual novel. Plot Preview: Simone, almost 70, is a retired widow who lives an isolated life in her cottage on the banks of Lake Superior and still misses her husband, though he’s been dead for five years. While she is now active in her local church and finds solace in baking for those grieving, she is fiercely protective of her privacy. But when the local reverend asks her to take care of nine-year-old Chen while his widowed mother goes on a much-needed trip, Simone finds it tough to refuse a fellow-mourning widow. Just before Chen arrives, a stranger named Martin knocks at Simone’s door, claiming to be her cousin. Simone is suddenly handling two strangers at once, and she worries that they will dis
Read More»