Heavy Viny: Y2K-O! by Carly Usdin

 Savvy's Reviews

Not sure you want to dig into that new book? Let Savvy do the hard work for you! Here's her latest review!

Heavy Vinyl: Y2K-O! By Carly Usdin

SAVE THE INTERNET, SAVE THE WORLD (OF MUSIC)!

It’s 1999 and Chris is living her dream: working at Vinyl Destination by day and fighting for (musical) justice by night (okay, maybe during the day too) in the world’s coolest teen girl vigilante fight club. But when the girls of Vinyl Destination enter a Battle of The Bands – to investigate and, of course, win – they learn that the shadowy corporate masters of the music industry plan to destroy the fledging world of digital music and blame it on Y2K. Now it’s time for Chris and the gang to dial up 56k (or more, pretty please) of justice so they can save the day once again!

The girls are BACK! And honestly, I’m so excited. This graphic novel is easily my favorite graphic novel series because it is just such an amazing representation of strong female leads in graphic novels and YA fiction. The LGBTQ+ representation is amazing and all there. Reading this graphic novel really just gives me good feelings! 

Our storyline this time is actually quite entertaining. The Vinyl Destination crew is trying to save the music world before the clock strikes midnight on the year Y2K. For our younger readers, that’s a reference to the New Years Eve of 1999 when all the clocks in the world and all the computers of the world were feared to revert and possibly not switch over to the year 2000. (Yes this is a real thing… people thought the computers would switch back to 1900 instead and things like the stock market would be wrecked.) But fear not! That obvs didn’t happen. We deal with subliminal messaging, computer hacking, a ticking clock and possibly… the end of the world as we know it. 

This is an excellent follow up to Heavy Vinyl and I cannot wait to see what lies ahead for the Vinyl Destination Crew! 

Savvy B. is an avid Young Adult fiction superfan. 

Savvy's Reviews will be archived here, so you can catch up on all her thoughts on her latest reads.

The Prince and the Dressmaker: A Fairy Tale, by Jen Wang

 Savvy's Reviews

Not sure you want to dig into that new book? Let Savvy do the hard work for you! Here's her latest review!

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

 

Prince Sebastian is looking for a princess, or rather his parents are looking for one for him. Sebastian is looking for a seamstress to help him keep his secret. Sometimes Sebastian wears dresses. Frances is looking for her big break into the Paris fashion scene. They could be each other’s perfect match as long as the seams of their big secret hold together. 

 

I absolutely loved the message and positivity this graphic novel gave its readers. I will admit that I picked it up, initially, for the artwork and the dresses, but I stayed for the amazing, heartwarming ending. 

 

*SPOILERS* 

 

I loved, more than anything, that at the end of this book Sebatian’s father - the king - stepped up and really accepted his son for who he is. He came together with his royal guard and saved Frances’s fashion show by modeling all her original pieces. It was so inspiring to see a character of such high stature depicted supporting a community of people that are often hidden away in literature. 

 

I was so pleasantly surprised and touched by this ending. This story is realistic and honest. Seeing a family come together, not only to support their child but accept them for who they are, is really wonderful to see in juvenile and young adult literature and I’m so glad to see more of it trending. This is a wonderful fairy tale about breaking the mold for any age. 

 

 

 

Savvy B. is an avid Young Adult fiction superfan. 

Savvy's Reviews will be archived here, so you can catch up on all her thoughts on her latest reads.

Teen Titans: Beast Boy by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo

 

Savvy's Reviews

Not sure you want to dig into that new book? Let Savvy do the hard work for you! Here's her latest review!

 

Teen Titans: Beast Boy by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo

Garcia and Picolo do it again! The next great American graphic novel in the Teen Titans origin series spotlights our favorite green super teen; Beast Boy. Once again fans are engrossed in the behind the scenes world of Garfield Logan (or Gar for short) as he becomes, transforms, and discovers the many animals that make up Beast Boy. Picolo takes us through this story with his unique color pallet and detailed artistry. The story itself is a fascinating take on the origin story of a struggling teen trying to find his place in high school.

We are introduced to new side characters as well as returning character from Teen Titans: Raven thus solidifying the theory that these origin stories are all interwoven. Yet another solidification for the Teen Titans fandom is the announcement of the third release in this series. Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven. I, myself, could NOT be more thrilled for this upcoming addition to the collection. We have an expected publication date of February 23, 2021 which we hope isn’t affected by COVID-19 because, I don’t know about y’all but I cannot wait to see more from Garcia and Picolo.

This is yet another perfect addition to the DC’s graphic novel collection and a wonderful adaptation for everyone’s favorite Teen Titan. I cannot wait to see what Garcia and Picolo have in store for Raven and Beast Boy in the next one.

*Spoiler Alert*

For those in the Teen Titans fandom keeping score, this origin story does not fall in line with CW’s hit television show Titans, and neither does Teen Titans: Raven. We do, however, see the debut of Slade Wilson in all aspects so far including Teen Titans: Raven, Teen Titans: Beast Boy, and the CW’s Titans. 

 

 

 

Savvy B. is an avid Young Adult fiction superfan. 

Savvy's Reviews will be archived here, so you can catch up on all her thoughts on her latest reads.