A beautiful and haunting follow up to Thummler's incredible graphic novel about grief, ghosts, and laundry. In this graphic novel, Marjorie struggles to find her place and herself between the popular kids who have only recently accepted her and the ghost-hunting outcast, Eliza, who feels just as invisible as the ghosts Marjorie is hiding in her family's laundromat. By staying silent in the face of Eliza's bullies, is Marjorie just as complicit? Delicates is an exploration of depression, bullying, and fitting in vs. staying true to yourself. Just as heartbreaking and heartfelt as its predecessor.

TW: suicidal ideation and bullying

This was even better than Sheets, and I think that was one of the best graphic novels of 2018. Bullying is a good topic, and I like how subtle it was here. It was so hard to watch Marjorie shun Eliza so thoughtlessly. I think this will be a good wake up call to middle schoolers who think they're not wrong when they just stand by and let things happen.

This is probably one of the most beautifully written graphic novels I've ever read. It was an absolute delight to read this.
Fully recommend it.


Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I think I may have liked this more than the first one. The first book, Sheets, was so cute. But this one had…I don't know more...life. It had a completely different yet altogether familiar story and vibe. It just felt real. This dealt with even more serious topics and I’m so glad I had the chance to read it. The way things were handled was so comforting and the love I could feel from every page was amazing.

I received a digital ARC through NetGalley from Oni Press. This sequel to the middle grade graphic novel Sheets was just so impressive. Marjorie’s now in 8th grade and that comes with awkward social circles of friends, a weird school/home life balance with ghost friend Wendell, and trying to find her place in this small town while still having a sadness in her home because of her deceased mother. The introduction to the Eliza character, a bullied girl from school and one of the teachers kids, really made this book stand out.

I can’t say enough about the colors used on the pages, the deftness of the page spreads that evoke so much emotion. The struggles Eliza goes through being an outcast who is bullied really resonates. The honest portrayal of Marjorie not helping the situation, really struck a chord. Overall, this sequel added depth to Marjorie, but all the secondary characters were interesting. I want more story. I want to delve into Marjorie’s distracted little brother, the cruel best-friend with the overbearing mother, the grieving father - they all have so much story behind them.

Delicates is not only a well-written, beautiful graphic novel, but it also does great job portraying very important themes. I highly recommend you check out Delicates!!

Trigger Warnings: This book includes racism, bullying, and mentions of suicide.

Delicates is the sequel to the Graphic Novel called Sheets, while you can understand this whole new addition without having read the first one, it does put more into context if you have read it.

Delicates follows Marjorie and her friendly ghost companion Wendell, as she attempts to fit in and be accepted by the cool crowd. Wendell is continually left out and feeling very sad about it. In attempts to be part of the group he keeps following Marjorie and making things more difficult for her.

We also have an alternate point of view, Eliza is the 'weird kid', a loner, who likes to take photos and believes that there are ghosts that she can capture on film, making her even more of an outcast.

This book focuses on what is means to fit in and the struggle to fit in or even just be seen at all. It also has themes in dealing with loss. Overall, the plot, while a bit sad, is a good one. It follows a common struggle teens face - fitting in, and concepts of bullying and how to overcome those obstacles and ask for help when you are feeling like things are too much. Both the characters in this book have real emotions and are relatable, the only outlandish thing is Wendell being a ghost, but he also has emotions that are very realistic.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, and I really enjoyed this one as well. I think it would be alright for Sheets to have been a stand-alone, but this follow up again focuses on important issues with mental health and safety and It might be what someone really needs.

I think Delicates resonated with me more than Sheets did. I thought the feeling of being an outsider, but also wanting to fit in is so typical in your teenage years. So is being different from everyone else. Eliza was such a sweet girl, but everyone just thought she was different and did not respect or understand her. Instead she felt isolated and ghost-like.
When we finally realize that everyone's differences are what make us amazing and that being popular is so ridiculous, life is so much more amazing. Sadly that doesn't typically happen until after high school.
There is a trigger warning for depression and suicide for this book. I thought it was presented and dealt with very successfully. Delicates pulls at your heart strings but leaves you with a smile at the end.

This is a really bittersweet story about belonging and finding yourself as a teenager. The art is very pleasing to the eyes and has a certain softness to it.
I would just add a trigger warning as the story also deals with bullying, depression and suicide.

A year after the events of the first book, Majorie Glatt is trying to figure out her life. She’s about to start eighth grade and has been trying to get the attention of her crush all summer but has found herself a new member of his mean group of friends instead. Her new friends have begun to target one of their classmates, Eliza Duncan. Eliza is obsessed with trying to photograph ghosts, which has made her even less popular than before. Bullied and feeling invisible everywhere else in her life, Eliza is getting closer to wanting to become one of the ghosts she has been trying to find.

I read the first book and loved it, so I knew I had to pick this one up when I saw it was becoming a series. I was a little confused since the first book wrapped up in a way that seemed like a stand-alone story, but I decided to pick it up anyway. The first book is about Majorie, who was trying to find her place in the world as well as figure out how to continue life without her mother. This time around, we see it’s been a year and she’s still trying to find her place. Unfortunately for her, she thinks that place might be with a group of mean people claiming to be her friends.

The story expands a bit, and we follow another character, Eliza, as well. Eliza is used to being bullied and her interests, ghosts and ghost photography, doesn’t help her make friends. She does try, but those who are not bullying her aren’t interested in befriending a girl dubbed as weird. Meanwhile, Majorie is busy trying to fit in with her new friends and stands on the sidelines as the bullying occurs.

As the book continues, we see the two of them begin to overcome their individual struggles. Depression and suicide are present in Eliza’s plot, so that is something to take into consideration before giving this book to younger readers. Bullying is also prevalent. I like that this book encourages readers to speak up about depression in addition to encouraging readers to look at how their actions and their friend’s actions impact others.

I think this is a great follow-up to the first book and it covers some very important topics. I’m interested in seeing if there will be a third book in the series or if this will end at two books.

A heart-touching story captured amidst a mildly haunting premise of a young girl — Marjorie — beginning middle-school with a bunch of her ghost friends in tow and another, quite odd but endearing, girl — Eliza — trying to capture ghosts through her photography passion. Continuing down the path of the first book, Sheets: where Marjorie is grieving the loss of her mother and trying to save her family's laundry business, with the help of a young boy's ghost, from a man who wishes to set up a hotel in its place, Delicates also delivers on the emotional aspects but through the extremely important themes of depression, bullying, and being or not being who you really are when the world asks you to fit in.

Beautiful artwork that takes the cold-blue vibes from the first graphic novel in the series is accompanied with the absolutely realistic portrayal of how the pain of being bullied, being alone, being invisible is overwhelming when the kindness and empathy you expect isn't awarded. Perfect for every demographic, but especially for teens who need to be reminded that purposeful confinement in a box of acceptable personas shouldn't be demanded nor delivered in the name of belonging to a school's social circle — and a note of mental health.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to review this book. I was happy to receive am ARC of this book, I loved Sheets, so I was excited to learn there would be a follow up. This story is cute and the illustrations are ever better. I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys graphic novels.

The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Brenna Thummler's art is wonderful! Pastel pink and lilac. But her stories are hard hitting and sad. Both Sheets and Delicates deal with friendship, grief, bullying, and suicidal thoughts... I love that the ghosts are the ones helping humans to pick up the pieces and slowly heal.
I really enjoyed reading both Sheets and Delicates. That being said - Delicates seemed to hit me harder.

CW: Bullying, racism, discussion of suicide, death of a parent

Delicates is a beautiful and ultimately hopeful coming-of-age story that continues Marjorie and Wendell's story as they navigate the changes that come with Marjorie entering eighth grade and a new social group. With the addition of an incredible new character—a misfit obsessed with ghost photography—it perfectly captures all the awkward awfulness of middle school as it tackles topics like bullying, depression, and finding your own voice with nuance and sensitivity. Brenna Thummler's art and signature color palate are stunning as always and this sequel completely lives up to Sheets, reminding us how precious life is while acknowledging the pain that comes with it.

After Marjorie discovered her family laundromat is full of ghosts using only sheets as bodies her life has never been the same. Wendell a young spirit has become Marjorie's closest and only friend. But Marjorie's former enemy has invited her to her friend group, and Marjorie now has a group of friends that take her away from Wendell. Entering 8th grade at the end of the summer is daunting, but for another girl it is even worse. Eliza is repeating the 8th grade, her fascination with Ghost Photography and her lack of social skills have kept her back a grade. She attempts to reach out to Marjorie but is pushed away because Marjorie is distracted by her new group of friends. Marjorie struggles with the need to keep friends she thinks she wants and the need to be a good person and keep the friends she already has.

I read and loved Sheets, even though it was considered a Middle Grade Novel I was in love with the story of Wendell the ghost and his human friend Marjorie. I was so interested to see what happened in the sequel. It was so well written. It deals with a different topic then the first, bringing suicidal thoughts into the storyline. This highlights a part of the ghost world you don't think about, those who choose to be there. It was well illustrated and the coloring with all the pastel colors help to flesh out the story.

This beginning of this book had me worried because Marjorie wasn't making the best decisions or hanging with the best people but as the book went on, she and the book redeemed itself for me. I really loved the last 25% of the book and how the characters interacted and grew into themselves. I even got a little emotional at times because of the topics touched on and how the characters supported each other through the good times and the bad times. I' wouldn't mind reading another of these books because they're so unique and fun!

ARC was provided by NetGalley and Oni Press in exchange for an honest review.

This review is being published before the release date (March 16, 2021)

👻 Sheets ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Content/Trigger Warnings: Bullying, toxic friendships, manipulations, talk of death, mentions of racism, loss of a parent (in the past), loss of a loved one (in the past), allusions to depression, grief, depictions of suicidal ideation



“Except there’s nothing more delicate than a life.”

Friends, this graphic novel knocked my socks off! I really liked Sheets, but this Delicates was a whole other level for me. This graphic novel hit home in so many ways and I ended up in my feels. Brenna Thummler always has an important message in their books and the one in this graphic novel is so damn important. I just really loved this graphic novel so, so much and if you haven’t started this series yet, please do!

Following the events that took place in Sheets, Marjorie, our laundromat girl who looks after the ghosts who live there, is back in an all new story about navigating friendships and what it to be a middle schooler who feels out of place. Also, we’re introduced to a new character, Eliza Duncan, an avid photographer who spends most of her time in the school’s dark room and ghost hunting for her next photograph. Eliza doesn’t have any friends and through that loneliness (as well as Wendall), we see Eliza’s story truly unfold.

I love the characters in this graphic novel. When Eliza’s character was introduced, I instantly wanted to know more about her, about the backstory, and why Eliza likes to ghost hunt. I think many readers are going to enjoy Eliza’s character and the way her storyline plays out. Of course, I love Wendall and Marjorie, and the friendship they share with one another. I love how it’s not a perfect friendship, that there’s bumps along the way, but I love how everything comes together with them. Also, I really enjoyed the intersecting storylines of Eliza and Marjorie. They have a really rough path, but the conclusion with them was really wonderful.

“Humans are delicate too. The teeniest mistake can ruin them, even if you do everything else right. Just because mistakes seem small and insignificant, doesn’t mean they are.”

Of course, I have to talk family dynamics. I feel that this is one aspect of this graphic novel series no one talks about a lot. Marjorie comes from a single parent household, a widowed father of two. In the first book we saw him struggle with grief and depression. Now in book two, we see the hardships of what it means to be a single parent and trying to start you life again after the loss of your partner. There’s also Eliza’s family, who’s far from perfect. We see Eliza’s parents struggle to find balance within their home life. From schedule struggles to trying to co-parent the best they can of three children, these two are tackling the hardships the best they can even if it does stir up some disagreements. I love family dynamics and I love family dynamics that show the more realistic side of what families go through instead of the typical “rainbows and sunshine” family trope.

As I mentioned above, this graphic novel deals a lot with mental health. I think many of us can remember a time in school where we experienced peer pressure, bullying, or maybe some of us felt like outcasts. And Thummler doesn’t hold back from when we’re going through those hardships. This opens up to the bigger discussion of suicide and how during this point in many teenagers lives, they feel like they’ve hit a rock bottom and find it impossible to get back up once they reach that point. For myself, reading this was really emotional because of the friends I’ve lost to suicide and from the low points I’ve reached in my past. And I truly believe this graphic novel is going to resonate with so many readers like it did with myself. Truly, this graphic novel is going to touch the hearts of so many readers.

“Life is a precious thing, dearie. It has skin that feels. And feet that can dance. And hearts that can love and be loved.”

Overall, I loved this graphic novel so much. I love how there’s so many important themes laced throughout this graphic novel, how many important discussions this will spark. Truly, this hits like a ton of bricks and so many readers will resonate with the messages in this book. And I just wanted to say that if you do feel like you’re in a dark place, please reach out to loved ones or reach out to the Suicide Prevention Hotline. Please know that I see you, that you are loved, and that I’m so glad that you’re here.


The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

Absolutely gorgeous follow-up to SHEETS, DELICATES captures that aching, awkward feeling of navigating that space between childhood and young adulthood. One of the things I love about Thummler's work is how the color grabs your attention from the very first page. The bruised purples and blues throughout infuse DELICATES with a wistfulness that reflects the stop-and-go journey of figuring out who you are and who your friends are (and aren't) of middle school.
DELICATES was a bit darker and heavier than I expected, but not unreasonably so - it is an honest and careful exploration of the dynamics of bullying and the complicated friendships one can get stuck in. Best of all, the darkness here isn't overwhelming! There is a space for hope and growth, and a powerful message on the importance of asking for help and visibilizing both ourselves and the impacts we have on others.
I'm so excited to recommend this to friends-- I think even older readers will find a space for DELICATES as a reminder of our need to see and be seen in trying times.

"Delicates" is a sweet, beautifully written graphic novel about belonging and staying true to who you are. The art style is gorgeous, and perfectly matches the voice of the story. Perfect for fans of 'Pumpkinheads' or 'Mooncakes', I can only recommend this book to anyone who loves carefully crafted stories, and sweet, hopeful endings.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All of the opinions are my own and this did not affect my review in any way.

Ever since I read Sheets I feel in love with Wendell and his story so when I saw the second installment I knew I had to read it as soon as possible.

In Delicates we follow the events after Sheets as Marjorie navigates her way through a new group of friends and dealing with her new popularity while trying to maintain a friendship with Wendell.

From the outside this graphic novel seems young, fun and easy to read, however it is very much the opposite. In this graphic novel the author touches upon very serious topics such as bullying, depression, and suicide, so please keep this in mind if you are interested in reading it.

This graphic novel tells such a powerful story about what it means to want to fit in, and the effects that has on those who stay on the outside. It manages to perfectly represent what it´s like to feel invisible and casts a light on the importance of feeling seen and appreciated.

Overall, this is an essential read because it is a story about asking for help when all seems lost, it is about how we can bring light to those who need it the most and how we should always be mindful of our actions because we never know what the other person is going through.

Delicates is definitely one of the best books I have read this year and I can’t believe that in just under 300 pages this graphic novel managed to make me cry, laugh, smile and feel hopeful.

Thanks so much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for allowing me read and review this book.