Cover Image: Delicates

Delicates

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Member Reviews

I picked this book up immediately after I finished Sheets and loved it just as much if not more for the message it portrayed. I liked that the story was a little bit longer and of course, I loved following the characters and watching them develop over the course of the story as well. I will of course be picking up the next book as soon as it releases.

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I read Sheets right before this and wasn't a huge fan of it. I felt like it was disjointed and confusing. But Delicates.....Delicates is different. Delicates made me cry. I couldn't put it down, read the whole thing in about 2 hours. The message was so strong, so powerful. Bullying is not okay, and this story really shoves it right in your face to show the consequences of just that. I absolutely loved it. The teens in my group can learn a lot from this story. It's absolutely breathtaking.

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Delicates is the second book of the Sheets graphic novels and looks at new characters, such as Eliza. With a heavy focus on mental health this book gets deep but is such a beautiful book to read! I enjoyed looking at the development of Eliza and Majorie, as well as Wendell’s reaction and wanting to go out into the world.

I love that Majorie made mistakes and acted her age. It made the book feel realistic and normal, as opposed to all the characters being perfect.

The illustrations are just beautiful and it was such a quick read for me! I can’t wait to read the third instalment!

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The second installment in the Sheets series is even better than the first one! If with Sheets I felt an imbalance with the intended age group in Delicates it is now clear that it discusses very serious topics and the overall atmosphere is rather depressing. Characters got nuanced and realistic, Marjorie starts to be a very bad friend, bad guys get a background, we have a new protagonist, and the idyllic happy end of the first book gets crushed by the reality of people messing everything up.

TW: suicidal thoughts, bullying, neglecting parents, victim blaming

The symbolism related to laundry and photography works really well here, and it's cathartic when you realize what the title means.
I really liked that it was expressed and shown in the book that letting bullying happen is also bullying and how the toxic positivity of the parents made them blind to their daughter's problems.

Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for providing the ARC.

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Thummler improved her writing significantly in Delicates. I enjoyed Sheets (the first in this series) but Delicates definitely took the cake for me. The characters were explored with more context and the plot felt fully realised. I saw a few confusing elements and plot holes (for lack of a better term) in Sheets, however this was not to be found in Delicates.

Thummler really improved upon her craft for Delicates. A very enjoyable read.

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aww it got even better than the first one. it deals with some pretty tough themes that middle schoolers deal with themselves and so delicates not only offers solidarity but a way to deal with those feelings whether they’re the bullied or the bully or some one who lets the bullying happen. eliza was truly a great addition to this series!!!

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Another lovely instalment of this feelgood graphic novel. Difficult subject matter is discussed and tackled in a great way.
Big thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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This is book two in her sheet's series! Thanks to NetGalley I was able to read both graphic novels in just one day! I am very excited and anxiously awaiting the third novel by Brenna Thummler.

The book starts with this quote: For anyone who feels lost, hurt, or alone. You matter.

For someone who lost someone close to their heart just 8 months ago I didn't know I needed that more than I do now. While battling depression and very big feelings it is truly amazing to read books and find characters who have those same big feelings you do. Books like these are amazing for these younger people to read because they should them that it's okay and they build a tool belt of people they feel like they know to be able to feel connected to. \

In this book we learn of another lost girl who is looking for something to believe in, such as ghosts, when she is picked on by some of the 'popular' 8th graders we find a girl who is just looking for someone like herself. Well Marjie stand up for her? With Marjie become one of her friends? Will Marjie introduce her to Wendell?

These would be some really great books to keep on your shelf for those middle school blues. Graphic novels are amazing for those who are trying to get into reading. Truly amazing.

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Following on from Sheets, Delicates is another heart warming graphic novel. The beautiful illustrations add so much to the hard hitting storyline; of lonliness, bullying, suicidal thoughts and parental loss. For such big themes, it manages to stay positive and life affirming.
I loved seeing more of Wendall, the friendly Ghost, and it was so good seeing our protagonist making friends, albeit with some questionable characters. I really loved it. Can't wait for the next in the series, Lights.

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Thank You NetGalley for the review copy!

Brenna Thummler truly knows how to get you to feel all the feelings at once and the art style is just stunning. Can't wait to see what comes next.

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The second book of the trilogy called “Sheets” continues with the same storyline presented in Sheets. Even so, the trigger warnings in here refer specifically to depression, bullying and suicide.

The narrative follows Marjorie and Wendell, a human girl and a ghost respectively, living in a small town where the events of the first book took place. As summer ends, Marjorie becomes friends with the popular girls who used to bully her just to fit in, but she neglects her relationship with the cute ghost, Wendell. Throughout the book, Marjorie feels pressure from socializing with the popular girls and from ignoring her actual friends, like Wendell and Eliza, the last being the new girl that is obsessed with ghosts.

A story about growing up with insecurities the author, Brenna Thummler, delves into the challenges of being a teenager through the conflicts experienced by the main character. This story introduces new issues related to the pains of adolescence, such as bullying, sadness, girlhood, popularity, grief and friendship. These themes are adeptly handled, showcasing the character development that Marjorie has. Nonetheless, the book lacked in depth while addressing subjects like mental health or first love and, furthermore, some of Marjorie’s actions are out of character.

Once again the art shown in this graphic novel does not disappoint at all. The color scheme is phenomenal, with each character depicted in a certain color that perfectly represents them. As for the drawing style it’s immaculate; the reader can easily imagine the hours spent on this book just by observing the beautiful illustrations. While the narrative isn’t as cohesive as it could be compared to the first book, which might lead to disappointment, the artwork is exceptionally delightful.

I’m grateful with NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity of letting me read this before its publication.

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A continuation from Sheets, Marjorie and Wendell saved each other last year, but can they save someone new in the 8th grade and even themselves once again? I love the story line that the Sheets series by Brenna Thummler has presented. Both Sheets and now Delicates have a bright and shining story about the power of resilience and over coming demons. I will stand by what I said for sheets and will repeat it here: story line and colors - vivid and bright, just like the characters. Graphics, not my favorite, but willing to focus on the storyline. I love some of the pop culture references I noticed this time round and had fun trying to find some more. I also liked the clearer more distinct color changes when going back in time - both for Marjorie and the new character, Eliza.

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Somehow, the sequel was even better than the first one. We get the same cozy, down to earth, witty style of the first book, but with more character development and a story to rip your heart out and put back in its place wrapped in a fluffy blanket.
Such a comfort read.

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This title was unbelievable. I loved Sheets, but Delicates ripped my whole heart out, stomped it flat, then mended it and put it back more full than before. I cannot overstate how much Brenna Thummler just *gets* the pain and joy of early adolescence, and with how much love, understanding and sincerity she writes--and draws--her characters. Particularly impressive is how deftly she captures very complex emotions with just a few simple lines. I'll be thinking about and recommending both Sheets and Delicates for a long, long time, and can't wait to devour the third in the trilogy too.

Thanks to Oni Press and Netgalley for the eARC!

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I love Brenna thummler and her style of illustrations. Her storytelling ability is wonderful and this series is near and dear to my heart.

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I loved this book as much as the first book in the series! I will definitely recommend this book to my middle grade students! I love the anti bullying message and the fact that the friendship circle is made up of all types of people! The message is clear…be friends with people that make you happy and don’t worry about fitting into sone kind of cliche. Middle school is exactly the age where this book’s message needs to be heard! Middle schoolers are so mean to each other! They all should read this book! I can’t wait to read the third and final book!!!

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omg wait why am I crying.

Delicates manages to be even better than Sheets. In this story we meet Eliza and her struggle to make friends and relate to people. She sees the world through her camera and is determined to capture a ghost on camera.

Once again this is a great look at middle school life. It felt so relatable and real. The need to feel popular, the feeling of helplessness and trying to fit in. There are some heavier themes here but they are handled with a lot of care.

Brenna Thummler’s art is so evocative and wonderful. I found myself constantly admiring her use of colour in the panels.

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This was such a cute sequel to the Sheets, I didn’t even know I wanted one until I saw this! We get to learn more about the family of the PE teacher - truly the only great adult in this universe - and explore the theme of loneliness and connection from a few more angles. I liked that this universe is getting bigger/deeper, and I’d be up for more adventures should there be more sequels! It definitely doesn’t hurt that the artstyle remains cute af - love the palette!

Thanks to Netgalley for an arc of Delicates.

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This graphic novel covers some tough topics - like bullying and mental health. I think it does it in a way that is relatable and approachable for teenagers and pre-teens.
Being a teenager was difficult back in the early 2000's - but I think kids now, in the internet and social media age, have it much harder.
I am glad work like this exist and that authors take the time to write them. As a parent, I sure hope, that my daughter and her friends, would be able to find books like this to help them, or to give them courage to ask for help.
Looking forward to the last installment of this trilogy which is coming out this fall!

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Ghosts have a few lessons on life.

Felt like Majorie both took a step forward and back in the book.
She gained "friends" and was doing more social things, but she saw someone, Eliza, going through something similar to her own experience last book, which really didn't help. I don't believe in saviours, as no one can do that, but I wish she'd offered a hand earlier. However, It is a growing experience.

Eliza's story struck me because I have gone through it, and seeing it occur almost similar to my own experiences is both heartbreaking and honest. I think it was handled very well, and having ghosts in the mix adds more understanding and clarity to readers who may not understand. As ghosts are away from the living, and while this laundromat offers them a chance to return, Wendell shows that they still have lost a lot of things and still urge for the chance to grow.

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