Marjorie finds it difficult to balance different friend groups. She is suddenly accepted by her former enemy and transformed into a "popular" girl. Her relationship with Wendell and the other ghosts becomes a struggle to maintain. Marjorie also wants to be friends with Eliza, but is afraid that hanging out with her will make her weird too. This book deals with mental health and the impact of bullying.

After the first lockdown, I was called back from Furlough to work part time in August. After so many months away I knew it would take a little adjusting to and I wouldn't have as much time to read. So I treated myself to a couple of graphic novels, and Brenna Thummler's Sheets was one of them.

It was full of great illustrations and the story was all about friendships and overcoming grief in a variety of forms. It was beautiful and really heartwarming, so I was very excited when Oni Press approved my request for an early copy of Delicates.

As well as introducing us to a new theme, we are also introduced to a new character in this book too, Eliza, and we get to read some of the story from her point of view alongside Marjorie and Wendell.

Although friendship is still at the heart of this book, and grief is still touched upon too. This book is all about individuality. What it means to be different, and what happens when people start to see you as different (or refuse to see you at all). It touches upon bullying and mental health which creates a book full of emotional moments that are really impactful.

This book is important, it doesn't hide away from the harshness of real life, and how cruel some teens can be to each other. It's an uncomfortable age and Brenna Thummler doesn't hide from that, which is what I like so much about this book. As someone with a disability, I know what it feels like to be different, and for people to see me as different, so I found this book really hit home with me and I could really relate to some parts of Eliza's story.

Although this book is paranormal and a little bit fantastical, just like Sheets it's rooted in real life with real feelings and emotions, so it's perfect for fans of fantasy, and fans of contemporary alike. It's Middle Grade, but I feel like this series can be also enjoyed by adults and teens too and can easily be read in one sitting. Just make sure you've got a box of tissues handy, as this made me a little teary at times.

"Life is a precious thing, dearie.
It has skin that can feel.
And feet that can dance.
And hearts that can love and be loved.
And are loved, sweetheart."

There is so much heart in this comics. Probably because it talks about death and life and teens going through very hard moments in life. This follows Marjorie who in book one meets Wendell, a ghost. I was in the minority while reading book one, I liked it enough, but didn't love it. This time around I was reading as fast as I could and devoured it in almost one sitting. (*Only because I had plans to eat with a friend. If not I would have read it all in one sitting.) It was so good. Tessi makes another appearance and even though I dislike her so very much she did redeem herself a bit at the end. Very little though. She has a long way to go for me to like her. Marjorie is the one that blew me away on this one. She was so upset with herself for letting her new group of friends bully Eliza, the new kid and teacher's daughter (yikes). She finally, even though terrified, do something about the bullying. She stood up to her new "friends." I was cheering her on!

I also like how realistic it was. She didn't become the hero. She didn't know what to do. She told Eliza's parents. She reached out to the adults. This situation was more than a talk could handle. I'm glad Eliza is getting professional help.

I also really liked the colors. The artwork was beautiful.

This comic is perfect for teens. It's perfect for anyone dealing with life. I forgot to mention Marjorie's little brother and dad. The whole family is still suffering the loss of their wife and mother. It was so sweet to tie it all together with pictures. Eliza loves to take pictures and wants to start a photography club at school. And Marjorie finds boxes of pictures her mother took of them all and even an old camera with film still inside it. When I tell you this comic has heart I mean it. It's full of so many layers and I loved the experience...because it was a beautiful experience.

The art style of this graphic novel is really good. I also really enjoy the color schemes. The shades of purple and pink and white goes along with the ghost themes. Enjoyed the story, it's an accurate depiction of the awkward early high school years when you are trying to find yourself and friends who compliment you. Good exploration of the theme of family as well

4/5 stars (TW: suicide, sucidal thoughts, bullying, parental-loss, death)

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this e-arc

This was a captivating story. Let's start this off by announcing how i haven't read the first book. Yet this didn't feel too foreign to me. Appreciate the way certain issues are handled. Am not rating it the highest as I didn't like the attitude of some characters, which were, to the authors greatness, that were just plainly due to circumstances. Also wanna add how i appreciate the style which features non size 0-2 bodies and shows curves of all types

Delicates - Brenna Thummler

This is the second in this series and I unfortunately haven't had the chance to read the first book yet (Sheets) so I was a little worried I would not enjoy this one due to this. However this was not the case, there are so many topics covered within this graphic novel that I think it would be hard for anyone not to get something from it, don't get me wrong I do feel I would have had a better understanding of the back story of the sheet ghosts in the laundromat if I have had read the first (I will have to go back and find it and catch up). The story is very touching for quite a few characters and I really hope there will be another out as I don't feel we are done with the storyline yet! I really enjoyed the style including the colour palette and drawing style.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for allowing me the chance to dive into this one!

Oh, wow.

Ok, first of all, thank you to Netgalley and Oni Press for the opportunity to read and review an electronic galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, I still love the color scheme and illustration style for this series. It's absorbing. The storyline for this book felt so much more compelling to me--so much that I was sitting straight up in my chair scrolling through the pages there at the end to see what happened next, and I got little chills from how personally affecting some of the connections between the characters were. This book deals with bullying, and how it feels to be the "weird" kid, while still developing the themes of grief and coping from the first book in the series.

Highly recommend.

This graphic novel went above and beyond my expectations.

It deals with teens navigating through school, trying to make friends and stay true to themselves. But most importantly it teaches us to stand up for what's right, stand up to bullies and see life as it is despite our struggles: worth living.

The characters are deeply relatable and the art is really nice.

I might have cried a little... A couple of times. Or five.

First of all: adorable art style! It's a really great sequel which deals with bullying, grief, depression, suicidal toughts - so be aware. Glad to see some new characters and to see some of the old ones getting more attention. Just a really important reminder is IT'S OK TO ASK FOR HELP, so please.. do it if you need it.

Wonderfully moving graphic novel set in a middle school. Familiarity with the first book in the series is not necessary, but is helpful. TW: suicidal thoughts.

Delicates by Brenna Thummler is a superbly crafted graphic novel on grief, anxiety, and bullying.

Let’s get straight to the point, this was brilliant, I feel like I’ve not shut up about it since I finished it!

The colour palette Thummler opted to use was absolutely stunning, and the use of matte colours with a focus on blue, pink and purple hues creates such a warm and safe atmosphere which perfectly balances out the story. On a somewhat unrelated note, can I say that I want to own every outfit featured? Because I do.

I’ll be honest though, going into this I didn’t expect it to be so emotionally charged, and I certainly didn’t expect to cry whilst reading it, but it’s an emotional ride that you quickly become invested in. The book deals with bullying in a nuanced way and it explores how the most pain can come from the bystanders surrounding bullies, which is something that is rarely found in literature.

I would have liked to have seen more of an exploration of Marjorie’s father and his depression/coping mechanisms, but perhaps that will be explored in the next instalment.

I’d wholeheartedly recommend this if you’re able to handle the topics that it covers. TW for: suicidal thoughts, bullying, and grief.

This book is a sequel to Sheets but you can read it as a stand alone book as well. I do think you have a better understanding of Marjorie's connection to the ghost if you read the first book but it is not necessary. This book is fantastic. It is fun, engaging and deal with real complex topics in an accessible way for middle grades students. Marjorie is dealing with grief, wanting to fit in with her peers, her fathers depression and discovering what it means to do the right thing. Eliza's character really provides insight into why and how a young person might consider suicide and the implications of that. It shows a good example of how to reach out and get help from an adult if you know someone in that situation and that it is a situation not to be taken lightly. The book also uses actual ghost characters to explore what it feels like to be lonely, invisible and uninvited. The art in this book is also fantastic!

Sheets (Sheets #1) and Delicates (Sheets #2) by Brenna Thummler is a two book series, middle grade paranormal / ghosts graphic novel where we follow a 13 year old girl named Marjorie Glatt, who is handling her family laundry business after her mother passed away. Lives with her brother and father in a small town.

The story is very cute and heartwarming about a ghost Wendall who is a boy and has died at the mere age of 10 or 11. He feels he doesn't fit in the ghost world that's why he travels to the human world and finds his way to Marjorie's laundry. Wendall is really cute and his innocence is what draws the readers towards him.

In the first book we see Wendall helping Marjorie in her laundry and threatens a man who wants to buy her laundry and instead make a 5 star hotel there. The story overall is very simple but yet sometimes feel made me feel very heavy at heart because of her mother's loss and her father being depressed. So we saw Marjorie handling the whole house alone.

In the second book, Delicates we see Marjorie attending school and finding her self through it. She is not sure how people will react when they all see Wendall and her friends. In this book we see a lot more about ghosts which I liked, this was definitely better than the first book. The ending of the second book is predictable yet very beautiful to read and experience.

In the second book we also see Eliza, who is always very shy and nobody in her class talks to her. She wants to be a ghost photographer. She feels like a ghost in the human world. Wendall and Marjorie basically help her with her insecurities and they all end up having a their school ball dance themed as Sheets.

I practically binge read both the books in one go and enjoyed reading this light and cozy graphic novels. I liked the illustrations, its similar color scheme of pink and blue tones in book 1 was really good and totally my style. So if you're looking for some light and cozy reading, pick this one up.
______

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for sending me the eARC of #Delicates in exchange for a honest opinion.

Delicates by Brenna Thummler is the sequel to Sheets.
Marjorie is no longer alone, now dragged into friendship with the popular crowd Marjorie is seen, but still not seen. Her need to fit in and struggle to accept who she is and stand up for herself has her disappearing even in the crowd now, and her friendship with Wendell suffers for it. At the same time Eliza, a photographer that was held back in the eighth grade so now in Marjorie’s class, embraces the supernatural and her weird is openly shunned and she is feeling more and more like a ghost each day. Their lives clash and Marj learns what it means to fit in, be true to herself, and find friends that fit her.
***
Wow, wow, wow. This one was even harder to read than Sheets was. This story was emotionally tough, suicide is touched on here FYI. The word itself isn’t used but clearly that was where Eliza was heading. Eliza is in a rough emotional place and my heart ached for this weird girl who wanted to catch sight of ghosts and was so passionate and committed to it.
Also, whoever thinks that a happy conclusion to a story means a happily ever after period needs to read this. Just because things started to turn around for Marjorie at the end of Sheets doesn’t mean all her problems were fixed. She’s still aching at the loss of her mother, her father still really sucks at being a father although he’s making more of a commitment to do better, her brother Owen is still in pain over the loss of their mom, and Marjorie is a teenager and it’s such a rough age to be, trying to discover who you are and what you want.
Delicates was so good and emotional and I highly recommend it.
***
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher I was able to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love this one as much as I love the first book.
A heartfelt and dreamy story that will wrap you up like a hug :)
This is a story about friendship, about wanting to fit in, about finding your identity, and about being yourself.

The illustrations are filled with the same color as the first book and I adore the color pallete.

This second instalment from Brenna Thummler is wonderful. We join Marjorie and Wendell again, but now Marjorie has been accepted by the in crowd. She keeps Wendell a secret to avoid being thought of as a freak. Repeating a school year is Eliza, she’s already an outsider and as an avid ghost hunter she’s considered odd by the other kids. Marjorie has a dilemma now because she’s doing nothing to stop Eliza being bullied. Will Marjorie do the right thing, even if it means exposing her own secrets to another?

This is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel, continuing Marjorie’s story. The teenage themes of acceptance and anxiety as well as difficult issues such as bullying, anxiety and suicide are dealt with so well. A perfect story with an emotional and uplifting end. I love this book!

After enjoying simply everything about "Sheets", I was ecstatic when I learned that "Delicates" would be coming out soon. The artwork is even lovelier this time around; finely tuned to a nostalgic-ly moody and powerful story. Every emotional beat...from the quiet little "in-between" moments to the very end, feel perfectly captured. This is a story about growing up, finding true friendship, and loneliness. It's also an honest look at the various forms of grief that may haunt us even when our lives seem to be getting a bit brighter. With a delicate touch, Thummler highlights how vital it is that we not only identify our pain but perhaps even more importantly, find someone to safely share our pain with, as a first step towards healing. Perfect ending, I was in tears for the last several pages. Highly recommend this book to Middle Grade and up!

I received an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger warning to those who may be affected by themes of bullying and suicidal thoughts, these are themes within this graphic novel.

Delicates is poignant, heartfelt and filled with an important message.

I loved this one even more than I loved Sheets, it really hits home with it's underlying message of acceptance and tolerance. I could not put this down, it really hit home and left me feeling so much. I adored it from start to finish and I hope that we may be blessed with more stories in the future of Marjorie, Wendell and Eliza in the future.

<i> Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for the advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review </i>

Wow! I absolutely adored this little gem of a story. I didn’t know much about it going in, as I never read Sheets, the first volume, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. <b> Delicates </b> expertly explores the many faces loneliness wears in a quick, easy-to-digest, and cohesive narrative. The message is a razor-focused depiction of grief, bullying, and depression amongst youth and is 1000% the type of story that I wish I had when I was in middle school and experiencing many of the same emotions that Eliza did. I didn’t expect to be brought to tears as often as I was whilst reading - it’s SO emotional and powerful.

Depression and suicidal ideation are difficult topics to broach, ESPECIALLY for the intended audience and I feel like it was handled well. While I feel like there should have been some trigger warnings, Thummler handled the topic with grace and created an uplifting story that could genuinely save lives.

My absolute favorite thing about <B> Delicates </b>, however, was the unbelievably stunning artwork. The colors are vibrant and jaw-dropping. The characters’ emotions are drawn excellently and the ghosts are just so darn cute. I wanted to package Wendell up and keep him in my own bag. There was a lot of body and ethic diversity between the characters and they all felt like individual, instead of stock illustrations.

I was very impressed with <b> Delicates </b> and fully intend on picking up Sheets soon. I can foresee Brenna Thummler’s work becoming a must-read in the future! Definitely recommend!

This book was really, really great. I read the first book, Sheets, last year, and wasn't overly impressed. It felt too young and too silly for me to really take seriously. My expectations were just a bit too high. It's possible I lowered my expectations for this one, but I was absolutely blown away. I think rather the author has just gotten better at what she does. This was not just adorable and fun to read and experience, but gets deeper into the relationships of the characters, their emotions, and what drives them to do the things they do. The topics in Delicates are much more serious than in Sheets, and even as an adult, I could relate. It made me dive deep back into my memories into my middle school experience, and I can't say a lot of books have done that. It also illustrates how quickly situations can turn south, and how even your inactions can have an affect on another human being. Growing up is hard. Being a pre-teen is hard. Middle school/high school is hard, and I wish more than anything I could go back with the kind of knowledge about human interaction that I have today. I truly felt for all these characters throughout the whole story. This book just got it. I'm very impressed.