Big Mushy Happy Lump (Sarah's Scribbles Collection #2) / Sarah Andersen / 128 pgs

This is the follow up to Sarah's first compilation of her online comic,Sarah's Scribbles. Her first book is Adulthood is a Myth. Sarah writes from the perspective of a millennial who has anxiety issues, self-esteem issues, but also loves her boyfriend, her boyfriend's comfy clothes, and reading. Half of the stuff I can completely related to like the evilness of high heel shoes and the desire to be comfortable conflicting with the desire to look pretty. I also can relate to being cheap on everything but books (or cross stitch supplies in my case). Other things I don't relate to as well, but I know people who are like Sarah's character, so her comics help me to better relate to them. I completely recommend picking this up for a quick, fun read.

Adulthood is a Myth: A "Sarah's Scribbles" Collection / Sarah Andersen / 109 pgs

Sarah's Scribbles are just that, a lot of fun, funny, and so-true-it-hurts scribbles about her daily challenges is a young adult. The main character, who I assume is Sarah, is introverted, and painfully self-aware. She struggles with the difficulty of speaking in public, of loving your body (hairy legs and all), with connecting with me, and with trying to be professional and put-together when all she wants to do is wear ratty sweaters, curl up in blankets, and read.  She is me. I'm only sad that my favorite of Sarah Andersen's strips did not make it into this book, but I hope it makes it into the next one. Here it is below:

All New X-Men (vol. 2): Here to Stay / Brian Bendis / 136 pgs

The original five X-men (Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Iceman, Angel & Beast) have been time warped from the past and brought into the present.  This series focuses on how these young, idealist fledglings react to their future selves and possible outcomes, which may not be the futures they had dreamed for themselves. 

Yeah, this outfit is
TOTALLY, not
Ridiculous!!!

I did not realize that this was volume 2 in the series so I was a little lost as to how the five had been transported to the future and why.  I also don't normally read superhero comics so I don't have much background information on the storylines and characters.  Therefore, I felt like I was probably missing out on some in-jokes or plotlines that I should already know.  Even still, this was an enjoyable read with plenty of interesting characters to fill several graphic novels with side stories.  My only complaint with the artwork is that once again the women are all wearing skin tight suits that look like they are painted on, and some of the outfits are so bizarrely cut that either a) they were designed and drawn by men who do not understand the laws of physics or b) I can only assume that the outfit is being held up by very fake shelf-like boobs.  ...and you wonder why women hate comics. 

Until She Comes Home/Lori Roy/338 pages

A lot is changing on Alder Avenue in Detroit, 1958, and it's not just that Grace is having a baby. The working class white neighborhood is changing with new neighbors moving in, men losing their jobs at the local factory, and vandalism becoming a daily occurrence. The recent murder of a black woman near the factory where their husbands work put on the women on edge, but then the disappearance of Elizabeth, a young woman with a child's mind, pushes everyone over the edge.

There's a lot going on in this novel of secrets and lies in suburbia. Most of it is tied up in the end, and overall, it's an engrossing book.

Ready Player One / Ernest Cline / 374 pgs.

"It's the year 2044, and the real world is an ugly place. Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes his grim surroundings by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS--a sprawling virtual utopia that lets you be anything you want to be. Wade dreams of being the one to discover the ultimate lottery ticket that lies concealed within this virtual world. OASIS creator James Halliday has hidden a series of fiendish puzzles that will yield massive fortune--and remarkable power--to whoever can unlock them. ... And then, Wade stumbles upon the first puzzle"--Container.

I Loved...LOVED this book!  It's as Nerdy as it gets, and with the Audio version being read by Wil Wheaton I was in fanboy Nirvana!  If you remember the 80's or enjoy gamer culture then you will "get" the inside jokes and references laced throughout the book. If you don't like long-winded, back and forth descriptions of the intricacies of limited edition DVD releases of some cult B movie; then you may want to pass on this book. For the rest of you, GAME ON!

Kevin Keller / Dan Parent / 138 pgs.

I'm not really a fan of Archie Comics, but I heard that they created an openly gay character to (as Veronica writer Dan Parent said) "show that Riverdale is in the 21st century." ^[1]

So expecting wide-sweeping stereotypes and corny after school special dialog; I found myself pleasantly surprised.  This graphic novel contains 6 issues of Archie comics which shows Kevin's introduction to the characters at Riverdale High School.  The stories are about making new friends while still maintaining old friendships, school bulling, Kevin's "coming out" story, and his life goal of serving in the military. 

The Snow Empress / Laura Joh Rowland / 293 pgs. / Asia

It is 1699 and in the northern-most region of Japan on the island of Ezogashima the mistress of a powerful, but crazed ruler is murdered.  In order to "persuade" famous detective Sano Ichiro to investigate the crime, Sano's son is kidnapped and held hostage.  It is a race against time as Sano, his wife Reiko, and his band of loyal detectives to uncover the murder without boiling over the tensions that are already bubbling in the region. 

This is book # 12 in Rowland's 17th Century feudal Japan mystery series featuring Samurai and detective, Sano Ichiro.  Even though I have not read any of the other titles in the series I was still able to jump right in and enjoy the story.  It is a great "who-done-it" mystery, with the added bonus that the detective work is based more on guesswork and interviewing the suspects instead of hard forensic evidence.

Marvel Her-oes (vol. 1) / Grace Randolph / 110 pgs.

This is another superhero spin-off comic that I can get into.  This short series (only 4 issues) focuses on three teen girls, Janet Van Dyne (aka The Wasp), Jenny Walters (The She-Hulk), and Namora (An Atlantean).  They are living in a normal, small town going to a regular high school, but are coming into their superpowers and are pressured by their families to keep it a secret.  There are other "angsty" teen superhero series out there like Teen Titans, Spider-man loves Mary Jane, Hero High, and others; but this one features female characters!!  Personally, I think there needs to be more comics that focus on the female superheros (other than Birds of Prey).  Sadly, it looks like this was it for this series; because I could not find anything on the Net that indicated that there would be more issues published.  *Boo!!!*

Star Trek Voyager: Encounters with the Unknown / 208 pages

This comic book is a compilation of four different Star Trek Voyager comics, each with different authors. I found it very enjoyable. I haven't read a comic book before (pretty sad, I know...) and I thought it was easy to read and fun as well. The stories were interesting enought to keep my attention, and I read it all in a weekend. Being based on my favorite Star Trek series helped, as well. False colors / Nathan Archer -- Avalon rising / Janine Ellen Young & Doselle Young -- Elite force / Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning -- Planet killer / Kristine Kathryn Rusch and Dean Wesley Smith.

A Season of Gifts / Richard Peck / 164 pages

This book is a companion book to "A Year Down Yonder" and is a Christmas book as all the stories lead up to the Christmas finale. The story is about the indomitable Mrs. Dowdell, an old woman who can wield an axe, shoot her shotgun, can food, and everything else. This is the story about how she helps the new family next door as well as the whole town. It isn't as good as the first book, but all the incidents are interesting and amusing. I think the reader should read the other book first.

Richard Peck captures 1958 pretty well and it is set in a rural Illinois town. I think an older child would get more out of this book. Actually, I think seniors would quite enjoy this as well since they remember 1958.

Crossed / Ally Condie / 367p

 In this sequel to Matched, we find Ky fighting and Cassia farming in different areas of the Outer Provinces.  Ky is just trying to survive while Cassia is biding her time to escape and look for Ky.  Cassia and Ky both make a run for it (both with a new friend in tow) and eventually meet up.  But are Ky's and Cassia's plans the same?  And what is the secret about Xander that only Ky knows?  An excellent follow up to the original story - it keeps you on the edge of your seat just like the first and will make you anxiously await the third installment!  Give to fans of, of course, Matched.  But introduce the series to fans of any dystopian literature.  (It's like a less violent Hunger Games.)