Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 5 Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.Snug Harbor Stories: A Wallace the Brave Collection by Will Henry. Wallace is delightful little book that’s sure to please kids looking for a fun, character-driven comic. The only weird thing was that the map looked unfinished, but that’s probably just because I have an advance copy. All seemed fitting for the story, and it was a nice little touch I think kids will enjoy. I also liked the little details included at the end of the book: a map of Snug Harbor (the setting of the book,) instructions for organizing a beach cleanup, making a nature crown, and taking care of a pet caterpillar. I’m telling you, I was howling with laughter, and I know my little siblings will be too.

I know I’ve already said this, but I’m gonna say it again: this book is hilarious! Like the laugh-out-loud kind of funny. I also appreciated that one of the two friends is a girl-I feel like a lot of these types of comics are directed towards boys and don’t have girl characters who are central to the book (aside from a mom, and maybe a crush.) If we could get a good comic with a funny girl protagonist, that would be even better, but this is a start! (If you have any recs of middle grade/ya comic with female protagonists, please drop me a comment!) All three of the characters have very distinctive personalities, and they’re all hilarious. Wallace the Brave follows the adventures of (you guessed it!) a kid named Wallace, who gets into loads of mischief with his friends Spud and Amelia. It’s really a collection of comic strips that follow the protagonist Wallace’s adventures, rather than a graphic novel with a story arc. Like I mentioned above, Wallace the Brave doesn’t really have much plot, but that’s just the type of book it it. It’s the kind of graphic novel you take out when you want to laugh. It’s definitely a very light, funny read-there isn’t a whole lot of plot, but I’m okay with that, really. I’m sure some older teens and adults would find it too juvenile, but I found it very entertaining, so I think it just depends on your reading preferences. Wallace the Brave is such an adorable little book! I think its target audience is around 8-12 (I am positive my 9- and 11-year old brothers will find it hilarious), but I’m a teenager and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Wallace the Brave by Will Henry