This graphic novel follows Leighton and Dylan as they spend their summer camp for troubled youth. Throughout the book, we get glimpses of how they met, experiences from their shared past, how they're spending time at the camp, as well as slowly learning what happened that they ended up there to begin with.

Art/Style:
The art in this is fantastic! Because we're working with present and past events, the art style changes slightly to differentiate between the time periods. The present time is in sharp and bold colors while the past is shown in what I would describe as the style of old photographs (still in color, but more muted and fuzzy). I think the one issue with the style in general I had was that Leighton and Dylan both occasionally have thought boxes that appear, there is a symbol to signify who is talking (roller skate for Leighton and a rocket ship for Dylan), though that wasn't immediately clear and the symbol only appears on the first of the series of boxes.

Characters:
There is a really good and diverse cast of characters in this book. We get to see some character background through the past portions of the book, especially the developing relationships between the characters. Even just seeing the different home lives of the characters was nice. When it comes to their time at the summer camp, we find (in my opinion) the best character: Cricket. Honestly, sign me up for a story all about Cricket, because talk about character. She is simultaneously unapologetic and caring, she lets her thoughts be heard, but she also goes out of her way to make sure that others are comfortable and happy.

Story:
Overall, the story itself left me wanting a bit more. Before you read this book, understand that you're not going to have the cutesy, all tied up in a little bow ending that you may be looking for. That's okay! I don't want to get too into it to avoid spoilers, however I felt left down by the motives of one of the characters in letting a relationship (or friendship) go. I understand boundaries and wanting people to respect who you are rather than expecting you to be who they want you to be, however some of this was compounded by the character imposing boundaries that they were told to put in place by others. To me, the ending and the "reveal" felt a little weird, and I think a little more space and time could have given a bit more to the characters to complete their arcs and more time to develop some of the other subplots (like with Leighton's family).

This book covers topics everyone should be more educated on! And I loved reading it! Sometimes we just don’t understand what we don’t know, and learning more about those things is the only way to go!

I really liked this book!!!! I am so happy to see LGBTQ+ representation like this to hopely make people feel more alive in their own skin. I am also happy to see aroace characters, I do wish that Leighton had a little more character development but other than that it was great.

just got a netgalley arc of this, and while it's not my first time reading something with the same undertones this felt blissfully new i loved everything about dylan because? They're adorable, but god their entire relationship with leighton hurts, it hurts so much because? How quickly friends you loved dearly turn into strangers, kind of. But? Unlikely alliances and all that jazz
AND THE ART STYLE WAS AMAZING it's just? Now i want a physical copy like right now. over all, a recommendation <3

I really loved this story! The art style is really pretty. I loved all the diversity and representation included in this graphic novel.

this graphic novel is a really good representation of a lot of friendships and relationships in life. [SPOILER] it’s sad, but most relationships don’t work out. some just are better off apart, even if they still love each other. [END] i spent a decent amount of the end of the book crying. it was an ending that i didn’t expect simply because it really deviates from what most books would push for, but it makes more sense, and i really appreciate the fact that it was realistic. it was a happy ending, don’t get me wrong, but it’s just more unexpected.

the representation is great. i’m glad that we had a non binary protagonist. usually, if there is a non binary character, they are the love interest and we don’t get their perspective, so i’m glad that dylan had a fair share of the graphic novel from their point of view. leighton was a great representation of asexual people. i’m glad that she didn’t change because of what others wanted of her. instead, she changed their minds and their thinking. i don’t like how [SPOILER] she let dylan take the blame and didn’t say anything afterwards about it [END], but other than that, i didn’t mind her character as much.

it’s a good graphic novel. i would definitely recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

I absolutely loved seeing some asexual representation! I loved the message of the story, the friendships that developed, and the artwork

I did not love how Leighton acted, nor (SPOILER) how she let Dylan take the fall.. seemed like the typical rich person, let's throw some money at it and get away with whatever.. (END)

The time jumping I thought was well done but I was confused at first, and it took me awhile to figure out whose inner dialogue was whose.

Recommend!

This is so sad, and so heartbreaking, and so good, all at the same time.
Dylan, who is nonbinary, and Leighton, who is ACE are friends. They even love each other, in their own way, but, of course, their love is forbidden. Not because of who they are, but who their parents are. Leigh’s parents are well to do, and don’t talk about having Black genes at all. Dylan’s mother is poor, works three jobs, and no one cares about what they do.

But, something that happens, something they did, made them get sent to rehabilitation camp. We don't find out what that *something* is until nearly the end of the book.

And all the while Leigh wants to be normal, and Dylan just wants to protect her.

And as sad as this all is, this is also dynamics of friendship and young adult relationships, and bullies, and all those things.

Oh, and the title of the book? Because they both pass notes desguised as paper airplanes.

I kept trying to wait until later to read it, I kept thinking I could read it in bits, but I read it all in one go, because I was so invested in what would happen, and I felt the heartache of them both.
<em>Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.</em>

Leighton and Dylan must go to a summer camp after an incident with a fellow classmate causes her to be hurt. Leighton's parents are rich. She plays tennis and does art secretly. Her mother refuses to acknowledge that she is half African American and will only associate with other rich people and expects Leighton to do the same. Dylan's mother works three jobs and struggles to support their family. They just want to make Leighton happy. Their friendship and entire relationship is put into question after the incident.

I really enjoyed this! The way that the story was set up with different time periods mixed in really gave it a lot of depth and helped to understand the perspectives of the characters a lot better.

Thank you Netgalley for sending me an advanced copy of paper planes by Jennie Wood in exchange for an honest review

Publication Date: 16 May 2023
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Dylan and Leighton have always been inseparable but in the aftermath of a tragic event, both of them are sent to a summer camp for troubled youth, where their friendship is put to the test.

i really loved the symbolism of paper planes all throughout this graphic novel, i thought it was super cute and a special way to show Dylan and Leighton’s friendship

Dylan and Leighton are both really great characters, i was drawn to Dylan a lot. i think both characters have characteristics that will draw people in.

the book definitely touches on prejudice and micro aggressions, especially towards Dylan and i think it does it in a very real way.

i loved Dylan and Leighton and they made me feel such a mix of emotions while i read this. i also really loved Cricket, she’s exactly the type of person i want to be and be around.

the progression of Dylan and Leighton’s friendship made such sense and while it’s a bittersweet story, i felt like it was the most real type of friendship.

overall, i really enjoyed this graphic novel, i loved the queer characters, the storyline the overall message of friendship and discovering yourself.