Very quick and fun read! The characters are really likable, the story was great and Dana is pretty awesome. I absolutely loved this and would love to read more by Anya Davidson! 5/5 🌟

Night and Dana is the story of the pressures and changes high school seniors go through. What sets this graphic novel apart is the unique interests of the main character and her friends.: film making, horror makeup, magic, and environmental activism. Dana’s struggles will be relatable and interesting to YA readers. Using an old-fashioned comic book-style is a great stylistic choice to emphasize the main characters’ love for old horror movies and the focus of their short films.

The art and the color palette lends itself to the story of Dana, a high schooler whose extracurricular effects makeup work lands her in deep trouble. Things only come to a head when she and her friend Lily attend a filmmaking class and fissures begin to form.

I really loved this book. It’s a classic senior-crisis coming of age plot but the details are unique and the characters feel real, particularly Dana herself. The horror obsession comes from a place of love rather than treating it as some item off the quirky outsider checklist.

There are so many important themes addressed in this graphic novel. This is definitely a text that high school students should read.

Welcome Back,

This has been such a busy week. I honestly feel like it’s flying by me. But I am still trying to make time for reading. I am listening to a pretty good audiobook at the moment, have picked up an E-ARC on Kindle and after I finished this graphic novel E-ARC, I picked up another right away! (There are so many good books out there to read)! Night and Dana is an E-ARC graphic novel I picked up one night when I wanted to read something before falling asleep. (Thank you so much to the publisher for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions). So without further ado, let’s talk about Night and Dana.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Dana lives in a very small town in Florida and she can not wait to get out and see the rest of the world. Dana is nearly to her chance to leave as she has applied to go to NYU! She is pretty confident she could get in. Dana’s best friend and herself run a social media channel that is pretty successful and both have a filmmaking passion. But one of their films goes a bit too far on their high school campus and lands them with an ultimatum. Have to take a local community college film class every Saturday and pass or be expelled. The pair of friends pick the class but can they pass with their friendship intact?

I enjoyed my time with this graphic novel. I loved the art style and I thought getting to read about Dana’s journey was interesting. During her story Dana experiences something many of us have, ending high school and the friendship and life choices that come with that. I highly recommend this graphic novel. It comes out on September 5th, 2023!

Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars

***Thank you so much to the publisher for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

Thank you to both NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!!

I really enjoyed the messaging in the story, how change is scary but not always the worst thing. The art style was unique and fun. This comic was very enjoyable overall :)

A coming-of-age YA graphic novel that deals with friends growing apart, climate activism & had great non-binary & queer rep. Fans of Jeff Zentner’s Rayne & Delilah’s Midnite Matinee will love this one too!

Out 9/13

Night and Dana was a fun read. Retro style artwork was cool. Unique story that I think many young comic book fans will enjoy.

After pulling a prank for their horror YouTube channel, two friends have to take a college summer class that ironically helps them with their channel. Is there friendship strong enough to survive another friend added to their close circle? The main plot focuses on the dynamics of friendship. A few subplots leave you wanting more.

The artwork has a nostalgic flair which compliments the theme.

I enjoyed this friendship driven comic about teen horror film makers living in Florida wanting to escape but loving how weird everyone is. The drawing style made every page worth staring at for longer — retro but in a modern way. I would recommend this to the teen and adults that are looking for something and need a little inspiration from badass (and messy) characters.

Night and Dana, wasn’t really my cup of tea. The art style and story were okay; just not really for me.

This was a truly good coming of age story. I think our narrator, Dana, perfectly captured what it means to be a 17 year old girl. From trouble with school, friends, parents, and boys to accepting that life doesn’t always go the way you thought it would, this graphic novel really reminds me of that awkward period my senior year in high school where I wasn’t quite an adult yet, but i was grasping at whatever i could to feel like it, when you start to feel like your life is going out of control until you find your next step. Overall, I think this graphic novel is great for anyone struggling to find that next step or just wants to be reminded of how far away it all is from you now. Also, I didn’t mention this enough, but the art style was beautiful and unique!!!

This is my honest opinion as a thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.

Night and Dana is another wonderful graphic novel exploration from Anya Davidson. I recommend this author/artist’s creative work — ideal for readers looking for compelling graphic novels.

i really enjoyed this graphic novel about horror filmmaking teenagers who are also trying to draw attraction to climate change through that, i feel like the subject was truly unique and fun. the graphic novel follows lily and dana, two seniors who get into some trouble after pulling a prank including horror makeup and therefore have to do a community college on filmmaking in order to graduate from high school. they decide to make a horror short-film about the red tide, which is an event caused by climate change in their town.
i liked that their friendships and relationships in general were really messy, i truly feel like it added to the relatability, it was one of the aspects i liked the most about it! another thing i liked was that despite most of the story being told through dialogue (since its a graphic novel), there were some parts where the readers got to see danas thoughts and feelings through the short sentences included throughout.
i absolutely loved the characters and how messy and complex each of them were! daphne was definitely my favorite, i aspire to be as cool as her lmao. i did also love dana!
when it comes to the art style, sadly i cannot really say the same. i know many people have and will love it but i just feel like it personally didnt really work for me most of the time, though there were also some panels i absolutely loved.
overall a good graphic novel and i would recommend this!! thank you to the publisher lerner publishing group and netgalley for providing me with a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the illustrative style of this graphic novel. I don't know why but I felt very strong echoes of Dan Clowes' Ghost World while reading this. Cute story, very appropriate for young adults, but the story isn't too young that adults wouldn't also enjoy it. I will definitely be suggesting this to our young adult staff. Also, loved the queer representation!

Loved Dana even when she was being an asshole. And she was throwing that cat like a real city girl. Loved the acknowledgment of the hazard of global warming and it’s effects on islands and beaches (red tide) loved every moment of this book.

I really liked Night and Dana. The story touches on friendship, eco activism and best of all, horror make-up. The artwork is very retro - in a good way! The color palette is nice throughout and the font isn't distracting. Thank you NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy of the book for an honest review.

“Real life doesn’t follow a three act structure. It meanders like a stream, or spirals like a snail’s shell. Sometimes things get broken that can never be fixed. And sometimes what seems like the end is just the beginning.”

Night and Dana was an interesting adventure! It’s Dana’s senior year. She and her best friend Lily love playing pranks that involve depicting gruesome injuries on Youtube. This lands them both in trouble, and they are told to find a new creative outlet or be expelled from school.

Dana and Lily decide to take film classes at the local community college - and conflict quickly blooms in the guise of new friendships, creative tensions and disagreements.

I liked watching Dana evolve and grow. It was hard, rough and painful - as most changes are. I was proud of Dana for finding something she really enjoys and was passionate about. Something they discovered for themselves.

Most of all, I LOVED this art style, this color scheme. It’s very nostalgic horror, brings me comfort. Loved this art style so much.

An excellent read, would totally recommend.

Night and Dana by Anya Davidson is a graphic novel that follows the story of Dana Drucker, a teenager living in a Florida beach town. Dana and her best friend Lily get into trouble with a prank that attracts unwanted attention, jeopardizing their chances of graduating from high school. In order to salvage their education, they join a community college film class and start working on a horror movie inspired by local ocean warming. Along the way, Dana encounters Daphne Ocean, an activist and self-proclaimed water witch, who becomes a source of inspiration for her. However, as the filming progresses, Dana finds herself growing apart from Lily and facing challenges in her relationships and artistic journey.

One of the strengths of Night and Dana is its unique story that tackles themes of creativity, friendship, and the impact of climate change. The artwork has a nostalgic feel, adding depth to the narrative. The inclusion of queer and non-binary representation is commendable and adds diversity to the story.

The graphic novel touches upon climate activism, shedding light on the urgent issue of environmental change. It realistically portrays Dana's journey, showing that achieving dreams and finding one's voice doesn't come easily or magically.

However, there are some aspects that may hinder readers' enjoyment. The art style and color scheme may not resonate with everyone, making it challenging to fully engage with the story. Additionally, the presence of numerous subplots that feel underdeveloped and not properly explored can detract from the overall reading experience. For some readers, these factors may make it difficult to maintain focus, resulting in a potential lack of engagement.

Overall, Night and Dana offers a creative coming-of-age story with a climate change backdrop. It showcases the struggles of young artists and their relationships in a world facing environmental challenges. While the art style and subplots may not appeal to everyone, the graphic novel presents important themes and representation. Readers looking for a thought-provoking exploration of art, friendship, and environmental consciousness will find elements to appreciate in Night and Dana.
2.3 rounded down to 2/5.

This was actually pretty good!

It's about two girls growing up, or one girl really and her best friend, and just going through life. Romance sparks between her best friend and another girl, while the main lead begins to feel for another one of her friends. It's the slice of life stuff I really enjoy mixed with the making movies and movie props info I never knew about. The art is a little rough at times, but the style it's going for it makes sense.

A 3.5 out of 5, I'll bump it to a 4 for Goodreads. Thanks Netgallery for an advance copy!