Haru

Haru is a nice mixture of buddy story, coming of age, whimsical and truly creepy.
I found myself stopping to keep my work partner updated on what was happening, which is not normal for me. In this first volume, our heroes have already been in mortal peril multiple times, and even though this is just the first of four (I believe) books, I wasn't always sure they were going to survive. I'm talking big time peril.
This is a fun and exciting read. The artwork is very nice, and the character development is slow but rewarding.
I look forward to reading the remaining stories in this series.

Haru is a hauntingly beautiful coming of age story of a little bird who finds light in the darkest of places.

I absolutely adored this graphic novel! It's a light and adventurous story of finding one's strength and confidence in a world that has always been cruel. However, Haru is not alone and I love the emphasis of this in their best friend Yama, who is always by their side. And even though the story does get a bit dark, there is hope and the promise of getting through whatever life throws their way.

The story ends in a cliffhanger and I'm going to need the next book STAT. I need to know what happens next to Haru, Yama, Goose, and Herb!

Haru is an adorable coming-of-age graphic novel. I enjoyed the full-color artwork and the way the palate is used to reflect mood. There are a few multi-page landscape scenes that were stunning. Our main cast of characters were instantly loveable (especially Herb) and they clearly developed throughout the novel. The stakes were high, and the pace was fast enough to keep middle-grade readers engaged. Overall, Haru is a fast-paced, heartwarming read, and I'm looking forward to the next installment.