This comic conveys some relevant gender messages using a fantasy comic setting suitable for junior/middle school or younger secondary school age students. I wasn't completely sold on the style of illustration but I guess it was helpful in creating characters that were not visually aligned with one gender or another. I'm in two minds over the storyline as on one hand I feel the story was a bit disjointed and secondary to the messages. On the other hand, I appreciate that there will be some young people who will benefit from the information in a context that is simple and non-confrontational. I will probably buy this for our library as the format will suit those who struggle with chapter books.

I received this arc from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

So many trans stories focus on protagonists that have always known their gender. That's a good and important story to tell, but it's not everyone's story. From the moment Ash listed his pronouns as "he/him, I guess", I knew I'd hit on something special. Between that and Ash's desperate need to have the right answer about something as subjective as your personal identity, I saw my own story reflected in a way that I rarely do. This is the sort of adventure book I've loved since I was a child, but queerer and all the more delightful for it. This book could have been exactly what I needed in high school. I'm so glad the teenagers of today get to read it now.

[PLEASE SEE GOODREADS TO READ THIS REVIEW PROPERLY FORMATTED WITH EXAMPLE IMAGES]

I was so disappointed by this book! Easily what I was most excited to receive from NetGalley and what I am now saddest about. Admittedly this is making me want to take a break from NG because of this... run of disappointments.

The premise is fantastic: a boy is drawn into an all-girls world. What does that mean for 'him'? And what does it mean about our society? In general I love stories with gender-based magic being subverted in some way-- off the top of my head, I adore The Witch Boy and its later volumes. Gender-based magic is a GREAT way to mess with a binarist, fundamentalist idea of our gendered society.

And I'm glad to say that that aspect went off without many hitches. It's a little rushed-- I wish the book was that much longer, just because we could've used more scenarios where Ash is Suspiciously Okay With Being Seen As A Girl, but when she brings it up we can tell that it's been simmering beneath the surface for quite a while. So it's not just a case of magic 'knowing', but a case of Ash herself hiding the truth because it's hard to face. And the magic helps her face the fact that, really, she's known the whole time. It's a charming way of simplifying the journey many people take.

Unfortunately, there were many related issues. And now we will talk about those.

Firstly, this book has a case of the angry black woman. There are three kids in the GSA ('Pride Club') at Ash's school, and they're introduced through her getting her nails painted-- as a boy!!!! And this is how we meet not just the two friendly members, but one... slightly more intimidating character.

(spoiler for large images) (view spoiler)

This is Chloe. She later tells Ash off for using "you guys," saying it's sexist and introducing herself as a "feminist killjoy"-- a label she also wears on her jean jacket. You may notice that not only is she black, but she's the most butch of the three characters (though it must be said that the smallest, Junebug, is nonbinary.) Junebug is the kid who tells animals facts about themselves ("you're a cat. Did you know that about yourself?"), and Eleanor is the girl who checks in with Ash several times in the Magic Zone (plus chemistry!), Chloe... doesn't have much personality. Except possibly this:


(better quality)

And this:


(better quality)

So let's put it all together. In a school named Marsha P. Johnson Middle School (yes... really), we have three kids in the GSA. One is white and feminine, one is racially ambiguous and feminine (albeit nonbinary), and one is black and butch. The black butch girl is: mean, overly zealous in her social justice endeavors, aggressive, intimidating, grumpy, and 'tough'.

The letterer on this book is a black woman. I'm extremely hesitant to call this an openly racist move, given that the letterer is clearly (based on her website) focused on diverse books and... well, she is black, and I am white. (The author and illustrator are also white.) So instead I will say that this book does not exist in a vaccuum, and just as it was important to depict a white trans girl respectfully, it was also important to depict black butch girls respectfully. Unfortunately, this book failed to do so, and we live in a world where the white LGBT community has failed to treat LGBT people of color respectfully. The "Marsha P. Johnson" thing just feels like some kind of injoke in light of this.

If I can continue on this theme, the "all-female country" also needs to be handled with extreme care. I like most of the book's take on it-- that unfortunately, the country has been poisoned by the fear of men, which has generated conflict. This is the IDEAL take, in my opinion. We live in a world where roughly half of the population is men, and we must live peacefully together. Banning men is not an option, and dreaming of a utopian world without men is not just unrealistic but also harmful for many more complex reasons (eg what do you do if someone turns out a man anyway? are we going to pretend that white women haven't exerted racist forces against black men? how does this work with an accurate conception of gender?)

So I am happy that this was handled well... though I'm unhappy that Chloe's positions were not. Nobody ever speaks to Chloe about this. Of course, she's not a real person with real views-- she's a character written by a white woman. But the book proves that telling off 'boys' for getting their nails painted and making assumptions about them only drives them away. In the scene directly after that, Chloe asks-- seemingly seriously-- how it is that only three people come to Pride Club. And of course the reader thinks... well, you're a huge jerk! No wonder nobody wants to hang out with you!

(A pause to acknowledge, again, that they chose the one black character to be this jerk.)

Her claim about the phrase "you guys" only leads to an INCREDIBLY awkward and out of character insertion of "y'all" into Ash's speech. "You all" makes sense, but she... doesn't talk that way. It really stood out on the page, and it was obvious what she would have said if the author hadn't realized "oh shit I just banned all uses of the word 'you guys'." I'm not even going to get into how this can lead to AAVE-related issues, because, again, I'm white.


(better quality)

In the end, the book feels oversimplified. These are such major issues, and they're barely touched upon. Obviously we don't need a ten-page spread on why "you guys" is not inherently sexist, but... you know, why bring it up? Why not have Chloe be a full-fledged character who may have trauma with sexist men that she needs to work through? Why not focus on that conflict between her and Ash, who become friends and each change each other for the better? That doesn't have to be relegated to the world of adult books.

I have also read Lumberjanes, and so I know this is possible. You can handle these things in a subtle and tasteful manner. The darkest-skinned character doesn't also have to be the meanest. This book is middle-grade, yes, but many middle-grade graphic novels are fundamentally satisfying and handle social issues well. This... and imagine here I'm sighing really, really loudly in frustration and despair at wanting to like this book SO MUCH... is not one of them.

Okay now that I've discussed the story I want to... show you the art.

It's kind of weird.

I've read graphic novels like this before-- graphic novels where you can tell that the artist is okay at art, and oftentimes even talented, but they have no grasp on proportions. This was one of those cases-- it often felt like the artist was drawing them 2D every time. You couldn't imagine a seamless, 3D face for the characters because they were drawn so strangely every time. I've compiled a... collection of heads? for your consideration here, so you can see what I'm talking about.



Facial shapes melting, backs of skulls way too small... there are clearly issues with the art that mark it as missing crucial proportion study. I feel bad saying this because I'm no artist, but this isn't a sketchbook-- it's a published graphic novel that I read and am reviewing. And this is not nearly up to par for a professional graphic novel. It will not hold up against the other offerings of the market.

So I wasn't even able to give a star to the art, which I can normally do in cases like these! AUGH! The one bonus star is a combo of premise and worldbuilding... it was a great idea; I'm just sad to say it wasn't executed well enough for me to either read it again or recommend it to others. Ultimately, I hope this book can at least pave the way for better ones.

Great young ya graphic novel. Action, adventure, feelings, coming out to yourself, LGBTQ+ rep... just really excellent.

Ash has been struggling with a lot, including the disappearance of their mum and questioning their gender identity (AMAB protag who comes out as trans girl during story). When Ash and friends get swept into a fictional world - one Ash finds was created by her mother, a "girl haven" made for only girls - adventure ensues as the friends must complete a quest to free Girl Haven's captured queen from the "scourge" and restore balance.

Girl Haven is about a girl— standing in front of her friends, dad, and not-so-imaginary-after-all animals in another world— asking them to love her and understand that the gender assigned to her by her body does not actively reflect who she is... and also maybe answer some questions about her missing mom?!

I can’t really say if I liked or not this story.in fact, I liked the friendship between all this girls, the questionning about gender and the representation of a genderfluid character.
But I wasn’t totally IN the story. And, to be honest, I didn’t really like the design, it was too flat, not enought volume and shades for me. I had the impression the coloring wasn’t totally finished. I think it’s a style but it’s not my cup of tea.

Girl Haven follows the story of Ash, who is struggling to come to terms with their own gender identity. The story is informative and well-researched on the subject of LGBTQIA+ issues and spaces. The characters feel like real people and their motivations always seem believable. The entire graphic novel has a sense of authenticity and feels like a genuine portrayal of someone trying to figure out who they are. If you are well-informed and active in the LGBTQIA+ community, you may find the story to be lackluster as it may not teach you anything you didn’t already know. However, this story feels like a great introduction to learning more about gender and sexual orientation for someone who is seeking information.
The art style is colorful and bright and the characters are all well-drawn. The bubbly art-style isn’t particularly my favorite, but I think that it suits the narrative. The only issue I take with the graphic novel is that Chloe in particular is presented as very combative and aggressive and her attitude never seems to resolve. Calling out people for their choice in nail polish or making people feel shitty because of their masculine presentation is not something I would want or expect from a member of a Pride Club. Seeing as how Chloe is the only Black character, I found it a bit disappointing and her character seemed othering.

Girl Haven was so beautiful on so many levels. The art, the story, the very important questions and answers that came. heck. I even shed a few tears - because of sadness but also of happiness. I felt so much for Ash and was so proud of her. I really hope there will be more of these characters. This was just so damn moving, it is hard to find words. I read it in one sitting!

Yes!!! Love the artwork and the writing style. I also really actually loved the characters and I think that was the best part of the story. The weakest I think would be the plot but I’m sure that was just me personally.

This is a Graphic Novel about a world completely for girls.

The plot was fun and cute but with very deep and emotional points. It has a very clear message about Gender, Identity and Sexuality. It’s a book definitely needed in society today.
The story was full of twists and took turns I definitely wasn’t expecting.

The art style flowed nicely and matched the story perfectly. It was beautiful and full of colour, very girl associated colours, to emphasize it was a girls’ world.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to purchase a finished copy and to share with everyone I know. It holds a message that most need to listen to or at least be reminded of.

5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for an eARC of this title.

I adored this graphic novel! It was diverse and cute and so heartwarming. It was definitely a bit short, but I loved so much about it. For one, I really enjoyed the art style. It was colourful and soft and all the characters were unique.

I also really liked the characters and story. The main characters are all unique and different. They have a great friend dynamic and are caring and loyal. I also really enjoyed that all the characters are at different points of self-discovery.

I absolutely loved the topic of identity and self acceptance within this book. I think this would be a really great book for all age groups. I am absolutely going to be looking out for more within this series (if it’s going to be a series).

Rating: 4/5 stars

Girl Haven is a fun fantasy adventure about finding your identity and being comfortable with yourself.

Asher and their friends get transported to a magical land that Asher had originally thought to be made up by their mother. The gang sets off on a journey to save the world and discover themselves.

This was a really fun story. It really is a great way to teach kids about gender identity and what that means to each person. I really enjoyed Asher’s journey towards self discovery. It teaches us that it’s okay to question yourself and change your mind. And that you should be loved no matter who you are.

The fantasy world is fun too. Something younger kids would like. I really liked the bunny warriors!

This book has major Lumberjanes x Adventure Time vibes, and I love it! I loved the way this book talks about gender identity. Ash, our main character, is a trans girl learning her identity while navigating a world her mother made. Koretris was a fantasy world created by a child, and I love how it showed the dreams and fears of kids minds. Ash's development was done so well, and I loved how she opened up and became a hero after realizing she is a girl and being who she truly was.

I did have one issue with this book and that was the treatment of boys in this very binary fantasy world. The big enemy in this book is masculinity, and while I hate toxic masculinity, I don't like how boys as a whole were the enemy in this book. I think this book had a great opportunity to talk about toxic masculinity and show boys that are gay, trans, and gender nonconforming. I'm a lil disappointed in how that was handled

As for the art, I loved the style! The lines and colors fit the story perfectly! And I love how the world and setting was depicted art wise

(I received an ARC from Oni Press, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review! Thanks to both for trusting me with 'Girl Haven')

Trans Remembrance Day having been just yesterday, I thought that it was the perfect moment to read and review 'Girl Haven'. In this graphic novel we follow Ash, a teenager who feels like he doesn't quite fit in... Until he meets Junebug, Chloe, and Eleanor, who make up the Pride club at their school. Queer and proud, Eleanor becomes an instant crush of Ash, who can't help wondering whether he may, or may not, belong in the Pride club for more solid reasons than mere allyship... Something that he's going to determine soon. When Ash invites the club over to his house, they end up in a magical world called Koretris, which is place to women exclusively. As a "Girl Haven", Koretris would never let boys in... So what is Ash doing there? As the Pride club rushes to save Koretris from a threat unilke any other, he will have to discover his truth--and face it head-on.

How can I explain what I felt? My feelings about this title are... Mixed. Complicated. All over the place.

On the one hand, I really liked the concept. This is a really original way to explore gender identity, and I liked how the struggle that trans* can be was expressed through Ash. The land of Koretris was quite whimsical, too, with talking rabbits and beautiful Queens, and I enjoyed the lore.

But, on the other hand, some things quite bothered me. First of all: Chloe, who is the impersonation of the 'Black angry butch lesbian' stereotype. She's really rude to Ash sometimes, and under the excuse of being a feminist, she pulls some discourses that don't even make sense. "You guys" is the trigger for a discourse on how Ash is sexist for his choice of words, for example. Not only that; she's constantly snapping at everyone, and tries to impose her ideas and beliefs instead of listening to her friends. She was a character that I instantly disliked, and I don't think that's a very positive portrayal of anything. It shows how, nowadays, feminism has become a movement fueled by anger.

Then there's the treatment of men throughout the story. Call me crazy, but I don't think that, in order to empower women, you need to degradate men. While Koretris per se is amazing, and I don't have any problem with the premise that it's a land for women only, I didn't like how the boys were portrayed once they appeared. And I particularly didn't like how 'masculinity' was the big enemy that Ash had to defeat. Why is every LGBTQ+ and gender-affirming story so bent on making your typical, average boys and men look like terrible beings? Not only do I not get it--it bothers me. Diversity shouldn't demand that we exclude anyone, and cishet men are pretty much so.

As for the art, I loved the drawing style. It was quite tender, and the colours were so warm, they felt like a hug.

If there was another volume of "Girl Haven", I would maybe read it to see if these things have been fixed. However, I don't think it would be among my most anticipated GN sequels.

There is a serious need more LGBTQIA+ children's stories, so this novel is super valuable! A very sweet, fun and poignant story about identify and being your true self. The message of this book can be summarised by this wonderful line from the story; "What folly to think that the complete works of humanity would fit on two selves".
Loved it, and highly recommend for anyone looking for an easy to digest story on gender identity.

This was wonderful queer comic about a trans girl whisked away to a fantasy world her late mother created with her friends from the LGBT+ group at school. There she discovers her identity and what really happened to her mother. I really enjoyed the plot and the world but I would have liked for the characters to be fleshed out a little more. I just wanted to know more about all of them, especially the angry black lesbian because what was shown of her character felt like a bad stereotype.

Girl Haven is a great LGBTQ+ fantasy graphic novel. It follows Ash as they and their new friends travel to a world that his mom created with her imagination. A land that is a Haven for Girls but it's in danger and Ash is the only one who can save them. With the help of their friends Ash is able to save the land and discover who they really are in their heart.

Girl Haven start off with a lovely author preface that this is one person's journey and that everyone journey is different and their own. I loved not only the diverse representation in this little but the stress and importance of pronouns acceptance and fluidity. The theme that no one can tell you what your gender is, only you can by listening to your heart.

However, I did feel like the story was a bit choppy at times and there were one of two parts that didn't seem to flow.

In the end , I think this was a great middle grade graphic novel that explores gender identity.

This was my first LGBTQ+ book and it was interesting for sure. I loved the idea of the story with the created world and all the animals that speak. This is a fantastic book to have in libraries for those kids wondering, and even for adults that want to bond with someone in understanding. I personally have a hard time with the pronouns changing so this was helpful to read it and really think about it.

3.5
This was a sweet story that takes on gender, sexism, sexuality and belonging in a fun and accessible way. The artwork wasn't really for me but it was colourful, cheerful and matches the story (though a couple of those bunnies looked kinda sinister).
I felt the butch, "feminist killjoy" character was a bit stereotype-y especially in the beginning. The story was pretty basic, it's more character focused than plot driven. The ending was a bit cheesy but this aimed at a younger audience than me.
Overall this is a great little graphic novel for kids to learn about LGBTQIA+ identity and themes.

I read this with my 7-year-old twins after they selected the graphic novel from the cover. They really enjoyed the story and the illustrations and it opened up discussion and gave them a greater understanding of gender and identity. This was done in a clever way with the fantasy world of Koretis and we'd recommend it!