Cover Image: Delicates

Delicates

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Member Reviews

Majorie and Wendall are back at it for a sequel about fitting in to the popular crowd and being on the outside.

I love the world building of this world where ghosts can only be seen if they were a sheet, so all ghosts are sheet ghosts so that they won’t be invisible. I also like how is explored how living people can also feel invisible.

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First of all, I absolutely love this series. It's visually stunning, the characters are relatable and well-developed and the stories told are poignant in a quiet way. Delicates is a great sequel to Sheets and shows Marjorie's life become more complicated as she navigates new friendships that strain existing ones. It's a lovely story of figuring out who you are and what your priorities are in life and making space for the people you care about. It's told really well and again, the artwork is incredible. I love the colour palette that has been used across the series. Overall, the entire Sheets series is worth a read and highly recommended.

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Words are not enough to express how much deeper and more impactful this second volume was compared to the first.
Through the drawings and especially the colors, the author gives voice to an important theme that is much better represented here compared to the first volume. I appreciated that the change of protagonist allowed for the exploration of other topics concerning adolescents. What I appreciate most is how the character of Marjorie remains incomplete, as she has not yet achieved her goals. This highlights how every person makes mistakes, even when they believe they are doing good deeds.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read the ebook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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That was cute. I think I preferred this one to the first volume. I had trouble initially, even if I read volume one not so long ago. I felt like something was missing. But as time, and pages, passed, I could not put it down. The last part was so great.
I like seeing the characters' development, and honestly, I kind of understood Marjorie. She just wants friends and to fit in with other teens, so she just lets herself be someone else.
But the best characters are Wendell (obviously), and Eliza. I love their bond, the time they spend together, and just their stories. To be honest, I think I would have loved this volume a lot more, of the focus had been 100% on them.
So yeah, it's a good book, emotional at the end. I think my biggest ick in this one is how easily they forgive the bully.

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THIS HIT. Wow, Thummler has this wonderful ability to take sad, heavy, heartbreaking moments in life and turn them into powerful stories of overcoming and hope. It’s no surprise that I was in tears by the end of this story. As wonderful as SHEETS is, I think Delicates outshines it in story, art, and so much heart.

Set in the same world as SHEETS, we are reunited with Marjorie, Wendell, and the ghost gang one year following the events of the first book in this series. Thummler does an excellent job of capturing what it’s like to be a teenager in middle school (although this could also apply to high school). Marjorie has somehow found her way in with the “popular group” and we follow along as she struggles to feel comfortable with Tessi and her bullying friends while balancing being who she is with Wendell and showing kindness to Eliza. She wants so badly to be seen as cool, especially in front of her crush, and it takes a while for her to recognise how the tables have turned; though she no longer feels invisible, being on the other side doesn’t feel good when it comes at the price of someone else’s well being. We get a satisfying full-circle moment as Marjorie acknowledges the consequences of her actions or lack thereof, and shows that she does know how to be a good friend, a good sister and in general, a good egg.

With the additional introduction of Eliza’s character, the author really gets to the heart of bullying, belonging, loneliness and grief and she captures the emotions and human experience so well. Eliza’s the daughter of the quirky teacher, Mr. Duncan. She’s often bullied by Tessi and ostracized by others for being obsessed with ghosts and her quest to capture them on camera. Her story was heartbreaking but sadly, I think it’s a situation and place that many kids can probably relate to. I loved the role that Wendell and the ghosts play in Eliza’s story, and how the depth of Eliza’s emotion is explored through that friendship and the ghostly experience of the afterlife. This does delve into darker thoughts and feelings but I think the author does a great job in handling the sensitive subjects. I also appreciated how Thummler shows that people have the capacity for kindness, should they wish it, and that people are never just what they present on the surface.

Overall, this story packs a powerful (yet subtle) punch. This series is deeply emotional and sometimes challenging to read but one I would certainly recommend!

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THIS BOOK WAS A PLEASANT SURPRISE!! 💗 I didn't know Sheets has a sequel until I found this in NetGalley. At first, I didn't really know what to expect since I thought Sheets is already amazing as a standalone. I felt like it didn't really need a sequel— but oh my, I'm so happy to be wrong. It's very rare for the sequel to be better than the first book, but in this case, it is.

Delicates follows Marjorie as she navigates her social life while also keeping the secret that she's hiding ghosts in their laundromat. It also introduced a new character: Eliza, a ghost photographer who is determined to prove that ghosts exists. In this graphic novel, we follow these two as they figure out how to be themselves and make friendships that's worth keeping.

This book was heavier than the first one. It delved deeper into topics such as mental health and social support. My only complaint is that for the sake of this sequel, I feel like Marjorie lost all the character growth that she had at the end of the first book. It's just a minor nitpick and I didn't really mind it that much.

Overall, I really had the best time reading this book. The story was so heartwarming, the art was charming as always, and I felt so emotionally invested with the characters. ✨ This might be my favorite book in the Sheets series!!

Thanks to Oni Press and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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So I'm not sure if i completely agree with them calling Marj a bully by association, but she also could have done something to help and didn't

This was my least favourite of the series as it felt quite slow paced to me, but obviously the drawings are gorgeous still..

I really need to find out what happened to our lovely little ghost boy

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Sheets focuses on Marj, and the struggles she is facing since her mother’s death… she feels unseen, and kind of like a ghost. Her dad isn’t very present as he too is struggling with his wife’s death, and so Marj is not only trying to deal with her own mental health, she is running the family laundromat which someone is scheming to take it away from her, and she is also helping to look after her little brother. But then she meets Wendell things take a turn for the better, and it’s like her problems have all been solved!

Delicates still focuses mostly on Marj, but also a new character, Eliza. Eliza seriously struggles with fitting in, making friends, and just being herself… she is continuously labelled as weird, as she makes it her mission to capture a ghost in a photograph for her photography portfolio. But of course, other than Marj, nobody believes in ghosts… Marj finds herself on the other side of bullying and leaving people out, but when she realises her mistakes and holds herself accountable thanks to Wendell, she might be able to save someone’s life…

I’m reviewing these together because they’re graphic novels and go hand in hand with each other! These are very wholesome and quick reads, and capture mental health in different lights for both Marj and Eliza, and even Wendell!

The rep for mental health is done pretty well in these books, and how we can end up wanting to be ghosts, not to be noticed or seen by anybody… it is heartbreaking that it can happen in people as young as the characters in this book.

Whilst I haven’t rated them at five stars, that isn’t to say that they aren’t good. I just wasn’t entirely invested in their stories unfortunately and wasn’t able to connect with the characters, however I know people have really enjoyed this. So I definitely recommend anyone to give these a go!

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The second in the Sheets series, Delicates expands the story of Marjorie, Wendell, and Eliza. Beautifully drawn, Brenna Thummler manages to capture the essense of teenagehood in every page.

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I liked book #1 quite a bit, and the second one was equally compelling and heartwarming. I don't know, I'm not a huge graphic novel reader, but there's something about this series that just - feels good, you know.

Looking forward to finishing the series soon...

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What a lovely story!

I adore the new character we are introduced to in this story: Eliza. She's such a sweet and smart child. Wendell is a cutie patootie, as always. I wish he were corporeal so I could give him the biggest hug.

We explore some sad but very important themes in this story: loss, suicidal thoughts and bullying. I really liked how it was handled. It's important for kids -and adults-, to understand that their words and actions have an impact.

I also really enjoyed the art in this one. The character's expressions really showed how lonely and sad they were feeling.

Overall, I would say this novel is much, much better than the first one. It deals with more complex topics and it does so very nicely.

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I can honestly say I never saw the parallels between life and laundry before these books. Thummler did another great job with Delicates. The art style is beautiful, and I adore Thumper's nods to 90's style and pop culture ( I saw Hey Arnold in the background).This book is a lot slower, than the first. I think what it lacks in pacing it makes up for in depth. Lizzie is such a relatable character in her awkward tween years that has not found her tribe. Which is hard at any age, because everyone wants to be liked and to fit in somewhere. Which is why we find Marjorie comprising herself to fit in with the popular crowd. Delicates hits on very heavy themes of depression, suicide, and the fragility of human life. The ending leaves us with a promising hope that everything will eventually get better.

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What a sequel! I was so happy when I not only got Sheets through NetGalley but was lucky enough to get Delicates too, I am so glad I did because I did not want my time Wendell and Marjorie to end.
Once again Delicates has beautiful illustrations with the perfect amount of colour.
Following on to Sheets, Delicates touches on the subject of mental health and how important friends are during tough times. I took away so much from reading this, showing me that just because I feel alone it doesn't mean I am. I am so grateful to Brenna for that.
I will recommend these books forever! They are full of great characters, beautiful illustrations and extremely important messages!
I will be purchasing this book as well as sheets and also Lights! These will stay on my shelfs forever.
Thank you Brenna for helping me through a tough time and showing me I am not alone!

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'Delicates' is a wonderful sequel to 'Sheets'. It is thought-provoking and soul-touching. Although this is a graphic novel aimed at middle-grade children, it is a book that is likely to interest people of all ages. Like 'Sheets', the characters in Thummler's colorful world are charming and relatable. They make the reader both laugh and cry - making this short read a little adventure of so many emotions! I truly loved this one.

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A good continuation of 'Sheets' but the character development/dialogue isn't quite there or doesn't quite hold enough weight (at least based on my reading).

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Thanks to the publisher for adding the first two volumes in the ‘Sheets’ series to NetGalley around the publishing date for the final instalment. I very much enjoyed re-reading the whole series.

‘Delicates’ continues with the same atmosphere and themes as ‘Sheets’ and takes them further with the introduction of new characters and their personal lives and issues. Eliza is a wonderful character and a great addition to the story. I would say that this volume is my least favourite of the series, but the different is negligible when all three stories function together so well as a cohesive narrative. As always, I highly recommend.

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A beautiful and moving graphic novel that truly took me by surprise... 'Delicates' is definitely a book to watch out for!! It would make a perfect gift for the holiday season coming up!

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It is second book following the Sheets, and just like the first one it did not disappoint. I was apprehensive as some sequels tend to fade in comparison to the first books. But it was not the case with this one. It is just as well written, thoughtful but at the same time as light-hearted as the first book. Highly recommend.

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4.8/5

Another amazing installment in this series.
I already can't wait to read book three because every time these books hit right in the feels.
This way of creating different stories with ghosts and people feeling like ghosts is so well done and described, the author always centeres the mark.

In this second part almost a year has passed, summer vacations are reaching the end and a new school term is about to begin. Even if the main character of the story is still Marjorie, we will soon realize while reading that the main protagonist is in fact another person.
The theme is indeed different and the topic feels way more serious than the previous one.
As the title says, it's way more "delicate".

This story should be read by anyone, the color palette is once again absolute perfection, as are the drawings and the tables. A story about helping each other, and finding the help needed without hiding.

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As much as I remember the first part of the series, Sheets, as a good memory, this volume disappointed me. After the serious theme of grief, the focus here is more on the teen drama from Marjorie's side. I didn't like that she started to ignore the ghosts because of her friends, who in her opinion aren't cool. It felt fake than a real friendship, as they don't realise at all how sad Marj is. Alongside her, we get another perspective, in the person of Eliza, who also appears on the cover, and who was much more interesting. She loves photography and collects pictures of ghosts. However, she is very lonely at school and her eccentricity makes her a target for the popular kids, which I was very sorry to see. I wouldn't want to take this volume any less seriously either, as bullying is a pretty tough subject, however its implementation made it feel less serious overall.

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