A few years ago I probably would have rated this higher. It reads like a film storyboard, and the illustrations are great, and the story while having a fairly predictable ending delivered on the Coming-of-Age crime story promised in the title.

I am not a huge fan of the cover art because to me it reads as Native American imagery, and it feels a bit appropriated. I don't know for certain whether Greg Ruth or Ethan Hawke have Native American ancestry, but I am very hesitate to support anything that alludes to any kind of Indigenous movement, spiritual beliefs, or characterizations that isn't written by an Own Voices author.

As for the story, if you are a fan of Tarantino, or slow burn action films that make a fast turn into violence then you will probably enjoy the arc of this book. It felt like it may have been aimed toward a younger audience, but I would recommend a parent read this before letting a younger teen read it.

A well drawn, okay story. A little predictable. I would really recommend this to young teens with a rocky relationship with their father figure (especially teen boys). I'm not the biggest fan of Ethan Hawke and Meadowlark looks pretty much exactly like him so it didn't wow me. It was also a bit more violence than I typically like.

**Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

tw: violence, murder, violence involving teeth

Billed as a "coming of age crime drama," it's easy to see the bones of that in this graphic novel. In execution though it's not terribly good?

Part of this, I think, is likely the art. While Greg Ruth does some phenomenally photo real illustrations, the layout for this entire thing feels very flat. It's almost cinematic - but in a way that doesn't quite deliver. This doesn't utilize the comics medium in the way that you'd want something like this to do.

If this were a short film, I think I'd be more impressed by it, but as a comic work, I just didn't find it compelling and dropped it for a month or so before picking it back up again because it just couldn't hold my interest.

I found this book surprisingly difficult to follow. The events happen quickly but are wrapped up in a lot of past. Dialogue heavy.

Meadowlark is vivid in its storytelling and imagery. The artwork is clear and pristine, and the narrative bubbles with tension to the boiling point. An enjoyable and well-done reading experience in graphic novel form.