The beautifully-named Tidesong is a rare gift of a book. Written for children but holding appeal for readers across all age levels, Tidesong features a heroine you grow to love quickly, not despite, but because of her willful and stubborn nature. Sophie, like the magic she conjures up, is a force of nature, and it is a joy to watch her grow into her powers. Wendy Xu's art is lovely, reminiscent of Studio Ghibli, with truly stunning splash pages, and her worldbuilding is top-notch. I strongly recommend this sweet and tender tale about growing up, family expectations, and mastering your emotions.

Sophie is used to using her magic freely and intuitively, and she thrives off how it impress her friends, Mom, and Grandma. When she gets the opportunity to audition for placement in the Royal Academy of Magic she travels afar to live with her Aunts to hone her skills before she auditions. She discovers that there is a lot more to magic than just letting it flow; she must learn theory, discipline, and diplomacy in order to be a witch. And it’s a lot of pressure. As she struggles through her Aunts’ lessons Sophie feels she just can’t do anything right. What more could go wrong?

Tidesong is a beautiful exploration of emotional awareness. Sophie avoids her problems at first because they are too overwhelming, something many readers can relate to. The powerful message within the story is that being honest with ourselves and others can fix a lot and it’s never to late to work something out or apologize.

The illustrations are lovely, it’s apparent that Xu put in a lot of effort to create a distinct ecological ocean world. The creatures are cute and diverse, I’d love to get lost in Xu’s sketchbook and appreciated the extra illustrations at the end. I especially loved the sea-cat companion.

Everything from the town, to island environment, to the character’s clothes creates a distinct setting that readers will want to return to if future installments are planned (and I hope they are!).

To prepare for her audition to the best magic academy, Sophie is sent to study under her grandmother. A mix of headstrong and insecure, Sophie does not appreciate the training she receives that feels more like doing chores than learning magic. When her magic is accidentally intertwined with that of a young dragon, she must learn important lessons about confidence, humility, and how to be a good friend. A beautifully illustrated graphic novel with relatable themes of growing up and navigating emotions and relationships with friends and family. I highly recommend this sweet story of magic and friendship.

The description says it's "Perfect for fans of Studio Ghibli and The Tea Dragon Society" and they are absolutely right! A headstrong but well-meaning young witch causes a whole lot of trouble, and must use the power of friendship and family to set things right. The art is whimsical and fun, and perfectly matches the tone of the story.

Tidesong is a sweet, magical, and atmospheric graphic novel for kids. It follows Sophie, a young witch who is feeling pressured by her family to get into a magic academy. She leaves to study under her great-aunt for a year by the seaside, but constantly feels like she's letting her family down.

I loved that Sophie is a powerful young witch struggling to understand her magic and to learn control, all while dealing with familial pressures. She desperately wants to prove herself, which at times leads to her making rash decisions and using her magic in ways she shouldn't. That's how she accidentally entangles her magic with that of a water dragon named Lir. The two quickly become bonded, but they must figure out how to disentangle their magic so that Lir can return to his home in the sea.

The world building in this book is amazing, and I really appreciate how Wendy Xu wove in Chinese beliefs about dragons. The art was lush and perfectly captured the atmosphere of the story. This is totally perfect for fans of Studio Ghibli films, and I'll also be recommending it to readers who enjoyed Kate O'Neill and Molly Ostertag.

What a fun graphic novel! I love Wendy Xu's books and this was no exception. This is a great story about family and power and self-doubt. It also has super cool and interesting water dragons that share their magic with witches on land. I absolutely adored the friendship at the heart of this, and want to see more of Sophie and Lir soon. I also love how this focuses on women and their familial connections. Finally, I love the way anxiety and imposter syndrome are portrayed in this story. It will be easy for all readers, especially kids, to connect to it. Also, I need to mention the stunning art in this! I knew it'd be lovely but there were so many pages I wanted to save and hang on my wall. My only issue is some very minor pacing issues, but I will still be recommending this to my students.

4.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an advanced copy of this to review! Always looking for new graphic novels to read, and I absolutely loved this one. Wendy Xu worked on one of my favorite graphic novels, Mooncakes, so I knew I was going to be in for a treat with this one.

We can start with the art! Right from the beginning, you're pulled into this magical world that Xu has created. I loved the way that magic and water were represented in the book. And the water dragons! They were so magestic and wonderful. The color palette also contributes to the sort of whimsical atmosphere of the book, and I thoroughly enjoyed how it all worked together.

I also thought the magic system also felt unique to me. The prologue sets the tone for the book, and there is almost a story within a story. Between each chapter you get a glimpse of what's happening under the water while Sophie is trying to learn magic. By the end, both stories connect seamlessly, bringing everything full circle.

And the characters! Throughout, Sophie struggles with self-doubt and negative thoughts, and a lot of the story is focused on her finding confidence in herself. For a middle grade graphic novel, I feel like a lot of readers will relate to her journey, even in this fantasy world.

All in all, I absolutely loved this graphic novel and can't wait for other people to read it when it comes out in November!

Way to tug at my heartstrings! Wendy Xu's lush Ghibli-ish illustrations combine wonderfully with this story about familial expectations, friendships, and self-confidence.

Tidesong was so enchanting and whimsical- I enjoyed the story of Sophie and her coming of age tale. I loved the setting and the magic really made the story come to life. Wendy Xu's artwork is fantastic. I first discovered her when I read Mooncakes. I will read all of her work from now on. Highly recommend this fun, engaging graphic novel.

A beautifully crafted graphic novel about a young girl trying to find her way as a witch. Throw in a dragon some entwined magic and next thing you know you can't put the book down. The protagonist is flawed but relatable all in all it was a good read that I look forward to adding to the library!

This beautifully illustrated story is for the Studio Ghibli fans out there. Sophie is a young witch whose mother and grandmother send her off to her curmudgeonly great-aunt and cousin, to prepare for the entrance exams to witch school. Sophie's never met these relations, but there's history between her grandmother and her sister, Sophie's great-aunt, and the tension is there right from the beginning. Auntie Sage is younger and friendlier, but they won't let her actually study spells; Great-Auntie seems to be from the Mr. Miyagi school of study, giving Sophie chores upon chores to do to build character. Frustrated, Sophie sneaks off and attempts magic on her own, only to get herself into trouble; a young water dragon named Lir rescues her, but loses his memory and his ability to morph back into his dragon form. Sophie has to choose between proving herself on her own, or leaning on Lir's magic to pass her exams, but to do that, she interferes with Lir's chance to get his memories and his dragon form back. The artwork is breathtaking, the colors gentle, flowing from one panel to the next. Inspired by Chinese mythology and the myth of water dragons, this story has a magical family history, stirrings of first romance, and an introspective heroine with an internal conflict. Back matter has an author's note on the dragons of Chinese mythology and the "ecological backbone" of Tidesong, encouraging readers to to learn about and respect our oceans.

Tidesong was selected for the November Kids' IndieNext list. Wendy Xu, the award-nominated co-creator of Mooncakes (2019), has an author webpage where you can read her online comics and see more of her artwork.

Cute and very sweet graphic novel. It would be content safe to read with a child too little to read it for themselves. It very much reminded me of the Tea Dragon graphic novels in tone, wholesomeness and focus on slice of family life with a dash of fantasy. The young girl is a likable kid with a reasonably amount of childish over reacting to things but also shown as capable of learning and maturing through her mistakes. Absolutely worth recommending to a kid that likes fantasy.

Tidesong is a delightful fantasy graphic novel that will be loved by upper middle grade and YA readers alike. Xu's art is intricate and gorgeous and provides excellent textual support. Their pastel-hued color palette recalls calm feelings and tide pools in a lovely manner while the story itself is engaging and the anxiety'/mental health components are well executed and timely. A first recommendation for lovers of Jen Wang and K. O"Neill as well as those looking for chill fantasy graphics.

Really sweet tale of a witch coming into her own, gaining independence and confidence in herself! When they say this will remind readers of Studio Ghibli films, I 100% agree! It’s charming, light-hearted, and whimsical. The illustrations are full of color and expression as well!

The story relies heavily on the themes of family, friendship and self-discovery and weaves them into a heart-warming tale that ends on a sweet and positive note. It was the perfect palate cleanser for someone like me that typically reads heavy, fast-paced fantasy!

This is such a lovely graphic novel! The blurb compared Tidesong to Studio Ghibli films and The Tea Dragon Society and that is spot on! The art is whimsical, soft, and conveys a magic all its own. I adore the character designs, as well as the designs for the magical creatures (the baby dragons are my favorite). The story is straightforward and relatable while also being enchanting. Sophie has her struggles learning magic but she also has mundane issues like trying to get along with her family members, being impatient, and dealing with negative self-talk. I appreciated that as the story goes on and Sophie is befriended by Lir, the water dragon, she learns to value what she has and ask for help. Lir and the other supporting characters learn valuable lessons as well, including the importance of being kind and working together. Beautiful, charming, and magical!

Sophie, unable to master her magic but desperate to prove herself, attempts an advanced spell and accidentally binds her magic to Lir, a young dragon who can't remember who he is or where he's come from.

Tidesong is your typical fantasy middle grade graphic novel with an emphasis on the anxiety and self-esteem issues. Xu's sweet, lovely artwork builds an appealing world full of adorable sea creatures and interesting uses for magic. Sophie's impatience, perfectionist streak, and confidence issues are all relatable, especially for kids in our community, who, like Sophie, are under a lot of pressure from their parents to perform well academically (though I personally found her unappealingly bratty). The message of finding one's own path was perhaps not as clear as I would've liked it to be, but perfectly serviceable for a middle grade book.

Tidesong is just unique enough to stand out among the crowd of middle grade graphic novels. I am strongly considering putting it on my next booklist for young teens, and I will definitely be handing it to kids looking for fantasy recommendations.

Sophie is a young witch with a lot of pressure on her. Her grandmother and mother want her to attend The Royal Magic Academy, the best place to study magic. Even though her magic isn't the best. So she finds herself with relatives she's never even met, relatives who seem more keen on teaching her to do chores than magic. When Sophie tries magic on her own things go terribly wrong. She accidentally entangles her magic with a water dragon's magic, trapping him in his human form.

With Lir's and her magic intertwined Sophie finally seems to be getting the hang of magic and just in time her entrance exams, but things aren't all sunshine and roses especially when they realize that the water dragon isn't just any water dragon. Can Sophie and Lir work together in untangle their magic all while proving themselves? And what will they learn as they do?

This was such an adorable graphic novel. The story reminded me of a mix of Luca and Raya and the Last Dragon, so if you like those vibes I'd definitely give this one a go. The magic in this book was more subtle. It sorta relies heavier on the element of water to be able to tap into their magic. Also I got some major Water-bender vibes from the pictures. I also feel like the family dynamics were well done even for the short length of this book. Overall this is a super read perfect if you want something fast or more light-hearted to read in between books.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an earc copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Delightful and magical, Wendy Xu’s new book, TIDESONG, immerses readers into a world of magic, marvels, and dragons. Gorgeously rendered, the story focuses on Sophie, a young girl who has hopes of entering the Royal Academy of magic. First she must be tested, and in order to pass, she must train with her cranky aunt and her cousin (a much more accomplished young magician) on the coast near where the water-dragons reside. Soon she meets young dragon Lir, who becomes tangled in her magic and shifts into human form. Unfortunately, the tangled magic prevents him from shifting back into a dragon. Tensions rise between the dragons and the humans, and it is up to Sophie to set things right and help Lir return to the sea. But to do so, Sophie must overcome her fears of not being good enough to become a magician, and must find the courage and learn to trust in herself in order to succeed.

There are many magical elements in the illustrations and woven through the story itself, and readers will delight in the adorable tiny dragons and creatures that appear throughout. The theme of friendship, courage, and overcoming failure is always needed for young readers, and Xu does a marvelous job at weaving in all these themes and bringing this story to life.

I love graphic novels that just drop you right into the world without spending pages setting up the world. This did just that and how beautifully.

Tidesong tells the story of a young girl named Sophie who has magical abilities regarding winds and water. Her mother and grandmother want her to go to the Royal Magic Academy in order to improve her skills so they send Sophie to stay with her great-aunt and cousin in order to train. Stubborn and confident, Sophie tries to do a spell on her own and when it goes wrong, a water dragon named Lir ends up trapped on land in human-form.

This was such a charming read and Wendy Xu does a great job weaving together the story and the illustrations. The artwork! The colors! The facial expressions!

I think it may skew just a little young for middle grade, but this graphic novel is as magical as the magic within its pages.

4.5 stars rounded down.

Wendy Xu does it again, she enchants and educates with her new graphic novel Tidesong. I adored all of the characters and the artwork is SO beautiful. You can tell passion and research went into the illustrations. I enjoyed that Sophie was able to grow and change as a character. It's also important to point out that Xu's story enforces that a child's feelings are valid and adults should pay attention to that and what they say. A wonderful story about friendship, magic, and family.