Too many elements that are intriguing but don't go anywhere, or as far as they should. (For example, the teen getting a hand tattoo.) I didn't care for the way the flashback scenes were fuzzy; I realized later through the book that they were memories, but at first, I thought there was a printing/ reproduction problem. I was most disappointed, though, by the two leads never actually settling things, or revealing the truth to each other. There's a lot of potential here, but the execution left me wanting more, not in a good way.

I enjoyed the premise of the story but the characters and their development throughout the story grew frustrating at times. Some of the plot lines were a bit confusing and I wished I felt a better connection to the overall story and the main character.

Beautiful representation and artistry with strangely nostalgic for the camp setting (that I have never experienced) despite the heaviness of it all. Those friendships we make during our formative years really guide so much in our lives.


A reminder to myself that reading graphic novels sparks creativity in all sorts of ways. Thank you for the opportunity.

Unfortunately wasn't for me. I felt like the writing was really young for my tastes and I tried to get through as much as I could. I did not review it anywhere else, as I felt like many others would enjoy it!

A young adult graphic novel that had me interested all the way through. Dylan and Leighton have been sent to a camp for troubled teens and have to successfully make it through if they want to return back to school and their friends. It was a fun read and I’d recommend it to friends for sure!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Leighton and Dylan are sent to a summer camp "for troubled youth" after something that happened at school. We see both present day at camp and flashbacks of events leading up to the incident. Queer representation is appreciated in this super quick read graphic novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read the advanced reader copy!

I missed the chance to read this book before the archive date but I did get to read this for the summer reading program at my local library.
Despite the sad reason for Dylan and Leighton to be at that summer camp, it was such a breath of fresh air to read Enby and Ace rep. The art style is wonderful as always from Dozerdraws. It has been a while since i read this and my notes aren't the best for reference but the ending did feel the tiniest bit rushed to conclude everything, but I still liked reading it.

I really enjoyed this story and the topics that it explored.

I loved the art style of this book and the characters too.

I like the fact that it explores the pressure that children have on them and what they have to go through to keep others happy and to keep the reputation they have because they fear that people will treat them differ if they don't follow the standards that are laid out for them.

This book is sad! I’m happy that Dylan can be themselves, even if other people are awful to them about it. It’s refreshing to see an ace character, but it sucks that Leighton just has to hide that, all the way through to the end. That may be realistic for some people, but I wish we could have seen Leighton living authentically as herself. There’s a lot to unpack here, but it’s a really good book.

I would like to express my gratitude for the Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this book, generously provided by the publisher through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

"Paper Planes" by Jennie Wood is a poignant graphic novel that soars with emotion and authenticity. Wood's storytelling gracefully weaves together the lives of its characters, exploring themes of identity, family, and the power of self-discovery. The graphic novel not only delivers a compelling narrative but also addresses important and timely issues with sensitivity.

The art in "Paper Planes" is equally impressive, providing a visual language that complements the emotional depth of the story. The illustrations capture the nuances of the characters' experiences, adding an extra layer of resonance to the narrative.

Overall, "Paper Planes" is a beautifully crafted work that resonates on multiple levels. It is a testament to Wood's storytelling prowess and her ability to create a narrative that is both heartrending and hopeful, making it a standout addition to the world of graphic novels

The story doesn't always flow super well in this. I appreciate the varied LGBTQ+ representation but I found some of the messaging to be kind of problematic.

3 stars. I had such high hopes throughout the first part of the book: it was interesting and the switch between the present and the past was building up. Halfway through, though, I started to get a little bored. Then the incident that led to the main characters problems was anticlimactic. Overall a let down story line wise. I enjoyed the scope of representation in the book. Included characters that I have only started to see represented and it was refreshing. I also really enjoyed the graphics and colors. There was a bunch I enjoyed, but the disappointing plot "twist" was frustrating and the predictable ending was frustrating.

the book will remain a bittersweet memory to me. i adored dylan as a character and their growth goes far and beyond. leighton, however, wasn't my favorite. i wanted her to take charge of the story, stand up to her parents, and have a better character development. i understand that isn't realistic enough for all teens to experience, but i think part of why i read is to be free of those irl expectations and repeated outcomes. definitely could've gone better for me in that aspect but a good read overall.

This comic/graphic novel is essentially about two kids who are sent to a summer camp for troubled youth because of an incident in the past. They both have to get a good evaluation, or they'll be sent to an alternative high school. The story follows their camp experience and their relationship; past and present.

This one hit close to home regarding the relationship dynamic of Leighton and Dylan, and in retrospect, I feel like this story will stick with me for a long while.

I loved how this story was told. We switched between different times and it all builds up to big events in the story! The tension was strong with this one. The storytelling itself was amazing as well! I was captivated and it had very well-structured sections that held my attention.

Big shoutout to the art style, because that was pure perfection and I adored every slide! I loved the diversity of the characters :) One of our main characters was on the asexual spectrum and the other one was non-binary! The side characters were so freaking cool, btw! Also, first time ever that there was a character that looked exactly like me 😭💜 Plus-size, chin-length dyed hair, and wears shorts all the time. I didn't see much of them, but that's a core reading memory right there!

If you like messy relationship dynamics, tension, great queer rep, mysteries, and camp stories; this one's for you!
I definitely recommend this graphic novel!!

The more I sit with this graphic novel, the less it sits well with me. I didn't enjoy these characters or their resolution. My hopes for this fell flatter than a poorly made paper airplane.

I love how the author explores the complexities of feelings, sexuality and relationships with so much nuance and care. I love the artwork and use of different colour tones to separate past and present timelines and I enjoyed the character growth.

It's Gay and it's meh...

I wanted to like this book so much I tried to get into it. With a queer romance and one of the main characters being queer/non-binary...

But it just ended up falling flat... I couldn't truly find myself rooting for Dylan or Leighton or even excited to truly intrigued to find out what landed them in this place by the time we got there.

I'm not sure if I'm just not the demographic for this book (since these are 8th grade peeps!) Or if it's fully that these peeps are that flat...

This was requested when I first found out about NetGalley and I had requested so many ARCs that I could not get to all of them before they were archived. I really wanted to get to this one, as it seemed interesting. If I can find this somewhere for a reasonable price, I will try to get it! I am giving this book three stars, as I don't want to give it a good or bad rating, since I did not get to it and we have to leave a star rating.