Loved this beautiful little graphic novel. It was poignant and gentle and raw all at once. The art style was simplistic, but lovely and expressive. I think I might need to buy this one.

This is a story of two immigrant girls trying to navigate life and find their way. I thought the story was heartwarming and the art was beautiful. Definitely a slow burn, but worth it.

3.5 rounded up
The story was a cute coming of age with a sprinkling of gay panic.
I wanted the romance to be more…? it kinda felt like it ended at a random point without any conclusions but I liked the story.
I wanted more.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s books for an eARC.

Sunmi’s newest graphic novel showcases the classic teen hardship of not letting your situations define you.

Firebird tells the story of Caroline Kim and her self-discovery throughout her sophomore year of high school. Between juggling schoolwork, her mother’s criticisms, and her semi-absent father, she finds it nearly impossible to take time for herself. All of her classmates are blossoming into completely new individuals, so when will it be Caroline’s turn? And why does she find herself gravitating towards Kimberly Park-Ocampo? Maybe it’s because Kim’s a rebellious, math-failing senior, or perhaps it’s because they have a lot more in common than they think.

This graphic novel is a slow burn, and leaves many doors open. For some readers, this may be intriguing, but it could be on the frustrating side for those who prefer their endings to be more concrete. Either way, from peppering in handwritten thoughts to adding hints of red during more emotional scenes, Sunmi’s artistic decisions are sure to entertain all throughout the journey.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperAlley for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really slow burn, especially for a graphic novel. There's some great conversations happening around immigration and parental expectations, but they kind of feel like they take a back seat to the romance (which plays out in like the last 20 pages).

Also after the gorgeous cover, I'm kind of bummed this one isn't in full color.

Over all, cute enough, but missing something to make it special.

Lovely story about adolescence and figuring out your identity. The beautiful illustration style really fit well with this story. I related to the struggles to please your parents but stay true to yourself. I'm looking forward to seeing what else this author/artist do next.

i liked this book and the message behind it. it was cute and serious all rolled into one. i recommend this one. and the art was beautiful

This graphic novel was perfect, and my only, very minor complaint is that it was over too soon. These characters have so much depth and I appreciated the representation so much. And the way there was such a great slow burn but also amazing in depth chapters of the individual main character. This book is just gorgeous and I’ll be recommending it to everyone immediately.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher!

This is a ya, slow burn, lgbtq romance with an insecure MC and an elusive love interest. We get to see both their points of view, but we only get into the head of the protagonist.

Caroline is insecure, and is currently tutoring Kim, who is a whole year above her in school. She thinks she is cute, but knows she is out of Kim's league, so to speak. She is feeling uncomfortable in her body, and hates that her father is still in South Korea, and all the usual teenage angst. Kim, we don't get into the head of, but we can see she is interested in Caroline.

The whole book is a lot of slow burn. Will they kiss is about as close as we can get to seeing any true romance. Mostly the book is them agonizing over school, and life and all.

It was a little bit too much of a slow burn for me, and I almost gave up several times. I did like, however, that we had an overweight character who is not only uncomfortable in her body, but perhaps even in her gender, though that is never quite resolved. In fact, so much is left on the table, so to speak, it makes me wonder if there is going to be a second book.

<em>Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.</em>

High school sophomore Caroline serves as a peer tutor at her school, helping senior Kim study to pass Algebra Two on her second time around. While both are children of immigrants, their personalities seem like complete opposites: Caroline, a younger child, is introverted, artistic, dealing with anxiety, and still exploring her sexuality, while wild child Kim is the oldest in her family, extroverted and people-oriented, out as a lesbian to her friends (though not her mom), and much more responsible than one might expect. Despite the differences, the two slowly become friends and gradually acknowledge the attraction growing between them.

This graphic novel had a quiet beauty to it. The artwork is mostly black and white, sometimes simple line drawings, with occasional bursts of red to emphasize different parts of the story. The author/artist conveys the two main characters' personalities with deft strokes: Caroline is often seen hunched into a hoodie, hands in pockets, giving off serious teenage "leave me alone" vibes, while Kim's outgoing personality shines through in the flip of her hair or the expressiveness of her reactions.

I really appreciated how the author revealed the nuances of the immigrant experience, especially in families where the father is largely absent (for different reasons), and where support can be found for parents and children alike. I also really liked how they portrayed different ways of questioning one's gender and sexuality, from Caroline trying on both prom dresses and suits to her friend Sal trying on makeup and they/them pronouns to see how best to express themself.

So beautiful and uplifting. 4 stars.

Thank you, HarperCollins and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.

A sweet Sapphic story about two girls from immigrant families who come together.

The art was lovely and the story sweet. My only complaint is that it's over too soon.

This is a gorgeous, aesthetically and narratively rich, unapologetically queer coming-of-age YA graphic novel, and I hope it becomes immensely popular, as it deserves. (I also hope there's a sequel as soon as actually possible, because I want to know more about these lovingly developed, realistically flawed characters!)

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974


A cute coming of age take of two high school students. Both facing the pressures of life and adult events on their own. I highly recommend for teens and adults alike. I loved the book and graphics. Wishing for part two.

I thought this book was very well done. I loved both main characters and really enjoyed getting to know them and their family life. I also appreciated Caroline's questioning of her sexuality as well as gender identity.

The ending of this one seemed a little abrupt, but I believe there will be a second book. Hopefully this is true and that one explores the topics from this one a little deeper.

I would likely recommend this one to people!

Firebird is a heartwarming graphic novel, the characters are endearing and the art is beautiful. Readers are sure to enjoy this coming-of-age novel. Firebird is a celebration of queerness, and portrays to readers multiple facets of representation. Firebird is a relaxing read! While it is low energy, it works in favor for the tone of the story. It's paired well with the scenes that portray Caroline's anxiety and insecurity, when the pages are full of twisting art to match her mood.

My main critique for this novel is that I wish we got to see more of the side characters. They all had so much life in them, and the time with them is too brief. The main character Caroline is explored with a masterful depth, and I wish some of that was extended to other characters.

If you were a fan of "Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me" or "This One Summer" by Mariko Tamika, you'll like Firebird.

A gorgeous and sweet story about two queer Asian American teens growing up in the suburbs of the San Francisco Bay Area. Caroline Kim is a sophomore just trying to get by, but then she takes up a tutoring job for the infamous senior Kimberly Park-Ocampo- a charismatic lesbian who leaves Caroline flustered, What starts off as teasing banter in tutoring soon turns into late night hangouts, texts, and more as they spend more time with each other and get to know one another. Caroline is discovering her sexuality and dealing with the pressures from home while Kimberly is trying to figure out boundaries in her friendships and what she wants to do with her future. Both girls are trying to figure out what they want and they find comfort in each other. It was a cute read and I definitely would love to read a sequel to see where their relationship goes next!

*Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperAlley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*