I adore this story! It's such a beautiful tale of finding yourself, being unafraid to face the world as you are rather than how others see you. The illustrations are lovely and the characters very relatable and I just wish I could give them all a hug! I highly recommend this sweet read to everyone.

This beautifully illustrated graphic novel bridges the gap between middle grade and young adult readers, offering a gentle and heartfelt exploration of self-identity and growth. The story follows Rose, a young ranger who, after making a mistake, is assigned to assist sheep-tender Leone on a seemingly mundane task. However, the true heart of the book isn’t in its plot but in its themes—discovering who you are and finding the courage to embrace it.

As Rose begins to express a desire to be called Rowan, the journey shifts into one of quiet self-discovery. Leone, too, is on their own path toward confidence, and together, the two characters support and uplift one another in a way that feels organic and touching. The novel’s cozy and warm tone is enhanced by its soft, pastel-hued illustrations, making it a visually soothing read.

While the ranger aspect of the story is not fully fleshed out, the emotional core of the book shines. It’s a tender, introspective tale perfect for readers who enjoy character-driven narratives about growth, identity, and quiet moments of connection.

I really enjoyed this book and several friends immediately came to mind that I know will adore this beautiful graphic novel.

While the story is not hard to follow, it is also not what I would call simple. There are many layers of complexity of emotion and experience throughout the story, handled with such tenderness and compassion by the author. The magical art really brings the story to life. There were several moments where I had the same feelings evoked by watching a Studio Ghibli movie, with not only the gorgeous sweeping landscapes but especially the panels with tiny details of nature that might be easily missed or overlooked.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

this book warmed my heart. i finished it all in one sitting and i already want to reread it. O’Neill has the ability to write about mundane things in a way that makes you want to keep reading. they add a sort of whimsy to all their books which i love.

thank you netgalley for the e-arc!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the e-ARC of A Song For You and I!
4.5 / 5 ⭐

Soft and sweet, A Song For You and I is a story of making mistakes, finding yourself, and getting back up on the horse - even when you are the horse.

As always, O’Neill creates beautiful worlds and imagery. I didn’t connect with the story as much as the tea dragon society, maybe because it felt almost like I was looking through a blurry glass instead of seeing the images clearly? But, it was still a wonderful story about living authentically as your true self which is so powerful and needed.

This was such a lovely story of being true to yourself, and being truly yourself. It’s always so remarkable to me just how much story K. O’Neill can put into such few words, and this was another of theirs where the artistry told so much more than words ever could. A gem!

A gentle exploration of the transitional journey, but still a very real one. Whether for a child looking for some guidance or an adult seeking acceptance, the cozy nature of the story and illustrations make this a read for all ages.

Oh how I loved this graphic novel. Just like I really enjoyed The Moth keeper a lot. I loved Rowan and Leone and their growing friendship. I highly recommend this one to everyone. I cant wait for what comes next from K. O'Neill

I have adored every single book that O’Neil has written and this one just felt like such a treat. The world building in her stories are kind of unmatched! You always want to just live inside of them. This is the world that we are hoping to build with a bit of magic woven in!

Identity
Confidence
Trans Rep
Genderfluid Rep
LGBT Rep
Beautiful Illustrations
This had me tear up! If you’re a fan of The Tea Dragon Society, this one is for you. The illustrations are beautiful! You can easily get caught up in them. The whole premise of this is so touching. Rowan is a ranger in training who is struggling with their identity. Their given name doesn’t feel fitting and with the name carving ceremony coming up, it’s a bit conflicting.
This is a book for everyone! A middle grade, fantasy graphic novel! Highly recommend! Rowan wants to prove themselves even more to the rangers to be able to go through the Name Carving Ceremony. However, the thoughts and focus on this push them to make a risky decision. From this decision a friendship forms between them and Leone. Leone doesn’t care too much for gender (as you’ll see later on) and enjoys his fiddle. When an opportunity rises, Leone is hesitant to showcase his talents. The sweetest thing though, is the acceptance of Leone towards Rowan wanting to change their name and how they want to be perceived. Both go through their own journeys, with some hiccups, to have some realizations that they needed the other for.

I had no doubt this would be a hit for me - there's not a K. O'Neill book I've read and haven't loved and it's SO fully my vibe. I love how sweet this story is and the way that it not only affirms identity but also that mistakes and failures don't define a person. Add in the D&D class tie ins (and the parallels I can draw between the characters and some OCs from my home D&D game that's on hiatus) and there was no way I couldn't be absolutely enamored with this one.

5/5

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Childrens for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

A Song for You and I by K. O'Neill is a Middle Grade Queer cozy fantasy graphic novel exploring transitioning. Rowan knows that they want to be a ranger and protect others around them, but when they make a mistake, they’re forced to slow down and spend more time among the people they are meant to protect. They become friends with Leone, a shepherd who is also very talented with a fiddle but hesitates to play in front of anyone but the sheep they watch over.

The themes of gender exploration and transitioning are handled gently and subtly while also being fairly explicit. We meet Rowan before they transition but have already realized that they do not want to associate with their birth name forever. One of the details that matches what some of my trans friends have also experienced was admiring a mentor of a different gender and wanting to be them but their peers assume that they have a crush instead. The small moments that explore this desire by Rowan to emulate their mentor, such as wearing a pair of earrings, help add an authentic touch without exploring transphobia.

Leone and Rowan’s relationship starts off with some animosity on Rowan’s side as Leone is often seen playing their fiddle but not much else while Rowan is hard at work. There’s even more feelings of frustration when Leone doesn’t head home when Rowan says a storm is coming, leading to Rowan going out and their pegasus getting hurt. But Leone’s gentle acceptance of Rowan and understanding is the very thing Rowan needed to start being honest with themself and others. There is a slow build up of romantic feelings that could become a romantic relationship, but their friendship is what gets the vast majority of page time.

Soft shapes and colors are utilized to help create the cozy atmosphere. The animals were my favorite part, especially the sheep and the pegasi, as there’s a roundness to them that I find quite cute. Quiet moments are given weight with little to no dialogue while the bigger moments feel big as the characters are shrunk down in comparison to the background.

I would recommend this to young readers looking for a graphic novel exploring transitioning and fans of Queer cozy fantasy looking for a graphic novel

"A Song for You and I" is an inspiring graphic novel which speaks to living authentically and following your dream. The story is based in a world in which rangers are protectors and serve while riding a flying horse, The people in this fantasy, however, live a simple agrarian existence. When a ranger in training is asked to protect a young farm boy, they both discover who they truly are. The illustrations beautifully depict both nature as we know it and the flight of horses. Author and illustrator K. O'Neil gifts us with a story for all ages.

Another beautiful endearing graphic novel from this wonderful author/artist. The art was beautiful, the story was lovely and sweet and the themes of finding oneself were truly well done. I will read anything this author creates as I always love it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced digital copy to read and review.

For a cozy graphic novel, this one hit all the marks. Good art, a good story, fun characters, and magical creatures. I've enjoyed multiple stories by this author and look forward to reading more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a lovely story about self discovery! The story is very cozy and approachable for younger audiences, without feeling too oversimplified for adults to enjoy reading. Also, K. O’Neill’s use of color is truly outstanding. The art has such a charming nostalgic quality to it that I just adored.

This was a really sweet, soft graphic novel about finding yourself and learning that you don't have to prove yourself. Rowan is so much happier when they admit to Leone that they prefer the name Rowan to Rose, and when they realize that they don't have to prove how strong and brave and "the best" they are in order to "earn" the name Rowan. That the people who love them will accept them just as they are. Leone, in turn, had to learn to be brave enough to play the violin in front of others.

The illustrations perfectly matched the story. They were soft and sweet and fluffy, with just the right amount of sketchiness to give movement. I loved all the landscape scenes interspersed between the story scenes, because they really added to the pastoral feel and gave a strong sense of nature and peace.

I loved Kes the winged horse, and all of the people Rowan and Leone meet along their journeys delivering wool.

*Thanks to Random House Graphic for providing an early copy for review.

Rose is a guardian in training. When new assignments are given, Rose is disappointed to stay close to home, feeling that there is something to prove to others. Instead of taking care, Rose attempts to be brave and Kestral is hurt. Rose works with a shepherd after Kestral's injury and begins a journey of self-discovery and returning to the true home, the one within.

This is so beautifully illustrated. There are words but there are pages at a time that rely entirely on the illustrations, sucking the reader into the lush landscape that is reminiscent of New Zealand.

I am excited to add this to my elementary library and I believe it should be added to others. There are some areas that will likely have push back on this book due to the closed minds of people.

Thank you to Net Galley, Random House Children's, and Random House Graphics for this DRC. All opinions are my own.

Such a cute, cozy fantasy graphic novel! Love the focus on gender identity along with a coming of age theme as well as both main characters having something to overcome and work towards. The artwork is so pretty and fits well with the story by allowing the art to portray the plot without needing an abundance of text. Highly recommend, especially for young readers!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for a review!