Lu looks up to he ah-ma who is a geozoologist. Li and her mother both practice cylian whenever they can to help them understand all of ah-man’s journals and books. Ah-ma knows all sorts of things about all of the fantastic creatures or geofauna of Lirrin and spends lots of time out in the wilds with them but does write to Lu constantly. When the letters stop coming right before a historic sunfish eclipse Lu begins to worry. She asks her mom if she could go out and find ah-ma with her friend Ren. And that starts the journey both Lu and Ren take. But finding ah-ma becomes much harder then Lu thought. She deals with the frustration of wondering where ah-ma is and why she only visited infrequently and also the secrets Ren is running from.

This was pure magic—cozy, whimsical, and brimming with heart. The creatures are so imaginative I wanted to step right into the pages and meet them myself, and Lu’s journey struck that perfect balance between wonder and emotional depth. The friendship between Lu and Ren unfolds so naturally, and I adored how the story wove in themes of family, language, and belonging without ever losing its sense of adventure. It gave me Studio Ghibli vibes in the best way possible.

This stunning graphic novel explores the bonds of family and friendship and takes kids on an adventure through a whimsical and fantastical world. Lu wants to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps and become a geozoologist, but she has to find her grandmother first. So she and her friend Lu set off on a journey through a land full of geofauna (living animal landscapes) and learn some surprising truths about Lu’s grandmother along the way. I loved absolutely everything about the adorable and whimsical setting, including the environmental themes that were integrated (without a heavy hand). I highly recommend this heartwarming story!

Dang the ending had me sobbing, but like a mix of good and sad tears. I really enjoyed this story and would totally read more in this world. It’s incredibly inventive and the illustrations are beautiful. Highly recommend this to readers young and old! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This book was not only an enjoyable adventure, but it was also a subtle teaching tool. The first lesson is cause and effect. On Lu and Ren's adventure, they keep finding creatures who are where they are not supposed to be and thus are affecting the environment they are inhabiting. The more they travel, the more they learn how seemingly small changes can have a bit impact.

The second lesson is about friendship. Lu and Ren are two very different people from very different homes, and we follow along as they learn how to communicate and maintain a relationship with someone who is unlike what they are used to. This whole book is a wholesome read.

This graphic novel attempts to cover multiple serious topics in a short amount of time. The world building, colors, and animals were fantastic.

Lu and Ren's Guide to Geozoology is a cozy adventure story filled with unique creatures, friendship, and finding one's own path along the way.

The illustrations and color are beautiful. Hsieh captures the different landscapes that Lu and Ren travel to perfectly. And then there are the unique creatures that kind of mirror our own, but with a cute and quirky touch. I loved the Cavioliths 😍

The core of the story is one that will tug at your heart. The author seamlessly weaves a story about cultural language, legacy, research, wildlife protection, and community. I also really liked how we have queer representation in Mira and potentially Ren. By the end, I was a mess with tears in my eyes at finding Ah-Ma.

This graphic novel is perfect for fans of Witch Boy and The Tea Dragon Society.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this book, but I was very pleasantly surprised. I ended up finishing the book in just a few sittings and really enjoyed the story and characters.

A sweet graphic novel with soft art makes this a really cozy read. The book dragged on a bit in the beginning and I had to push to finish it but the story was sweet.

Very true to life issues that a middle grade reader would face, but set in a lovely and thoroughly built up world. This made me cry and feel all the feels.

Lu's ah-ma is a famous geozoologist, and Lu has grown up hearing all about her amazing adventures. When a nearby town needs help and send for ah-ma, Lu and her friend Ren decide to go help since ah-ma hasn't been heard from in awhile. They decide they can help and look for her at the same time. But Lu doesn't know that Ren is running from something, and isn't just along for the ride.
Every creature is adorable, and the art is light and fun. Its a sweet tale of family, responsibility, and friendship that is perfect for any whimsical middle grade reader.

This was so cute!! The art was beautiful and it had great world-building. I appreciated the mixture of deeper themes such as loss with ecological concepts and funny moments. Middle-grade readers who like animals and fantasy will love this graphic novel! Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Lu and Ren’s Guide to Geozoology was such a fun read! I love the worldbuilding here - the entire concept of geozoology (animals that are also geographic features like mountains, stones, etc.) was fascinating, and I loved seeing all the different creatures Lu and Ren encounter throughout this book. The full-color illustrations truly bring them alive, and added a very MG feel to the arc of the story.

That said, there’s also a much deeper element to Lu and Ren’s Guide to Geozoology - the side about Lu’s relationship with Ah-ma and what she never learned about her, and Ren’s familial relationships. At times Lu got a little bit on my nerves, but overall I really enjoyed following her story and the complicated relationships she had with both Ah-ma and Ren. There was also an ecological element here I really liked around understanding what’s really needed to preserve the natural beauty of an area - and that it isn’t what you necessarily expect.

The art is very beautiful, capturing a sense of adventure and brilliantly depicting both the landscapes and creatures Lu and Ren encounter. I couldn’t resist stopping to admire the illustrations, which reminded me of the artwork in The Tea Dragon Society. I definitely recommend Lu and Ren’s Guide to Geozoology if you enjoy vibrant graphic novels and quest-type narratives!

4.5/5 stars, rounded up.

I loved the art style for this book! The plot was very nicely paced, and the concepts of the geofauna was quite interesting! I was mesmerized by the frog spring animals since they were inspired by the Grand Prismatic Springs in Yellowstone National Park. This will be perfect for readers who are fans of The Moth Keeper, The Tea Dragon Society, and Tidesong.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book, Lu and Ren set off on an adventure to find Lu’s Ah-Ma’s/grandmother.. She has her Ah-Ma’s journal that tells about her adventures and discoveries. Along the way, they learn some interesting things about her Ah-Ma and that various relationships can be tricky and hard. I like the info at the end of the book telling about some of the creatures and the eclipse.

I adored this book! The illustrations were so good and each mythical animal was so cute and interesting. I think this is a great way to teach a few different lessons - accepting/being yourself and knowing what you want, accepting those you love may have their flaws or differences from you, as well as how different parts of the way the world works can affect other parts, so taking care of our world is important. As you can probably see, I'm not great with words, just reading them, but overall I'm loving this book.

Lu and Ren's Guide to Geozoology is an adventure story focused around family, language, nature, and love of exploration. Lu's ah-mah Shan is a geozoologist, more often away on adventures than home with family. Lu idolizes her ah-mah and wants to be just like her. When Shan doesn't return from a trip, Lu sets out to find her, with her friend Ren. The two have Shan's journal as a guide, although it's in Shan's native language which neither are fluent in. As they revist her haunts, they learn about geozoology, find Shan's friends, and try to help those around them.

I highly recommend this for most; it is particularly great for its exploration of family legacies, friendship, and our relationship with the environment. Although there are some bittersweet moments as well as conflicts, Hsieh has created a beautifully illustrated book full of heart.

My daughter really wanted to read this. This is what she said "The characters were well made, designed. I enjoyed the story because it had me thinking of everything around us, and what could be discovered. " Coming from someone who is autistic and stricter on her reading, that is high praise coming from her!

I requested and received this book from NetGalley, my opinions are my own.

This is a cute graphic novel about friendship, family legacy, and the delicate balance of nature. I didn't expect it to be so heartbreaking, but I am a softie. I loved this book. I loved learning about and seeing all the fantastical fauna. I loved the characters and the story. I loved the way this book casually teaches about invasive species through fantasy. I'm so glad and grateful that I had the opportunity to read the ARC.

What an adorable book! I love books that take pieces of our world like zoology and put them in magical worlds. Lu and Ren's Guide to Geozoology was an adorable story of about finding yourself and finding friendship. The blurb for this book stated it would be perfect for fans of Studio Ghibli and the Tea Dragon Society and it was so right! Hsieh was able to build a world full of magical creatures so eloquently while simultaneously building a story of Lu's desire to follow in their ah-ma's footsteps of becoming a great geozoologist. Lu is able to help other communities while finding her stride as an emerging geozoologist.