Angelica is a teenager who is making a slow, thoughtful recovery from burnout. For her first big project, she gets an internship at the local theater, where they tell stories that Angelica has grown up with. Along the way, she’s found a special source of support and comfort, Per the bear prince, the mascot for said local theater. The begin exchanging message online and a bit of a romance begins to bloom.
This was such a sweet graphic novel, with a heartfelt approach to sharing emotions and how each person manages them in their own unique way. Angelica spends some time untangling her own emotions and learns how respecting and caring for the way that others engage with theirs is a way of showing love.
In addition to Angelica’s story, Trung tells the tale of the Bear Prince, based on “East of the Sun and West of the Moon.” As someone who is not familiar with that folk tale, I was disappointed that we didn’t get the end of his story. I even went back to check if I missed it somewhere. I would have loved that addition to help bring the entire story closure.
I’ll be recommending this book to anyone looking for a cozy romance or to read about tricky adolescent experiences such as, burnout, grief, or navigating relationships with friends, significant others, and parents.

I picked up this book, looking for something cute and romantic to read. I was expecting a lot from this book, and I didn't get it. It was too light for me, I do understand that it is intended for a younger audience than me, but I have read books meant for younger audiences and still have enjoyed them greatly; this book did not do it for me. At times I felt it was going too fast, other times it was too vague, so I was thrown off reading it. The base story was good, but I didn't feel the romantic plot either. This book may not be suitable for some readers due to some topics that it shows during the story.

All that aside; the art is beautiful and the letters from the author made me understand the work and thought process that goes behind a book.

note: I received this copy via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for this opportunity.

This was a delightful read, despite some of the heavier themes. The art is absolutely stunning and there's a lovely balance of sweet moments with reflections on grief. I'm absolutely recommending my library pick up a copy, can't wait to share it with students :)

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the digital ARC for review!

I very much enjoyed this graphic novel. I had a really fun time reading it. While it had its lighter moments, it also had a lot of emotional depth.

Jelly is burned out.

"I was just happily skipping along when suddenly my battery died, and everything inside me stopped. Everything I used to love started to feel so far away from me."

A mysterious pen pal, masquerading as a bear character from a theater show, has been helping her get through a tough time.

This story has a little bit of something for everyone. It mainly focuses on lives of teens, but it also explores the issues of the adults in their lives. I like the balance of this, especially for older readers like me, who relate to both the teens and the older adults.

Another part of the story I really enjoyed was the queer representation. The characters are diverse and unique. I like how there are queer characters, but that is not what defines them. They are like real people, with real struggles and they don't always handle things perfectly. They make mistakes and react out of heightened emotions.

The art is also very very cute and I very much enjoyed every panel.

I want to leave this review spoiler free, as I think if you are interested in the subject matter, you should give it a go yourself. I hope you will love it!

A year after burning out and dropping all of her extra curriculars, Angelica lands a sought after internship at a local community theater. She's sure that she can handle the stress better now that she has a support system in place - one that includes private messages shared with the account of the theater's beloved mascot. Angelica hopes to find out who's behind this account and in doing so, maybe reconnect with an old friend.

Weaving bits of the fairy tale that the play is based on with what's currently happening in Angelica's life, Nguyen gives his readers a hopeful tale about the different ways people process grief. It's beautifully told, and I'm now obsessed with Per the Bear. I will definitely be recommending this one in the future!

This author is new to me, but I will be keeping an eye out for anything else they publish. I loved the story and the characters. The pacing of the story was great and the characters were relatable.

Jelly is struggling. She has spent most of her young life being as busy as possible and fixing problems as soon as they come up. Then she burnt out and is now trying to figure out how to keep going without giving up completely. It doesn't help that her mom is very similar and won't focus on her feelings, and her dad is a good person but focuses on making jokes instead of helping. She's been sharing her feelings with the social media account of Per the Bear, the main character of a famous local play.

He offers her some good advice and after speaking with his grandma, comes up with a plan to help her out. This allows her to starts to focus on feeling her feelings instead of logically solving everything. It allows her to be a better friend, a better daughter, and a better person.

The story of the Princess and the Bear add a little extra fun to the story, but I don't really understand how the ending comes about. It doesn't take away from the story, but the ending seemed abrupt. It was a happy ending with lots of love and growth.

I was a big fan of this author’s last graphic novel,so I was looking forward to this one. Unfortunately it fell really flat for me. I figure this should have not been a romance at all or it should have been only romance. We get legit half a panel of back story about the two main characters past. There’s a lot of time spent on a bunch of different subplots that never really pay off like I was wanting them to. The result is that I have zero connection to any of the characters except maybe the bear costume because it’s cute.

Also, what in the stranger danger hell made someone think a young teen girl texting a random actor in a mascot costume that she didn’t know the true identity of was a good plot point. MC’s out here using a stranger as therapy at best and aiming to be abducted by a psychopath at worst.

This was the cutest, sweetest graphic I will probably read this year. Interwoven with an equally adorable folk tale, this graphic novel tackles important conversations surrounding burnout, friend & family expectations.
I loved the art style and the characters and just everything about this book. It is absolutely worth the read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Graphic for the eARC.

3.5 stars!
A lovely story about grief and burnout with a sweet romance at the center! I loved the art style so much, I could feel the snow in the air. It was a real treat for the eyes. I also quite liked Angelica, her family, and her friendship with another girl. I liked the set up dealing with Angelica's grief and how time complicates it, and how that led to her taking on too much. That story was incredibly strong. Unfortunately, I think the story suffers from being quite short. I would have really loved more on Gable, their personality and family. I was also underwhelmed with how little the theatre setting really mattered. I would've really liked more focus on that, and how it helps burnout to be more creatively fulfilled. Overall, I think the central story was well done, but I wish we had more time with the many side elements introduced. I would've liked staying in this world longer. I hope Trung Le Nguyen returns to it again, and I will definitely be picking up the author's previous work.

Thank you to Random House Graphic for the eARC.

This is a sweet and pretty graphic novel that delves into some deeper topics, such as grief and burn out.

I enjoyed the art style, illustrations, and story line. I really enjoyed the background pen pal story, a little You’ve Got Mail-esque (which I love). And despite some of the deeper and harsher topics covered, the story still felt mostly cozy and sweet.

This just cements it for me that I really enjoy graphic novels and need to read more of them.

Wow, this was absolutely the most charming, whimsical, gorgeously illustrated graphic novel I've read in a long time. It has just the right balance between serious and sweet, and I loved how characters were given room to feel their feelings and to grow in how they handled them. Will absolutely be recommending this to teen readers once it's added to our library collection.

After the success of his first graphic novel, The Magic Fish, Trung Lê Capecchi-Nguyễn is back with another enchanting graphic novel that combines the whimsical nature of fairy tales with more serious themes. Unlike The Magic Fish, Angelica and the Bear Prince is more contained, telling the story of Angelica “Jelly” Hoang, a 17-year-old, as she tries to move on with her life with an internship at the local theatre after suffering from burnout. Eventually we come to learn that Jelly is also dealing with grief in addition to anxiety and that she’s not the only one with problems. It’s clear that Jelly’s mother is having some difficulties with her shop while also trying to find the best way to connect and bond with Jelly, all the while her best friend Chrissy is dealing with her own relationship troubles with her boyfriend. In fact, every character has their own way of dealing with their issues, and for Jelly the one bright hope spot in her life is finding a fairy tale story about a bear prince and finding comfort with her chats with Peri, the bear mascot of the local theatre, or rather the person behind his socials, who readers come to learn is an old, forgotten childhood friend of hers. I adore how, once again, Trung is able to seamlessly tie his protagonists’ favourite stories back to their current situation in a way that feels realistic and authentic to the tone of the story. And like he did with The Magic Fish, Trung continues to pay homage to his Vietnamese background with Angelica and the Bear Prince. As a reader of Vietnamese descent, I particularly loved seeing Jelly making bánh chưng together with her friends and family. A cozy and heartwarming book, Angelica and the Bear Prince features a cast of characters who are diverse in race, size, sexuality, and gender identity, all depicted in a refreshingly honest and casual way. Mental health and grief are represented with accuracy, and the relationships among family and friends are depicted as far from perfect. As in real life, the characters come to realize that the key is to show up for their loved ones in the way that the other person needs. Angelica and the Bear Prince is an excellent combination of dreamy with its fairy tale sequences and rather sweet romance but also touching, adorable, and even hilarious at times, especially with how the characters’ emotions and reactions are drawn.

Thank you to Random House Children's Books, Random House Graphic, and Net Galley for a free Arc of "Angelica and the Bear Prince."

My daughter actually picked this book to read based on the cover, title, and the artwork.

I enjoyed all the characters in the pretty pictures as we wander through the story about coping, relationships, and grief.

I really enjoyed the mixed media with seeing the texts back and forth between Angelica and Per the Bear fan account throughout the book.

It is a very cute easy read for the holiday season.

This book was amazingly whimsical and beautifully drawn. The same dreaminess that Trung Le Nguyen captured in The Magic Fish continues to flourish in this book. The focus on community across generations in this was truly heartwarming and went really well with the winter setting.

The artistry and the story in this graphic novel are beyond stunning. I love how this author deals with grief, growing up, and dealing with mental health burn out. Everything is handled so beautifully, and I know that this will resonate with so many readers. I am so excited that they will get to read it soon. This will certainly be a graphic novel I will suggest to any tween and older readers.
Thank you so much to Random House Children’s Books and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

BEAUTIFUL. Trung Le Nguyen does it again! I love their stories and their beautiful art. This flows beautifully. I love the idea of the story so much and enjoyed the execution even more.

My copy of this graphic novel included an author's note that warned that although intentions were to keep this story lighthearted, it also touched on heavier topics. This was true. And it worked magically.

After experiencing burnout, Angelica decides to do something for herself and signs up to volunteer for her community's play: The Bear Prince. Unbeknownst to others, Angelica has been communicating with the Bear Prince, via social media, for over a year. What started as playful banter has morphed into a deeper relationship. Angelica hopes to meet the Prince, in person, if only the Bear Head will ever come off.

The graphics in this novel are astounding. Not only do they cover the story well, the colors and design are so eye-catching without being too overwhelming. We are currently living during a blistering summer, and yet, I felt the coolness of winter and the warmth of love radiating from these pages.

While cute and romantic, there are moments of profound sadness (loneliness after losing a spouse, experiencing your first heartbreak, strained relationship between mother/daughter, missing a lost loved one, etc.). Although the author did warn this, I did not realize just how sentimental these moments would leave me feeling.

Overall, a good read with a happy ending. Many thanks to the author/publisher/NetGalley for the complimentary read. All opinions expressed are my own.

17-year-old, Angelica is an overachiever. Pushing herself too much, dealing with family issues, she burns out and has retreats from life. To cope, she starts talking online to Peri the Bear, a mascot at Log House Theater. When she gets the internship at the theater, she can’t wait to experience it from behind the scenes and feel connected to her work again. As she works at the theater she tries to figure out who could be behind the bear mask. Meanwhile, her friend Chrissy is also dealing with family issues and grief and Anya’s love interest, Gable, is different after leaving home. Will Angelica figure out how to balance her life?

The plot is well written and deals well with themes of grief, friendship, and first love. The characters are well developed and engaging. The illustrations are wonderfully done and complement the text well. Readers who like realistic fiction, romance, and friendship fiction will want to pick this one up. Recommended for most library collections. 5 stars, Gr 8 to 12.

I really liked this graphic novel. It is important to understand acceptance and this story showed it in such a nice way. The illustrations were wonderful, clear and great colors. The story is beautiful and wonderfully written. I will suggest it to others I work with and some students that may be interested in this book.