A magical graphic novel that readers of all ages can appreciate. Wild and imaginative, I was completely drawn in by the gorgeous illustrations and storyline.

Rating 4

This was a good read. I loved how important friendship was throughout the story. The illustrations were my style and added to the overall setting. I will definitely recommend this to patrons at my library. A must read!

This is one of my favorite graphic novels of the past year! We're so excited to include it on our 2020 summer reading list, and I can't wait to dive back into the story with my middle school readers.

I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about this book. I really disliked one of the two main characters, which kind of brought the book down for me. On the other hand, it was a pretty fun adventure. It has the feel of a Tillie Walden book, which is good for my patrons (though not at all my personal jam).

This is a perfect pick for the age of Stranger Things. I was curious through the whole story while the colors really set the tone. If you’re looking for a october read, add this one to your TBR!

What a boring book! The art is really nice but the book is too long and readers will lose interest. More appropriate for younger kids who will take several reading sessions to finish it. But it took me 3 weeks to read this because I was so bored.

A delightful atmospheric magical and weird (in the best way) unexpected adventure story that had me hooked from the beginning, basically consuming this book like delicious Rice Krispy treats (you know you can't eat just one) in one sitting. When paper lanterns (giving me major Tangled feels in the best way) are launched on the night of the Annual Autumn Equinox Festival, Ben and company make a deal not to stop following them. You can't resist the Goonies/Stranger Things/80s adventure vibes that this comic gives you. But he's abandoned by his friends and left with Nathaniel, who is mistreated by the others and Ben does not stand up for, which makes for some excellent character development and conflict. But wait, there's more! There's a bear who is on a traditional fishing mission and joins the adventure. This book reads like the finest Miyazaki film, as others have said. The best part about comics is I get to make this movie happen, complete with the soundtrack and voices in my mind. But also, I hope it does get adapted into a animated film .... The more I write about This Was Our Pact, the more I realize I need to make this a book discussion book so I can talk about it with kids and hear about their experiences in this weird, magical world. I'd definitely recommend this graphic novel for those interested in adventure, magic and whimsy or just want to see a bear on a bicycle.

A beautifully illustrated story of friendship, fantasy, adventure, and imagination. Lovely book and I would highly recommend for younger readers of fantasy and graphic novels.

Every Autumn Equinox, a group of boys jump on their bikes and follow the lanterns down the river to the furthest point. Their pact has two rules 1) No one turns for home and 2) No one looks back. This year, the boys have decided they will finish the journey and find out once and for all. where the lanterns go The question is: will they be brave enough to do it or is it just talk? One by one the boys would decide. Trailing behind them is Nathaniel—a nerdy boy. What could he possibly want? Ben would rather not associate with Nathaniel but their fathers are friends. Can Ben learn to accept Nathaniel, especially when he is so insistent on tagging along and being his friend? What happens next would stretch the reader’s imagination. It will take you places you never knew you could go, show you places where uncharted territory exists. What does bottled hate taste like? Why does the word WHALE just send everyone up? We’ll meet a fisherbear, a madam cartographer straight out Miyazaki’s Spirited Away and a crow named Margaret. The constellations never looked so bright. Ryan’s magical realism is enchanting. This is the kind of graphic novel we need to see more of for middle grade students. The speech bubbles and drawings, soft shading – all work together. The book is clean and fantastical. The story is eccentric enough to hold the attention of children and grounded enough to earn the approval of parents.

A fantastic adventure with a heartwarming story. I cannot wait to get this into the hands of my students.

Great art and story. the action is fun and the characters are likable. This will be a definite hit with my patrons. I'd hand this to ages 9-12 years.

Interesting twist on the coming-of-age story of two boys and their bikes. The magical realism elements were a bit too confusing for me, as we bounced between bears and rivers and lakes and stars and fish and witches, but it all came together to a fairly satisfying story in the end. Other reviewers have compared it to a Studio Ghibli movie, which is an apt comparison-- I always feel like I missed some of the connecting pieces in those too, and still enjoy the ride. I'm not sure the somewhat melancholy tone will appeal to younger readers as much as it did to me. I also think it all went on for a bit too long, and I think the length might keep readers at my library from picking it up.

Every year at the Autumn Equinox the town releases lanterns into the river. This year, some boys from the town have made a pact to follow the lanterns and see where they go even if it means going past the point their parents have told them is their exploration barrier. Ben is very committed to the pact, but not many of his friends are. Only Nathaniel, a boy Ben’s friends ostracize, is willing to go past the bridge barrier with him. The two boys’ fathers work together in the observatory but Ben has tried to keep his distance from Nathaniel since the others don’t think he is cool. Their adventure together to follow the lanterns proves much harder than they thought. Is it even possible? It will take them to unexpected places, teach them things about themselves and friendship, and stretch their strength and imaginations.

I had thought from the cover that this would be a realistic story, but it is very much a flight of fancy and imagination. The boys run into a bear on a quest, creatures beyond their ken, a crazy inventor, and more. And of all the wild and wonderous and weird things they do see, the readers will notice that there are even more things close but just out of sight that the boys never notice. Perhaps a commentary about how the world is full of wondrous things that we often fail to notice? I really like the things that Ben learns along the way about friendship and kindness and how he has misjudged Nathaniel. Nathaniel is a lovable oddball with surprising skills and knowledge. While weird new things may put Ben in a stupor or funk, Nathaniel faces them with aplomb and a sense of wonder that is contagious. The boys are good foils to one another. I wasn’t sure what to make of the bear for a while, but liked him in the end. The book also has a nice bit on real astronomy for those who like to look to the night skies. And last, but certainly not least we need to talk about the artwork. The entire thing happens in night conditions so the book is mostly illustrated in blues with splashes of yellows and white and it is utterly enchanting. If you just pick this up to look at the illustrations, I think you’re entirely justified in doing so. There’s an open enough ending there could be more adventures with Ben and Nathaniel and I think students are our school would definitely welcome more. I can see this being quite popular. Highly recommended to graphic novel fans, adventure fantasy fans, friendship story fans, and beautiful artwork fans.

Notes on content: No language issues. (Some unkind things said about Nathaniel by other boys, but he has a thick skin and eventually he and Ben talk about these things.) No sexual content. (The boys go swimming in just their underwear at one point, but it didn’t feel scandalous just more practical so their clothes wouldn’t be sopping wet and cold.) Some potentially perilous situations, but everything works out ok and no injuries. Some parents/guardians/teachers may want to talk to kids about the boy going so far from home without permission. The book is so fantastical it doesn’t feel to me like the kind of thing kids would read and try to emulate in real life, they may fantasize about what it would be like to go on such an adventure but I can’t see readers taking this book as license to do the same. Still some adults may want to talk to readers about that point of the book.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Really interesting twist of realism with fantasy. At the beginning you really have no idea the fantastical journey that is ahead.

LOVE the artwork here, especially how the blue hue is used throughout. A lovely story about friendship that I'm sure my middle schooler's will enjoy too!

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I didn’t love this story, it was nice, and a cool adventure, but I didn’t finish it and think, oh I’ve got to buy this for my library. I read the first 50 pages and then put it down for a week. Usually I finish graphic novels in a day or two. I’m not sure what’s missing, but I’m goin to skip purchasing this one,

Spectacular. I loved it. The art, the story, themes, and characters - it was all precisely up my ally. I didn't have any expectations going in to it and wasn't familiar with Ryan Andrews, and wow! I've pre-ordered the book because I'd love to own it. Highly recommend.

A charming, magical adventure in the vein of <i>The Phantom Tollbooth</i> or <i>Alice in Wonderland</i>. It's just a little bit whacky and revels in fairy tale logic, as all my favorite stories do. The illustrations were absolutely gorgeous and worked perfectly with the magical, mysterious story.

It all starts at the Fall Equinox Festival when everyone in town drops light lanterns into the river. A group of young friends go every year, and bike down the river to follow the lanterns. This year,. they're going to find out where the lanterns really end up. One by one the friends drop out - too hungry, too scared, too going-to-be-so-grounded. Eventually only two kids are left- one of the original group, and his uncool tag-a-long friend.

Things get really weird when they suddenly run into a Fisher Bear. A talking bear wearing human clothes. A realistic-whimsical story turns into a magical-whimsical story. At moments we are pulled into the moment completely with detailed images and descriptions of sounds and emotions.

The dialogue is believable and funny - very kid-like. Topics including bullying, loyalty, and independence are touched on.

The art is beautiful - almost everything is different tones of blue. The faces are very cartoony, which is interesting against the detailed line drawings.

What a beautiful haunting tale. The fairytale world these boys bike into is enchanting and each new adventure they find felt delightfully unexpected. Amidst the fantastic creatures and situations, the relationship between the boys was extremely realistic in how it handled the push and pull of the desire to fit in and the need to find a kindred spirit. The art had a flowing quality that mimicked the river and the milky way beautifully.