Jeremy Whitley does it again! Princeless is one of my favorite comics for tweens and School for Extraterrestrial Girls is shaping up to be just as excellent!

Note: Rated a 7/10 but decided to round up.

On the list of most anticipated graphic novels for the rest of 2020 was a title called School for Extraterrestrial Girls #1: Girl on Fire. This title had a cool cover, and it sounded like a pretty interesting story. I was able to secure a review copy of the book, and it was interesting. I’ll do my best to not share any spoilers below. The graphic novel is written by Jeremy Whitley with Jamie Noguchi providing the art. You can purchase a copy for yourself through comiXology if it sounds like a good fit for you.

First, I want to address the art of the book. Overall, it’s pretty good. It’s not my favorite art, but Noguchi does show off some skill. I chalk this up to the subjective matter of taste and not an objective problem. Really, the big letdown is that in my digital copy, the art seemed out of focus and a little blurry. The text was sharp, but the art not so much. Now, considering that the preview pages on comiXology are sharp and clear, I’m chalking this up to solely my review copy.

So, what’s the story like? Well, it’s pretty average on the surface. It’s about a teenage girl whose life gets turned upside down, and she doesn’t know who she is or anything. It kind of reminds me of X-Men a little if we were to follow one of the less prominent characters. There are some great character growth moments too as Tara slowly learns who she is and more about herself and her newfound world. She navigates the rough road of making friends and its a little relatable.

It’s sci-fi enough to attract people more into that, but it also gives off a lot of similar vibes to Nickelodeon shows from the mid-late 2000s. In all honesty, it’s a lot more of the latter with the former just sprinkled in for setting.

The story has fun characters (Kat and Summer are definitely my favorites), good relationships, a fun premise, and just enough cheesiness to be enjoyable by a certain audience. The catch is that while I can enjoy this book to some degree, I acknowledge that I am not the target audience and therefore can’t relate to it as well as others. If I were a teenage girl I probably would’ve enjoyed Girl on Fire considerably more. That being said, it’s still not a bad read.

If you like cheesy teen shows, I would definitely give Girl on Fire a read.

This book was so exciting! I couldn't stop reading. And the themes of self acceptance and accepting others were just perfect.. I'm excited about reading book 2!

*Review will be posted on 8/14/20*

This is a cute graphic novel for children. It does deal with a lot of social themes and issues but in a way that is easy to understand and entertaining. As an adult, this was not for me but if I had a child or if my nephew wanted to read a comic I would definitely recommend this comic.


I loved the illustrations, the different types of aliens were fun and imaginative, and I liked looking at the different colors and seeing what I could spot in the background. Overall, a nice comic that any kid should love.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel. The characters were special as was the story and illustration. Teenage angst and drama are nothing new but add to that all of your classmates are aliens and no one is like you makes self-acceptance difficult and finding friends nearly impossible. A really cute and very well done story. I look forward to reading the next one!

When Tara Smith discovers that she's not an average girl and is in fact an alien, she is sent to a boarding school for other aliens. She must adjust to the realization that she is not human and that her parents are not actually her parents. She meets other Extraterrestrial girls that have a variety of forms and powers.
The premise of this story combined with the fantastically done artwork makes this graphic novel original and interesting. The characters in this book were a lot of fun. Tara is a character you want to succeed and I look forward to the continuation of this series. However, my favorite characters were the two cat-girls who provide the comic relief in the story.

Tara Smith is the perfect daughter and student. Her parents have very strict rules she must follow. What are they? Until one day at school she spontaneously combusted in the middle of her classroom. She screams “I’m on fire.” She doesn’t get any help from her classmates. The government steps in and takes her directly to a new school which is strictly for extraterrestrial females. Tara must come to grips with her identity as an alien and with her classmates. She now lives at the school. Tara doesn’t really want to be part of this school. Why? She loses her roommate when her roommate finds out, that Tara’s people almost wiped out her people. Her roommate disappears from school but no one seems concerned except Tara and another former roommate. Why? Tara discovers her missing former roommate is held by her parents. There is one problem — they aren’t her parent but aliens who kidnapped and raised her. They want Tara back. Will Tara go with them?

The author of this graphic novel has written a great story that is part mystery in a science fiction story about aliens from other planets. The illustration are perfect! Tara’s story is about coming to terms with your identity. It also is about being friends with those who are different from you and treating them with respect. I enjoyed seeing Tara coming to grips with her real identity. It wasn’t easy for her. A great story to enjoy!

Tara always knew she would be extraordinary, she doesn't didn't know exactly how it would come to be. When it turns out Tara is an alien and her parents might not be her parents she's sent to a school to be with others "like her." I loved the art and the character development of the featured teens who deal with the same issues as "normal teens." I look forward to reading their next adventure.

actual rating: 2.5

I decided to check this out because I love Princeless so much, but I just couldn't really get into this. It was cute enough but I guess I am just not as into scifi as much as fantasy and ended up skimming large portions of it. Still, it was a nice story and I think it will resonate especially well with teen readers because even though the main character is an alien she has the same problems with body image and trying to fit in that real teens do. This will definitely be a good read for some people but I don't think I will be continuing with it.

First in a graphic novel series that offers a sci-fi twist on teen friendship drama and body acceptance. Tara is a straight-A student with no friends and no other activities, by order of her parents. Then a power outage, a missed alarm, and a broken bracelet lead to her spontaneously combusting in her high school classroom. Now under the care of Earth's "School for Extraterrestrial Girls," everything Tara knows is blown apart, including her heritage, her identity, and her universe. Here Tara must learn to accept herself and the girls around her before she gets exiled from the planet. Characters are both relatable as teen girls and fascinating in their various alien forms. At it's heart, it is a fish-out-of-water story for young teens, but the colorful comic illustrations and interesting fictional world make it a fun read for all ages.

I received a e-arc of School for Extraterrestrial Girls #1 from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This was another comic that initially drew me to it because of the cover and I really did enjoy the artwork throughout the whole comic.

School for Extraterrestrial Girls was a fun first comic of the series and I think a lot of kids or younger teens would definitely enjoy it. While this is another "kid finds out their special" comic it does a great job on also dealing with social issues and I really appreciate that.

I did enjoy it but I'm not entirely sure if I will continue the series or not.

Tara always knew something extraordinary would happen to her. On the day that it did, she lost her family, her home, her identity. Now she has to find out who she really is, learn about her species, and the species of others living on Earth in a school for alien refugees. From being the awkward and weird girl at her human high school to being the awkward and weird girl at her alien all-girls school, follow Tara's journey and her self-realization as an awesome and fiery Lacertillan!

School for Extraterrestrial Girls #1 is a graphic novel about a young lady, Tara, who discovers her whole life has been a lie--she's not human. The uncovering of this lie sends her life in a new direction where she might, finally, get everything she's been wanting. Life doesn't work out that way. If Monsters v. Aliens and Sky High had a child, this would be it. While there was nothing outwardly "wrong" with either the illustrations of plot, the dialogue let me down. The main character became annoying, the story felt stunted, and it didn't feel like there was anything new in to the plot or theme. This is a series I would not be interested in continuing.

Thank you NetGalley and Papercutz for the opportunity to read an advance reading copy.

I received an ARC via NetGalley. I want to thank the publisher and author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this one! The cover art is what initially caught my eye, as well as the intriguing title. Besides the awesome artwork, this story had some good messages about friendship, and accepting yourself and others. The story itself is well paced and leaves you wanting the next volume. Overall, cool concept/story. I would definitely recommend this YA sci-fi graphic novel!

This graphic novel starts with a bang and then slowly settles into everyday life. After getting introduced to Tara's mundane isolated life for a couple of pages her routine is disrupted when she is covered in fire. Yes the cover is Tara sitting in school. We quickly transition to a secret government organization that enrolls Tara into an all women school for aliens. This is where the real story begins and is the setting for the rest of the book. Tara discovers even though she has the ability to start fresh, making friends and being honest isn't as easy as it sounds. As a reader you won't always agree with Tara's actions regardless of being human or alien. However, that what will ultimately connect the reader. She reminds us that we are all capable of hurting the people around us even if we think we are good people. I can't wait for the boy's school is book 2. My only small complainant is why can we have aliens but still only stick to two genders? Come on. Children ages 12 and up.

Written by Jeremy Whitley. Art by Jamie Noguchi. Published by Papercutz.

This is an advance review thanks to NetGalley. This book is currently scheduled to be published August 4, 2020.

This story is deceptively simple. Tara Smith is the quiet girl in high school. High grades, strict parents, doesn't socialize with anyone. Some would call her the weird girl. All of this is undone one day when her daily routine is messed up. To her horror she discovers not only that she's an alien but also those aren't her parents, and even more shocking she will now be attending a school full of other teenage girls who are also aliens. It is an amazing amount of information to absorb in one day and Tara does not react well. She reacts exactly how a teenage girl should.

Along the way Tara meets other students and maybe friends. She becomes aware not only of a larger world, but of a larger universe that she must now be part of. There are revelations, betrayals, and hints of so much more that will hopefully be revealed in further volumes.

It's amazing how down to earth the book feels. Despite featuring characters that are interplanetary, intergalactic, and even interdimensional, everything still feels real. School, dorms, and teens just hanging out. A story that can appear too big or overwhelming is ironically universal. The fear of being different. Fear of being hated. Worried about not fitting in. Wearing some emotions in the open and others buried so deep the pain affects others. A story about aliens tells the very real concerns of high school so well this graphic novel would be helpful in any school's library in the world.

What really got me is how much this book is needed right now. An entire generation grew up with stories that took place in a different mythical school. A series that is now tainted by it's author's hateful words. Into that void comes this book (and again, hopefully, series). A story about Tara Smith; who thinks she knows who and what she is, because that is all she has been told. When one day she learns she's something other than that it's scary. Who does she identify as? Which world does she belong to? Not only does she have to decide which face to show the world, she also has to accept that it isn't always her decision. The world expects her to act a certain way. Her "parents" expect her to play a role. Even as she learns about her true self there are assumptions about "her kind" that Tara will have to deal with every day.

When a teenager or a bit younger asks about reading comics, hand them this book. Put it up front at the comic store and the book store. Pick it up and put in in the hands of any kid who walks in looking confused and scared. This book is going to help so many kids who think they are alone. They're not, they just haven't found their true selves yet and the home that will welcome them.

I am not usually a big graphic novel person but I did enjoy this one. I liked the premise and the characters. The drawings added to the flavor of the story. I can see my grandchildren thoroughly enjoying this.

A great addition to the teen sci-fi genre with a story welcoming to girls and women. The characters really shine. When building new sci-fi worlds as ambitious as this, it can be easy to overwhelm readers with information. This series avoided that gracefully and managed to cement my interest in learning more about the universe. The artwork was easy to follow. I’ll be looking forward to the next volume.

This is a graphic novel about a young woman who finds out she is an alien and she has special powers and that the people she knew as her parents were probably holding her hostage. It's a very fast read and some kids will like it a lot for the scary adventure part of it. I didn't connect to any of the characters and found the world building lacking.

The book emphasizes how girls can feel alone & that they can rely on their friends to help them through tough times.