This second instalment from Brenna Thummler is wonderful. We join Marjorie and Wendell again, but now Marjorie has been accepted by the in crowd. She keeps Wendell a secret to avoid being thought of as a freak. Repeating a school year is Eliza, she’s already an outsider and as an avid ghost hunter she’s considered odd by the other kids. Marjorie has a dilemma now because she’s doing nothing to stop Eliza being bullied. Will Marjorie do the right thing, even if it means exposing her own secrets to another?

This is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel, continuing Marjorie’s story. The teenage themes of acceptance and anxiety as well as difficult issues such as bullying, anxiety and suicide are dealt with so well. A perfect story with an emotional and uplifting end. I love this book!

I received an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger warning to those who may be affected by themes of bullying and suicidal thoughts, these are themes within this graphic novel.

Delicates is poignant, heartfelt and filled with an important message.

I loved this one even more than I loved Sheets, it really hits home with it's underlying message of acceptance and tolerance. I could not put this down, it really hit home and left me feeling so much. I adored it from start to finish and I hope that we may be blessed with more stories in the future of Marjorie, Wendell and Eliza in the future.

<i> Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for the advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review </i>

Wow! I absolutely adored this little gem of a story. I didn’t know much about it going in, as I never read Sheets, the first volume, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. <b> Delicates </b> expertly explores the many faces loneliness wears in a quick, easy-to-digest, and cohesive narrative. The message is a razor-focused depiction of grief, bullying, and depression amongst youth and is 1000% the type of story that I wish I had when I was in middle school and experiencing many of the same emotions that Eliza did. I didn’t expect to be brought to tears as often as I was whilst reading - it’s SO emotional and powerful.

Depression and suicidal ideation are difficult topics to broach, ESPECIALLY for the intended audience and I feel like it was handled well. While I feel like there should have been some trigger warnings, Thummler handled the topic with grace and created an uplifting story that could genuinely save lives.

My absolute favorite thing about <B> Delicates </b>, however, was the unbelievably stunning artwork. The colors are vibrant and jaw-dropping. The characters’ emotions are drawn excellently and the ghosts are just so darn cute. I wanted to package Wendell up and keep him in my own bag. There was a lot of body and ethic diversity between the characters and they all felt like individual, instead of stock illustrations.

I was very impressed with <b> Delicates </b> and fully intend on picking up Sheets soon. I can foresee Brenna Thummler’s work becoming a must-read in the future! Definitely recommend!

This book was really, really great. I read the first book, Sheets, last year, and wasn't overly impressed. It felt too young and too silly for me to really take seriously. My expectations were just a bit too high. It's possible I lowered my expectations for this one, but I was absolutely blown away. I think rather the author has just gotten better at what she does. This was not just adorable and fun to read and experience, but gets deeper into the relationships of the characters, their emotions, and what drives them to do the things they do. The topics in Delicates are much more serious than in Sheets, and even as an adult, I could relate. It made me dive deep back into my memories into my middle school experience, and I can't say a lot of books have done that. It also illustrates how quickly situations can turn south, and how even your inactions can have an affect on another human being. Growing up is hard. Being a pre-teen is hard. Middle school/high school is hard, and I wish more than anything I could go back with the kind of knowledge about human interaction that I have today. I truly felt for all these characters throughout the whole story. This book just got it. I'm very impressed.

Oh my goodness. This was amazing. I cried my eyes out in the end. After having only read Sheets last week, it was so perfect picking Delicates straight up.

Although for the most part, I didn't feel as connected to the story as I did with Sheets, about 75% in the story started to come together and it really hit me in the feels. This is a very beautiful but touching middlegrade novel surrounding friendship, grief, mental health, family and the hardships of being a kid in school.

I love the illustrations as well, just think the graphic novel is so beautifully done and very colourful. Despite having some darker topics at its heart.

TW: Grief, loss of a parent, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, bullying.

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

I loved the first book in this series, so I was so excited to see that it had a sequel. It picks up almost as if no time was lost. I like how the story followed the insecurities of the girls but gave them the room to kind of explore and find themselves. It is very relatable to other teens. The ghost aspect keeps it engaging all the way through. I enjoyed it, and middle school readers will as well.

This graphic novel was truly something special! Not only were the illustrations excellent and the characters were adorable, but the overall theme of this book was well executed in a friendly way for younger audiences.

This story really emphasized the desire for us to fit in, to the point where we lose sight of our true selves. This story educates about bullying and the long term affect it can have, especially on our youth, and that is an important message to share.

The art style in this is really cute and fun. And the story is a great one too. Everyone feels alone sometimes and the way the author relates this to being like a ghost is great. I actually think I enjoyed Delicates more than Sheets. I'm definitely looking forward to more stories from Brenna Thummler.

“For a freak who sees dead people, I’ve been pretty blind to what’s in front of me. Last year, I was the one who felt like a ghost. How did I end up on the other side? You never know what’s going on inside someone else’s head -- how they’re hurting -- even if you put the hurt there yourself. Maybe we need to stop thinking only about what we see, and focus on learning what is actually there.”

Delicates, the sequel to Sheets by Brenna Thummler, continues to follow the life of Marjorie Glatt just as she starts her 8th-grade year. She’s been accepted by the popular kids but worries that everyone will discover that she is a freak with ghost friends that help run the family laundromat. Eliza Duncan, a fellow 8th-grader, feels just as out of place and seeks solace in her photography. Marjorie, a guilty bystander, must figure out how to mend the harm that Eliza endures along with healing a scarred family and balancing a ghostly relationship.

Delicates was even more powerful than Sheets. This stunning -- seriously, stunning -- graphic story captures exactly what it feels like to be invisible and in middle school. Marjorie’s character is just beginning to shape what her values are and who she wants to be as she grows up. Eliza, though, was my favorite. Her passion for photography and the fact that she stood behind her beliefs no matter what was inspiring. I liked watching the character growth, the realistic portrayal of friendship, and honest family dynamics in Delicates. Wendall, as always, will be my favorite sheet ghost of all time.

I loved the importance stressed on taking care of your mental health and that it is ok to ask for help when you need it, even if you can’t find the right words at first. Heavy thematic elements like bullying and suicidal thoughts are dealt with in a compassionate way. This will be an excellent addition to my early High School classroom when the physical copy is published.

[CW: bullying, suicide/suicidal thoughts, death of a parent, depression.]

Like the first in this series, this one was also hard hitting, Dealing with subjects of bulling and suicide. It was handled well though, the beautiful colour palette complimenting the sensitive topics and the ending uplifting. The focus was less on the sheet ghosts in this one which was a little disappointing but still a great read for young and old.

I wish that I could live in a world designed by Brenna Thummler. I spent so much time just staring at each page because they were so beautiful.

Delicates takes all of the best parts of Sheets and just turns it up to 11. It tackles a lot of issues and lets the reader sit with each one of them for more time than I expected from a graphic novel targeted towards young people. I wish that I had been able to read this story at Marjorie's and Eliza's ages, and I know that young readers are lucky to have it now. (Also, Wendell continues to be one of my all time favorite ghosts!)

Another phenomenal title from Brenna Thummler, only further establishing her place as one of the greatest writers and illustrators out there at the moment. Much like the first installment in the series, DELICATES tenderly explores the many ways there are to be lonely and the impact finding the right person may have. Furthermore, this graphic novel attempts to get at the heart of the ways people may let themselves down once the world has done them wrong one too many times, as well as the ways to pick yourself back you. As heartwarming as it is heartbreaking, I loved every moment of it.

The art is just as fantastic in this as it is in Sheets. The story was a really important one and I think it did a really good job portraying a realistic view of what 8th grade is like and how suicide ideation and bullying are real issues for kids growing up.

Delicates is the perfect sequel to Sheets, both novels by Brenna Thummler. Delicates brings our favorite characters from Sheets back for another story, this one with more depth and a strong message. In this story, Marjorie learns what is truly important in life and what is worth fighting for as she navigates her friendships and family. We are also introduced to Eliza, a character who believes in ghosts, loves photography, and is quite lonely. Thummler handles hard topics with care in a way that readers will empathize with. I would recommend this title to readers!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is the sequel to Sheets. I l adore Sheets and I think I might've loved this one even more. The story is perfectly portrayed through the art. It is just such a beautiful novel with a wonderful message.

This volume continues the story of 8th grader Marjorie, friend to laundromat ghost Wendell, as she struggles to fit in with her sort-of friend group and figure out how to talk to boys. She encounters Eliza, an outcast who spends her time trying to photograph ghosts.
Loved this even more than Sheets, though the first book was also awesome. More, please!

It’s hard to put into words exactly how much I loved this book the illustration style is not only original but is a perfect match for the stories. This book deals with some hard hitting subjects such as bullying and mental health in such a respectful yet impactful way. I really loved Eliza as a character and the glimpses we get into here thoughts throughout the book. Following Marjorie dealing with the grief of losing her mother throughout both books has really touched my heart and although this was not the main plot of this book I liked how it was still an ongoing theme, seeing how she and her family are slowly healing and learning to live without her mum. I really feel this is a great depiction of grief and mental health though a young teenager's eyes.
I don’t want to spoil anything in the book as I loved going in blind but highly recommend this beautiful graphic novel as an amazing sequel to Sheets as well as being a strong book on its own.

So I had no idea this was a sequel. But I absolutely adored this book. All the bullying and not taking a stand. And one little ghost made that change. I love the storyline, the concept of the story and the adorable illustration! I definitely need to purchase the first one and get them both on my book shelf.

Definitely has all the hallmarks of what readers loved about Sheets and will for sure appeal to new readers as well. Its also nice that someone doesn't have to have read Sheets to enjoy this new title. Very helpful in libraries.

Delicates was a wonderful and heartwarming sequel to Sheets. Sheets has a special place in my heart and delicates was even better. I adored this story. It was powerful, a little bit sad, and definitely heartwarming. The color pallet was gorgeous too. I'll recommend to everyone who wants to read a wholesome story.