Slip" has really beautiful drawings that perfectly capture the emotions and characters of the story, I maybe would have enjoyed it more in full colour but that's just my personal taste. Saying that, I did find the use of a different single colour for the magical sections really effective.

I would have liked a bit more development in the story, particularly for Jade's relationships with both Pheobe and Mary...I feel like neither of those had the depth that they deserved but I did enjoy the bits we did get to see. I particularly liked the idea of Jade using her art to understand her feelings and seeing her grow as an artist/friend. Loved the magic and descriptions of sculpture techniques, a really unique mix of ideas.

Thank you Netgalley and Algonquin Young Readers for providing me with a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

So I enjoyed the art style of Slip and it definitely had some SERIOUS topics that resonated with me, but there were some parts that fell flat.

After her best friend’s suicide attempt, Jade is trying to figure herself out and where she fits into the world. Expressing herself through her art is how she copes. I’m sure this book will be both triggering for some and an emotional story for others.

As someone who did summer art programs as a teen, I thought this book would resonate more, but it just fell flat for me. I think the illustrations by Aatmaja Pandya are dynamic and expressive. I particularly enjoyed how the book included descriptions of ceramicist tools and processes. Sadly, the storyline and writing in this advanced reader copy was uneven in its development and pacing. I also did not find the way that the author dealt with the topic of self harm and suicide to be particularly up-to-date. Many people are choosing not to use terms like "commit suicide" because it frames suicide as a sin or crime. Perhaps this language will change by the publication date. Overall, the book focuses on a main character whose friend attempted suicide, but it seemed like it teetered on the edge of perpetuating some misconceptions about suicide in the process as the main character tries to confront her own emotions around it. The ending is nice and empowering in many ways, but it doesn't resolve all the other issues I have with the book.

I voluntarily obtained a digital version of this book free from Netgalley and Algonquin Young Readers in exchange for an honest review.

Fans of Bloom and Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me will love Slip.
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Jade has been offered an opportunity to participate in an intensive art summer camp, but right before she leaves she finds out her best friend attempted suicide. Now Jade must try to focus at the camp, while also feeling guilty about not being there for her friend. While making her sculptures, all the anger and confusion she feels makes them come to life. Jade also finds new friendships and a relationship at camp, but her mind keeps going back to Phoebe and her worry of leaving her behind.
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This YA graphic novel deals with the effects of knowing someone who is struggling with their #mentalhealth as well as having great #lgbtq representation. I loved how the colors reflected Phoebe’s struggles and how it appropriately showed what it’s like dealing with someone who has attempted suicide. This book releases June 7.
CW: suicide attempts

The artwork wasn’t my favorite so I took a star for that.

First off: I LOVE the art style for this book. I love the art the characters create - how different it is, how evocative. I think it's interesting how little art we see from Kim.
Content warnings needed, as this book depicts the aftermath of a friend's suicide attempt. It grapples with the questions of what to do after this, how to best support someone going through it, and how to take care of your own emotions too.

I enjoyed this and I could really relate to the conflict that Jade was feeling, as I went through a very similar experience with my best friend when I was around the same age. I would've loved to have had this book to read during that time in my life. The book did a great job of handling a very heavy topic for young readers in a realistic way.

Right before Jade is about to leave for a summer art intensive, her best friend, Phoebe, attempts suicide. At camp, Jade pours herself into making ceramic monsters that vent her stress and insecurities, but when she puts her creatures in the kiln, something unreal happens.

Fact: Slip is this liquid-like state of clay before it is dried a bit; you can use it to connect two pieces.

I felt like McCoola was writing about her own personal experiences with this story, especially her love of ceramics, because every emotion Jade was feeling was palpable. Jade found therapeutic healing in her art, once she figured out what it was she was feeling.

I thought the discussion of suicide was handled well, as you see how someone committing suicide can affect the people around them. Jade is learning how to function without Phoebe, and doesn't know how she can support her friend during such a difficult time in her life.

Bonus: There was a cute sapphic romance, and lots of ice cream.

I had high expectations for this book, the concept is great and appeared to be in the style of other graphic novels that I love. Unfortunately, I think there were a few missing pieces. The story felt like it should have been explained a bit more as I was left with many questions about Jade and her work. A summer arts intensive is the perfect setting for a graphic novel, and the use of color helped guide the reader. It was a quick read at just 208 pages! Overall, just alright for me.

When I first stumbled upon Slip on NetGalley, I wasn't entirely sure what to make of the book. There's no denying the cover is stunning, and the descriptive text is rather intriguing, but it also promises a story self-harm and coping through art. Suicide is something that's hard enough to deal with in reality; using a friend's attempted suicide to frame a story? It seemed wrong. Yet, in the end, Slip manages to be a powerful story worthy of your time.
Slip hails from writer Marika McCoola and debut artist Aatmaja Pandya. It tells the story of a young girl named Jade who finds herself trying to cope with a friend's hospital stay following a suicide attempt. Just as things seem to be going up for Jade, she finds herself struggling to make it through everyday as her thoughts immediately turn to Phoebe. For Jade, her best friend was supposed to be by her side during art camp, so the idea of getting through it alone is hard to process. She doesn't feel good enough, as Phoebe was her biggest cheerleader. She moves through the day like a zombie, oblivious to what's taking place around her. Until she meets fellow art student, Mary.
Mary helps revive her spirit, helping her figure out what she needs to do to get her work back on track. More importantly, though, she helps Jade find a way to cope with Phoebe. It's an emotional story that is beautifully told thanks greatly to Pandya's artwork. You can feel the grief, you can sense the confusion and by the end, you'll find yourself in the same boat as Jade. It's a powerful story that isn't perfect, as it often loses focus but when it gets back on track? It soars like the phoenix Jade crafts.
The artwork can be choppy, but it only helps to sell the story. It adds to the grief and the uncertainty. It captures Jade's feelings. The use of the red when Jade is hurting is gorgeous and the way Pandya brings Jade's pieces to life is wonderful. They're pieces of clay, that spring to life to help Jade along her way. It can be a bit confusing at times, as the story isn't the best at transitions, but those moments of uncertainty are some of the biggest moments for Jade's character.
Ultimately, Slip isn't a light read. If you're looking for a fluffy romance? Slip isn't your book. If you are, however, looking for a graphic novel that successfully tackles real life issues thanks to artwork, then Slip is the perfect book for you.
Reviewer's note: I generally don't make it a point of adding my own personal bits into reviews. To be fair, though, in most instances? My reality doesn't relate to the fiction I consume. Slip, though, hits hard. Very, very hard. Eleven years ago, I lost a dear friend to suicide. They remind me a lot of Phoebe. Loved to talk, was always smiling, and in the end, I never understood why they felt the need to end it. (We never know the full truth to someone else's story.) To say Slip brought back some emotions for me would be putting it lightly. I never got into ceramics - look, I tried in college and it did not go over well - but I still related to the story. Art is a tool to help with grief in Slip, but there's so much here that many others will, unfortunately, be able to comprehend.

When Jade, a young artist, finds out her best (and only) friend Phoebe has attempted suicide it shocks her. The two had just discussed her plans to attend an art camp and nothing had come up. Jade feels she has failed her friend and is wracked with guilt for going away while Phoebe recovers from her attempt. While away, she continues to struggle not only with her feelings of guilt but also art block, insecurities regarding her skills, and a budding romance with a fellow camper. As Slip goes on it unravels into something more magical realist as Jade more literally confronts her art and the monster it becomes.

I found this a solid foray into serious issues using the comic form. Despite the billed comparisons to Bloom and Laura Dean, I'd say romance takes a backseat here to Jade's personal journey. Instead, we come away with a deeper understanding of art as therapy not only for the artist but perhaps also for their inspirations and muses.

A quick and beautiful graphic novel that deals with some heavier themes. Jade is away at an art camp for the summer and still reeling from her best friend's attempted suicide. This book is about finding yourself and a way to express your feelings after something jarring happens. A great read with some beautiful illustrations.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

I do not have a lot of experience with art therapy but this cute graphic novel does a great job exploring its importance during a tumultuous situation.

Jade's acceptance to an exclusive art camp is a dream come true. When her best friend attempts suicide before Jade's departure, she struggles with finding her place at the camp. As Jade works through her confusion and anger, her artwork begins to have a life of its own. Slip's magical realism and delicate handling of tough topics will appeal to fantasy and realistic readers alike!

I really enjoyed this book. It was a different take on the idea of suicide as the reader sees how someone's attempt to commit suicide touches others in their lives. I like how the main character's feelings and understanding came out in her art and that helped her deal with her own feelings, the guilt that she felt inside as well as her growing feelings for her fellow art student. The drawings were good and I liked the use of color for her feelings and mental questions. It was interesting to read all of the art terms and to learn more about sculpting as well. This was a great book and I can not wait to share it with my students.

TW:Suicide


I’d like to thank NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for allowing me to obtain a virtual ARC of this book


This book is a 3.5

Slip is a pull at your heart strings coming of age story with a tinge of fantasy. It covers mental health, and issues a lot of teens these days are facing. Jade, a young artist, has to cope with the fact that her best friend attempted suicide, and it is hard for her. It would be hard for anyone knowing that your friend or family member wanted to harm themselves.

I enjoyed the aspect of a queer romance without it being the main topic, because just like any heterosexual relationship it is perfectly normal.



Overall I would recommend this graphic novel to young people especially trying to find themselves.

Slip was definitely an enjoyable read, and I can definitely imagine keeping it in mind for younger readers looking for queer reads, reads with mental illness/health rep, and books that talk about art. I thought at times the development felt a bit rushed, but I enjoyed watching Jade’s emotional journey and thought it was a powerful story. I also loved the magical elements and how they operate in an unexplained manner, allowing readers to take their own meaning from it. All in all a good graphic novel for younger readers that holds an important conversation and engaging art.

I really wanted to like this. I think the story was great. However, I found the art style lacking. It was a little unfortunate how a book that focuses so much on art used bland, mostly uncolored, cartoony sketches for most of the scenes. Just a little more thoughtful use of color or something to make this more visually appealing would have gone miles.

This was a really quick read which followed really serious events.

I really liked the design of this and the concept but I was really confused with what was happening throughout the main event and had to reread a lot of the time. I also feel like it was a little rushed, maybe which is why I was confused a lot.

But despite this, I did like how mental health was portrayed on how a close friend could react to such a serious situation and how they deal with it.

Overall 3 stars as I did like it but it could have been a little longer with more detail. Like the mc and the love interest bonding and gaining that attraction.

Please check trigger warnings before reading this!

Thank you to netgalley and the authors for allowing me to read this ARC

Although I loved the style and themes of this book (as reflected in my rating), 8 couldn't truly connect with the characters - however this is expected as I'm not the target audience. My students however will think very differently.

I love the concept of this graphic novel. The art work was beautiful and really held up with the setting of an art intensive. Mental health and LGBTQ+ were strong, but subtle themes that held the story together. Unfortunately, there seemed to be something missing, maybe we needed the story to cover more detail about Phoebe or about Jades relationship with Mary. Overall I did enjoy this graphic novel.