Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Much better than I thought it was going to be! I really enjoyed the story and all the characters, I especially liked Lolo’s dad. The artwork was really great too, it was clean and the details were fantastic. I hope there will be more to this story at some point. I would love to read another volume.

This story is fast paced and enjoyable. Lolo discovers her superhero abilities all while juggling school, friends, and neighborhood bullies. Girl power, African American super-heroes and strong family ties make this a must read for graphic novel fans.

My daughter loved this graphic novel... developing powers, a realistic family setting, a drug dealer who wants to use a young girl's abilities. Lolo's life seems to have the usual ups and downs of a teen... welp, things just got a little crazier when her telekinesis is discovered.
Sharp graphics and action-packed pages... Girl on Fire is a good book that does leave some questions unanswered. At 225 pages, it's longer than many graphic novels, but a couple dozen more might have been good to flesh some things out.

Lolo discovers early on in this graphic novel that she has some unexpected abilities. It doesn't take long for her to realize that these abilities are a double-edged sword- protection but also something that could be used for bad.

I enjoyed this story. I don't think it has anything terribly astounding within, but it was solid and easy to read.

The drawings were amazing. The character of Lolo will be an inspiration to girls everywhere. A strong voice of girl power. Believing in yourself and those around you.
The story just felt like it jumped too much. No explanation of what caused the mom to leave, just inferred that she had “issues” which turned out to be her own powers. Michael’s background was implied, had to read into the story to understand his background. How did he cause Lolo to tap into her power? Teens will enjoy this story.

As a big fan of Alicia Keys music I was definitely curious to see how her writing would turn out within the graphic form. While I enjoyed the book, elements felt lacking too regarding the pacing of the story and a bit with the ending. The ending feeling off more gives me hope that we'll see a second installment. I enjoyed Lolo's story and her finding not just her strength with her new powers, but also her voice. Brittney Williams artwork matches the story well and definitely falls in line with what I would call Alicia Keys general vibe and style. Great addition for tween and up graphic collections (some violence tied to police brutality and gangs).

I enjoyed Girl on Fire more than I thought I would. There were really good moments that drew you in and then there were moments that were lack luster. I felt that although this was a good attempt, it could have been better. For example, at times the story flowed nicely and at other times the different story lines felt rushed and out of place. The one thing that I did enjoy about the graphic novel was how Lolo Wright was able to stop her brother from being harmed by the police officer by using her super power. Wouldn't it be amazing if all black kids had a superpower when it came to defending themselves against the oftentimes senseless, police brutality? With that said, a major plus for this graphic novel is the artwork. It was beautiful, but the story, unfortunately, did fall short.

This YA, superhero coming-of-age graphic novel centers on a young woman who is trying to grow up in a tough world and suddenly finds herself with a strange ability she can't control. The artwork in this book is stunning, with great character work in the designs for each character. I love the writing for all the characters concepts as well. Overall I think this story would have really benefitted from being fleshed out more- more time spent developing characters, which would add much more weight to the plot. This is an engaging read for young adult audiences.

I'm really glad I gave this title a chance. I loved the characters and the storyline. What disappointed me the most was the lack of depth. I know it's a graphic novel and it can't be too detailed but I wish there was more description for literally everything that happens. Especially the trauma that Lolo's brother has after the first big incident. Overall a really cute story, just wish there was more!

Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys is about finding your strength when everything is falling apart. This is a heartfelt book written by singer Alicia Keys! It is a refreshing and intriguing story.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don't read graphic novels often but saw this and decided to try it out. Alicia Keys "Girl on Fire" is about a girl coming to terms with her new magical powers. She has her friends and brother by her side to help her with the street gang trying to take over the city.

The story was enjoyable. I loved the graphics! So good!

At heart, this is a pretty standard super-hero origin story. We see characters discovering they have amazing abilities, testing the limits of those abilities, and deciding how to use them.

I reviewed this graphic. It's a fun, quick read. I expected more Alicia in this book (not sure why), but once I got over that, I enjoyed this read and have already recommended to my students.

I loved the drawing style of this artist and how they moved the story along without words but the writing felt incomplete. It sets up this interesting world & characters that reminds me of the DC Superhero YA Graphic Novels but it ends quickly with a handful of questions unanswered. If this was a series it could clear up those plot holes and do more to world build & develop character personalities. As it stands now It feels incomplete & rushed.

This is a great graphic novel for tweens and teens. It explores important issues and has great characters. The illustrations and story were both enjoyable.

Cute and simple manga. Very cute illustrations and simple but fun writing and story. Super glad I was able to read even if I wasn’t amazed.

My Thoughts:

I admit I picked this graphic novel up because it's Alicia Keys and "Girl on Fire" is my anthem "she's living in a world and it's on fire/filled with catastrophe, but she knows she can fly away/ oh. . . She got both feet on the ground/and she's burning it down" When life gets chaotic, and I just have to dig in and hold steady rather than back down, this is the song I go to for inspiration.

I thought maybe this was a memoir in graphic form on the artist Alicia Keys. Obviously I didn't look at the cover well, although I would love to read a graphic novel memoir of Alicia Keys (like March by John Lewis). This is a comic style superhero story about 14-year old Lolo. She is a good girl. Conscientious, skipped a grade smart, loving towards her family, including her dad, her maternal grandmother and her older brother. Her mother has been out of the picture since Lolo was a toddler, but although they live in the projects, Lolo's dad is doing his best to get them out.

Seemingly out of the blue two things happen to her - she has some kind of physical connection with another boy from the projects and when her brother is mistaken for a robber at the bodega and smashed into the ground with a gun pointed at him, Lolo finds that she has superpowers.

Although they try to keep it under wraps, Lolo is still connected to Mike and tries to keep him from going down a bad path as he deals with his frustration of being too short for football. In addition, the drug dealer that Mike ends up working for wants Lolo's to work with him and will hurt her family to get her.

Lolo's bravery and kindness, characteristics that she had even before she had super powers help to ground her to the values she holds dear even in the face of bullies and criminals. That, I think is what makes Lolo the Girl on Fire. She stays grounded and she can burn it down. Great for middle grades but older teens and adults will also enjoy this.

From the Publisher:
Lolo Wright always thought she was just a regular fourteen-year-old dealing with regular family drama: her brother, James, is struggling with his studies; her dad’s business constantly teeters on the edge of trouble; and her mother . . . she left long ago. But then Lolo’s world explodes when a cop pulls a gun on James in a dangerous case of mistaken identities. Staring down the barrel, with no one else to help, Lolo discovers powers she never knew she had. Using only her mind, she literally throws the cop out of the way.

Problem is that secrets like Lolo’s don’t stay a secret for long. Skin, a dangerous dealer with designs on taking over the neighborhood, hears of Lolo’s telekinetic abilities and decides that he needs her in his crew. Skin might not have Lolo’s powers, but he’s got nothing to lose and is willing to do whatever it takes to get what he wants. And what he wants is Lolo.

Lolo’s not willing to let Skin use her to hurt the people—and neighborhood—that she loves. But it’s going to take a whole different kind of bravery to stand-up for what’s right, especially after Lolo’s mom returns suddenly and turns Lolo’s whole world upside-down. For too long, it’s true, Lolo’s had her head in the clouds, but this time, it’s on her . . . and she’s not backing down.

Girl on Fire is a young adult graphic novel about a girl who’s a flame. It’s the first-ever graphic novel from beloved GRAMMY® Award-winning artist Alicia Keys, co-written by Andrew Weiner and illustrated by Brittney Williams.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the digital ARC 'Girl on Fire' written by Alicia Keys and Andrew Weiner, with absolutely phenomenal illustrations by Brittney Williams.

I grew up with old superhero comics, and have always loved and collected comics, and graphic novels.
And... Lolo just might be my new favourite superhero!
Everything about this graphic novel I loved... and it was released just in time to become an early birthday gift to me... from me.

I already sent the graphic novel synopsis to my Department Coordinator, with the text "we must get this for the book room! (somehow)"
'Girl on Fire' is perfect for reluctant readers, and it's also such a powerful coming-of-age story. There are so many every day struggles featured that would be so relatable to students. Plus, I always enjoy having strong female main characters in things I read, and Lolo definitely was that.

5/5

I am familiar with Alicia Keys and her song with the same title as the book and was curious. It was not what I expected but I'm not disappointed. Lolo and her brother are in the same grade and close to the same age. They live in a small apartment with their Dad and Grandma. Lolo is being teased at school for being too smart. There is another boy at school who wants to join the football team that everyone calls Runt and when he is rejected from the team and teased he bumps into Lolo when he's running away and suddenly they're connected by some strange power. Runt, who is revealed to be named Michael, is not possessed by a power but somehow Lolo is and she is able to move object telekinetically and yellow diamonds appear. When she and her brother happen upon a bodega after there is a robbery and the cops assume her brother is the perpetrator Lolo can't hold back and uses her powers and the two of them run away. Michael gets in with the wrong crowd in their neighborhood and the two of them have to come to term with what is going on in their life and make the right choices. This would make an interesting conversation in a classroom, especially to those that live in similar neighborhoods with similar issues.