Paper Planes is easy to read with beautiful artworks and a powerful message behind it.

Complex characters from all walks of life.

Leighton and Dylan screwed up. Bigtime. So Leighton and Dylan are spending the summer at a camp for troubled teens. If they "pass" the course, they can return to their own school community in the fall. If they don't, things will look a lot different.

Paper Planes takes us back through the origins of Dylan and Leighton's relationship (I'm not sure I can call it a friendship - it's messy), and moves back and forth through time, eventually getting to the event that sends them to camp. For me, this made the narrative choppy, because the flashbacks weren't always linear. We learn a fair amount about both of them, and the central motif of the two of them sending messages by paper plane is firmly established. Dylan identifies pretty early as non-binary, and when Leighton is being honest , which is really, really hard for her, she moves towards the asexual part of the spectrum. Unfortunately, that is totally not a place her family and privilege will allow her to inhabit publicly.

Visually, the book is beautiful. Lettering (Micah Myers), visuals and colour (Dozerdraws) are well done, and students in Grade 7 and up will be attracted to this original graphic novel. I struggled with the dynamic between the characters, and the generally unhealthy relationship that Leighton's denial, combined with her very privileged family, creates for Dylan. I spent a fair amount of the book wanting to yell at Dylan to "Run away! Run very, very far away!". I think that students will probably be able to get past that problem with the book because they will be able to identify more with the characters than I can. I need to give major props to author Jennie Wood for not taking the easy way out in any way here. The characters have to figure a lot out, and she doesn't give them easy solutions or cutesy happy endings. That's a strength of the book. I will be very interested to see who students identify with, and I think that the book might be amazing for a book club that wanted to wrestle with the characters.
This was a 3 and a half star read for me - but I think the target audience will like it much better! Thanks to Maverick Comics and NetGalley for the e-arc. The book comes out May 16th!

Dylan and Leighton are sent to a summer camp for troubled youth after an 'incident' involving a classmate. It puts their relationship and futures in jeopardy. The story follows them through their summer experiences.

I'm not exactly sure how I feel about this graphic novel. I did enjoy reading it. I love the diversity. Some of it felt stereotypical at times. The artwork and story flowed pretty well. We get some flashbacks randomly thrown in to try and build suspense. None of what actually happens is what I thought was going to happen. I do love the unique storytelling through paper planes. It reminds me of my passing notes days. (There's no way everyone is oblivious to the paper planes. And how are they so accurate with their targets every. single. time.?)

Most of the plotlines do not have resolutions. Which is pretty accurate to the high school (and life in general) experience. Friendships and relationships grow together and apart. Life and circumstances happen. Paths alter. All we are able to control, is ourselves in the moment. And I feel like that's the message Paper Planes is trying to send. Possibly via airplane.

I absolutely would love to add Paper Plans to our graphic novel library collection.

SN: Theres's a 1994 movie called Summertime Switch that has similiar vibes to Paper Planes. It's kind of a hard movie to find. But it was one of my absolute favorites in my juvenile years. I think it's time for a rewatch.


***Thank you to Netgalley and Mad Cave Studios, Maverick for providing me with a review copy.***

thank you netgallery for the arc

I really loved the art style but the story confused me a bit and made me really sad.
I fell in love with Dylan really quickly and I would do anything to protect them, on the contrary I didn't like Leighton and I wasn't able to actually understand her and her behaviour.

I didn't like the ace rep, the way Leighton acted was weird. I asked the arc bc I was interested in the ace rep and it was disappointing.
The nb rep was good tho !!

I've never been a big fan of books that jump back and forth between present and past. Although the illustrations help with that concept here (the past has a different color palette), it still feels like the story is a little muddy. I would have preferred "the incident" presented as a prologue, with maybe just the presenting the changing relationship between Dylan and Leighton with a few flashbacks.

But that's just my preference. *shrug*

I like the representation here--the characters are diverse in many ways. The camp is a bit intimidating at first because I thought it might be a conversion camp (maybe that's intentional?), and I'm not sure Dylan or Leighton's characters were developed enough for me to really care about.

Not a bad story overall, but it fell a little short for me.

i can’t breathe from crying but it’s in a good way. this graphic novel was everything i’ve ever wanted in a coming of age story and more.

differences in sexuality, gender, class, and race are all portrayed in a way that feels realistic and yet not ‘preachy’ either. they weren’t the focus but we were perfectly led to see how they impacted the main characters’ lives, and how they treated others. and speaking of which - i loved our three main characters. i loved that they don’t always do the ‘right’ thing, they take the option that aligns with their characterisation, circumstances of the event, and- of course, their fear.

fear is, i’d say, is a central theme in this novel. fear of being who you are, fear of vulnerability, fear of disappointing your parents and the image they have of you in their head. the main characters grow over the course of this novel, but nothing’s resolved perfectly. but i loved that. because life doesn’t work like that, and while i love happy endings, an optimistic ‘realistic’ ending was what i needed to read today. that even though things may not all be glitter and rainbows i can still find friends, acceptance, and self-love. it shows how two characters love on from a traumatic experience, with grace and understanding that people are messy even if they care for each other. but there are good things, too, and hope. hope was incorporated into the narrative beautifully. joy, too. this is one of few lgbtq novels i can say that portrays our struggles right alongside our happiness, and does so in a way that doesn’t diminish either.

the art is also FANTASTIC?? the changes in the timeline are incorporated perfectly with the changing colour tones. the panels are distinctive and not cluttered. i’m in love with this art style, it’s vibrant and lovely and not too simple but not too complicated either.

the lgbtq rep was amazing, and as someone who is ace and nonbinary, it felt on point despite my experiences being a bit different. but this novel was a lot heavier then i thought it’d be, <b>so i would recommend looking up trigger warnings.</b>

*i received a free copy of this graphic novel from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. all opinions are my own

I truly enjoyed this graphic novel.
The characters were interesting and complex, the plot kept me wanting to know more and I liked the dynamic with the flashbacks and dual points of view. The illustrations are really amazing!

Paper Planes by Jennie Wood is a graphic novel currently scheduled for release on May 16 2023. High schoolers Leighton Worthington and Dylan Render have always been inseparable, but when they’re both shipped off to a summer camp for troubled youth in the aftermath of a tragic event, their lifelong friendship is put to the test. Neither ‘chose’ to be there, but they’ll need a positive evaluation from the camp to avoid being sent away, so they can continue attending high school with their friends. The challenges of camp pushes the once-inseparable Dylan and Leighton onto personal journeys of self-discovery that force them to re-examine the incident that threatens their futures, explore the friendship they have shared for so long, and discover the type of person each of them truly wants to be.

Paper Planes is honest and engaging graphic novel that I think many young readers will be able to connect to. I like that the entire book shows that no one person is all good, all bad, or really all one way or another. Everyone is different, and can change. I thought that the dynamic nature of the characters, both the main characters and secondary ones, was very true to life. I loved that readers got to understand the reasoning and pressures that influence both Dylan and Leighton into making the choices that they do. I thought that they each when through some soul searching, and came closer to understanding themselves and what they really want and need from life. I also like that we get to see some of the motivation behind things we as readers might see as disagreeable or disappointing. Not that the intention makes them right or wrong, but it is good practice for all of us to look for the whys and feelings behind other people's choices, and our own. I found this to be a very engaging and emotional read and think it could be an important read from many tween and older readers.

Paper Planes is a highly engaging and emotionally intelligent graphic novel. I think it will speak to many readers on several levels.

I think this graphic novel would be awesome as a movie, or a limited series on Netflix or something.

Cricket is the best character obviously.

I was so invested in the story and characters, they felt rich and alive, and I loved the color palette and artwork. It gave it that somber lo-fi vibe aesthetic and it was easy on the eyes.

So many issues are confronted in the book, but the point wasn’t to get answers to problems, what I got from this work is that everyone has problems, and sometimes what you think are problems are actually strengths, what make you who you are.

Just great and even teared up at a certain moment involving a friendship bracelet and camp administrator.

Thanks NetGalley and Jennie Wood for allowing me to read!

I loved the art, and the different coloration for different portions of time made the story easy to follow. The main characters were flawed and realistic, and their relationships heart-wrenchingly earnest.

3.5 ⭐
This graphic novel has an asexual biracial mc and a questioning enby mc which is something rare and makes this book even more important. I really like the setting and artwork. The story of the two mcs had all the feels - happy, sad, hurt, hopeful. It truly captured what it is like to grow up - family, friendships, realtionships, sexuality.

Thank you NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

absolutely adored the art style and different colour palettes for the alternating timelines! the story was interesting and it was wrapped up nicely — i read it in one sitting and it was definitely worth it

Paper Planes by Jennie Wood is a captivating and relatable graphic novel that explores the struggles and complexities of adolescence. The story revolves around two high schoolers, Dylan and Leighton, who have been best friends for years but are sent to a summer camp for troubled youth after a tragic event. The camp is their chance to avoid being sent away from their school and friends, but it also puts their friendship to the test.

What makes this graphic novel so relatable is how it explores the universal themes of self-discovery, friendship, and the challenges of growing up. The characters of Dylan and Leighton are realistic and relatable, with their flaws and strengths laid bare for the reader to see. As they navigate the challenges of the camp, both characters are forced to confront their past and re-evaluate their future, which leads to a journey of self-discovery that is both poignant and emotional.

The graphic novel format adds a unique layer to the story, with beautiful and expressive illustrations that bring the characters and their emotions to life. The use of color is particularly effective, with warm and vibrant hues used to convey the characters' joy and friendship, and cooler tones used to portray the difficulties they face at the camp.

Overall, Paper Planes by Jennie Wood is a beautifully crafted graphic novel that is both relatable and emotionally resonant. It explores the struggles of adolescence with honesty and compassion, making it a must-read for anyone who has ever faced the challenges of growing up.

Paper Planes is about two friends who come from very different backgrounds and struggle to live authentically to themselves through the end of middle school. They are sent to a camp for trouble youth after an incident, and struggle under the weight of the decision they have to make.

Overall, I liked this story. It had compelling characters, and told of a struggle with one's self that can be very relatable. It did take a little while to get into as the beginning the story is sort of confusing. It takes almost the entire story to find out why they are at this camp. I think the flashbacks in some instances didn't work well in the story, making it hard to follow, but once you get into the flow of it the pacing works well.

The ambiguity around one of the characters sexuality could have been explained better I think, as whither the character was asexual and/or aromatic kind of got muddled.

One of main things that should have been clarified earlier on is that it is not a conversion therapy camp. I was unsure about if it was or not until another character said the camp seemed LGBTQ friendly half way through. I'm not sure if this was the author intension but it came off that way at first.

My favorite part of the graphic novel is the character Dylan, they are just so relatable and a good friend most of the time. They aren’t perfect, like everyone, but they certainly are the best part of this.

This was a sweet book about sexuality, friendship and acceptance.

We follow Dylan and Leighton and the journey of their friendship. Following them through a summer camp that doesn't look like a fun time! We also get a look at key moments from their history together.

It looks at serious subjects and sees them from a younger persons point of view. My only sticking point was it was a little confusing as to what was happening when at times.

Such a beautiful read. The illustrations were bright and colourful, which contrasted well with the deep and meaningful storyline. I loved watching the characters develop, and overall it was a very heartwarming read.

Although this wasn't a bad book, it still wasn't great, in my opinion. It tells us about two friends, Dylan and Leighton, who have been feeling tense around each other after a life-changing accident that put them in summer camp. As they try to get a good enough evaluation, so that their futures will be safe, they start finding out more things about themselves - and about what happened - than they could've anticipated.

Summarising this book was hard mainly because I found it difficult to understand the plot for the first 60% or so. There are many timeskips back and forth, which offers the advantage of having two different timelines that end up coming together; but also the inconvenient of making the story hard to follow at some points. In fact, I only understood why they seemed to hate the summer camp by the time the big accident was revealed; before that, I hadn't grasped why they needed this evaluation the counsellors kept threatening them with, and so I was unable to fully immerse myself in the story. Still, I reckon that this would make for a great sense of mystery for other readers!

What I particularly didn't like was how Leighton's queerness was represented. Although Leighton is labelled as ace on the page (and I was happy for the explicit rep), the way she approaches it and acts about it suggest aromanticism as well, and I've never been a huge fan of ambiguities that may lead people to mistake aro and ace or - and this is sadly very common - assume that they're one and the same. She kept insisting that she could never "love anyone that way" (romantically), that she couldn't change this for anyone (that is, she'd never fall in love), and yet the story classified that as asexuality. Hi, I'm an ace person who IS in love, and I can tell you that ace doesn't automatically mean aro. Far from. I would've liked to see more nuance here, since it's an easy misrepresentation of the aro and ace spectrums that has been going strong for way too long.

But I did appreciate the fact that there was any rep at all, since it's still quite scarce outside of aspec circles. I also really liked having a non-binary main character who explicitly called out the benevolent transphobia they experienced, and how everyone assumed that their issues were all caused by their gender identity instead of actually treating them as a whole person, and understanding the actual struggles they were going through. Dylan was an endearing character that I grew to love and cherish, and at some points I couldn't even understand why they'd stick to Leighton when Leighton kept giving them mixed signals. They're too good!

A nice coming of age graphic novel with beautiful art. I did struggle with the storyline at first, but it picked up, and I found myself liking the characters and the representation (the two main characters were queer - one somewhere on the asexual/aromantic spectrums and the other non-binary/gender-queer).

*ARC provided by NetGalley in return for an honest review*

To begin, this graphic novel follows two teenagers as they decipher their sexuality and come to terms with their pasts while learning to grow and become better people. The story follows two young individuals as they attend a camp meant for young teens who have committed minor crimes. It's raw and feels emotionally real, as you feel as though you can step into their own shoes. Their actions from lashing out at the adults to crying with one another will be moments I think a lot will relate to either while in their teen years or after. With the ultimate conclusion feeling incredibly fulfilling, I heavily recommend checking out this graphic novel if you get a chance.

4.8/5

Beatiful.
This is one of the few graphic novels to read while being completely isolated from the world .
I just couldn't put it down.
It was such a bittersweet story full of feelings.

I had no idea things went the way it did and I'm so glad I couldn't guess till when I read it.
This is the story of two people, two people who met eachother and had a very strong chemistry.
We follow them in the present and in the past, to slowly undertand why they both are in that situation. We learn about their relationship, and the one with others. A sort of lost and found and then acceptance.

I love the art we find inside, the colors are super vibrant and there's a yellowish tone for the past parts. I loved the structure of the book, the way we jump between past and present not being confusing at all, on the contrary, every time there's a jump in the past, we learn more from it and every time we understand better what really happened, being able to slowly put piece by piece together.

I honestly feel to recommend this read to anyone who wants a good story without being too complex, but have still a good one full of emotions.