A rather cute story about two teens who get themselves in trouble and have to pay for it. Their journey and the lessons they learn from it are what follows in an illustrated telling. Wonderfully done, the book is an entertaining read.

This book was really good. I just wanted a little bit more. However, I will definitely be recommending it to patrons as I see fit.

Characters: 4/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Plot: 3.5/5
Overall: 3.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

** I would like to preface this review by saying that I didn’t realize this was a graphic novel when I requested it (not sure how that happened lol).

I can count the number of graphic novels I’ve read on one hand, there’s so few. Its not my format of choice because I prefer to imagine scenes in my head rather than look at them, so this obviously impacts my rating. If you are someone who generally loves graphic novels, I have a feeling you’ll really enjoy Paper Planes. It’s a story about two queer kids who are sent to a camp for troubled youth after a traumatic incident that left their friendship struggling. Dylan and Leighton will have to work through their personal and friendship troubles if they want to have a shot at staying in their town for high school next year.

This book has a non-binary MC (Dylan) and an asexual MC (Leighton)! I haven’t read a ton of books with this kind of representation, and I really enjoyed it. Representation is so crucial for queer people, especially youth, and I feel like I could recommend this to my 11 year old sister as well as an adult, and both would find many aspects of the story that they love.

This book didn’t change my perspective on graphic novels (nor did I expect it to), but I still really enjoyed it. Its short, honest, and the perfect light read for anyone looking for a graphic novel.

Paper Planes comes out June 27th!

Fantastic look into some teenagers' lives who are struggling to have society recognize who they are.

I enjoyed the art style and would love to see a sequel.

Bittersweet is the perfect word to encapsulate this graphic novel. It’s a fun, yet somehow somber story of two friends who are whisked away to a rehabilitation summer camp of sorts after experiencing something traumatic together. The real question is, will they still be friends on the other side? I don’t always love coming of age stories, but this one did it so well with non-binary, asexual, and LGBTQ representation to boot. The non-chronological structure made the story so engaging and unputdownable, I had to know what happened next. Highly recommend if you enjoy the Heartstopper series, but know that this graphic novel really brings a fresh new perspective and method of storytelling to the queer YA graphic novel genre.

The only reason I docked a star was because some of the scenes seemed to end abruptly, which was confusing- I found myself wishing they were fully finished out with just a few extra frames. The ending as a whole was also a bit unsatisfying, but it was definitely realistic and made total sense with the larger narrative.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Paper Planes is out on June 27th, 2023!

This really sounded like a cute story. But I was very much disappointed. This graphic novel just seemed bland. I didn’t really like any of the characters, they didn’t really grow in any sort of way and the plot just seemed so disinteresting. I didn’t give it to three stars because it wasn’t the worst book that I’ve ever read, but it definitely needs some help. Especially to keep my attention!

"I don't misbehave because I'm queer. I misbehave because people expect me to and treat me like I do"

"Paper planes" is a graphic novel that follows two teenagers, Leighton and Dylan, who end up in a summer camp for troubled teens due to a tragic incident and who struggle to define their relationship. They have clashing personalities and come from very different backgrounds, making it harder for them to stay friends... or have a chance at being more than that.

When I first learned about this book, I was very excited to read it. A graphic novel with queer rep? Angsty teens, most probably being very much in love with each other? Yes, please. However, although I overall enjoyed this book, it wasn't a match for me for some reasons. First of all, I disliked Leighton and couldn't understand why she behaved as she did. I know it was hard for her to stand up against her parents and come to terms with her sexuality, but the way she treated Dylan was unjustifiable. On the other hand, I liked Dylan a lot, so that kind of compensated for having to bear Leighton and her rude and annoying behavior. Another thing I didn't like was that we were introduced to a range of characters, but it felt like they lacked depth and were only put there for the sake of the plot moving forward. Also, and this is just me and my expectations, I wanted more cute and fun moments but, instead, I just felt sad and angry most of the time.

Now, there were things I really enjoyed. The art is beautiful (loved Dylan's design). I liked the flashbacks because they helped to get to know the protagonists and their relationship better. I'm also a fan of the inner dialogues, especially Dylan's (honestly, they're the best). And I have to say that the ending surprised me, in a good way. In general, I'm happy with how things wrapped up.

*Thank you Netgalley for sending me a digital copy of Paper Planes in exchange for an honest review.

This graphic novel is bittersweet and full of great representation! One MC is non-binary and comes from a family who is struggling financially and is often looked down upon because of their socioeconomic status. The other MC is asexual, biracial, and has very privileged, wealthy parents who put a lot of pressure on her to be the “golden child” after her older sister “rebels” and goes to rehab for underage alcohol abuse. I felt like the race and class structures were, unfortunately, incredibly realistic. It was also really great to see the adult camp counselors actually be really supportive of the campers’ sexualities and gender identities. There is so much personal growth in this story. I highly recommend this graphic novel to middle grades, young adult, and adult readers. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Jennie Wood's Paper Planes is a wonderfully textured coming of age story. Nonbinary Dylan and their best friend Leighton are sent to a camp for troubled youth after what is revealed later as a concerning incident at a party. Each of them is ready to sacrifice a lot for their bestie, but in the end Dylan and Leighton also need to embrace self-discovery and stand up for their own true selves. In the course of their time at the camp, they both need to re-examine and re-evaluate the incident that sent them on this course, what it means about who they are, and what that means about their friendship.

Growing up is always a painful and often bittersweet experience, which Wood captures in all its awkwardness, subtlety and texture. We don't always end up where we thought we'd be but, if we are true to ourselves, we can end up in a place where we know ourselves better and be open to new possibilities.

The art by Dozerdraws is the perfect accompaniment to the story, capturing the flow of moods and even the motion of the paper planes that Dylan and Leighton use to send messages to each other. Switches in tone make the transitions to flashbacks easy to follow as well.

Dylan with all their doubts, Leighton's constant compromises in trying to please the people around her, the wonderfull confident Cricket, and the rest of the camp and school cast are well defined. Dylan's encounters and impatient discussions with the camp counsellors are also really well portrayed.

Paper Planes rings with realism, compassion and the fresh air of self-knowledge and hope at the end. Highly recommended.

Dylan and Leighton were sent to a troubled teen summer camp for an incident. Their futures and friendship are on the line.

This graphic novel is told in alternating current time and flashbacks. I think this format lended well to the suspense of the novel. I didn't love the characters and plot as much as I thought I would. I just wanted more.

This was a really wonderful read and I did enjoy the slow unfold of the story, how we learn more about both Dylan and Leighton as they try to get by day by day at the Troubled Youth camp. I especially loved the nonbinary rep and ace rep, though, I wish Leighton's ace experience had been explored a bit more head on between Dylan and Leighton. It was really great to see such diversity among the cast and I honestly felt quite happy that the ending was inconclusive.

first of all, thank you to netgalley and mad cave studios for sending me an arc of the graphic novel “paper planes” by jennie wood! i really loved the art in this novel, and especially the colors, they seemed to match the vibe of the book well! i also liked the storyline a lot, and thought that the characters were developed well, i felt like i could easily sympathize and relate to them which made me able to delve into the book. i ended up reading in one sitting, as with graphic novels i tend to read them quite quickly, and i thought it was a perfect length. it didn’t spend too much or too little on any certain parts of the story, it felt very balanced between the different settings, characters, and times. i got a bit confused at some points about when events were happening, but i got used to it, especially since the author used different colors for the different times and settings to help distinguish between them. the plot was also good, i feel like the author was able to address real issues in a very personal way which helped me connect with the story. overall, i enjoyed reading this and would recommend it to anyone who likes graphic novels, queer stories, and short but sweet reads!

"Paper Planes" is an engaging and thoughtful young adult graphic novel by non-binary author Jennie Woods that will resonate with teens and adults alike. This tale of love and identity features longtime friends, Leighton and Dylan, who are sent to a summer camp for troubled youth.

Leighton has always accepted Dylan and their non-binary identity, but her parents always thought Dylan was too different to be Leighton’s friend. They both are forced to navigate unfamiliar territory as Dylan develops romantic feelings for Leighton. Even though Leighton loves Dylan very much, she knows she is different and doesn’t have those types of feelings for anyone

I appreciate this graphic novel’s portrayal of non-binary and aro/ace identities and experiences. Overall, "Paper Planes" is an adorable read that will leave you inspired to embrace your own unique identity.

This is the story of Leighton (she/her) and Dylan (they/them) and how they ended up at a summer camp where their behaviour is under a microscope. It’s about friendship, relationships, figuring out who you are and who you want to be. It is not a happy-go-lucky kind of story, but rather reflective with a lot of introspection on the part of the two main characters. While I appreciate what this book was trying to do, in the beginning the time jumps were a bit confusing and it took a little too long to figure out what’s going on. The ending feels a little bit rushed to me and is what I’d call a realistic ending, but not necessarily an uplifting one. The book left me pensive and also a little heartbroken for the characters. But seeing as they’re teenagers a little heartbreak probably isn’t the end of the world and maybe there’s a lesson for us readers in there too & the personal growth of the characters is enough.

Ugh I wish this was so much better than is actually was. I loved all the queer representation, but I feel like the storyline just didn’t do them justice! Leighton’s parent we’re very contradictive, because they’d say Dylan is “bad stock” but then they’d help them in a big way. The author also tried to add a race element to the book, but it fell flat.


Thank you NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for the ARC! Out June 27th 2023!

rep: sapphic non binary mc, mixed race asexual mc, multiple POC scs, sapphic sc, plus size sc
rating: 4.25

This book is all about adolescence. The characters go through figuring out their gender and/or sexuality, gaining and losing friends and the struggles of family and expectations. It’s very bitter sweet and shows moments of teenage angst as well as happiness.

The story shifts from different moments in the past to the present. In the present, Dylan and Leighton’s relationship is pretty rocky. Sometimes they’re friendly and other times snappy and avoid each other. As we see the past unfold, it slowly reveals their whole relationship and the reason why they’re both at this summer camp.

For the first few pages I was a bit confused which pov we were in, then realized it switches between Dylan and Leighton’s. Maybe it’s just me, but I find it pretty rare to see alternating povs in graphic novels. It was nice to see. Sometimes I had a hard time knowing whose thoughts I was reading, but a lot of times the author would put a drawing of a rocket for Dylan and roller skates for Leighton. It was a nice little touch.

It mentions the term asexual for Leighton, so we know she’s ace, but it doesn’t mention her being aromantic as well. So I think it’s safe to say she’s just ace, or maybe questioning aro. If the term hadn’t been mentioned, I probably would’ve thought she was aroace, since she doesn’t want any sort of relationship other than friendship.

That said, I wish we got to have a scene where Dylan and Leighton talk about Leighton’s asexuality and what it means to her and their relationship. If she really just is ace, and not also aro, that doesn’t mean she couldn’t want a romantic relationship? At least if they talked it out, they could’ve both decided together if it was an option for them or not. I just feel like Dylan never truly got to understand why they couldn’t be together. For the sake of representation and more understanding, it would’ve been nice to see this conversation.

I always love to see lots of diversity in books, and this one had that. It had two queer mcs, lots of POC, one mc and multiple scs, and a plus size sc. I’m aroace so I love seeing aspec characters. Even the adults at the camp being inclusive and supportive was so great to see.

I really liked the art style.

Overall, a really enjoyable read about two teens figuring themselves out and just trying to get through life and all its struggles.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book

I am so happy to see ace and enby representation more and more especially in graphic novels.
The characters’ identities were explained well for readers who may not know about asexuality or non binary folks in a way that was not heavy handed. It was great to see inclusion of the phrasing “gender euphoria.”
The storyline is not focused on their identities but around the conflict of an incident both characters were involved in that lead them to a camp for troubled teens.
There’s great depiction of different economic classes as well.
Lastly, I appreciated the scene where Dylan explains to the counselors that they are more than their gender identity especially in the context of their reason for being at camp.
I would recommend this to fans of Rick by Alex Gino looking for something more teen and Cheer Up: Love and Pompoms by Crystal Frasier

After accidentally injuring a classmate, Leighton and Dylan are sent to summer camp for troubled teens. They both need a good evaluation in order to attend high school with their friends next year. Leighton is determined to fit in and pass the time, while Dylan is still struggling to find their place. As they reexamine the events that landed them in the camp, will they be able to mend their broken bonds?

Full of drama and messy relationship dynamics, we delve into Leighton and Dylan's troubled relationship. While I wanted to enjoy this title, the characters fell a little flat for me. Especially Leighton, who I found fairly unlikable throughout the whole story. She never seems to grow as a character or have a redeeming moment. In fact, the girls seem to get away with almost no repercussions. Dylan is the only one who apologizes, and takes the blame in the end. Rather than mending their relationship, they just slap a bandage on things. It seems like a somewhat rushed and sloppy ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for letting me read an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I liked Dylan as a character, but felt that overall, the storyline and characters weren't very well developed. I felt like a lot was left unexplored/explained and rushed. I was confused at times (mainly because of Leighton). I wish we had spent more time discovering Dylan and Leighton's friendship and Leighton's identity.

Not a great storyline. It felt too toxic and with not enough reasons to feel invested in characters ( besides like Dylan & Cricket ). It also definitely felt middle grade for how immature decisions were, but I don’t think it’s a good read for a middle grade book, it’s really negative in terms of blowing things out of proportion and showing the majority of the story of toxicity & forcing people to be something they’re not/claiming someone is being someone they aren’t/filling in the blanks for them on their sexuality…? Not sure about it. I also don’t get why the parents & Leighton’s sister all seem HORRIBLE but then have really strong moments ?? It doesn’t make sense for the flow.

I also think there needs to be a better discernible feature to showcase how the time is jumping back and forth. Maybe it should be rearranged and broken into parts to show the Incident, the Camp, the Before, the After?? Just because I was SUPER confused until about halfway through when I realized the color schemes were different.