Member Reviews
**I was provided an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.**
Brenna Thummler concludes the Sheets graphic novel trilogy with Lights. Lights follows shortly after the events in Delicates as Marjorie and Eliza are getting ready to enter high school. The difficulties of navigating friendships in their many forms and how they change through time was a key focus for this story. There was no shortage of Wendell as he explored his life and death to try to remember how he became a ghost.
This trilogy of graphic novels never hesitates to tackle real topics that are relevant to the target age demographic. It doesn't shy away from the difficulties, but presents them in an accessible and age appropriate way. It also gives everything a hopeful wash that makes things brighter moving forward.
I was glad to have gotten this book early, and would absolutely recommend Lights as well as the rest of the Sheets trilogy to anyone interested in graphic novels.
Thanks NetGalley and OniPress for this incredible Arc. I haved so much fun reading this, Brenna's writing definitely improve.
This is the last Volume of the Sheet's Trilogy, and here we have Marj and Eliza starting a beautiful friendship while they are resolving the case about Wendell's death. Throughout the book Wendell is remembering his past, and with this helping to connect the pieces to resolve this case. Marj is really maturing in this book, she is trying "new" friendships, trying to bond with them and this really makes me happy. I would like to tell you guys about the ending but this would spoil all the fun.
I would definitely recommend this book to a friend
Slightly too middle grade for me at times with the friendship side of things but nice to have a fitting end to the series. Loved finding out more about Wendell
I have adored this series so much, and the last book is no exception.
It is heartbreaking, but also warming. It makes you cry, and makes you laugh.
It is just so beautiful, and I will miss the Wendell so much.
This last one also has a sort of mystery at the center, which made it all the more intriguing.
A story about friendship, guilt, grief, and happiness.
Just read it and enjoy the ride.
Thank you SO much to NetGalley & Oni Press for this ARC! This was a title that I was anxiously awaiting to see if it would come available on NetGalley and then I even more anxiously hoped for approval, so thank you again!
Brenna Thummler's Sheets & Delicates are among my all time favorite middle grade graphic novels and Wendell's story will forever hold a very special place in my heart. Lights was a bit different as far as the ending I expected, but I also think that I myself just didn't quite feel ready to let go of sweet Wendell & his story just yet, I kept wanting more because I just love this story so much, so no fault of Thummler's storytelling, just me not wanting the story to end :(
As with the earlier portions of the story in Sheets & Delicates, Lights has some sensitive topics discussed but it's done well and with respect to young readers and adults alike. My mother (who has greatly enjoyed many of the middle grade stories I've shared with her over recent years) also absolutely LOVES this series as well :)
I love being surrounded by children's books at my job, it's introduced me to some of my now forever favorite authors and Thummler is definitely one of them! I know that the Sheets trilogy has ended but I so look forward to whatever comes next for Brenna! I'll be there waiting with bells on!
5 Stars!
I was so excited to get into this book after reading the first two. I enjoyed reading this one but i will have to say it was my least favorite out of them all. I am happy of how it was all wrapped up being this is the finale book.
This follows on from Delicates and was a beautiful edition to the series, again exploring themes of grief and friendship. We learn more about Wendell which I found really interesting, as we discover what really happened to him.
I enjoyed seeing Marjorie working out a balance in her life, both with the living and dead, and in other aspects.
Absolutely stunning artworks accompany the writing, and it was a pleasure to read.
I was so excited to receive this as I absolutely loved Sheets and Delicates, Lights definitely did not disappoint and was a lovely addition to the series with beautiful artwork as always and a lovely story
(I received this book from the editor and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
It is always kind of bittersweet when a great story comes to an end. I still remember the first time I saw the cover of Sheets, the ghost in the washing machine, as we would call it, kind of worried about our accent and pronunciation. Marjorie and Wendell’s story turned up to be a very funny and interesting one. Then Delicates came and so did Eliza, and the other girls; the mean girls. It was still fun, but you could feel the change, the growth. And Marjorie and Wendell became even more profound and complex characters.
And now, finally, we have Lights, the perfect ending to a trilogy that will always feel special, original and, even if there are still ghosts in the washing machines, real.
It is incredible how Brenna Thummler created an honest and truthful image of a lot of problems both children and teenagers have to face, how all the characters evolve, make mistakes, make amends, and somehow the writing also makes you forget that one of them is a ghost.
Wendell’s need to understand, not only how he died but how he lived, is the epicentre of this last part of the story. You, as the reader, will also feel the need to find this out, because it is impossible to read these comic books and to not end up completely invested. He deserves the truth. Apart from that, he mysterious characters and flashbacks make a great addition to Lights, and the book still have time to show us more depth into Eliza’s fears, Marjorie’s dreams, and even a trip to a haunted house.
The ending feels perfect, even if, again, bittersweet. All things have to come to an end, we know that, the characters know that, and yet once all the pieces are in its rightful place, all the secrets discovered, the hardest thing to do is to say goodbye and close the book. Which is in the end another proof of how good this story is.
I was super excited when I got approved for this one this week on Netgalley as I really enjoyed Sheets & Delicates so I dived right into this one & it did not dissapoint
Were following on right from Delicates watching Marjories new friendship blossom, she's finally starting to find herself again when Wendall decides to approach her about delving into his past and finding out who he truly was and how exactly he died
We then follow them through many events trying to help wendall find out about his life, we see some questionable characters from Delicates resurface and Marjorie has to really decide who she trusts & wants in her life right now aswell as finding what truly makes her happy
I bloody love the dad in this series too, I literally want to wrap him up and give him a cuddle, he trys so so hard with Marjorie and so often gets it very wrong bless him, the ending of this one definitely left me feeling a tad emotional and I really hope our journeys with Wendall are not coming to an end just yet
A stunning graphic novel!!
Lights is the final book in the Sheets graphic novel series. I generally enjoyed the previous books so I am glad I got to read this one also.
While I did enjoy this one at times it felt very boring. I think the flashbacks of Wendall were fun, but felt disconnected at times with what was going on. It was also weird when Wendall would break the rules that were hard established in the other books and it was called out and then immediately waved off.
It was nice to see Marjorie navigate her social circle and still continue to go through her grief.
3 stars.
This was a satisfying way to wrap up the series. Not totally unexpected for sure. I found that the book handled a number of middle school challenges in a way that was sensitive and real. The artwork is consistent with the previous books, so no surprises there, but I did have a hard time distinguishing between the characters which made me confused at times. The back and forth into Wendell's past was also a bit of a challenge. First, because it really did interrupt the story at times. And second because it changed my opinion of him in so many ways. I really found myself not liking the person he was in the past. I get that his parents weren't the best, but he struck me as a real brat. Not that he deserved what happened to him, but ....
I also found myself disliking Eliza even though I understood why she felt the way she did. But her behaviour even towards the end of the book really didn't change and she struck me as someone I would have a hard time keeping as a friend. I get that she didn't want to forgive and forget, but she was so caught up in doing what she wanted - yes, kudos for being true to yourself and your foibles - that she basically forced her views on her friend who she claimed was her best friend. Sorry but friendship does require give and take. And she tries, but not very well and not for very long.
All that sounds like I didn't like the book. I did. It was very readable and enjoyable, and the graphic novel format worked well to tell this story. I don't have to like everyone in the book to like the read, and this was one of those situations.
This was the third book in the series, luckily I was familiar with the first two books, so I was able to enjoy the third book also!
This definitely was an exciting and interesting read, and I will be recommending the series of those three books to any middle-grade and YA reader who loves graphic novels.
Also, I would like to point out how much I loved the diversity of the characters! I also loved the drawings and the mood the drawings set. The drawings and the text actually were perfect for each other in this book, just the right amount of each.
This was a solid five-star read!
Thank you to Netgalley and Oni Press for the ARC.
- I really enjoyed this one! It felt like such a good combination of the major themes and vibes of books 1 and 2.
- The growth that all three characters (Marjorie, Eliza, and Wendell) was incredible. Marjorie's development at the end of the book was incredibly powerful. I loved all the scenes with Eliza and her family. They're so accepting of her, while also trying to help her grow in a way that she retains who she is. Wendell's story is developed so much throughout this book, and it was stunning to see the flashbacks throughout.
- The conflict of how to have a best friend and make new friends at the same time is such a classic MG plot line, but I loved how this one was done.
- As always, the illustrations for this book are fantastic. I love the use of color, which is so powerful during Wendell's flashbacks.
So, I'm a massive fan of Sheets and Delicates, I think they are wonderful and thought provoking and illustrated so beautifully. Lights? I think this one was even more for me.
Let me just say, Wendell has my heart - and I love that we find out more about him in this finale to the Sheets series. I think that all our characters we have met have had sufficient development that has shaped each story, but this one has been my favourite.
Its such a wholesome story, with such strong messages. We cope with so many different trials and tribulations through life and this story just envelopes you in a warm hug that is Wendell and reminds you of what's important in life and how we can overcome things and find new paths. Lots of lights makes our world shine brighter after all...
Another stunning addition to this series by Brenna Thummler! While I enjoyed this one the least of the three it was still wonderful in so many ways - I just personally felt it dragged on a bit more than the previous two. Thummler tackles very deep human issues and the artwork is beautiful. I am so glad we learned more about Wendell's background and that Marjorie was left in a great place. Though the ending made me cry, so be prepared for feels.
Prior to this year, I had seen the Sheets graphic novels around but I was never really interested in picking them up until a few close friends recommended the first book to me. I was taking part in a reading challenge in February and I needed some graphic novels, so I decided to give these a try, and I absolutely fell in love with Marjorie and Wendell. So much so that I've now finished the trilogy in just a couple of months!
Lights is the perfect ending to this slow and dreamlike trilogy. I'm very pleased that we got to learn about what happened to Wendell, as I feel both he and the readers needed closure to move on.
The ending to this trilogy is heartfelt and lovely. I even teared up a bit at the end because I had become so invested in the relationships between all these characters.
I'm very pleased with how everything wrapped up with these characters, and I'm pleased that I discovered this heartwarming story about friendship, loyalty, and love.
Thankyou NetGalley and Oni Press for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
What a perfect way to end the series! This book really tied up all ends and questions and really brings the series full circle. I think its a great series that really looks into some very relatable topics. Ill definitely be getting copies of these to have at work (i work in a secondary school setting and have a lot of students that sometimes struggle to verbalise how theyre feeling and they take comfort in relating to graphic novels!). Great little tools to open up discussion!
Beautiful artwork and colour scheme- Highly recommend!
The third and I think final entry in the Sheets series finds Brenna Thummler picking up with Marjorie Glatt's life not too far after the events of Delicates (Sheets #2).
I was absolutely over the moon when I got accepted to read this as I loved sheets, read Delicates a couple of days ago when I knew this was coming out. I was not disappointed.
I absolutely adored this series, throughout we got to explore depression, premature death, grief, friendship, loss and so much more. The illustrations and colours are absolutely stunning giving these autumn vibes and the stunning winter snowy scenes as well are amazing. I got so attached to Marjorie and Wendell that I was so sad to let them go but their story ends perfectly and you definitely get closure.
Lights looks into solving Wendall’s death as he starts to get flashbacks and memories of his past, this so heartbreaking as well as a really good read. Along side this we have the struggling friendship between Marj and Eliza as Marj is wanting to befriend the people who use to bully Eliza. I loved the mystery side to this one and also the growing friendships and how they evolve and mature throughout.
This series will stick with me for many years and I will 100% recommend. I cannot wait to see what the author writes next as I definitely want another series from her.
This was a mix of heartbreaking and beautiful and I loved how this story navigated friendship as well as grief. I loved that we learned more about the little boy ghost and I was in love with this story.