Unsurprisingly this was very cozy, queer, and fun. It's a soft story and sometimes that exactly what we need.

K. O'Neill never disappoints! I've read each of their books, and as a youth librarian they're the first books I reach for to inspire a love of reading in kids who are struggling. "A Song for You and I" is no different- the dreamy artwork, inspiring message, and beautiful character relationships make for a loveable graphic novel for people of all ages. The writing is gorgeous and flows beautifully, and the artwork feels like a cozy cup of tea while watching rain fall on a window in the spring. A wonderful read that I'll come back to time and time again!

The summary and cover for this book already had me hooked as I'm always in the market for queer graphic novels that build on self-discovery and finding ones way in the world. The main characters were both so wonderful with their unique paths. This story doesn't need to rely on some big bad to push it along as it meets its intention of being a cozy path for our characters to travel to their true selves and happiness which is so much more enjoyable to read.

I received a digital ARC from the publisher via Netgalley, though all thoughts are my own.

This book was such a sweet story about following your heart, being true to who you want to be, and having people in your life who will embrace you and life you up.

I adore Kes, who is a wonderful companion and full of surprises.

Rowan and Leone's friendship is so sweet, and their bond develops over time as they go on unexpected adventures.

The artwork itself is beautiful, full of whimsy, and so colorful!

I highly recommend this book, and I love how K included some sketches at the end on their journey to creating this story.

Thank you again to NetGalley for letting me read an e ARC of this graphic novel.

Oh the illustrations are what easily peaked my interest so I wondered how the storyline would do the same. I read this story slowly and though it is a graphic novel, the story pulled you in as any regular novel. We learn about the world K O’Neill built with a simple but powerful message. One that is very needed right now honestly — be who you are and understand that one or many will understand you too.

This is another cute and cozy graphic novel from the author of the Tea Dragon Society series. I really loved the art in this, especially the way O’Neill was able to draw reflections in the water. Gorgeous!
The story itself was a little confusing and I wish we got a little more background information about rangers and the world Rowan lives in. However, I really enjoyed the relationship between them & Leone. It was beautiful how Leone accepted Rowan as is, and Rowan’s reflection towards the end was heartwarming: “I felt like I needed to earn the right to be called by my real name, but Leone never needed any proof. He took me at my word just as I am.” Such a gender-affirming read!

I have enjoyed some of K. O'Neill's books in the past but this one missed the mark for me. There were too many pages without dialogue. I also thought the book should have been shorter. There was a lack of a plot and the ending felt abrupt. I absolutely love the author's illustrations as always though. The message of the story is important, and I am glad that young kids have access to books like these nowadays.

This was a very sweet, comforting story about figuring out who you are and staying true to yourself. This is a story that a lot of people, particular young people are going to need right now. It's a warm hug in world that seems very dark right now.

Another absolutely gorgeous work by K. O'Neill!!!! If you haven't read anything they've done, please do yourself a favor and check something out!

The art was as gorgeous as always: soft and flowy with bright colors, stunning backgrounds and page layouts, sweet character designs and adorable animals. The atmosphere was wonderful once again and the world felt so vibrant and lived in, like we were only seeing a tiny slice of somewhere huge and beautiful.

The story was so heartfelt. I don't want to spoil anything but it was tender and sweet and I loved watching the journey these characters went on.

This is very Ghibli-core if you're into that kinda thing, and it also has lots of cute horse moments if you like that too.

Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley!

Like many other readers, I've come to rely on K. O'Neill for warm, evocative art, cozy stories, and gentle but important messages. O'Neill's graphic novels, while aimed at a young audience, can be enjoyed by all ages, and their latest, A Song for You and I, is no exception. While I find the ending a touch abrupt, this is yet another heartwarming tale told through lovely art, that I will be happy to share with the young readers in my life.

Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

"A Song for You and I" immediately caught my attention when I saw it was by K. O'Neil. This author is absolutely incredible, and I will always read anything they publish. I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this stunning graphic novel as soon as it’s available.

The art, though simple, is absolutely wonderful. I love how the characters’ expressions are drawn, conveying such deep emotions through simple drawings.

At first, I thought the story would be straightforward, but it surprised me with its depth. While some elements are left open to interpretation, it only adds to the impact of the narrative. The representation is beautifully done and feels so authentic, and the way the story unfolds is nothing short of masterful.

I highly recommend this graphic novel to everyone, especially young readers or anyone looking for a quick but meaningful read. I finished it in one sitting and loved every second of it. Truly a gem!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this wonderful book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Children's for the arc!

K. O'Neill is back at it with another cozy graphic novel that is perfect for middle grade and YA readers! This is a beautifully illustrated story about bravery, being yourself, and gender identity.

On the eve of becoming a full ranger, a young ranger-in-training goes too far to prove their prowess, injuring their flying horse. They're assigned something akin to bodyguard duty to a young shepherd, and the two slowly form a friendship over the course of their journeys.

O'Neill's pastoral illustrations complement the slow pace of this story. The characters' emotional journeys reflect the meandering story, and there are no large "aha!" moments, but the story trades on quiet realizations. I enjoyed the characters of Leone and Rowan, but I'm not sure if their stories will stick with me long after closing this book. I enjoyed the self-love and subdued gender explorations.

Would recommend this title to young readers of fantasy, horse-lovers, and music-lovers.

Title: A Song For You and I
Author: K. O‘Neill
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Review: first of all, im obsessed with this authors illustrations and queer/lgbtq representation. the vibes of this graphic novel were pure cozy! i love how Rowen expressed how they wanted their identity to be known was shown that it’s okay to be who you truly want to. Leone and Rowens friendship was cute and grew together through insecurities. this book was a 3 starts but Kes, the flying horse, brought it to a four! ☺️

~Thank you to Netgalley and the author for an E-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. ~

From ‘The Tea Dragon Society’ in the famous Tea Dragon series to Princess Princess Ever After and Aquicorn, Kay O’Neill has been such a huge inspiration! For the LGBTQIAP+ community and the artist/illustrator community both, they have created such a warm and inviting space within their stories and ‘A Song for You and I’ was no different!

It was a lovely story with great representation and great characters. However, it felt a little rushed. There wasn't enough time to really get to know the world the book took place in, but I think maybe since the story and plot didn’t really rely on the world in the background you didn’t really have to understand the setting? Well… that’s not really true either though? Because the entire plot was basically Rowan’s self-discovery and how they learned to fully accept themself. The entire reason behind their discomfort was because of the setting around them and the society they were in.

Hmm… I don’t know. Maybe the world building just wasn’t strong enough, compared to the other stories I’ve read by Kay. I did enjoy it! I always enjoy O’Neill’s works, but it wasn’t exactly my favorite.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 /5 stars

My thanks to Random House Children's and NetGalley for the Digital ARC. This book is expected to be published March 4th, 2025.

Thank you, NetGalley, and the publisher for the ARC. This is my honest review.

A Song for You and I might be my favorite Graphic Novel of 2024. I do have a soft spot for winged horses, but, beyond that, there was something so incredibly beautiful about the journey of finding one's self.

There is a point in the novel where our main character questions whether they are attracted to someone or if the fancy is there because they want to be like that person. This is such a prominent feeling in the queer/trans experience and it made me cry to read it.

I wasn't surprised at all of the softness and emotional context to this story, the exploration of difficult topics in a lighthearted and relatable way for middle grade, as well as adults. This is the same type of beautiful storytelling as O'Neill's other books, The Moth Keeper and The Tea Dragon Society. I am beyond honored to get to read and early copy of a A Song for You and I and I look forward to more from K O'Neill.

✨ Review ✨ A Song for You and I by K. O'Neill

Thanks to Random House Graphic and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

A sweet middle grades graphic novel with queer representation, reminiscent of K. O'Neill's usual cozy fantasy world vibes. Rowan is training as a ranger when she meets a local sheep herder, Leone. Rowan goes to warn Leone of a coming storm, resulting in the injury of her flying horse Kes. As Kes recuperates, Rowan joins Leone in a series of deliveries, slowing down and thinking about life and their growing friendship.

The illustrations are lovely, the vibes are cozy, and the queer representation is fabulous. Rowan considers how they want to be known and it results in a celebration of their identity. A really lovely read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: middle grades graphic novel with queer representation
Setting:
Reminds me of:
Pub Date: March 4, 2025

Read this if you like:
⭕️ cozy fantasy
⭕️ middle grade graphic novels
⭕️ queer identity exploration
⭕️ flying horses

I have read multiple graphic novels by O'Neill and adore their work. This is a beautiful story about finding yourself and being ok with it knowing that the people who care about you will be there and understand. We all make bad choices but owning and making better is what counts. The novel is great way to see one self in the characters or gain a better understanding of those that are different from themselves.

I was gifted a e-ARC from Netgalley for my honest review. I have read some of K. O'Neill earlier works like the Tea Dragon Society and knew her art work was amazing. This book did not disappoint. It gave a vibe of a Studio Ghibli movie with the beautiful meadows of flowers and sheep. In this book we follow a novice ranger by the name of Rose as she tries to navigate through a crossroads of life. She feels the need to prove herself to her mentor and fellow novice rangers. She then meets a young shepherd boy by the name of Leone. At first Rose seems annoyed with Leone but after a storm that damages the area they are put together on various missions. It is then that you find Leone story and like Rose he feels unsure of life. Together they both end up working through things and with encouragement from each other they both end up finding their paths in life. I really enjoyed the story of Rose who later changes her name to Rowan. I think this book will be good for any teen who struggling with insecurities of life.

Another wonderful graphic novel from this author. Beautifully illustrated and written! I’ll forever read anything this author makes.