Received an eArc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first K. O’Neill book, so I wasn’t sure what to expect when I went into it. The drawings ended up being lovely and soft with many of the panels including no words, just illustrations. The story overall was a soft journey about being true to oneself and finding strength to step out authentically. I ended using being slightly disappointed by the amount of story included (I wish there was more), but if you want a soft, slow, and cozy story about gender identity and trusting yourself, this may be the story for you.

4.5
This is a gorgeously illustrated story about figuring out life at a young age, both with regards to vocation and gender. While it handles some big topics, reading it is as cozy as sipping a mug of tea while wrapped in a blanket. I'm excited to reread it when the physical book is released to savor the artwork fully!

I loved this graphic novel. The storyline was fantastic and the art was beautiful. A great portrayal of growth, learning from your mistakes and courage. I did feel like it ended all of a sudden , but that isn't much of a downside, just a surprise.

K. O'Neill is an instant, must-read author/illustrator for me. I fell in love with their work back when they were writing the Tea Dragon series, and each of their graphic novels hasn't disappointed me since. They're gentle and heartfelt stories that kids need to hear, with gorgeous artwork to match. And A Song for You and I is no exception. It's a rather straightforward story, without much dialogue, which I found I preferred, this time around. Usually I prefer more dialogue in my graphic novels, but the quietness of this story really resonated with me. Rowan's journey was told beautifully and simply, and Kes was a great foil. Kudos once again to a fantastic artist and writer.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's | Random House Graphic for the ebook ARC. All opinions are mine alone.

K O'Neill has created a beautiful and soft graphic novel set in a pastoral land full of magical flying horses and ordinary sheep. As a young ranger in training, our main character is conscientious of their responsibilities and eager to prove themselves. In contrast, our secondary protagonist, Leone, is a dreamer who spends more time playing his fiddle than minding the sheep. Trouble starts when Leone decides to stay in a rainstorm, and the ranger pushes their horse into the storm to rescue him, resulting in the horse and rider being injured, and a break of trust between them.

The gentle depiction of each panel softens the blow of danger, such as the thunderstorm collapsing a house where a character would have otherwise been staying. However, I do feel it consequently robs some of the stakes of the story and makes it feel slower than expected. One example is Leone's lack of concern for the storm is given a simple: "Didn't know, did I? Sorry about your horse, though..." before being brushed off narratively, while the ranger's hasty decision to rush into the storm is given more weight as bad judgement and dealt with throughout the novel. Their gradual relationship through helping each other is nice, but honestly it felt like more focus should have been on the reconciliation between the ranger and their horse, rather than Leone. Although Leone's story is interesting in its own right, it doesn't connect as well thematically.

The last part is more of a comment on the metadata. The synopsis naming the main character as Rowan in the beginning already tips off a really big plot point as to how the character's perception changes/develops. A reader's questions as to why the ranger wants to prove themselves, which start out as gradual and become more defined, seem to be undercut by the synopsis giving away that answer is that they want to see themselves percieved as a more masculine personality. The synopsis doesn't ruin the plot's development, but it's a bit like using Darth Vader to refer to Anakin Skywalker in "Revenge of the Sith."

Otherwise, the story is beautifully rendered and perfect for fans of more atmospheric graphic novels like Ben Hatke's "Little Robot" or Mariko Tamaki's "That One Summer." The scene where Leone accepts the offer to play violin for a village's dance is one of the best illustrated moments of the story and manages to discuss the fludity of gender perception without coming off as patronizing or didactic.

A song for You and I is a breathtaking story of finding one’s authentic self through the lens of the heroes journey. I was entirely swept away by this small but mighty story. The art and “vibe” is the most satisfying example of cozy/cottage core I have found in a book to date. It is simple in its storytelling, yet rich in its depth of experience.

This book is also coming out at a perfect time for my family, as my middle child just came out as a trans boy. Not only was this book an offering of support to my son, but it helped me understand his experience through the character’s journey.

A Song for You and I feels like a love story on so many levels. Love within friendship, music, gifts, family and of course… being accepted and loved until we can learn to love and accept ourselves. What a gorgeous, powerful book.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

i received an e-ARC for a review

this was such a lovely read. everything about it was so soft and comforting, like a down feather comforter and a nice mug of chamomile tea on a cold day or, actually, a cashmere candle while it’s snowing out the window. i’ve officially unofficially adopted rowan and leone and they both deserve the absolute world. seeing both of their storylines and how they overcame their issues was so heartwarming. i loved reading this so much and i can not WAIT to implement it into my lessons with my kids. this is exactly what i want to show them as an art teacher with a lot of queer students. this is the kind of book that would’ve helped me realize things a lot sooner if i’d read it as a preteen. the only thing was the ending was a bit too open ended for my taste but otherwise i adored this

A Song for You and I is a touching story that should be on middle grade shelves. The relationship between Rowan and Leone is so sweet and supportive. They are also each learning about themselves, their fears and anxieties. It is such a wholesome beautiful story filled with supportive communities and love.

Thank you to Net Galley and Random House Children’s for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

K. O’Neill has done it again. They have whisked me away to a tender world of imaginative fantasy. O’Neill’s stories and characters are always so comforting and the illustrations never fail to take my breath away. Rowan is a character I will hold close to my heart for a long time to come.

I fell in love with Mothkeeper and the Tea Dragon series. I can’t wait to add A Song for You and I to my collection and read it to my children someday.

These are the stories of acceptance and kindness and understanding we need right now. I’m so in awe of O’Neill’s work and can’t recommend them enough.

Pre-order this now! 5 stars / 10 out of 10

Struggled at first deciding whether I liked the illustration style or not. i eventually realized how charming it could be! It would a nice graphic novel for tweens who are starting to explore who they are as people. A feel good story about having the courage to be your true self.

K. O’Neill has a gentle style in both their art and storytelling that I just love. Their stories are not action packed, so if that’s what you’re looking for, this is not for you. However, if you love a good coming of age story set in a lovely fantasy world, this may be right up your alley.

Absolute 5 out of 5. I was so excited to see a new K O'Neil and it didn't disappoint. The art is absolutely beautiful and the story has a slow, cozy feeling that asks readers to pause and marvel at the deep character development and the journey of discovering who you are and who you wish to be.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the eARC in exchange for a review.

Another lovely story from K. O’Neill! I think the ending felt a little sudden to me based off of the book's description, but had I not read that first I don’t think I would’ve felt the same. The color palette of soft blues and greens really lends itself to the open and airy feeling of the landscapes. As Rowan and Leone travel, the full page and two page spreads of illustrations are particularly moving and expressive, even when they serve as a pause between chapters. Rowan and Leone’s journey of discovery within themselves and with others is very sweetly done, and I look forward to giving this a reread when the book is out!

Another gentle, lovely story from K. O'Neill. This one focuses on finding yourself with some trans-associated subplots. We will be purchasing this one for our library for sure.

A gentle, soft story of figuring out who you are and who you want to be. As with most of K. O'Neill's books, this is a sweet story that focuses more on characters and their interactions than action or plot. If you want something plot-heavy, this is not it, but if you want something where characters have a lot of conversations amidst gorgeously drawn scenery, then I would absolutely recommend this one. The story was lovely, the art was beautiful, and I would absolutely recommend this for middle graders and adults alike.

This is a really lovely book by K. O'Neill. I love the look of failing but finding yourself again through self exploration.
The illustrations are really beautiful too, just like O'Neill's other books.
A must read!

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

A charming and sweet story about a ranger meets a sheep hearder and their unlikely relationship, filled with soft moments, growth, and so much more. Rowan has always wanted to be a ranger, someone to protect their village alongside their flying horse Kes, yet when in attempt to show their worth, they get Kes injured.... Rowan becomes unsure of if they are capable of protecting everyone. All the while Rowan meets Leone, a lackadasical sheep hearder who wants to become a musician. Leone and Rowan begin an unlikely friendship and as they begin to journey together and help Kes heeal, something in Rowan begins to heal as well. Their friendship begins to grow into something more but will Rowan be able to leave Leone once Kes is healed? This was such a soft and sweet read, the artwork is so charming and beautiful, and the tender moments were amazing. i've been a huge fan of this author for a while and this was a wonderful story to read. It really taps into a soft spot in your heart and I can't recommend this book enough!!

Release Date: March 4,2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Children's | Random House Graphic for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*