K. O'Neill is the master of the quiet, contemplative middle-grade graphic novel and "A Song for You and I" is no exception. The easy pace of the story unwinds with a few moments of peril, but primarily moments of self-reflection and connection. It draws on themes from their other books, and continues to expand on themes of responsibility, trusting yourself, and forgiveness. I really enjoyed this story and loved the art style. The worldbuilding is also excellent and I loved the role of the rangers as community helpers/ emergency aid. I love books that give examples of mutual aid to children, we always need more community action and connection with our neighbors.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for the eBook.

Rowan knows exactly what they want: to be a ranger, protecting their village alongside their trusted flying horse Kes. But when Rowan’s eagerness to show off their worth gets Kes injured, Rowan is suddenly unsure if they’re capable of being the protector they’ve always dreamed of becoming. With Kes needing to heal, Rowan is paired with a sheep hearder Leone, Rowan only finds frustration as they seem to fail even the simplest tasks. But Leone’s own struggles, and endless support brings a new possibility to Rowan. Could their unlikely friendship be something more? And if it is, will Rowan be able to leave Leone behind to pursue being a ranger once Kes is healed?

4.75** Cute!!! I love this author's art style and their stories are always so wholesome, I love them. II liked the two main characters and their journey to discover and understand their identities, Rowan as a ranger and Leone as a musician. It's a quiet story, but there is a message of resilience and transformation that I really enjoyed.

Rowan is training to be a ranger, and in trying to demonstrate how capable she is, she gets her partner hurt. Now seen as irresponsible, she is reassigned to help the villagers after a storm. Rowan gets paired with Leone, a laid back shepherd who seems to be Rowan's opposite. Will Rowan prove herself again? Or is she asking the wrong questions?
This is a sweet story about overcoming challenges and becoming comfortable with who you are.

What a beautiful story told with gorgeous illustrations. I love the found family aspect, the acceptance and beauty of it all. I can’t wait to add this to my library.

This book was like a warm hug on a sweet scented breeze. O'Neill's graphic novels are as relevant to any adult as they can be for a child and present that same beauty and power in messaging as Miyazaki's films. I plan to re-read this multiple times and will very likely notice something new and beautiful each time. Beautiful.

This graphic novel was so sweet and wholesome. Rowan battles with their ambition and identity throughout the story. With the steadfast support of Leone, Rowan is able to reflect and slow down. This story reminds you that even though your life isn’t going the way you envisioned, something beautiful can come out in the end. It’s okay to slow down. I loved this story and think everyone should give it a read!

cute and beautiful arts — the lack of dialogues allowed for a contemplative quietness that just worked for me. i loved being able to sit with the art and soak everything in lol, it’s a graphic novel so… why not? other than that, the story itself was simple and straightforward, was it memorable? not really, but did i enjoy myself? absolutely. A Song For You and I bears O’Neil’s signature coziness and i couldn’t ask for anything more.

This was such a cute and beautiful story!! I do think the tenser moments at the start could have had more emotion (overall the book has a very calm feel), but other than that, I just loved everything. The characters really pulled you in and make you reflect about your self-relationship, as well as how you relate to others. And the ending!!! Ah, I'm so happy!

Always excited to read another work from K. O’Neill. They’re always so cozy!
A rangers’ apprentices are reaching the end of their trainings and soon will get to the Name Carving ceremony. First, they’ll have one final post where they will get a chance to prove themselves worthy. Our main character is posted pretty close to home and is worried that things will be boring. This may be true, but we don’t see much from the others and I know I prefer the story we ended up with. It’s just so cozy and exciting, Cozy queer content is what K. O’Neill does best, and I was SAT for it.
I think the setup and dialogue could stand to be a little more…more in the beginning, but once it gets going it’s just a quick, enjoyable read.

Beautiful illustrations accompany a sweet story in graphic nov el format about finding who you are and where you belong. I loved the tie-in to nature and understanding of identity and gender and the found family thread woven in.

Stunning art and a beautiful middle grade journey. So thankful for K. O'Neill's gentle and meaningful stories for young readers. They're going to love this one!!!

This was soooo cute! The art was so beautiful!! I really enjoyed reading this. I went in without knowing what I was going to get, but what I received is everything I could have hoped for. I absolutely loved the characters and the world we got to explore. As for plot, I felt we skipped a good bit at the end that could have been explored. I wish there were more leading up to the carving of the name instead of time jumping to afterwards.

This was another very lovely story from K. O'Neill! I really love their storytelling and artwork, and I'm happy to say that this one was a hit, too. It has themes of self-acceptance and knowing your worth as a person, even if others don't see you the way you'd like them to. Both of the main characters go through transformation to find themselves and grow their self-confidence. I also loved the main character's relationship with their flying horse. As always, O'Neill's artwork is beautiful and really immerses the reader in the story.

I am so sorry to say this but I did not really enjoy this book. The storyline and message seemed good but it took forever to get there. The amount of wordless, actionless, and vague cartoon panels littered throughout this made it so hard to get through. It felt like 1/2 of the panels in the book could have been cut and you would still get the same story. I have loved books by this author in the past but this one was a disappointment.

A Song for You and I by K. O'Neill is a middle-grade standalone fantasy graphic novel about two young people trying to be themselves and growing to understand what that means. Rowan wants to be a ranger, and takes their duties very seriously, desperate to prove themself. Leone wants to follow his dreams to become a violinist, but hasn't the confidence to do so. While the early stages of their friendship are rocky, Rowan and Leone will soon realize how important this relationship is to them and their journeys.

K. O'Neill's art style is whimsical yet poignant, adorable yet powerful. They are an expert at using color and non-verbal panels to clearly convey the emotions and tone of a scene, whether through a series of small actions or a climactic two-page spread. O'Neill has established themself comfortably as a slice-of-life, cozy fantasy storyteller, and I am excited to read another of their works. Please, keep them coming! Readers of all ages can benefit from these stories! That said, I do wonder if bringing out Rowan's gender questioning a little bit more in the beginning of the story would help make that plot point a little less abrupt? Other than that, the pacing was very well done.

Readers who enjoy this book may also like O'Neill's other works: The Moth Keeper, the Tea Dragon series, Princess Princess Ever After, Aquicorn Cove, and Dewdrop. Other graphic novels of interest may include The Baker and the Bard by Fern Haught, I Shall Never Fall in Love by Hari Conner, Leap by Simina Popescu, The Witch Boy series by Molly Knox Ostertag, Navigating with You by Jeremy Whitley, and the graphic novel adaptation of Tamora Pierce's novel First Test by Davin Grayson and Becca Farrow.

While I understand what this story was trying to do, it fell flat for me. The progression seemed a bit disjointed and the overall story just seemed lacking. I really think this would shine if there was more dialogue to aid character development. I'm left with a lot of questions as it feels like an incomplete story to me.
The art isn't enough to save this one for me. It's not an art style that I think helps the story, and isn't a favorite of mine.
Many thanks to Random House Children's and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

5 stars!

K O’Neill’s books are always a delight and so gorgeous. Another graphic novel that I wished I could have read as a child as it’s what I needed back then. I am glad children will have books like this to read.

Thank you Random House Children's Graphic and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this book. Magical illustrations and a great story about perseverance and being who you truly are combine into a delightful read. Looking forward to another great volume.

This book was so beautifully made, from the story to the illustrations, and I will be purchasing a copy for my personal library when it comes out. I love the characters, their relationships, and the way the story encourages acceptance, both toward ourselves and others. O’Neill’s books have never once disappointed me and this was no exception.

K. O’Neill’s graphic novels always have such a magical, mystical, and mythical vibe that feels nostalgic and new all at once. I loved this queer story about the rangers, novices, bards, and their friends. Rowan’s journey was beautiful and having support from someone like Leone while being able to support them at the same time is so special. The art was stunning, as expected. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!