I received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review

As soon as I saw this I was incredibly excited to get into it as it very much speaks to my own passions.

Holler is essentially a graphic novel documentary told through the history and experience of the creator, Denali Sai Nalamalapu, and a diverse group of six others who have different experiences and connections to the land and nature that the MVP pipeline is destroying.

This is a truly charming, informative, entertaining, envigorating, and infuriating (complimentary) comic that tells a very human and heartbreaking story of greed and ignorance of capital and those in power, all the way to the President of United States (if anyone was still in doubt about the evils of those in authority, regardless how banal). Beyond climate disaster and economical and political greed and corruption, it discusses systemic inequality, racism, and the power of community; what we can do when we stand together against oppression and destruction.

I absolutely adored this and cannot recommend it more strongly!

I really enjoyed the graphic novel as the format for telling this story. It made it much easier to understand and actually see the environmental impact of the pipeline project. I have heard of many of these projects and protests about them in my life but had never gotten a full picture like this. I think telling the story of everyday people will help encourage teens to get involved in their community, even if they aren't the most educated on the subject, but can feel in their heart it's wrong. Each point of view provides a unique perspective and new information. But, I think I hold a soft spot for Beck, a grandma, still being involved.

I got this graphic novel ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.

I didn't know what this was about but the topic of the MVP pipeline being forced into West Virginia despite the community overwhelmingly not wanting it was really interesting to me. The book explores this recent even through interviews showing the perspective of several community members and how they tried to resist this move.

The graphic novel is a very fast read and despite the content, it was not very wordy. I actually wish there was more substance to this. A lot of time is spent on the background of each person and the author and not as much on MVP or how this pipeline got pushed through, which I googled on my own (but also had trouble finding too much). I was particularly curious about which political party was the most involved. It seems like Biden and Manchin ultimately pushed this through which is so disappointing as I expect more environmental concern from Democrats. I guess there really isn't that kind of support from either party.

So if you want a really straightforward, people oriented view of this pipeline without delving into too much detail.

A graphic novel everyone should read. The simple execution helped me understand the dangerous of the pipeline construction and how politicians and greedy companies don’t care about the consequences. Each person experience in the book is an informative and educational read. We need more books like this!

This book is so interesting. I really enjoyed learning the stories of these changemakers. As a fellow Appalachian, I always like see how others perceive us. Interesting book, great perspectives.

Holler is a fantastic graphic novel about the fight against the Mountain Valley Pipeline through Appalachia. The story is told through the lives and battles of six brave individuals. In the true sign of a great book, it peaked my interest in the subject and left me wanting to learn more. Well written and accessible, this book is great for all ages. I reviewed this book as a possible bookclub book.

Holler is a graphic memoir featuring interviews with six people in Appalachia who protested against the installation of the Mountain Valley Pipeline. There are a wide array of ways to resist detailed here from picketing to mutual aid to chaining oneself to a car.

The artwork is decent and the stories are quite short. I wish they would've been a little longer. The narrative is very well written though and kept me fully engaged with each chapter. This is perfect for older teens on up to adults looking to get into activism.

My thanks to Timber Press, the author, and NetGalley for gifting me a digital copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

🌈 Rainbow Ratings:
Representation: 6
Atmosphere: 5
Intrigue: 7
Narrative: 6
Build-up: 6
Originality: 7
Wow Factor: 6

Holler is a debut graphic memoir that introduces readers to six everyday individuals resisting the Mountain Valley Pipeline in Appalachia. From a grandmother chaining herself to her car to stop construction, to a young organizer building mutual aid networks, these real-life stories highlight the diverse, determined people fighting for their communities and the planet. Denali Nalamalapu draws on firsthand interviews to create a vivid and moving portrait of grassroots climate justice.

Though simple and short, this graphic novel delivers a powerful and meaningful message. It reminds us that people from all walks of life are working toward positive change—and that none of us are alone in that effort. I finished this book in under 30 minutes and can easily see it serving as a great introduction for young, activist-minded readers.

A quick look at different ways to resist and radically protect in action in the Appalachian mountains. Left me wanting to know more and with a feeling that heroes can come from anywhere, something we need reinforced in our current times.

i have family in appalachia, so this was a very important read to me. but it was also an important read to me because i love this world and i hate what greed, both individual and corporate, has done to this country and this world.

this book features interviews with six activists that took on powerful voices to protest the mountain valley pipeline, which was existing only to enrich the rich, and being rammed through homes, beautiful lands that were subsequently destroyed by a lack of proper installation and absolutely no oversight or caring into the environments in which it was installed.

we've probably all seen on the news stories about protestors being arrested for fighting against pipelines, spun stories about how these pipelines will create labor, will save communities. here's the thing - press is only as good as the people that own it and the people that own it are the same rich people, corporate businessmen, and politicians that serve to gain from putting pipelines in. and in this world, decaying through environmental abuse and hatred, these people exist to serve only themselves and never people.

homes have been destroyed, habitats for animals have been obliterated. people have been hurt. this book made me furious.

i remember reading march, the graphic novel series that john lewis participated in creating prior to his death. he recounted how in the civil rights era they often created small comics and distributed them to the people as they found the graphic novel was a super accessible way to distribute critical information otherwise deplatformed or obfuscated by those it would critique. with that said, i loved the form these interviews took and will be heavily recommending this graphic novel loudly to anyone that listens.

I enjoyed the first-hand accounts from local activists. As someone local to the Roanoke area, it was nice to read about people who have a deep connection with the land and are fighting to protect the environment.

This is a lovely and excellent work of art that chronicles the activism of everyday folks in Appalachia protesting the Mountain Valley Pipeline, which ruined land, polluter the water, and caused massive ecological damage during the time developers were trying to put it into place. The author explains her path to climate justice and activism, and those of the people she interviewed for this project, who range from a single mom to a woman who chains herself to her car in protest. These aren't necessarily the acts and activists we hear about in the media--in fact, I think the media has mostly given up covering climate and environmental activism, alas--and their acts of rebellion and protest are heartening and inspirational. It's a great book for almost any audience.

The story could read as an investigative report--something that would be well-told through the medium of a podcast or documentary with interviews. However, the use of a graphic novel as medium really helps the reader grasp the various areas and people affected. It shows the reporter having tea and interviewing her subjects. It shows the pain and hardship that people have gone through, reflecting on past efforts and showing current efforts. Something that would be hard to capture in a documentary depending on timing.

This visual medium reflects the fear and commitment that concerned citizens have for the environment. It doesn't end on a happy ending, but on a call to action that we, the reader, must take up the torch.

I highly recommend this for high school libraries, and public libraries.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Timber Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

This was a great book and is an amazing way for people to get into Appalachian studies, current events, and history. It provides a starting point for getting informed (and does so in an engaging way), but this book is not super detailed.

I would highly recommend!

I loved the format of this graphic non-fiction book about everyday people fighting for their homes and futures.. The brief interviews provide a personal touch, connecting the reader to the fight against the MVP in Appalachia. Even though greed, capitalism, and white supremacy win, it ends on a positive note, calling for community care. The art was simple, yet effective.

Holler has a great message, but the execution is lacking. These stories should be told, but with more details to connect the reader to the subject. The artwork and design are attractive, but doesn't show the majesty of the area it is so committed to preserving.

I didn't know what a holler was when I started reading this. I knew that holler meant to shout, and it fit for the book's message and contents, but when I got to the end and realized that holler is also an Appalachian term, I appreciated the complexity of the title even more. I looked it up and found that it's the Appalachian English way of saying "hollow," and it refers to the valleys and hollows of the Appalachian region where people live. The way Nalamalapu uses it as her title connects to both meanings, and I really appreciate that.
I chose to read this book after seeing it in a NetGalley email because I love ideas of resistance and rebellion, and I also find the Appalachian region fascinating. Things like the Mountain Valley Pipeline really frustrate me although I'm not an active resister by any means. I also liked the idea that this is in a graphic novel form and approachable for young adults.
I did enjoy the book. It's a quick, easy read, and I learned a lot from it. It's structured with Nalamalapu as the narrator and also the interviewer. It's broken up into 7 parts, the intro explaining the author's interest in resisting the MVP and resistance against injustice in general, the 5 interviews she conducts with people from Appalachia who fought against the MVP, and then, the conclusion, urging her readers to step up. The interviews are great, but the narrator's summary after each one is didactic. I don't like the way each section ends. The conclusion is even more that way.
All that being said, I got something out of the book. I really appreciate the thoughtfulness of the author's artwork and her obvious care and passion for the subject. Overall, I recommend it if you want to learn more about fighting against the powers that be, defending the earth against pollution, and Appalachia. Also, if you know someone who wants to do more or feels hopeless about the way things are, this book could be very encouraging.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this copy of the book!

Holler explores the lives of activists fighting the construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline through their communities. This graphic novel was heartwarming and heartbreaking, informative and left me wanting to learn more, but most of all it renewed a fire within me and gave me hope to continue fighting to protect our environment and our communities.

I adored the art style. It was quite simplistic, but in a way that really lets the story shine. I particularly really loved the cohesive color story.

My one criticism is that I wanted more. I felt like this just scratched the surface of the such a vast topic and I would have loved if the author covered more action items for the reader.

Overall, I absolutely loved this and everyone I know will be receiving a copy once it comes out.

I didn't know all that much about the pipeline projects before I read this graphic novel. It gave me more informed background on the issue and I really appreciated getting to see it from so many different voices and backgrounds. I would love to see this book get more love and have more folks read it. It really puts human faces on what is an abstract concept to a lot of people.

This was wonderful. So informative on the pipelines and how they affect both the climate and the people. I was able to feel hope that we have people like the ones talked about trying to help oppose things like this, sadness and grief that the pipeline was chosen to move forward and for the future of Earth, and intrigue while learning additional information I was not privy to before.