A visual wonder that explores culture and family!

I absolutely loved this graphic novel! The charm and adventure of the cover continues throughout the art on every page. The comic panels are used creatively and the flow is smooth. I thought that the main characters had a decent amount of depth to them. I didn’t feel incredibly moved by their friendship and conflicts, but the logic made sense to me. I was very intrigued by the variety of characters that show up in the story. The character designs are all so interesting with distinct personalities and varied physical appearances.

The themes of family and culture were well done. I really liked the idea of two different languages being represented by two different text colors. I’ve also experienced the struggles of coming from a culture whose language I am not completely fluent in and how that affects family dynamics. I don’t think I’ve seen that part of myself represented so well in a graphic novel before.

The magical creatures were, of course, the stars of the show. The story was well woven together, but it’s the full page spreads of enormous geozoological phenomenon that will stick in my mind‘s eye for a long time. The artist’s style so amazingly brings these creatures to life. Reading this graphic novel added a spark of wonder and delight to my life, and I’m definitely going to recommend it to all my friends when it comes out!

A sweet, heartwarming and cozy story full of magic. This story was heartbreaking but in the best way and was told so beautifully. My daughter and I read this together, and she read her again by herself two more times. We found ourselves loving these characters so much we wanted more! The illustrations are absolutely beautiful and bring the book to life.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

Lu and Ren's evolving friendship is the beating heart of this story. Their reasons for journeying together are vastly different, but they find understanding in one another as they work through their family and friendship issues together. Their individual and duo narrative arcs are so satisfying and I'd love to read more of their adventures together. The art is stunning, effectively enhancing the worldbuilding, bringing the otherworldly into marvelous accessibility. The wildlife in this graphic novel is so freaking cool and I, too, would love to study their lives!

Lu and Ren's Guide to Geozoology pleasantly surprised me with its charming blend of adventure and whimsy. The art style is a major highlight, creating a visually stunning and immersive reading experience. The unique concept of geozoology immediately sparked my curiosity, introducing a world teeming with imaginative and endearing creatures. Lu and Ren are likable protagonists, their friendship forming the heart of the story and providing a heartwarming element to the adventure. While the plot might be predictable at times, it's consistently engaging and moves at a satisfying pace. The book's overall tone is optimistic and uplifting, leaving the reader with a feeling of wonder and joy. It's a delightful escape into a fantastical world, perfect for readers of all ages who appreciate beautiful artwork and heartwarming stories. It's a book I would happily recommend to anyone looking for a charming and visually stunning read.

This beautifully imaginative story follows Lu and Ren on an adventure as they search for Lu’s ah-ma, a world-renowned geozologist, who has gone missing. Along they way they encounter fantastical creatures like, cloud-jellies, enormous sunfish, and mischievous mossgoats and learn about friendship, family, and the complex relationship between people and nature. I enjoyed the colorful, creative illustrations and the unique combinations of animals and geological structures, not to mention the little tidbits of science sprinkled throughout. This cozy fantasy adventure is perfect for fans of The Tea Dragon Society or The Baker and the Bard.

I absolutely adored reading this! The art was so lovely and wholesome and the story was absolutely adorable!

The whole thing felt like an indie video game I would have binge played (it definitely helped that I listened to some of my favorite indie game soundtracks while reading this)

My favorite part was all the different creatures (my favorite being the Cavioliths) and "the travelers guide to geozoology" at the end!

I loved the messaging of "two people can be different and still care about each other." And even though they fight they still care about each other and support each other in their own ways and through their own endeavors!

Lu and Ren's Guide to Geozoology creates an intricate ecosystem of amazing fictional creatures. Many are super cute and some are very big and I want to sleep on one like Totoro. None of the critters are scary.

Lu's grandmother wrote all her geozoological journals in Cylian, which Lu and her mother can barely read. There's a story of lost language and heritage along with the exploration and critter adventure.

Absolutely gorgeous art throughout, with beautiful scenery and expressive characters.

Lu and Ren’s Guide to Geozoology is an absolutely charming children’s comic, full of wonder and heart. Angela Hsieh has crafted a world that feels both vast and whimsical, with cosmic sunfish eclipses and fascinating geomegafauna. The creatures are all incredibly sweet.

At its core, the story follows Lu and Ren as they navigate both their journey and their complicated friendship. Lu is determined to find her grandmother, often dragging Ren along without considering her feelings, while Ren is trying to escape her own family without telling Lu why. Their conflict is handled thoughtfully, Lu struggles to understand that not every family is as warm and supportive as hers, while Ren resents both Lu’s happier family life and the way she steamrolls decisions. Their growth is well-developed, with both characters acknowledging their mistakes, apologizing, and promising to do better. One particularly strong moment was Lu’s letter to her grandmother.

Shan, Lu’s grandmother, was also a compelling character. A strong and brilliant woman, she dedicated her life to research, often at the cost of time with her family. It’s easy to see why Lu admired her so much and wanted to follow in her footsteps.

The art style is on the simpler side, which works well for a children’s book, though I personally wished for a bit more detail. Still, it complements the tone of the story and effectively brings the world to life.

Overall, this book is a lovely, engaging read with a heartfelt message about understanding and friendship.

An absolutely beautiful book. I was drawn into this story by the cool Geo-creatures and the mischief they make, but what really stood out to me was the main characters' journeys to find their place in their respective families. I sincerely hope to see this book become just the first in a series. I want to meet more geofauna critters!!

thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

this beautiful graphic novel is fantasy-eque with themes of friendship, family, & coming-of-age. the two main characters come from different lives & are set off for a journey of discovery.

it was a really great work & the art style added so much to it! i loved the fantastical elements such as the sunfish eclipse. i liked that the characters had differing backgrounds & how they compared and contrasted them. i think both girls really learned a lot on their journey & while the ending has a touch of sadness to it, it was a beautiful conclusion. i really liked this graphic novel & would absolutely recommend it.

the cutest little graphic novel! i love the character representation and the illustrations are beautiful. it’s a cute book that shows how we are all connected and how important animal and ecosystem is to our world.

This gorgeously-rendered graphic novel is immersive, creative, and unexpectedly made me a bit misty at points. It does a good job of showing how importantly interrelated our ecosystems are too.

I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Young Lu dreams about being an adventurer like her Ah-ma, a world-renowned geozoologist studying creatures of all sorts and sizes. As years pass, and with no word from her ah-ma, Lu begins her travels with her best friend, Ren, in search of an ah-ma and helps the local towns from strange creature migrations. From an angry and upset town at Ah-ma to geofauna going off track of their migration lanes, Lu and Ren have their hands full. However, Ren is hiding a secret, and Lu doesn’t know if she’ll ever find her ah-ma in time for the eclipse.
Pastel colors carve out interesting creatures, including pinks, yellows, purples, and many more. A tale of surprises, secrets, and love for found family come together in a whimsical graphic novel about forgiveness and the travels we take on the open roads. Fans of Studio Ghibli films will fall in love with this magical take on geofaunas and creatures abound.

A very cute graphic novel that features the cutest megafauna I've ever seen!!! A heartfelt story about Lu and Ren who each have their own approach to family and who they are in relation to their families as well. Overall a lovely graphic novel that I'm very thankful to have read, and I look forward to buying the hard copy once it's out. A huge thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of the arc in exchange for my thoughts!

Lu and Rens’s Guide to Geozoology was a delight to read! The book is visually stunning, with beautiful illustrations that bring the story to life. It's the perfect read for middle schoolers and younger audiences, and it will definitely find a home in my middle grade library.

A great middle-grade graphic novel about two friends who go on an adventure to find a missing grandma, and help solve some fantastical creature problems along the way. About friendship, realizing you might not know your family as well as you think, and the struggle to stay true to yourself. Great artwork, and I loved the fantastical creatures- I’ll definitely be recommending this to my nieces.

I will NEVER get over the art in this book! I think the giant guinea pig creatures were my favorite but the hotspring pool giant toads were a close second!! A lovely story, beautiful imagery. Looking forward to seeing what Hsieh does next!

Lu and Ren's Guide to Geozoology is a cozy fantasy story about Lu, a girl who wants to follow in the footsteps of her beloved Ah-ma, a celebrated researcher of fantasy flora and fauna, who has gone missing. Lu decides to go out and find her missing grandmother, using her journals and letters. Unfortunately, Lu struggles to translate all of her grandmother's writings. As she and Ren explore, they learn that Ah-ma's legacy is more complicated than Lu realized.

I loved this illustrations and the message!
The creatures were all very great and creative!
Lu and Ren both grow up and communicate eventually and its beautiful and sweet

This is perfect for middle grade and honestly even younger for some. I loved how relatable it was about language differences with family with a serious tone while the entire graphic remained fun throughout.