From an art perspective, it is beautiful. I love the whimsical world with the vibrant colors. I didn't love the character design but the overall art direction was stunning.

The juxtaposition between the heavy themes and the whimsy of the world didn't work for me, and the transitions between them felt rushed. The dialogue added to this as well, as it felt awkward at times and left me wondering who the target age group is for this book. But overall I liked it and found myself more interested in the story the more it progressed.

If you're looking for a fantasy adventure with nature giants, this might be worth checking out!

The themes in this book lean a little heavier than I expected for something that reads fairly fast—there’s grief, bullying, and parental loss, so it’s good to be aware of that if you're considering it for younger readers. But the core of the story is about standing up for yourself and discovering that you’re stronger than you think.

The pacing is quick, and while there is setup, things move so fast that I didn’t always feel like I had enough time to really connect with the characters or their relationships. That said, I think the pacing might actually work really well for middle grade or younger YA readers who enjoy fast-moving plots and big ideas.

This book feels more like an introduction to something bigger. Not a ton happens plot-wise, but the ending definitely pulls you in and sets things up for more excitement in the next book. I’m curious to see where it goes from here.

The illustrations are definitely a highlight—the color choices shift depending on the tone of each scene, and they do a great job of enhancing the atmosphere.

Overall, this is a visually striking, fast-paced start to a series that mixes environmental themes with fantasy and self-discovery. While I had a few moments where I wanted to slow down and connect more, it’s a strong beginning that younger readers and fantasy fans may really enjoy.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

My first impression was that the illustrations were dynamic and captivating. Although, there were some troubling themes embedded within the course of this graphic novel. It is true that the narrative is fast paced which allows readers to navigate through this one rather quickly. For the most part, the characters are likable. Some characters are more authentic to actual people than others. If the characters employed by this "huge corporation" are truly evil rather than trying to stop a teenage girl from running away from the only family she knows that she has, then perhaps they need to be written with a few more foibles and additional plot devices. There should be a distinction between characters who truly appreciate and enjoy science-- and literary "bad guy" characters who are deemed irreconcilable because they are employed by a major science corporation therefore must be corrupt.

I’m fairly surprised there weren’t any trigger warnings on this book as there are some heavy themes/content in it. I would have put a content warning for parent death/grief, bullying, mild tobacco use, and mild violence. Given the content, i think this should be categorized at LEAST in middle grade if not young adult. I don’t think children will be able to comprehend what’s going on effectively.

I thought that the book definitely felt like a book 1 - it’s mostly setup with the lore and establishment of the characters. I loved the illustrative style and felt like the characters were very well facially expressed. I certainly felt invested in learning more about the characters, and I wanted to see how the conflict evolved. I think the thinking process of the characters in the book are aligned with their developmental age (especially the naivete of engaging with a wild creature without thinking about the consequences). I think the font is good for low vision readers. The one gripe that I have with this book is that there isn’t a lot of diversity beyond body shape, and I’m hopeful that will change (in the closing page it looked like there were some POC and a disabled character, so I hope they’re introduced in the next book).

With a promising start for a series, the story is about giants who are connected to children. We meet Erin who recently lost her parents, but always has had a connection to nature. She then proceeds to uncover some truths...
I can't wait to see more of the giants and their backstory.
I loved the coloring and art style of this book. (And design of Yrso was amazing!)
In itself the story felt a little similar to transformers (giant alien creatures and humans connected to them) but it had enough new elements and art that made it enjoyable.

I am new to graphic novels and grabbed this one to read with my kids. I absolutely loved the illustrations and the plot were perfect for me and my kids. I absolutely love gardening and they have learned to enjoy it through me. This story fit our family perfectly. We will definitely be looking for a physical copy of this when it comes out.

Erin and Yrso is an enjoyable, fast-paced graphic novel. The story is easy to follow, making it ideal for younger readers. The novel features beautiful, bright illustrations, and the plot is somewhat reminiscent of the movie A Monster Calls and the animated film The Iron Giant. The comic explores the theme of nature and its protection.

These tweaks make the text a bit smoother, but overall, it's great!

Thank you to NetGalley and Graphic Universe for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.

The comic's artwork is incredible, the artist did a great job!

The story's quick, atmospheric, and super easy to read—perfect for kids.

The main character is open and vibrant; I was surprised at how quickly she started to trust a stranger, but hey, it’s a comic, so I get why they didn’t spend too much time on that.

It reminded me of the movie A Monster Calls!

Graphics: 5/5
Plot: 4/5

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Lerner Publishing Group for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC for an honest review.

3.5 ⭐ The Graphic Novel “Erin and Yrso” by Lylian, Paul Drouin, Lorien and Montana Kane follows the teenage girl Erin who discovers after the devastating loss of her parents a unique connection to a giant and nature itself.

I really liked the way Erin and her family were introduced. The story escalated a bit too quickly for me which led to me not feeling immersed in the story. However I was intrigued by the glimpse at future giants and story chapters.

The illustration style of the novel is beautiful and I enjoyed character design and coloring so much.

Overall this was a solid read that could turn into an epic series later on.

A big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Lerner Publishing Group for giving me the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

The artwork is beautiful. The story is fast paced almost to the point of rushing, but with kids short attention spans that shouldn't be a problem for younger readers. What I think will make kids step back from this book is the inauthentic way the kids speak sometimes. I don't know many kids that are going to shout "you bullies" during a fight and my middle schoolers would disconnect from that. Other than that it was a solid read that will definitely be able to find its audience.