this is empathetic journalism at its finest. denali sai nalamalapu captures the hollers of appalachia with such grace and delicacy, using sparse backdrops in the illustrations to highlight the bigness of the topic at hand. the mountain valley pipeline is something i feel that the masses don't know much about, and this graphic memoir captures the beauty of the region while educating on a very impactful issue. this is done so, so well.

My family has lived in the mountains of Southwest Virginia for centuries, and I'm only now truly starting to appreciate that history and our connection to the land. When I came across this book, I knew I had to check it out; I'm so thankful that I did! I hadn't heard of these tenacious, everyday activists who are taking things into their own hands and working endlessly for a change. I'm so deeply inspired by their resistance and resilience! Mountain people have guts and grit, and it's more than evident in these profiles. Nalamalapu does an amazing job of showcasing their hearts and authenticity vs. the overwhelming, greedy powers they're up against.

If you have even an ounce of concern about the environment and climate crisis, read this and prepare to be inspired.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the most fascinating and inspiring read on the most burning topic of recent times. Gripping illustrations add flavor that keeps you hooked till the last page. It offers a wider perspective on the issue interlinking many themes, keeping the stage open for the audience till the very end. I had to ask my friend to read it too so we can debate on many compelling ideas that this work evokes. I highly recommend reading this book in pairs

Some solid comics journalism, Denali Sai Nalamalapu interviews six different climate activists, from different backgrounds and ethnicities, who have fought (and continue to fight) the construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline in the Southern Appalachian mountains. Nalamalapu illustrates in a spare style with a fairly uniform line and a few flat colors (often just two or three tones), which draws attention to where color is used dramatically, especially with drawings of destruction or environmental impacts.

The stories of the individuals are presented (in terms of pacing and framing) in a documentary style, mixing in elements of interviews with personal narratives of how each came to acts of resistance and disillusionment with official channels and government. Holler is not a difficult or particularly graphic read, but it doesn't shy away from loss and explanation of the local consequences of the destruction of the pipeline construction or its possible impacts from an explosion or leak.

It's a brief read, that doesn't overstay its welcome, but it might have been nice for the individual narratives to have a bit more breathing room to give us a more three dimensional sense of each person. Still, it's a solid entry on the local impacts of national issues that are too easily reduced to talking points and abstraction, here given some real concrete examples of the immediate environmental effects of pipeline construction on the communities affected.

An outstanding exploration of the women involved in preventing the Mountain Valley Pipeline from coming to completion. Many of the people in this book, as well as others involved in the protest, face criminal charges. This is important witness to an environmental struggle.

Holler is a graphic novel/memoir which tells the story of the Mountain Valley Pipeline fight, where protestors, activists, and organizers did their part to work towards climate justice and equal treatment of American citizens. There's lots of strong messages within about helping your community, listening to your heart, and using your strengths to do what you can. Each of the pipeline resisters described, Paula Manin, Karolyn Givens, Becky Crabtree, Crystal Mello, Michael James, Desiree Shelley, and the author, uses their own abilities and ideas in order to share with the community and strengthen the movement. Progress depends on organization and coalition-building, as shown in past civil rights movements. We should take lessons where we can, and Holler reminds us of how important it is to look to others who have been where we want to go. Another aspect I appreciated was that Holler takes place in Appalachia, where most people are facing poverty, lack of resources, and climate distress. I am a big believer that lifting up the most vulnerable makes the world better for all of us - and Appalachia and climate justice is a great place to start if you are able to participate in any way you can.

I would like to end by sending a huge thank you to Denali Sai Nalamalapu, the publisher, Timber Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Holler. I will share my review to Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes & Noble as well. I hope more activism-based memoirs/graphic novels will follow :)

I am not sure if this is a Young Adult title but I have not problems having it in my HS library. I love the six individual stories of activism and motivation. The art and limited colors help focus on the story and the emotional strength of all the interviewees.

CW: classism, racism, colonialism

I would like to thank NetGalley and Timber Press for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Direct, on-the-ground storytelling of the active resistance against the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MYP) project, climate activist Denali Sai Nalamalapu's debut graphic memoir is a poignant and powerful story of community-based climate activism.

Through the vignettes of six frontline activists, Nalamalapu provides a concise look into the lives of these activists as they navigate unjust systems, corporate greed, and some who even travel to the nation's capital to speak out against the MYP project. Holler shows more of the multitudes of the realities behind activism, including activism burnout and the need to take of one's self, but Holler also recognizes the work that we can do to provide a better tomorrow for future generations. I felt that the information about MYP project was easy-to-understand despite not knowing about the project until reading this book, and Nalamalapu does a great job with interspersing these vignettes with their own experience fighting against the MVP project.

If you like memoirs about climate activists and/or you want to gain more of an understanding about Appalachia and the work done to protect its resources, I would definitely recommend checking out this book.

Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced ARC of this graphic novel

I have always been interested in history to do with the world we live in and also the people who helped change it for the bigger or worse, this book talks about a few people who did all they could in their own ways to make it better - the first story we get is

Paula Mann

She was an elderly woman who lived on a farm with her parents and after they passed on she stayed and loved the nature she was a part of, during the time of new pipes being planned to be built under the forest she took the time to take pictures of the areas it would go through as well as letting them know the damage that could happen both with the nearby towns and also the forest, this made them redo their plans

She is one of a few people talked about in this graphic novel who did what they could their own way to fight for change.

These stories all come together to show the impact a few people can have that can change the lives of so many as well as save the beauty of nature that we have around us and take it for granted.

I think this is a great way to show children serious issues without making it too hard to understand or possess

Holler provides snapshots of six different climate activists resisting the Mountain Valley Pipeline in Appalachia. Nalamalapu interviews activists from different walks of life, doing their parts big and small to slow or halt the progress of a devastating pipeline. Their stories highlight not only different ways to be an activist, but put a focus on the connections, community, and purpose that activism gives people. Nalamalapu has clearly made an effort to make the concepts of class and race issues as accessible as possible. They thread the needle of instilling hope and meaning in climate activism while avoiding using rose-colored glasses. The forces climate activists are up again are daunting and powerful, but, as Michael James-Deramo asks in chapter 5, "Can you think of anything more beautiful than standing alongside those you love, staring hopelessness, isolation, and collapse in the face?" This is an entreaty to turn away from despair and apathy, and to root into the land and people you love. Teenagers, young adults, and adults needing inspiration for how to start using their skills for causes that matter will find this a short but inspiring read.

What an important but also devastating story. I had no idea about the MVP before and thought this book might be about a pipeline from a long time ago. Turns out it’s very current news that I hadn’t heard of. It’s great how the author includes a lot of diverse voices and perspectives to highlight the importance of community organizing. Highly recommend

This was one of the most fascinating reads of this year - empathetic, hugely heartfelt and a strong narrative to boot. My huge thanks to NetGalley and Timber Press for providing me with an ARC of this wonderful experience of a book.

I enjoyed this book and learned so much about the MVP project, which I hadn't heard of before. Climate change and initiatives like this often feel overwhelming, and it’s easy to feel hopeless. However, this book does an exceptional job of showcasing inspiring stories of ordinary people keeping the faith and doing the important and necessary work. The timeline at the beginning was especially helpful. The graphic novel format made it especially engaging and approachable for me—I might not have picked it up otherwise. While I still feel daunted by the scale of the challenges we face, I am inspired. Thank you to NetGalley for providing an early copy!

Graphic memoir of climate change activists fighting a pipeline in WVA. interesting take on the topic. I did find the authors interpretations of each story a bit trite. but I get she is trying to inspire a new generation of activists. It is hard to be inspired but a lost battle though.

Holler brings us straight into the kitchens and living rooms of average Appalachians turned activists in a simultaneously inspiring and frustrating real-life story of those impacted by and opposing the Mountain Valley Pipeline. The limited color palette in the illustrations focuses readers on the lived experiences of each activist while also providing enough detail to show the beauty of Appalachia. This graphic novel will make you consider your own power and skills while serving up a stark reminder of the deep enmeshment of government and corporate interests.

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.

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.

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.

🌈 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.

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.

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!

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.

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.