This graphic novel is a trans girl fantasy. Our main character Ash has been struggling with their identity. Their mother is gone, but she was a writer who made up a magical world. One day Ash ends up in this magical world with their friends and the secret of this world is that only girls are allowed. So, Ash feels elated that this secret area chose them, and that their feelings of being a girl are reflected and approved. This world is part Watership Down, part Neverland. Just when one thinks that Ash and their friends are going to solve the problems in this world, turns out that the problems are boys and Ash realizes that maybe it wasn’t the world telling her she’s a girl. In order for this world, invented by her mother to be saved she’s going to have to find her true self and her true power and get her and her friends safely home. This book is a bit of a slow read, but in the end it is worth it. It was an enjoyable adventure especially for those who already enjoy fantasy with anthropomorphic characters. However, there’s something deeper and darker in here. This land invented by her mother is all about fear. Fear is what gives it power. But her mother’s greatest fear was a man. That is never addressed, and I wish it was. The end of the book makes it seem like there will be further adventures and if there are I will check into them because while this was a slow read, it was a good one.

This was an interesting YA LGBT comic to read. The fantasy aspects were very well done and I'm always down for adventures to another world with a group of girls of varying ages and backgrounds. As a coming of age story for a trans girl, this book was informative and gave me a better understanding about what a young trans person may experience on their journey to adulthood and finding their true self in life. The animals in the story were a nice touch but sometimes the story felt just a bit rushed. Definitely would like more exploration about the beings that inhabit Koretris. If the author (whom I adore for the Lumberjane series) has future stories related to the world of Koretris, would consider reading them. I already recommended this story to fellow trans friends and they enjoyed it too. Keep up the good work!!

Excited about the premise but had concern about the portrayal of the African American character as aggressive/angry, wasn’t crazy about the artwork, and there seemed to be a lot of very binary gender stereotypes

This was a wonderful graphic novel about identity and friendship that can be enjoyed by all ages. I really enjoyed the conversations about gender and sexuality. The art style is also really wonderful and unique.

The fact that I read half of this, left it for a few months and read the other half didn't really bode well for me ending up loving it. I liked it just fine, although with many negative stereotypes - an aggressive butch black girl (honestly she was like the stereotype that right wing people make fun of), boys aren't allowed be vulnerable (I thought we were going to get something when a boy cries and gets told off for crying....but no he just gets told off for crying and that's it). Gender struggles and death of a parent are two GIANT topics for children (for anyone to be honest!) and unfortunately one just gets a few panels but ultimately swept aside. I don't know, I feel sad for not liking this more than I did, I normally love queer middlegrade but this was just a flop for me.

This is easily one of the best queer books I have ever read; not just graphic novel, but story overall.

This graphic novel is a story about friendship, love, and discovering yourself whether it be your personality and interests or your own gender and sexual identity. Throughout this story, Ash is discovering her true identity in an alternate universe called Koretris. While fighting the scourge to save all of Koretris, Ash is also fighting to discover herself,

I believe this graphic novel is amazing for people of all ages, not only young kids but also older readers. Gender and sexuality are a journey for all of life, and major discoveries can happen at any moment. For Ash, it happened in middle school, but for others, it can happen late into adulthood.

I was shocked once Ash and her friends ended up in Koretris because it's not at all where I was expecting the story to go. I loved it every second I read it, and I'd love to keep reading more about Ash and her friend in Koretris.

My only issues with this novel were the slightly sudden transitions and some of the language and ideas are geared towards younger readers, but these are very easily overlooked because the story and artwork are so amazing.

An easy 5 star rating from me.

This is one of those cases where I feel like I'm not the target audience, because everything about gender being fluid was really important, but the actual story wasn't that great. It was a little confusing how the mom died and generally everything with the fantasy world, but it was still cute.

Fans of Lumberjanes will be so excited to read this newest tiles by Lilah Sturges. And anyone who has somehow missed Lumberjanes will be reading those next after they discover Girl Haven.

This odd graphic novel attempts to create a "girl haven" - a feminist utopia, and also to question gender norms through its allegorical rabbit characters. It just doesn't quite succeed in telling a cohesive story or developing its characters in a meaningful way. There are stronger queer and feminist graphic novels out there for young readers.

A cute, magical story for middle-grade readers that explores gender identity using elements of high fantasy in a way that makes it easy to understand with a fun background story and cute sword fighting rabbits.

Oni Press
Lilah Sturges (author), Meaghan Carter (illustrator), Joamette Gil (cartoonist)

My Thoughts:

Graphic novels, comics, manga, have always been gender fluid and Girl Haven is no exception with the main character, Ash, being at the brink of a personal realization that he is a trans girl even if others see him as a boy. It is not shocking to bring this type of resource into a middle school classroom. What I know for sure is that comics, especially manga have androgynous and even feminine male characters with big eyes and high cheekbones. It never was a shock and I have been reading manga (in Japanese and in Japan) since the mid 1970s.

What is different about this book, though, is the note about identity at the end of the book. It makes it more obvious that this is for a younger audience who would like some questions answered around gender identity, gender expression and sexuality. When the stories put characters in a fantasy world to work out issues around fears, gender and the power of love, we are able to get away from the trauma around social "norms" that haunt our children who are targeted as "different," "abnormal," and "queer."

This is another have in the classroom and let it wait for the right child kind of book. Thanks to Oni Press for continuing to allow stories to unfold like this without plastering LGBTQIA and queer youth on the cover or in the merchandising, which sometimes scares the curious reader who just wants to learn more, but also enjoy an adventure.

From the Publisher:
Full of wonder, humor, and heart, Girl Haven is the newest original story from the author of Lumberjanes.

Three years ago, Ash’s mom left home and never returned, leaving behind a husband and child and a shed full of mystical curiosities related to the all-girl fantasy world she’d created as a child—Koretris. One day Ash invites a new group of friends from Pride Club over, and they try one of the spells to enter Koretris. To their amazement, they’re all transported to a magical realm filled with human-sized talking animals who are fiercely protective of their world and are ready to fight to protect it. But if Koretris is real, why is Ash there? Everyone has always called Ash a boy—shouldn’t the spell have kept Ash out? And what does it mean if it let Ash in?

I've been thinking a lot recently about portal fantasies. And for not entirely related reasons I've been thinking a lot about "Sandman: A Game of You" – a portal fantasy in which a group of women travel to a magical realm one of them dreams about. Except for Wanda, a trans woman who cannot enter the magical path because the Moon is a TERF.

The thing about portal fantasies is that more often than not the journey is shaped by a larger power, a Will that the protagonists have to decipher and follow, a certain order to the world that needs to be restored. Wanda is ultimately validated [though only in/by Death (hide spoiler)] and I think the reader is meant to rage at the injustices that befall her, both magical and mundane. But that moment when she was told she cannot go on a magic adventure because of a quirk of her biology... that still had weight, and not a pleasant one.

"Girl Haven" presents a very interesting reversal. The main character, Ash, along with three friends gets transported into a magical realm accessible only to girls. Ash uses masculine pronouns, wears masculine clothes and seemingly never gave any thought to being a girl. And so the journey to find out what happened to Ash's Mom (who described and depicted the world of Koretris) and find a way back home also becomes a journey of self-discovery for Ash. Perhaps we could have used seeing some signs that gender identity is something Ash is struggling with or has doubts about, but the metaphysical validation of that identity was a very welcome development.

At first Koretris feels a little clichéd, starting with talking animals who are the first to meet the adventurers and give them information on what's going on (I find this a problem with some modern portal fantasies in general – perhaps it's a matter of having to establish a "typical" portal fantasy world before introducing their own spin on it). But as the story unfolds, there's more to the comic and the world of Koretris than that. In typical portal-quest fantasy fashion, there is a prophecy and an Enemy that has to be defeated... But perhaps things aren't always so simple and authority figures, even well-meaning ones, don't always have the clearest picture... Trans people know that all too well and I really liked how Ash ultimately couldn't simply follow others and had to make active choices.

Girl Haven is a joyous, affirming book that offers some clever spins on the portal fantasy genre.

A beautiful graphic novel of understanding and accepting who you actually are and being comfortable in your own skin and identity.

Girl Haven is all about self acceptance nuanced with a fantasy setting! Every young child needs to have such wonderful stories to help them overcome their self - doubt to understand their worth.

Beautifully representing the trans and non - binary experience - and every child needs to know the actual understanding of acceptance and unconditional support.

Let’s talk a smidge about reading and chronic pain. Pain is something that has become an everyday part of my life. Some days it is just a dull ache in the background, reminding me that my body is not my own but shared with chronic illness and disability. Other days it is all consuming and completely debilitating. On days where the pain is worse, reading physical books is near impossible. Reading graphic novels on my ipad and listening to audiobooks make reading more accessible to me during these pain flairs. Just remember reading may look different to different people, but it is still reading.

.

On that not let me share this delightful arc that I received from @onipress and @netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Just like reading is experienced differently to different readers, Girl Haven by Lilah Sturges shows that there isn’t one way to experience or identify gender.

.

Synopsis from the publisher: Three years ago, Ash’s mom left home and never returned, leaving behind a husband and child and a shed full of mystical curiosities related to the all-girl fantasy world she’d created as a child—Koretris. One day Ash invites a new group of friends from Pride Club over, and they try one of the spells to enter Koretris. To their amazement, they’re all transported to a magical realm filled with human-sized talking animals who are fiercely protective of their world and are ready to fight to protect it. But if Koretris is real, why is Ash there? Everyone has always called Ash a boy—shouldn’t the spell have kept Ash out? And what does it mean if it let Ash in?

.

On top of this being an amazing story with an important message about love and acceptance, there are bunnies! Insert Anya from Buffy The Musical singing “I’ve got a theory! It could be bunnies!!!!”

I loved every minute of this book. Just by looking at the indie art style I knew I would like this.

i went into this book blind, it was well written, feminist and LGBTQIA+ and I was elated after completing tis book.

The inner design sports a three colored flag-like set up. most probably i think It is closest to the trans flag, but this one has dark blue next to the pink and white color.

I love the character designs and the comic was very enjoyable. I felt that sometimes the backgrounds were a bit rushed, but I was happy with the art overall.

To talk about the way the book tackles gender issues I will have to reveal a few spoilers. The story uses the portal fantasy setting to discuss male/female demarcations and relations. Koretris is a land that forbids entry to male visitors, and Asher comes to rethink gender and how come the magic let him travel there in the first place. At first it seemed like there is a division the gender along the lines of boys are bad or girls have cooties. It turns out that the scourge is actually a group of boys who come from Guysville and who consider girls an enemy. But they are actually driven by The Beast which takes control of them and uses them. This beast seems to be inside them and has the ability to take control of their minds. The presence of the boys confuses Ash, but in order to work magic, Ash must figure out what's in his/her heart and how they will identify themselves in the future.

frankly the way this book handles gender fluidity and shows us "to be what our hearts wants us to be" is the way to happiness and i cant agree more.

•Character development- 4☆
• Story Plot- 3☆
• Side characters- 4.5☆
• Flow of the story- 4☆
• Overall - 4.5☆

This ARC was provided for review, but in no way affects the following impartial and unbiased review:
•
3,5*
A story starring a brave girl (and trans) and her awesome friends (all queer and diverse) that travel to an amazing world full of cute bunnies and other creatures. Talks about very important issues, like facing your fears, discovering and loving yourself, and standing up for what's right. The colors and art style are also amazing. However, the story is too short and fast-paced, and the relationships formed are nearly instantaneous.

Seventh-grader Ash joins the Pride club at school. The club consists of friends Eleanor, Chloe, and Junebug. After the club meeting, Ash invites his new friends to his house to show them his mom’s art. His mom created a world called Koretris in her art and stories when she was a child. Koretris is a world filled with talking rabbits, where only girls exist. His mom disappeared years ago. Ash and his friends recite a spell from the spell book she created, which transports them to Koretris. Since boys aren’t allowed in Koretris, Ash questions whether he is meant to be a boy or a girl while also searching for his mom in this fantasy world.

This was a fun fantasy story. It’s a common storyline to be transported into a fantasy world, such as Narnia or Wonderland. I would have loved to go into the worlds of my favourite novels as a kid, so I think this story is relateable.

This story also explored what it means to be a boy or a girl. Ash had always felt more like a girl, but since everyone said that he was a boy, he figured he must be a boy. He really began to question it when he was transported to the world that was only meant for girls. This shows readers that it’s okay to question your feelings and figure out who you really are, not who others say you have to be.

I loved this middle grade graphic novel!

Thank you Oni Press for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Girl Haven is about gender, the author says in the preface, and while its about one kind of gender experience, its story is true for everyone: your story is your own. Cute. 


Let's dive right in, then! 


It's a story of a group of queer kids, and it focuses particularly on Ash, who's just discovering who they are. After a pride club meeting at school, they all go over to Ash's and get magically transported to a Girl Haven, where no boys are allowed. There, they go through a couple of ordeals before, you know, Ash can discover who they are, assume the throne (a different one that we'd expect), and find a long-lost patent. The typical stuff. 


It was metaphorical and childish and epic, and therefore it reminded me of boos like Inkheart and Neverending Story, but also of Sophie Labelle's work in how unapologetic and cute the characters were. 


I would totally recommend 👌

A fun, magical adventure. Ideal for graphic novel form. Ash's mum disappeared 3 years ago, still living with all her things, Ash starts to explore the fantasy world that she created as a child with unexpected results.

Appreciated that it showed there is no one way to be LGBTQ+. Also enjoyed the story within a story aspect. Will appeal to Lumberjanes fans (of which there are many). Hopefully it will also be part of a series.

There is nothing surprising about the conclusion of this book. From the very start, it hints pretty hard that Ash is trans.There's the standard moment of the character connecting with a dress. And I was frustrated with the book's need to put us into boxes. That girls are inherently one things, boys inherently something else. GIrls are peacemakers, boys aggressive. There was a moment when they confront the gang of boys where I thought they were going to break that mold, to address the need culturally to allow boys to be vulnerable, to allow girls to be confrontational. But it rather backpedals on that. Add in rough illustrations and this one just didn't work for me.