Girl Haven is Ash's story. Ash's mother is gone and Ash never found out what happened to her. It's now just Ash and her father. After making new friends at school, Ash shows them the shed her mom used to work in and they all end up in a parallel world where people are in grave danger.
It's a story of adventure but also a story of self discovery.

I really liked this story, the characters were all on point, it's queer as f*** and the adventure was all around captivating. I also really liked the art but most of all, it really was all about the characters. They were layered and all so different, which isn't easy to do in a 150 page comic.
Basically, I had a great time reading this and I will be looking for more books by this author.

Girl Haven is a sweet, but slightly heavy-handed exploration of gender and gender identity. When Ash and his friends are magically transported to the land of Koretris, he doesn’t understand how he fits in. Koretris is a place only for girls. When faced with some fantastical challenges and a bit of toxic masculinity, Ash comes to terms with his true gender identity. The plot moves quickly, too quickly at times, and certain subjects are almost glossed over (e.g. Ash discovering his mother’s death). However, I think this will be an accessible volume for middle grade and teen readers to learn more about gender and gender identity.

This was such a cute graphic novel! The art work was amazing and the story really touched my heart. The found family aspect of it was beautiful and the world was so unique. The discussions of gender and identity were so sweet amd well worded while also being easily accessible to children who may be questioning their identity. I honestly don't have much else to say beyond I adored this and I am eagerly awaiting the next one. I also can't wait to get a physical copy once it becomes available!

What a novel. This book took off from the very start and I was right there with it. As someone who struggles with gender I really related to Ash. Seeing the journey through the book was so nice. The support she had and the love from everyone around was what everyone should have. This is the perfect novel for someone questioning and just people in general. Who doesn’t love a good fantasy with gender identity mixed in?

This was so lovely.
This comic did such a good job of explaining gender identity in a way for children (and adults) to understand and connect with.
The story was full of adventure and heart as well as some laughs.
I think this well help a lot of people feel seen and help others to understand an experience different from their own.

Such a fun read! I absolutely love graphic novels and comic books I wish more people could see how enjoyable these are

**I was provided an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for honest review.**

Lilah Sturges returns with her newest work, Girl Haven. Ash's mother wrote about a fantasy world called Koretris where only female creatures live and only female travelers can pass through. When Ash and his friends (Eleanor, Junebug, and Chloe) are transported to Koretris, it brings into light a lot of questions about how Ash considers himself and whether he really identifies with his birth gender at all.

This is decidedly a story about gender identity and the importance of the journey to discovering oneself and writing one's own story. In addition to Ash providing transbinary representation, Junebug communicates (without a label) genderfluidity and changes pronoun use between she and they as they figure out what they feel is best for them in terms of identity. Eleanor also states that she "likes girls". There is a fantasy plot as well, but that was absolutely secondary compared to the journey of self-discovery for Ash.

This graphic novel presents concepts of gender in a way that is accessible to a middle grade or young adult audience and I absolutely wish I had books like this when I was growing up.

I found this to be such a lovely story, it opens a great narrative about gender as well as being a great adventure between four new friends. You immediately know what the themes of the story is about if you read the author's preface, which I felt was wonderfully written.

I really enjoyed how different the characters were and how Eleanor especially worked towards being supportive and really buoy her friends up as they go on a fantasy adventure to not only answer questions but to save a special world. I can't speak to representation or accuracy, but I really loved this story and it's exploration of gender.

(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through NetGalley.)

-- 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 where necessary --

Seventh-grader Ash ("like the tree") misses his mom Kristin terribly.* Three years ago, she left the house, and just ... never came back. (Weirdly, her dad hasn't done much to find her, even though she's clearly a missing person. Fictional parents are a mystery, yo.)

When Ash is adopted into a tight-knit group of friends - Eleanor ("like the Roosevelt"), Chloe, and Junebug - that also happens to represent the entirety of the LGBTQIA+ club at Marsha P. Johnson Middle School, he's eager to show off Kirstin's studio to his new besties. Ash's mom was a talented writer and artist; she created an entire fantasy world called Koretris, dedicating twelve years of her life to a 'verse populated entirely with girls. The shed out back is a testament to her creativity and imagination.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/smiteme/50511577467/in/dateposted-public/

Things go sideways (or maybe just right) when a fortuitous spell transports the quartet into the heart of Koretris itself; here, they're drafted by the anthropomorphous warrior bunnies to rescue Queen Cassandra and defeat the scourge that threatens to poison all of Koretris. Of course, Ash has his own agenda as well: find Kirstin, and maybe himself too.

Even though everyone keeps telling Ash that he's a boy, he doesn't feel like one. If the magic of Koretris welcomed him through its gates, what does this say about Ash's gender identity?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/smiteme/50511577417/in/dateposted-public/

GIRL HAVEN is a really sweet (and sometimes silly - in a good way!) middle grade graphic novel. It's a coming of age story that addresses LGBTQ issues in a gentle, compassionate way. Ash is a compelling character, and I was rooting for her (and, more specifically her and Eleanor!) the whole time. Chloe - she of feminist killjoy fame - and the ever-cute Junebug deserve honorary mentions too, as does dad, who loves and supports his daughter fiercely. All trans kids deserve one or two parents like this.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/smiteme/50510700653/in/dateposted-public/

In short: this story is brimming with humor, heart, inclusion - and talking horses!

* I wasn't sure of the best pronouns to use in this review, so I decided to refer to Ash as he/him up until the point in the story that the character comes out as a trans girl.

**I was given a free digital copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

I absolutely adored this book! Fantasy books are nearly always a hit with me, so as soon as I read the description I knew this was going to be a great read. This tackles difficult topics like gender and sexuality in a way that is approachable and relatable for young adults or teens. I loved all the characters, and I really really hope there will be more books in this particular world. The Rabbits of the Reeds were absolutely adorable, and so were Ash and her friends. The art style is gorgeous, and it fits the tone of the story. Seriously, fantastic job!

Think middle grade fantasy book. Now add graphic novel to the mix. Finally, spice it with gender identity and real but simple talks about all things LGBTQ+.
Does that sound amazing? Well, that's because it is.
Ash is magically transported with some friends into a magical world that allegedly only allows girls. But everyone thinks Ash is a boy... But is it what Ash feels?
We follow Ash and Ash's friends in an adventure to save the magical world of Koriantris and maybe find Ash's long lost mother. We meet bunny-people, horse-people, candy-people and all kinds of anything-people. It's fantastic and whimsical, and Ash's identity journey is wonderfully written and explained.
I really enjoyed reading this, and it's existence makes me sincerely happy. The world's needs books for children that aren't afraid of being real and beautiful and magical and inclusive.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

From the author of Lumberjanes comes a story of belonging, gender identity, finding yourself and overcoming fears. It is beautifully told, the art is decent.
The world of Koretris is interesting and I really hope there will be more adventures in the future.

I received this as an eARC to read for free in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for giving me access.

Two things: I love One Press and I love Lumberjanes. So when I saw that this is from Lilah Sturges, I knew I had to read it.

I loved the Narnia-esque feel to it. Talking animals, a trip to a different land, 4 kids on an adventure. It was a wonderful story about a young boy finding out who he is. Heart warming and all the good feels, except for one depressing part.

A good LGBTQ read for all!

This is a fun, sweet read which a lot of readers will enjoy. It's so important to have stories in all genres which feature LGBTQIA+ characters, as well as for all age ranges and in different formats, such as this graphic novel. Trans kids who love reading fantasy and graphic novels may find that they rarely see their experiences reflected in their favorite genre. This book provides that for them, as well as a well-rounded cast of characters and an exciting story. Girl Haven hints at more adventures to come, and I hope that's the case!

The artwork wasn't my favorite, but very well done and visually easy to read and look at. 4.5*, rounded up.

Thanks to Oni Press and NetGalley for giving me this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Asher is a lonely boy who befriends 3 girls who are also the gay chapter of their school, he invites them to his home were he is now living with his dad after his mother left. While showing the girl's his mother's creations they are transported to the fantasy land his mother has envisioned, Koretris. As soon as they arrive they are capture by rabbits and taken to the Reed Warren. To go back home they must first discover why magic brought them there and to complete their quest, defeat the scourge of the land and free Queen Cassandra.

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.

I can't speak for the LGBTQIA+ representation from personal experience, but it did seem like a good introduction to the subject with a warm loving message about embracing and accepting your innermost feelings. Overall a very cute story that seems to be aimed to the middle grades.

#GirlHaven #NetGalley

This was so cute and heartwarming!!!
I read through this so quickly-in about half an hour-and enjoyed every minute of it. I really want more, and the ending definitely left open that possibility so I hope we will be getting more installments in this story!
The main character and all of the main human side characters were all queer, which made me so happy. The fact that this story has a trans girl main character is so important, and I am so glad that kids will be able to read this! It was a fun blend of contemporary and fantasy which was really enjoyable.
The fantasy world was so cute! I love all the creatures and characters and I want to know even more about them (please can we get a sequel??!!).
Stories like this are so important, and I love the fact that not only was the main character trans, but there were sapphic characters and a character who started using they/them pronouns! There was also hints at the beginnings of an adorable sapphic romance that I hope we can see get developed in a sequel.

I really enjoyed reading this fantasy graphic novel. It is filled with LGBTQ+ and I loved the idea of Koretris and a whole new world. The story was really sweet and I had a lot of fun reading it!

Trans portal fantasy in which a boy called Ash finds himself in the fantasy world his missing mother created. The catch being, the whole idea of that world is that it was everyone there, the talking animals included, was female – so maybe Ash is too? At first I was a little taken aback by how externally imposed that seems – is it qualitatively different to have a spell and a talking rabbit tell you your gender, rather than society or biology? But soon enough it's revealed that this isn't the first inkling Ash has had, and as the story continued it all made much more sense. On top of which, Sturges' intro is at pains to point out that this is just one story about gender, and there are lots of other ones to be told. Plus, y'know, I'm not exactly the target market anyway. Still, there was plenty I enjoyed, from the storybook landscapes, to Ash's friend who is given to talking to animals anyway and only a little surprised to find them suddenly replying (this is 100% what would happen to me in that situation).

(Netgalley ARC)

Girl Haven is very much a book about gender identity. There are a lot of other cool aspects thrown in--talking animals, spells, adventures, candy people, quests, and cooties, but the main idea is a particular coming of age story for one young teen. The story brings in elements of male/female relations from childhood to adult fears and agrees that there are healthy ways of dealing with even the most difficult relationships.
This book walks a delicate line between being overtly a story of gender and being a lighthearted fantasy story. For me, it didn't quite click, but that doesn't mean that it didn't have a strong emotional impact. Dad and Ash's relationship is scary but ultimately healing, and the unique perspectives of the characters in the fantasy world are warm and fresh like a batch of freshly baked bread you didn't even know you'd been missing out on. While I don't think I'll be including this book in any curricula for its stunning writing, I think it has a place on my "acceptance" shelf, and I hope that questioning individuals find themselves welcome in it.

I just finished reading the ARC of Girl Haven by the writers who started <em>Lumberjane</em>> I had no idea, going in, what to expect.

This was both so much fun, and so deep, it had be going both ways. The story is of a child born into a boy’s body, who always felt they were a girl, but since they didn’t know of anyone else with that issue, they stayed as a boy. They meet some other queer folks, and decides to hang out in their mother’s old workshop. The mother has been missing for three years. She was a writer and artist and had created a world of only women, and the other kids, start reading what she left behind, and find a spell that sends them into to this world.

That is the story. But through it all, Ash is beginning to understand that it is ok to be a girl, or whatever they want. It isn’t the main point of the story, but it is important to the story. Both good as a fantasy, and as a coming out story. And having representation.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.