I read Sheets last year and adored the art style/aesthetic, the color choices, the 80s cultural references, and the adorable character that was Wendell. While I found the story to be heartwarming and well worth the read, I felt it was fairly simple and brushed the surface of some hard hitting, emotional subject matter. I didn't pay the graphic novel much mind until I saw a sequel was coming out. It definitely piqued my curiosity. Turns out, everything I craved from Sheets, I got in Delicates. They dove head first into some dark and sad conversations, showed great character growth in both Marjorie and Wendell, and introduced a precious new character named Eliza (wish I could be friends with someone like her). While all of these story aspects took time away from Wendell's interaction with Marjorie, which may be a setback for certain readers, I felt it was a perfectly fine price to pay for the messages they ended the story with. I found myself screenshotting so much of the novel (for my own personal viewing until it comes out, of course) and even setting one of the images as my iPad wallpaper. If you loved the art in Sheets, even that felt elevated in Delicates. It's hard to create a sequel that lives up to the original, especially when the original didn't really warrant a sequel in the first place. But Brenna Thummler knocked it out of the park with this one. I'm so excited to recommend this to friends.

The story begins sometime after the events of Sheets. Marjorie has a group of very popular friends now and finally in addition to working at the laundry she manages to have a social life, she not only manages to see ghosts but someone real who considers her and takes her with them to the most popular events and parties. This is why Marjorie is afraid that her friends will discover ghosts and that they may abandon her for her misunderstood weirdness. Wendell, on the other hand, is the usual prankster ghost who always wants to play and have fun with her friend but, for the first time, he begins to feel more alone than he is, he begins to feel like Eliza, recently arrived at school and who tries to capture ghosts in his photographs because that's exactly how he feels: invisible and a walking ghost. It is near the area where Wendell and Marjorie that the two meet for the first time and will clash over the course of the story.

What does Wendell want from Marjorie? Will the laundry girl realize how wrong her new group of friends is for her? Will she be able to have the strength she needs to mature, change and truly be herself?

The plot of this story is very long and shows us even more than it should, I would have limited myself to telling less, leaving the reader curious; maybe the best thing would have been to put fewer details and instead insert the last sentences that prompt curiosity about what the story is about in this second volume.

The cover of this second volume takes up the line of the first volume on the colors and traits of the story but this time in the foreground we find the lens of Eliza, a girl who believes in ghosts and can't wait to find one to photograph. In fact, at the center of the lens is Wendell who couldn't be a more real and explosive ghost. I find the right cover and in line with what will happen inside the book and which I will not reveal to you obviously. The title is very simple and as for the previous volume it consists of a single word that encompasses everything: Delicates, which is one of the types of washes that are done in the washing machine and that is precisely what this story is based on. This time the story is delicate, with themes even more important than those of the human and ghost bond and loneliness. There is much much more here.

The setting and the time are the same as in the previous volume: a small town not defined also because we will see very little of it: the house and laundry where Marjorie lives and works and the school she attends, in a story at the end of the years 90, about twenty years ago probably for clothing and so on.

The characters in this story are the same as in the previous volume, with some genuinely noteworthy additions. In this volume I found the dullest girl from the previous volume despite having friends and how happier she was alone with Wendell and her ghost friends.

Marjorie is growing up and is leaving the laundry more and more aside. She feels the responsibilities as a teenager, she feels the responsibilities towards her little brother even if her father tries to take her away from work to make her live her adolescence in the best possible way. Although she now has popular friends in the school, Marjorie doesn't seem to be that happy and is perpetually at odds with what her classmates do and say despite not telling her openly and keeping it all inside, keeping aloof and detached. The thing that bothers the most is the fact that she does not act and does not bring out what instead she would like to say and hides behind the fear of ghosts and how she would be judged without thinking that already what they do she finds it terribly wrong even if she continues to stay. next to those people.

Wendell is a ghost of a dead kid and he doesn't seem to have changed much since the first volume except for the fact that he would like to keep doing the games and things he did before not realizing how much his friend Marjorie is changing and growing and being. a ghost is not that easy in the human world. He then begins to feel a veil of loneliness that makes him even more childish in the hope of drawing attention to him not just from his old friend but from the reader himself.

Eliza is a girl who has a teacher in her own school and who loves photography very much. More than anything in his photographs he would like to capture ghosts and hopes to finally be able to see one for real. Why ghosts? Because Eliza feels alone, marginalized and completely invisible, as if she were walking in the streets, in the school and everywhere she went and no one could really see her. Eliza is a character who could be each of us and in which everyone can reflect and to which I felt particularly attached.

The central pivot of this story is very different from the previous volume. This story shows us the importance of being seen at least once, and the invisible side that most of us may have experienced at least once in our life. A powerful tale and graphic novel about those who stay out of the crowd, the marginalized, the story of someone who longs to be seen.

The style used is very simple and the author reconfirms herself as truly amazing, wonderful and simple both in terms of the tables and graphics in light colors, with pastel tones that appear on the red chrome and in terms of this story that affects every point that wants to hit.

I really appreciated the theme of being invisible and feeling marginalized, the character of Eliza in search of the ghost to photograph in the hope of feeling less alone and appreciated by someone like her. Yet her photos are simple landscapes and the only one who seems to have real ghosts with her is Marjorie who is now with friends who do not appreciate her company very much and vice versa. In fact, Marjorie seems to be with them only for the simple fact of being in and popular and for once feeling part of a group, not because she really considers them friends, distancing Eliza like everyone else, albeit giving her a glimmer.

I didn't really appreciate this change of Marjorie and the change of position. She also suffered the same things, she too felt lonely and unloved, especially after the family pain and all that happened to her. I was amazed that on some occasions she did nothing for Eliza, that she did not intervene in the teasing of her friends towards other people and that she did not try or at least try to make them understand that they were wrong. It limited itself to mere silence. I can understand this position, which is the same that many young people today take in order to be part of a group and let themselves be carried away by others but it is synonymous with little personality and not really being something strong. I found this disheartening for her character, a strange and peculiar change that in some places even made me hate her; I wanted to say "Wake up and look around!". I felt very close to the character of Eliza who takes hold page after page and makes her debut bringing to the center of all marginalization and loneliness, a current and powerful theme that I appreciated very much.

The sad thing is that Wendell becomes a kind of ornament, a makeshift that the author seems to have put in the middle because of the ghosts that Eliza wanted to photograph but did not give him a real fundamental role other than the metaphorical one of the theme itself. In fact, even Wendell tries to get noticed as well as Eliza.

The book is of astonishing power and you will appreciate it even more than the first volume by feeling at least like one of the characters in this story. You cannot fail to reflect yourself in one of them. The story is definitely worth reading, albeit in English and I hope it will soon arrive in Italy as the first volume has been translated. I absolutely recommend, especially to young readers.

Brenna Thummler is even more confirmed, as well as an illustrator, a real narrator of an interesting story, with modern themes. A story of friendship, acceptance and rebirth, marginalization and feeling invisible in the midst of so many people. A real, simple and genuine story that makes you think.

My rating for this book is: 4 stars and a half .

I received an eARC copy from Oni Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The graphic novel Sheets got its sequel, Delicates, which touches on many sensitive topics. The subject matter has developed, and it is heavier than what Sheets had covered; I found this one to be more relatable, more complex, and closer to my heart.

The second instalment of Sheets bears deeper emotions and connections between Marjorie and ghosts in the laundromat. Starting her 8th grade, Marjorie becomes aware of how toxic her friends are and how awkward her friendship with Wendell and the ghost-crew might appear. She seems reluctant to hang out with the popular kids, who might label her as a freak. And rightly so; as the story continues, it becomes clear that the popular kids bully everyone who's not a part of their clique.

There is another character who oddly fits the picture, and that's Eliza. Eliza is a shy girl (I will not say she's awkward because she is not) interested in photography and its silent comfort. I find Eliza very interesting as a character; she somehow identifies herself with a ghost she desperately tries to take a photo of, invisible, misunderstood, unaccepted, and somewhat intimidating. And just like the ghost's photograph would be proof of its existence, she would have been recognised and accepted in society as well.

This story is not just another graphic novel among many. This story delicately talks about acceptance, family, friendship, racism, suicidal thoughts, coping with unease, depression, bullying, mental health, and so much more.

Facing harsh and cruel words at such a young age is never an acceptable situation; no one (of any age) should ever hear these humiliating words, no one should ever experience such disrespect. They hurt; they make people bleed.

A few observations about the illustrations: I liked the soft, pastel colours. The characters' expressions speak volumes, more than words can describe. Words seem unnecessary at times; the illustrations are self-explanatory.

Delicates is a brilliant sequel that openly talks about the difficulties many young people at a tender age face and tells us how to reach out and look for support when we need it.

Sophie’s first book for this month was one she actually read back in January for the #Winterween Readathon. Delicates by Brenna Thummler is the sequel to Sheets which Sophie read and loved back in 2018. In that book, thirteen-year-old Marjorie discovered that her family’s laundromat was being haunted by a sheet-wearing ghost named Wendell.

In this sequel, summer is coming to an end and Majorie is headed into eighth grade. She has somewhat befriended a group of popular girls but struggles to accept their often bullying behavior, especially when it comes to Eliza, a girl in Majorie’s class who has been held back a year. As she tries to balance holding onto new friends with being kind to the increasingly depressed Eliza and not letting anyone learn about Wendell and the other ghosts, Marjorie realizes that by trying to fit in, she might be partly to blame for a lot of misery to others.

This is a powerful story with trigger warnings for bullying, depression, and suicide. The whole story moves along at a strangely languid pace and makes you feel almost otherworldly as you read. Sophie felt strongly for the social outcast Eliza, but also for Marjorie, who fears being ostracised once again if she rocks her newfound popularity boat too much, even while struggling with actually wanting to stay aboard now she has witnessed what her new “friends” will do for fun.

The ghosts themselves played a much smaller role here than in the last book and acted more as metaphors for what the human characters were experiencing, which Sophie considered to be a bit of a letdown, but the ending was sweet and Sophie still hopes for more from this beautifully illustrated universe in the future.

I'm a big fan of Sheets so I was so excited to finally read the sequel. Big thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy. It had a bit of a slow start I was worried I wouldn't end up liking it, but ultimately I not only liked it but loved it so much I was moved into tears. I enjoyed meeting new characters and getting to know the old ones better. I don't think one is required to read the first book before this one, it is pretty stand-alone. I would still recommend reading Sheets just to know the origin of the friendship between a human and a ghost. It's a lovely story and lots of fun, too.

Delicates is about a lot of things about humanity and its fragility: on dealing with the grief of loss and how to move on, commentaries about racism, prejudice, being true to yourself and finding your real tribe. Such an ambitious combination of topics, and Brenna Thummler's approach is so beautifully effortless and with sublime sensitivity. I was pleasantly surprised by the theme of humans being fragile. After reading a lot of stories recently about bravery and about being unique and strong, this graphic novel reminded me of man's vulnerabilities, not only within the teen demographic but all throughout our fleeting mortal lifetimes.

I highly recommend this graphic novel to anyone who loves a good coming of age story, and also for anyone who needs inspiration and a reminder that every life matters.

Delicates is the sequel to the acclaimed graphic novel Sheets. It is a brilliant sequel where we see Marjorie navigate new friends, old acquaintances, and what fitting in entails.

The story brought tears to my eyes many times. Happy and sad tears (at the same time, whaaaat)! The bullying and mental health depictions were really well done and truly relatable. we delved into some very serious matter, and I'm really happy at how well it was handled.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Brenna Thummler is back at it with a sequel to the much loved Sheets graphic novel. I absolutely love this book & following Marjorie and Wendells story. The theme of friendship is explored more widely in this one with Marjorie trying to fit it and realizing the price she has to pay for doing so. Is it worth it, is it worth losing Wendell? We’re also Introduced to a new character Eliza who feels alone and unseen, which in turn makes her feel like a ghost. This story is amazing and shows how kindness and friendship can bring light to those who need it.

Rating 5

Adorable. Powerful. Heartwarming. Lovable characters. This book did not let me down. I love the series and the illustrations fit the emotions being portrayed perfectly. I am so grateful I was able to read this early. I do not need to say much because this book speaks for itself. I highly recommend it.

**Received an advanced copy through NetGalley in return for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. **

I came to this book having not read the first one, and it took me a bit of time to ease into the story and understand what was going on, but boy was it worth it. The story follows a young girl Marjorie who has ended up in a rather toxic friendship group. She is quiet and reserved and her ‘friends’ regularly gaslight her when she questions the way they treat others. Her life is complicated by the fact she is keeping her family together after the death of her mother and she is also hiding a secret; she has ghosts who help her with the family laundry business!

Into this world gravitates the wonderful Eliza, another social outsider, who loves photography and is fascinated by the paranormal. The reader watches as these two girls navigate the difficult social world, getting things wrong, learning how be themselves and trying to find ways to be seen and heard when much of the time they feel invisible.

The author/ illustrator is a master of body language, capturing the characters feelings in the way they hold their hands, turn their bodies or shuffle their feet. Scenes are given real space and time to breathe, and the limited colour pallet is beautiful. The story is emotional and raw, and despite the paranormal elements feels really grounded. I enjoyed it so much I went out and bought the first book the next day!

I really liked delicates! I love the introduction of Eliza to this story. Elizas story was developed really well aswell and Im so glad that everything worked out for her.
I wish there had been a bit more of Wendall in this but his parts were very crucial and made up for ir.
Overall this was a very good second book to sheets!

(I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this arc, this is my honest review)

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

In this follow-up to <i>Sheets</i>, Marjorie has been accepted into the popular kids' friend group. She feels like she needs to hide the existence of her ghost friends at her laundromat, for fear of being labeled a freak. This makes Wendell feel even more invisible and alone. Meanwhile, Eliza also feels invisible. No one understands her hobby of trying to photograph ghosts, making her a target of the bullies in her class. Marjorie will have to decide if keeping her school friends is worth losing Wendell and not saying anything when Eliza is bullied.

<i>Sheets</i> had left me wishing the ending was longer, so when I discovered this sequel, I had to check it out! It has the same lovely drawings and important lessons to impart. This would be a perfect middle grade read to remind kids to be kind. Brenna Thummler is great at conveying emotions in her graphic novels. This could be read as a standalone, but I recommend starting with <i>Sheets</i>!

We return to the world of Marjorie Glatt and this time, she has every thing she wants including being popular. Eliza has to repeat a grade, but that's fine, she's got her ghost pictures. I absoultey enjoyed watching Marjorie navigate middle school life and the in-between that is not quite a teenager, but not quite a kid. Wendell grows in this story as well. Eliza's story covers mental health in a considerate way and how Marjorie grows from that is perfectly and carefully done.

I’m a big fan of Sheets, the prequel to Delicates. I enjoyed Delicates as well. It's an impactful and important read.

What I enjoyed:

- The plot

- How the storyline doesn’t shy away from difficult topics, including bullying, peer pressure and suicidal thoughts amongst youth

- The colors used in the comic. Sheets had a very autumnal feel. Delicates has a spring feel, in my humble opinion.


What tripped me up

- Full disclosure: I’m still training my brain to read graphic novels. This is a format I’m not used to reading and I struggle with it sometimes. My brain leans toward reading words and not ‘reading’ pictures. As you know, in a graphic novel, the images are just as important as the text. Sometimes my eyes slip over an image too quickly and I miss an important nuance, so if you’re like me, you may have to go back a few panels to grasp what just happened.

- I read an advanced reader copy, so the final product will likely look a little different from the one I read. I hope it includes resources for children, teens and adults, on coping with the complex issues discussed in Delicates.

Thank you kindly, Netgalley and Oni Press, for the opportunity to read and review this important graphic novel.

Brenna Thummler does it again! When I read Sheets, I loved it so much that I shared it with so many friends. Delicates did not disappoint. We begin by finding Marjorie enjoying her last few days of summer before 8th grade starts, swimming with her friend Wendell. While walking home, we see that Eliza is taking pictures and happens to take one of Marjorie and Wendell. This seems harmless enough, except Wendell is a ghost who lives in the laundromat owned by Marjorie's dad. Eliza is the daughter of one of Marjorie's teachers, who is more comfortable in the darkroom developing pictures than with the other students. This wonderful graphic novel deals with the incredibly important issues of bullying, suicide ideation, and trying to fit in with peers. I am hoping that Thummler will continue to write Marjorie's (and Wendell's and Eliza's) stories for many years to come.

Great graphic novel. I loved the art style and the story. I enjoyed reading about the characters but sometimes felt myself going ‘why are you doing that?!’. The overall message was really sweet. I think the illustrations really suited the story. It did feel abit slow in places but was a quick read.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

“There’s nothing more delicate than life.”

Here there was much heavier subject matter than Sheets tackled, but it handled it quite well. I liked how once again there was no sugar coating or beating around the bush, this was a surprisingly accurate representation of what it’s like to be subjected to peer pressure AND to be lonely with no friends. It was great to see both ends of that friendship spectrum.

Whilst the happily ever after ending was a little annoying, for once I feel like it’s almost warranted because the alternative would be far far too bleak for a middle grade graphic novel.

So all in all, a good touching story, probably not as good as Sheets but still pretty solid.

I'm once again in absolute awe from how gorgeous this art is!!! It’s so pretty with breathtaking colors and I love it so much!!!

I thought this book was so much heavier than the first one. While it did have it’s wholesome moments, (Wendell is simply the cutest ever!!!), the majority was focused on Eliza, one of Marjorie's classmates as she deals with being bullied in school for believing in ghosts.

I really loved the story overall and the messages it conveyed and i'm really hoping there will be a third book!!!

From the publisher's blurb; Marjorie Glatt’s life hasn’t been the same ever since she discovered a group of ghosts hiding in her family’s laundromat. Wendell, who died young and now must wander Earth as a ghost with nothing more than a sheet for a body, soon became one of Marjorie’s only friends. But when Marjorie finally gets accepted by the popular kids at school, she begins to worry that if anyone learns about her secret ghost friends, she’ll be labeled as a freak who sees dead people. With Marjorie’s insistence on keeping Wendell’s ghost identity a secret from her new friends, Wendell begins to feel even more invisible than he already is.

Then there is Eliza, a shy, awkward girl who wants to see and photograph ghosts. She is such a sad character, even more so than Marjorie, who lost her mom. Eliza is sadder because she looks for ghosts because she wants to be one.
What I thought would be a cute, pre-teen graphic novel about acceptance turned into so much more.
I could see the Young me in both characters, trying to fit in and never quite making it, Trying to be visible while trying to be invisible at the same time.
So many feels in this story, feelings I wasn't expecting to find.
What a brilliant novel, I highly recommend it no matter your age. Just wonderful!

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Oni Press for providing me with this ARC in an exchange for an honest review

I love this comic so much!!
This was an important story about family, friendships, bullying and mental health.
It was an emotional read and the way the author captured my attention was quite smart, the art was so good, I loved it so much.

I loved this. Firstly the artwork is just gorgeous; so soothing and detailed with a beautiful colour pallet. The story itself is so heartwarming and yet poignant all at once. It's a very cosy read, perfect for autumn and curling up with an apple tea. I will definitely re-read this each October.