I've enjoyed this immensely! Based on an old Japanese fairy tale of a one-inch Samurai who wields a needle, Issunboshi is the story of a SIX-inch, would-be Samurai who.... wields a needle! The artwork is absolutely STUNNING and there were so many pages where I paused just to take in a gorgeous shot or an energetic fight scene, and the character design was very Disney-esque (I just found out the author has contributed to Disney movies like Wreck It Ralph and Big Hero 6, so it all checks out!)

I did wish the plot was a little more developed/fleshed out as the author's adapted the story into something quite intriguing and I would loved to spend more time with certain characters or in certain scenes.

Overall it is a beautiful and fun graphic novel that is suitable 13+ readers.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this gem!

This was a beautiful graphic novel, with the style of the illustrations making it look like a cartoon or graphic movie. It's action packed and loved the various Japanese elements introduced!

I absolutely love this story.
The illustrations are so detail and smooth.
The story itself is based off of a folklore I myself have never heard of. I love the structure of the story and how the plot plays out. This is extremely well done and I highly recommend it. It’s about adventure action and finding your true self and purpose in life.

This graphic novel gave me more than I expected. Beautiful artwork, powerful story. This is a great GN for middle school and up.

A solid 8/10 for a middle-grade graphic novel

Super creative with lots of fun graphics and characters. Love the monsters and Japanese mythology. Well-paced for a stand-alone graphic novel.

Would recommend it to middle-grade-aged customers and fans of Amulet who are looking for a shorter but just as entertaining story!

I think I would be able to recommend and sell this book in my store's kids (8-13) section.

God do I love graphic novels and this one was no exception. Beautiful art and a beautiful story. I really loved this. The only thing that could've made it better is if it had been colored in like the cover art. Overall a lovely story.

Overall this was a well done graphic novel that moved quickly, was action-packed, and speaks to how we all have the opportunity to be heroes, no matter what that looks like. This felt like a feudal Japan twist on Ant-Man and Thumbelina and I absolutely loved it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

This is a beautifully illustrated story about a tiiiiny man who is destined to fight the yokai and save humanity.
The style is very Disney like, which makes sense since the author has contributed to many Disney movies.
It was a easy and enjoyable read, perfect for fans of japanese lore and folk tales, with very cool representations of yokai.