Lumberjanes: The Moon Is Up (Lumberjanes #2) Paperback – September 10, 2019

A delight. Great for young adventurers, and anyone who wants to see what the Lumberjanes are up to. Mariko Tamaki is a wonderful author, and her other stuff is superb as well; can't wait for more.

The book arrived in said condition and the kids are enjoying the book already!

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Lumberjanes: The Moon Is Up captures the feel of the series well for fans. (Particularly with the few but significant illustrations by Brooklyn Allen.) The camp is preparing for Galaxy Wars, a week-long contest involving a scavenger hunt, trivia contest, and obstacle course, all about the planets.Note that the promo for the book made mention of its “focus on Jo, the ingenious inventor of the group who also happens to be trans.” I loved seeing more inside her head, since she’s usually the stable, quiet one, but it’s disappointing to see that there’s nothing in the book itself that makes it clear she’s trans. There are gender-non-specific pronouns and a bit of attention on Mal and Molly together, though.Instead, Jo’s plot is about being conflicted between further scientific study and staying with her friends at camp. Her best friend April is caught up in the contest, Mal and Molly are working on a music badge, and Ripley is eating tons of pancakes. Plus, cheese is going missing. That’s where the fantasy aspect (required for Lumberjanes) comes in, as an unusual creature (with a science fiction twist) is responsible.The descriptions create mental pictures of a magical place. There are various statements throughout about how “every day is a great day to be a Lumberjane” and “obstacles do not stand in the way of being an awesome scout” and an emphasis on being well-rounded and having fun. Combined with the dry humor, that makes for an encouraging read. (The publisher provided a digital review copy. Review originally posted at ComicsWorthReading.com.)

Unfortunately, this book wasn't as good as the previous installment. There was just something missing that I can't quite name. Despite this book being under 200 pages and containing frequent illustrations, I feel like it was longer than it was and dragged too much for me to enjoy it. The storyline also wasn't my favorite. It is one that I think would have worked better in graphic novel form. I understand that the author was trying to connect Jo's inner struggles to the plot but I feel like it could have been done better with a different storyline. I still love the characters and their friendship is one of my favorite fictional friendships. I look forward to reading the other books in this series.

A lot more tension in this installment of the Lumberjanes books for children makes for a better read. First, Jo receives a letter that throws her for a loop concerning her future--and it's a weighty decision she has to make. Second, Mal struggles with a badge she should ace. And last, we've got a suspicious newcomer to Camp...Jo is my favorite character*, and it's hard to get into her head. April, her best friend, doesn't usually pry, letting Jo be... Jo. Quiet. Introspective. Thinking thinky thoughts. But in this case, she tactfully finds a way to get Jo to talk, and I loved their interactions. I'm always here for Mal-n-Molly interactions, but it was nice to put a focus on the relationship of these two characters. And I have to say, April comes out of it truly winning my respect. She was a very good friend.Overall, I'm finding these first two books to be a bit sillier than the comics--I don't know how to explain it, but it's probably because the books are aimed at a slightly younger audience. They're a great way to introduce younger readers to the Lumberjanes, paving the way for awesome comics ahead. It seems a bit difficult to translate the comics into book form, but the author is doing a solid job, and the books do provide a more in-depth look into the minds of our favorite Lumberjanes.*Maybe it's Jen. Argh! It's hard to choose. I adore Jen so much.

funny and quirky graphic novel series for the tween+ but these three books are "guide" books for campers so they aren't part of the story nor do they have a lot of illustrations.

This was a very fun, adorable read! I love these characters so much and the plot was great.

An amazing read