“Delicates” by Brenna Thummler: A Graphic Novel Review
The Second Book of this Beautiful Franchise
I am thrilled to announce that I have completed the second installment of Sheets by Brenna Thummler, titled Delicates! This remarkable book takes us on another exciting journey with Marjorie and Wendell, filled with captivating drama and incredible moments of beauty. I personally found it incredibly enjoyable and cannot wait to share my enthusiastic review and profound thoughts on it! I truly hope you delight in it as much as I did.
My Takeaway on the plot and characters
The second installment of Sheets, called Delicates follows Marjorie’s and Wendell’s journey. But with a new character addition, Eliza Duncan, the daughter of Marjorie’s swim teacher, Mr. Duncan.
Ever since Marjorie Glatt discovered a group of ghosts hiding in her family’s laundromat, her life has been completely different. One of the ghosts, Wendell, who sadly passed away at a young age and now roams the Earth as a ghost with just a sheet for a body, quickly became a close friend to Marjorie. But, when Marjorie finally becomes friends with the popular kids at school, she starts to worry that if they find out about her ghost friends, they’ll think she’s strange for seeing dead people. Marjorie is so determined to keep Wendell’s ghost identity a secret that Wendell begins to feel even more invisible than he already is.
Reading can be a bit challenging because of the conflicting emotions surrounding the characters. Marjorie finds herself in a wonderful situation of having friends who are human, and she really wants to fit in. However, she also feels the need to keep her secret life hidden from them and pretend to be someone she’s not. It’s especially difficult because the boy she likes, Colton, has negative opinions about people who see ghosts, and she doesn’t want him to discover her true identity. Even the girl who used to bully her in the first book shares the same belief, so Marjorie feels like she has no choice but to deceive herself. Unfortunately, Wendell, one of the ghosts, feels left out and hurt by Marjorie’s actions towards him and the other spirits. He wishes things could be different, and it’s understandable for him to feel that way.
Similar to Marjorie and Wendell, Eliza Duncan also feels invisible. She has a deep passion for photography and spends a lot of time trying to find and capture pictures of ghosts, which makes her the odd one out among her peers. Constantly feeling like she doesn’t belong, Eliza starts to feel like a ghost herself.
Bullied and hurt by the other students, especially Marjorie’s group of friends, Eliza spends her time capturing pictures of ghosts and working on her portfolio in the dark room. She keeps her true feelings hidden from her parents, fearing they too would think she’s weird. What I love about Eliza is how authentic she is, just like so many people out there. Many of us understand what it feels like to be isolated and misunderstood, and we just try to get through each day. It’s definitely not easy, and sometimes we yearn for the pain to stop. Unfortunately, this story touches on depression, but mind you, it all ends well. Including the issues of depression, loneliness, and bullying in the book is crucial because they raise awareness and teaches us how to support individuals like Eliza who are suffering.
I totally get where Marjorie is coming from and why she wants to fit in. Being a teenager is tough and all she wants is to have a positive experience. However, I’m really happy that she’s starting to understand that giving up her true self just to be accepted by the popular crowd isn’t worth it. Is it really worth sacrificing her friendship with Wendell? And does she have any responsibility for the bullying that Eliza goes through?
Delicates shares an incredible story of the difficulties of finding acceptance and the pain of feeling excluded. What I absolutely adore is how it beautifully captures the sense of being invisible and underscores the significance of being recognized. Moreover, I truly appreciate how it portrays the act of reaching out for support during tough times and spreading positivity to those who are in dire need of it.
The Artwork and Visuals
The artwork in Delicates is seriously amazing, just like Sheets. Every single page is filled with these amazing details, gorgeous colors, and beautiful illustrations that completely enhance the whole storytelling experience. It’s honestly became one of the reasons why I got completely hooked on this series and couldn’t stop reading!
Brenna has such an incredible talent for bringing out the beauty of landscapes and nature in her artwork. The way she captures it is just so soft and subtle, which really connects with the story. Since I’ve already looked at Sheets, you probably already know just how much I absolutely adore her artwork. For Delicates has also captured a special place in my heart.
