"Drawing on childhood experiences, Lynch's evocative graphic novel debut sagely captures the angst and unease of early adolescence. Galen's journey is fraught but accessibly portrayed, acknowledging the difficulties that parental separation and recoupling can bring. Cinematic full-color illustrations center the action throughout the tidy panels, keeping the pages turning with Lynch's stylized art. Fans of Raina Telgemeier, Victoria Jamieson, and Shannon Hale will find much to love." — Kirkus Reviews
"Lynch's bold, colorful art nicely captures the emotions of the characters, particularly as Galen and Luna work on editing their documentary. This thoughtful and accessible comic excellently explores the complicated feelings that are part of divorce and shines light on both the highs and lows of the experience." — Booklist
"A thoughtful drama with richly drawn characters, and a meaningful exercise in empathy for young readers." — School Library Journal
"Lynch expertly juggles subplots in the many nuanced aspects of Galen's uprooted life to create a fictional narrative of divorce that nonetheless feels raw, particularly in the realistic dialogue." — Shelf Awareness
"With warm artwork and vulnerable storytelling, Kane Lynch's Reel Life provides insight into the complex feelings of a child whose parents are in the middle of divorce. Kane's book will validate the complicated emotions of children in similar circumstances, and encourage all of us to better empathize with those who are experiencing a change in family dynamics. For those reasons, and many more, I highly recommend Reel Life for kids and parents alike." — Wes Molebash, author and artist of Travis Daventhorpe for the Win!
"Compelling, honest, and sweet, I loved Reel Life by Kane Lynch. The book effortlessly explores the complexity of modern family relationships in a sincere and nuanced way. From the beautiful, expressive cartooning to the realistic, loveable characters, Reel Life will mean a lot to kids and adults alike." — Jade Armstrong, author and artist of Scout is Not a Band Kid
"Reel Life is a powerhouse of emotion, with positive examples of how to direct that emotion in useful and creative ways, and extend empathy to those dealing with difficult feelings of their own. Kane gives each and every character true depth and doesn't shy away from the messy complications of life. An important read!" — Ryan Estrada, co-author of Banned Book Club
2025-02-15
Filmmaking and friendship collide as three tweens navigate complex relationship dynamics.
In this stand-alone work, 11-year-old friends Kyle, Luna, and Galen bond over their love of all things film. But as they work on their latest cinematic feat, Kyle pulls away from the trio, acting standoffish and angry. Luna explains that he’s upset over his parents’ divorce and custody battle, stressors that feel alien to Galen—until his father drops a bombshell that rips their family apart. Galen’s dad tells him that he’s leaving his mother for Jasmine, a brown-skinned 26-year-old in Oakland with green hair. Now that he’s split between two homes, Galen begins to understand where Kyle’s feelings came from. Luna suggests that they film a documentary about their parents, but as big emotions about the shifting landscapes of friend and family relationships loom, the group must figure out how to change with them. Drawing on childhood experiences, Lynch’s evocative graphic novel debut sagely captures the angst and unease of early adolescence. Galen’s journey is fraught but accessibly portrayed, acknowledging the difficulties that parental separation and recoupling can bring. Cinematic full-color illustrations center the action throughout the tidy panels, keeping the pages turning with Lynch’s stylized art. Fans of Raina Telgemeier, Victoria Jamieson, and Shannon Hale will find much to love. Kyle and Galen present white; Luna is cued Latine.
Reel-y relatable and compelling.(Graphic fiction. 8-12)
