Reviews

Midnight Radio by Iolanda Zanfardino

fireth's review against another edition

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4.0

This graphic novel impressed me so much. Went in blind and have no expectations at all. Some parts, the illustrations looked like a draft and raw, I guess it’s meant like that.

jkenna1990's review against another edition

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4.0

This book is about four people and their interwoven stories. There is Robin Hood, the art thief, who is recreating paintings so he can swap them out and take the money back to his community in Mexico. Next we have Instaking, who doesn't speak anymore. The third story is Inner Pulse, about a young girl who was involved in a nightclub shooting. Lastly, there's The Woodpecker, a hacker who is trying to expose a corporation who may have killed seven people.

Of all these stories I really enjoyed The Woodpecker and the Inner Pulse story lines the most out of the four. I also really liked the fact that all of the different stories were different colors. It really helped keep all of the different story lines separated. The stories were all pretty good but I didn't really connect with the art thief or the teenager that wouldn't talk (it was never revealed why he wouldn't talk either which was kind of annoying to me). Overall though I think think is a pretty great read for anyone. Because of the multiple story lines I think that a lot of people can find something to relate to.

aristhought's review against another edition

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4.0

As a queer person of colour, this is a gorgeous and uplifting graphic novel - just the kind we need in this day and age, with diversity and hope.

sarahthornton's review against another edition

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4.0

I've been putting off reading this because I had a feeling it was heavy.
I didn't see the parallel between Pulse and Heartbeat until the bullet holes in the club wall and it all came flooding back in a deluge.

Three beautiful stories, wonderful pacing and timing. Devestating on two counts, and hopeful on all three.

jkenna90's review against another edition

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4.0

This book is about four people and their interwoven stories. There is Robin Hood, the art thief, who is recreating paintings so he can swap them out and take the money back to his community in Mexico. Next we have Instaking, who doesn't speak anymore. The third story is Inner Pulse, about a young girl who was involved in a nightclub shooting. Lastly, there's The Woodpecker, a hacker who is trying to expose a corporation who may have killed seven people.

Of all these stories I really enjoyed The Woodpecker and the Inner Pulse story lines the most out of the four. I also really liked the fact that all of the different stories were different colors. It really helped keep all of the different story lines separated. The stories were all pretty good but I didn't really connect with the art thief or the teenager that wouldn't talk (it was never revealed why he wouldn't talk either which was kind of annoying to me). Overall though I think think is a pretty great read for anyone. Because of the multiple story lines I think that a lot of people can find something to relate to.

clairesfullshelves's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Really great story of four strangers who are all struggling with personal issues and whose lives intertwine through a radio voice. Very queer, very racially diverse. Not to spoil it too much, but happy ending all around. Easy read and great for if you want something that will give you a little bit of hope if you're going through something, or just want a story with characters who win in the end. 

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soupdumpling's review against another edition

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5.0

Picked this up on a whim before the pandemic and I’m so glad I did — loving the morals and social justice themes. Things could definitely NOT play out like the scenarios in this book in real life BUT it was a really nice break and look into utopian and equitable outcomes. Sometimes we need unrealistic happy endings to get us through our daily hard reality.

goldentortoisebeetle's review against another edition

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medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
Ok, so there are more kinds of media called "Midnight Radio" than I realized.

Awhile ago, I read a comic called "Midnight Radio" by Ehud Lavski and Yael Nathan. I remembered the premise was intrique related to a mysterious late night broadcast. I think I rented this book thinking that it was a development of that one shot into a book. They're completely separate and unconnected works.

This book tells four interconnected stories. Three people happen to be listening to the radio when a shocking, life changing broadcast goes out. They all deal with the repercussions of how they choose to live their lives afterwards.

There's exploration of parental expectations, forcible rematriation of art, crooked cops, queer life post-Pulse, sibling sickness, doing the right thing, racism, misogyny, love, and death. 

The ending came as a twist to me, but you can probably figure it out if you're expecting it. I just got engrossed in the story so I wasn't connecting the dots.

snchard's review against another edition

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4.0

The story was decent and will resonate with young adults, but the monochrome color palettes were EVERYTHING. Absolutely beautiful art.

jhstack's review against another edition

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3.0

Liked the diversity of the individual stories in this collection, but I was expecting them to connect in some way or tie into the Lion Forge Catalyst Prime series ... and I was let down on that front. And the art left me wanting a little more line definition. (e-galley from NetGalley)