My Favorite Thing Is Monsters Book Two

My Favorite Thing Is Monsters Book Two continues Emil Ferris's graphic novel series set in 1960s Chicago. The story follows Karen Reyes, a 10-year-old girl who draws herself as a werewolf, as she investigates the death of her upstairs neighbor Anka Silverberg while navigating her own coming-of-age challenges. Through Karen's notebook-style illustrations and rich visual storytelling, this volume expands the interconnected mysteries surrounding Anka's past in Nazi Germany and Karen's present-day life in Chicago. The narrative moves between time periods and locations, building upon the intricate plotlines established in Book One. Karen must confront realities about her family, her sexuality, and her place in a complex adult world while maintaining her monster-obsessed perspective. The book utilizes varied artistic styles and incorporates references to classic horror movies and art history. The work explores themes of trauma, identity, and the ways humans can be both monstrous and heroic. Through Karen's unique lens as an outsider who identifies with movie monsters, the story examines how people process difficult truths and find belonging.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Emil Ferris's overall work: Readers connect deeply with Ferris's raw, personal storytelling in "My Favorite Thing Is Monsters." Many cite the intricate crosshatched artwork and emotion-laden scenes as standout elements that kept them returning to re-examine pages. Liked: - Unique notebook paper format and ballpoint pen artwork - Complex integration of horror, history, and personal narrative - Character depth and authentic portrayal of childhood - Visual references to classic monster movies and art history Disliked: - Dense art style can make some panels hard to follow - Text size causes eye strain for some readers - Long waiting period for Volume 2 - Some found the pacing slow in middle sections Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (15,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (890+ ratings) Reader quote: "The artwork is unlike anything I've seen - every page feels like discovering a new secret." - Goodreads reviewer Critical quote: "Sometimes the density of both art and story becomes overwhelming, but that's part of its power." - Amazon reviewer

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📚 My Favorite Thing Is Monsters Book Two is the highly anticipated follow-up to Emil Ferris's debut graphic novel, which she began creating while recovering from West Nile virus that left her temporarily paralyzed. 🎨 The book is drawn entirely with ballpoint pens, as Ferris developed this technique during her recovery when she could only move her right hand and found traditional artistic tools too difficult to manage. 🖼️ The visual style pays homage to vintage horror magazine covers from the 1960s and 1970s, particularly Famous Monsters of Filmland, which influenced Ferris's childhood appreciation of monsters. 🏆 The first volume of My Favorite Thing Is Monsters received unprecedented acclaim for a debut graphic novel, winning three Eisner Awards and being named one of the "100 Best Books of the Decade" by AV Club. 🗓️ The release of Book Two was delayed several times, partly because Ferris hand-draws each page in meticulous detail, with some single pages taking up to 100 hours to complete.