Review Detail

Rainbow! Volume 1 follows Boo as she navigates her home life, school, and work. Boo has an overactive imagination which we see as she uses it to escape the everyday scenarios that she is in. Boo struggles to find a balance between reality and her imagination, yet now she is faced with the question of who she is? 

What I like: 

My first thought when I opened this book was yay a book with a magical girl, and then I found out this was all in her imagination. This aspect did not take away from my excitement though as I recalled being Boo's age and living in my head because that was better than reality. 

I love the fantasy elements that are included throughout the book and how the pages transform our characters and the reader into the story. I love how those pages feel like I'm watching a movie playing through the pages and the cut from Boo's imagination is jarring. The switch from imagination to reality quickly lets you get a glimpse of how Boo must feel being pulled into the real world. 

This book introduces the topic of alcoholism, as well as absent parents, and unsupportive parents. The author does a good job of portraying these difficult topics and having the characters have conversations surrounding this. Boo and Mimi speak a bit about their moms and this is a heartbreaking moment as you see Boo just wishing she had a mom who acknowledged her. The way that Boo is navigating her home problems feels realistic as teenagers tend to hide their problems and try solving them on their own first. 

Volume 1 ends with a great cliffhanger and leaves me wanting more. The art style throughout the book was very cute and whimsical, this allowed for a fascinating world-building experience. I can't wait for the next volume to be released so that I can continue enjoying this world that the author has created for us. 

Final Verdict: 
Rainbow! Volume 1 is a great start to a graphic novel series and leaves you wanting more. This book is a fantastic graphic novel for younger teenagers and adults will be able to relate to it as well.