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I Kill Giants
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
Imaginative fifth grader Barbara Thorson becomes so immersed in her fantasy world that she believes she kills giants with her magical warhammer Coveleski.
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review
WeAreLegion
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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Pickpick

Devastating!
This is a tale about an angry young girl who sees giants impeding her personal happiness. This one digs deep. It gets to the heart of childhood, grief and growing up. This one is really good and it deserves ‘classic‘ status. Highly recommended!

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lil1inblue
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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Eggs Brilliant 💙💙 3mo
27 likes1 comment
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TracyReadsBooks
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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Pickpick

This is a good one. Kelly‘s story with Nimura‘s stunning black & white art deftly explores fear, rage, anxiety, the moments when emotion overwhelms everything, & the moments of clarity & hope that can provide a path through it all. It‘s the story about a young girl named Barbra who fights giants &, really, anyone who gets in her way. It‘s about a girl trying to make sense of the impossible & it‘s phenomenal. Really an excellent comic.

23 likes1 stack add
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TracyReadsBooks
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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I hear only good things about this so I‘m excited to dive in.

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fictionaddictbooks
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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Klou a graphic novel series I'd like to read. Perfect 3y
6 likes1 comment
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fictionaddictbooks
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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TieDyeDude
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Pickpick

What a great story! Keeps you guessing about the truth until the end. A special comic about grief and relationships.

Pogue That was such a good book. I am afraid to see the movie. 5y
20 likes1 comment
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Shadowfat
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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Mehso-so

I liked the idea of this but I thought it was a little heavy handed. Maybe the movie is better?

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Meaw_catlady
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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Mehso-so

I see the intention and the reasoning of this story . Digging deep and finding the strength to deal with the hard and terrible parts of life. But there is some crass and inexcusable wording and comments that are used in this that turns me off. the references to periods and such are just so anti woman it makes me mad. Between a pan and a so-so.

TieDyeDude Huh. Just finished it and I completely missed the period/anti-woman stuff... 5y
37 likes1 comment
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LibrarianRyan
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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Pickpick

5⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ full review GR and LT

This graphic novel should be on all the best of the best lists. It is simply amazing. This book is all about struggle, and accepting things you don‘t want to accept. It‘s about life's downs, protecting yourself, and then rising back up again. This story is masterfully told through words and illustrations. This book has since been made into a movie. I just hope it is at least a 10th as powerful as this novel.

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LitsyGetsGraphic
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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Did you track down the movie after finishing the book (or had you seen the film before reading the book)? If so, what did you think about the adaptation? Major differences? Any quibbles?
#litsygetsgraphic

sebrittainclark I didn't actually realize there was a movie. I guess I'll have to check it out! 6y
LibrarianRyan I was going to do the movie tonight. It‘s on Hoopla as well. I‘m really looking forward to it b 6y
Eyelit @sebrittain @LibrarianRyan I‘d love to hear what you think after you see it! I saw it last week and liked it 😄 6y
cobwebmoth I haven't watched the movie yet, but I would like to see how it compares. 6y
18 likes4 comments
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LitsyGetsGraphic
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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Welcome to the discussion for I Kill Giants 😃

A few questions to kick things off:

Did you have any preconceived notions about the story going in? What were they? Were your expectations met?

#litsygetsgraphic

sebrittainclark Just from the cover, I really thought it was going to be a fantasy comic, so I was surprised when it wasn't all set in a fantasy world. 6y
LibrarianRyan @sebrittain I agree I was expecting a fantasy especially since it was made into a movie. 6y
LibrarianRyan Plus the copy I was reading had the bunny ears and I really thought it would be similar to 6y
Eyelit @sebrittain @LibrarianRyan like you I thought it would be more fantastical in scope... I liked what it was, but it wasn‘t anything like I expected 6y
cobwebmoth I didn't know what to expect, but I too was surprised by the lack of fantasy. 6y
17 likes1 stack add5 comments
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LibrarianRyan
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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I get this. I hate being called Ry. I‘m not a loaf of bread or a stiff drink. Ughhhh. 🤬

cherinium Lol! I do not take kindly to being called "Cher," so I totally get you! 6y
LibrarianRyan @cherinium yeah! If only you could turn back time. (Sorry, I couldn‘t help myself). 6y
Shvonne My dad hates being called “Mike” 6y
See All 9 Comments
DreesReads I don‘t like “Aud”. Actually, I hate it. 6y
mrsmarch My name has no real nickname to it. I used to bemoan this. But nowadays almost no one uses my name to address me so it works out. 6y
LibrarianRyan @AudreyMorris we do that to my aunt. Actually we call her Aud ball. But it‘s different for kids. My nephews call me RyRy. That is okay. Any kid can call me that. But it‘s a kid. My boss calls me RY. I HATE it . 6y
Maewyn My brother was called ryno during high school and he was okay with it. He still gets it occasionally but most of his work friends call him "pockets" ?‍♀️ 6y
ravenlee People get my name wrong all the time (apparently I look more like an Amy than an Anne, and when I saw my first and last together people hear Angela) and I shrug it off, but when somebody calls me Annie all bets are off. 6y
quietlycuriouskate I get called Katie far too often. I hate it: nothing wrong with the name but it's not mine. My name is Kate. And hardly anyone pronounces my last name correctly either so it's like there's this whole other person I'm "supposed" to be. 6y
61 likes9 comments
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LibrarianRyan
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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Taken out of context this pisses me off. But in context ...

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LibrarianRyan
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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Another gem.

hermyknee 😂😂😂😂 6y
2BR02B I need to reread this one! 6y
LibrarianRyan Yes. It‘s this months @LitsyGetsGraphic selection. It‘s on Hoopla if you library had it. So is the movie. I‘m checking that out next. 6y
52 likes3 comments
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LibrarianRyan
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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Something tells me that is not an appropriate question to ask your gym teacher.

BTW. I‘m loving this book!

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sebrittainclark
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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Pickpick

5/5

I'm on a bit of a comics rolls since my Hoopla comics were about to expire.

I didn't know what to expect with this one, but I completely loved it. It's a fantastic story with really beautiful art. It made me cry a lot, but I loved it.

rachelsbrittain Yeah I think I have like 4 comics I need to get to before they expire in the next few days 😅 6y
61 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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LitsyGetsGraphic
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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We are back!!!!
Hello Litsy! 🤚🏻

Your #graphicnovel book club is BACK!!!

Our next discussion is on October 13, and the book that we chose is “I-Kill Giants”🔨 (available on #Hoopla)
Stay turned for more #graphicnovelsnews

LibrarianRyan I thought this group only read non-fiction graphic novels? Just curious if the rules or parameters changed of if I just didn‘t realize this was based on a true story. 6y
LitsyGetsGraphic @LibrarianRyan you are right it is not nonfiction or a true story. We decided include discussable comic books here to see how much involvement can it bring. 6y
20 likes1 stack add2 comments
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GatheringBooks
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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Pickpick

#NewHogwartsAdventure Day 9: Barbara has serious #DarkArts skillz: she is a vicious Dungeons n Dragons player, and hunts/slays giants. As Fats noted in her review: “We see more than just a girl hunting giants. We see a girl using giants as a means to escape reality. We see a girl dealing with bullies in school. We see a girl suffering from heartache and trying to find the courage to deal with loss and grief.” Review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-aBx

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ❤️🖤❤️🖤 6y
vkois88 Always such great reviews! 6y
56 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Eyelit
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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Feeling pretty excited about today‘s #libraryhaul 😃

🤞 that I can finish hocus pocus before it‘s due (it has a lot of holds so I can‘t renew)

daniwithtea Hocus Pocus is a fast read! 6y
Mc_cart_ny It's been quite a few years, but I remember I Kill Giants being good! 6y
Reviewsbylola Annotated LW sounds awesome!!! 6y
BookBoggart You totally rhymed there! 6y
Eyelit @BookBoggart lol nice catch (cause I totally didn‘t intend it) it‘s totally a case of ‘I‘m a poet and didn‘t know it‘ 😁 6y
100 likes1 stack add5 comments
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night_shift
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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Pickpick

I watched the movie first. I had no idea it was a graphic novel. The movie had me tearing up, but this is so much better. More fluid and concise. Barbara is such a badass and this was lovely and sad. Great stuff!

GrilledCheeseSamurai It's a brilliant comic! I still need to watch the movie. 🤔 6y
night_shift @GrilledCheeseSamurai there were a lot of haters of the movie, but I think it was because they didn't get it maybe? 6y
Quasifesto I read the GN years ago. I enjoyed the movie and I‘m glad they took a chance on it, but “the book was better.” 6y
night_shift @Quasifesto I really did love the setting in the movie though. Very visually pleasing, I think. But yes, book better haha 6y
57 likes4 comments
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glitterkitty459
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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#julywrapup #monthlywrapup (post 1/2) Couldn't fit all in one collage so next post is favorites of the month.

📖July stats

14 books total- 3 graphic novels

🎉Caught up on all my giveaway wins! 👍 Although I bailed on three I won from Goodreads (bottom 3 on photo)
☑️Favorite of these is the tagged book

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Oldschool_millenial
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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Pickpick

Had low expectations because I heard that the movie got lukewarm reviews. This graphic novel is... wow...
I too was also concerned that Barbara our protagonist would be dealing with abuse or a similarly twisted theme--that is NOT the case. Barbara's battle is about coping with loss and the creators handled it beautifully. I know some people are turned off by "messy" looking artwork, but do not let that deter you from reading this book

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Ellen_C
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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Pickpick

Graphic novel about fear, anger, grief. For teens/YA. Barbara Thorson, a 5th grader, is an outsider, drawn to D&D, frequently angry and full of snark. She is convinced that she must prepare to fight very real giants. But we see that something else is going on in Barbara‘s life, & while others try to help her, she goes deeper into her fantasy. Gripping climax, expect tears. https://cannonballread.com/2018/05/ya-lit-grief-and-trauma-part-ii/

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melissa.drake
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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Pickpick

By the end, tears were rolling down my cheeks and my heart was well-squeezed. #tearjerker

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melissa.drake
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#AYearAThon May 2018 - Rereads/Graphic Novels

I didn't really have any rereads that I wanted to get to at the moment, so I focused on graphic novels and got a fair bit knocked off my TBR. I Kill Giants, Seconds, and Lumberjanes were my fave of this batch, and Goldie Vance is really growing on me. I think Bad Machinery doesn't really marathon read well, and I have some more volumes of it which I will peruse more slowly and see how that goes.

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Mindelan
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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Pickpick

I‘m late to the game on this one. It is hard to discuss succinctly because of spoilers, but I really connected to it and enjoyed it a lot. Spoilers/discussion of possible triggers below.
Also: Currently trying to figure out if it is practical to stitch a small hammer on the outside of my canvas purse. Wondering if this is something that would need to be done by machine or if it would stay neat if done by hand. Any crafters out there?

Mindelan TWs: I was really worried about this one because reading it early on, it seemed like it might be going in the direction of sexual abuse and/or gross bad mental illness tropes. The anticipation of those things triggered me pretty badly, but that is not what‘s happening. It‘s about terminal illness, grief, feeling responsible for things you can‘t control and finding power through fantasy, D&D, support networks and love. 7y
Mindelan For me it was worth the triggers, but hopefully knowing that is not what is coming makes it easier on someone else! 7y
7 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Juli
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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Pickpick

This graphic novel is weird and dark and mean, but also full of hope. I loved the art!

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Phinfluenza
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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Pickpick

I don't remember where I initially read about this book, but it grabbed hold of my interest and seemed something my 12yo daughter might enjoy so I bought it for her as a surprise. I read it first and though there are a few words sprinkled throughout that I may not approve of for her reading material, none are deal breakers... that said, the story is beautiful and emotional, heartbreakingly realistic and full of both cute and dark fantasy.

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ChaitanyaSethi
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Pickpick

🌟🌟🌟⚡
I Kill Giants is a story about a young girl who is angry at the world. She is waging a lone battle against giants that surround her and her family. It is a touching story about the power of escapism in the face of obstacles in life. It also deals with the need for the support of friends and family to overcome the challenge in life.
#litsy #review #graphicnovel #reader

36 likes5 stack adds
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mydearwatson
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
Pickpick

Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. Full review at https://mydearwatsonbooks.wordpress.com/2018/04/09/i-kill-giants/.

Trigger warnings (and spoiler alerts): bullying, possible self-harm, sick/absent parents.

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booklover3258
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this graphic novel about a strong willed girl wearing bunny ears who never gives up and fights for what she believes in.

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ambam1987
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“I‘ve got every book in the library in here.”

Exactly my feelings everyday! 📚 💼

14 likes2 stack adds
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Great question! @thegirlwiththelibrarybag

#HowManyBooksWereInSomethingVaguelyResemblingAPileNextToYourBed

The answer 20, plus the tons inside that kindle, and that‘s not counting the ones on the shelf below. 😂And sadly, these are all ‘to be read‘, it‘s even worse than usual at the moment because I pulled a bunch for my #LitsyClassics and #LitsyAtoZ challenges and added them the pile at the beginning of this year

Reviewsbylola Wow, love it!! 7y
thegirlwiththelibrarybag Hahahahaha! I didn‘t even count mine just stacked them and took them out into the living room. 7y
Gezemice Love it! I have a bit of a pile, too, although I have been consciously cleaning them up lately, so mostly library books and ones I am reading. So it is much smaller than yours. Great books, though! 7y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Gezemice I clean them out and then add more 😂 7y
76 likes4 comments
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thegirlwiththelibrarybag
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The answer to the question, “how many books were in something vaguely resembling a pile next to your bed”

108 likes2 comments
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jackilynn
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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Pickpick

Am now eager to check the movie out when it is released.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2298857224?book_show_action=false&from_rev...

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jackilynn
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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Barbara I will come over and listen to Johnny Cash & look at Legolas 🙋

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jackilynn
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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This just makes me want to go home & watch the Princess Bride. 😂😂😂

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faelinwolf
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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"And de-mississippi ain't just a river in my badonkadonk."
"I don't think that means what you mean it to mean..."

???

8 likes1 stack add
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GrilledCheeseSamurai
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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Any fans of the comic, I Kill Giants?

See the trailer? 🙌

https://youtu.be/FZ0QKOR5Kgc

😍😍😍

RealLifeReading Haven't heard of it before but going to see if I can find it! Stacked 7y
Owlizabeth I have it in my shelf but haven‘t read it yet, guess I should get on that... 7y
63 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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xicanti
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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Pickpick

For years, I was a little afraid to read this because I thought it was about rape. It's actually about the sort of grief that starts the moment you know the end is inevitable; another heavy topic, and one Kelly and Niimura handle well. Niimura's greyscale art evokes the uncertainty in the protagonist's soul, while the blend of brutal reality and sometimes charming, sometimes menacing fantasy ups the tension. It's tough but excellent. #comics

MisterWhitaker This is the book that made some of my senior football players cry! It's also one of the first books some of them have ever completely read. Love this book! 7y
xicanti @MisterWhitaker hurray for comics! 7y
31 likes1 stack add2 comments
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xicanti
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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Friends, my #comicthon went a smidgen off track when I took a break to watch one episode of THIS IS US and ended up watching three instead (because OMG HOW IS THIS SHOW SO GOOD). I've made a start on I KILL GIANTS, though, and I might be able to finish it before I fall asleep.

A content note on this one: from the way people talk about it, I thought it dealt with child sex abuse. It doesn't, though its actual focus is still heavy stuff.

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Pogue
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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Pickpick

We all have giants to kill, and hers is a worthy one.

GondorGirl One of my favorites! 7y
20 likes1 comment
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BookishMarginalia
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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I ❤️ coffee and books. 😊🤓

Jas16 Me too 7y
Scurvygirl 📚💚📚 7y
DeborahSmall Me too especially with cake ❤️ 7y
See All 6 Comments
JessClark78 Me too ❤️ 7y
Kelican17 I can't wait to hear what you think of this read! 7y
maich 📚☕ and 🍫 7y
147 likes6 stack adds6 comments
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BookishMarginalia
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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RealBooks4ever Truth! 💜 7y
114 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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khooliha
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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Mehso-so

And another book polished off while waiting for some washers to open up. I mostly didn't like this book, but the ending still got me so I can't pan it entirely.

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Morgan7r
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
Mehso-so

I enjoyed the book for what it was. I am not into comics but at least I have tried and read one at this point. It's a great book for adolescents.

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Morgan7r
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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First #comic book 📚

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MisterWhitaker
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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"To those fighting their own giants, you are stronger than you think." #ComicBookSnaps #BookSnaps #Comics #WomensMarch

18 likes1 stack add
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ClairesReads
I Kill Giants | Joe Kelly
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Pickpick

This was a quick and surprisingly touching graphic novel. It did take me a bit to get into the style of the images- but it was well paced. An effective narrative about grief and loss.