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Taproot: A Story About A Gardener and A Ghost
"It's a pleasure to lose yourself in the beautiful artwork, and one of the loveliest queer romances I've ever read." —K. O'Neil, author ofThe Tea Dragon Society
Blue has been living as a ghost for a year when he meets Hamal, a beautiful and sweet gardener who has the ability to see and communicate with ghosts. Together, their friendship develops into something more, but being a ghost, Blue can never truly be connected with Hamal.
When Blue realizes Hamal’s strange ability may be putting him in danger, Blue has to find a way to protect him--even if it means leaving him.
Rainbow Book List Best Graphic Novel of 2017
Powell's Books Best of 2017
The Advocate's Best LGBTQ Graphic Novel of 2017
Blue has been living as a ghost for a year when he meets Hamal, a beautiful and sweet gardener who has the ability to see and communicate with ghosts. Together, their friendship develops into something more, but being a ghost, Blue can never truly be connected with Hamal.
When Blue realizes Hamal’s strange ability may be putting him in danger, Blue has to find a way to protect him--even if it means leaving him.
Rainbow Book List Best Graphic Novel of 2017
Powell's Books Best of 2017
The Advocate's Best LGBTQ Graphic Novel of 2017
136 pages, Paperback
First published September 26, 2017
145 people are currently reading
13.3k people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,180 reviews
April 4, 2022
Cute, creepy, wholesome, artistically gorgeous and delightfully queer, Taproot from author/illustrator Keezy Young is a lovely little paranormal romance that will warm the heart. The story follows Hamal, a young gardener who is able to see the spirits of the dead that have not yet moved on, and Blue, a ghost who likes to hang around Hamal because, secretly, he is in love. But when a Reaper shows up looking to track down a necromancer that can see the dead, their awkwardly peaceful life is shaken up. While a bit disjointed in narrative, Taproot is so sweet and beautiful to look at that it won’t matter much and make for a charming short read.
First off, the art here is wonderful. It is a nice loose style with gorgeous landscapes and pleasing palette choices that reminds me a bit of my favorite graphic novelist, . There are some great shades of blue and green here and this is worth reading for the art alone.
This book is also nice and creepy, but in a fun sense. The characters are full of sass and the interactions between Blue and Hamal are adorable. Plus the secondary characters are great, if only a bit underused, such as the teenage girl ghost who smashes things in Hamal’s shop just because she can. The plot sort of propels forward a bit too quickly and the second half never feels like it quite takes hold due to the pace, but it is still quite fun. Really its the character dynamics that take center stage anyways. And I love the Reaper, they are the coolest. There isn’t much explanation to the paranormal universe going on here, but the small hints at it deliver a lot of impressions that make it work and make it super fun.
Keezy Young is great and I definitely need to read more of their work. This is such a cute little story that you can easily devour in a single sitting but will want to come back to just to stare lovingly at the artwork.
3.75/5
First off, the art here is wonderful. It is a nice loose style with gorgeous landscapes and pleasing palette choices that reminds me a bit of my favorite graphic novelist, . There are some great shades of blue and green here and this is worth reading for the art alone.
This book is also nice and creepy, but in a fun sense. The characters are full of sass and the interactions between Blue and Hamal are adorable. Plus the secondary characters are great, if only a bit underused, such as the teenage girl ghost who smashes things in Hamal’s shop just because she can. The plot sort of propels forward a bit too quickly and the second half never feels like it quite takes hold due to the pace, but it is still quite fun. Really its the character dynamics that take center stage anyways. And I love the Reaper, they are the coolest. There isn’t much explanation to the paranormal universe going on here, but the small hints at it deliver a lot of impressions that make it work and make it super fun.
Keezy Young is great and I definitely need to read more of their work. This is such a cute little story that you can easily devour in a single sitting but will want to come back to just to stare lovingly at the artwork.
3.75/5
July 29, 2022
Taproot was such a cute little graphic novel. There are not enough queer paranormal stories, and I really enjoyed this story about ghosts and young love. The friends to lovers arc was done really well, and Blue and Hamal had wonderful chemistry. My favourite thing about the story was definitely the magic. Necromancy is incredibly interesting, and I loved how this story explored it. The antagonist was brilliant and I would have loved to have seen more from them. I feel like there is a lot of potential for the story to continue.
The art was wonderful at times, but the narrative felt a little bit clunky. It would just randomly jump to a new moment without any real resolution. If this was more fleshed out, it definitely would have been a new favourite. I love the yearning and the sweet romance. I would definitely recommend it!
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The art was wonderful at times, but the narrative felt a little bit clunky. It would just randomly jump to a new moment without any real resolution. If this was more fleshed out, it definitely would have been a new favourite. I love the yearning and the sweet romance. I would definitely recommend it!
I post about queer books on:
July 25, 2019
3.75 stars
This book was so sweet!! I've read ghost x human love stories before and always was skeptical, but this one pulled it off super well and I actually liked how this dabbled more in the paranormal world than the real one with the main character sort of acting as a liaison between the two. I loved the blooming relationship which was tentative but also fun and outgoing. The art style was pastel and beautiful, and it almost looked like video game graphics, which I thought was neat.
My only issue with this book was that the pacing and structure of it felt a bit off. I wish we'd had more time to see the two's relationship progress and to witness moments where their bond to each other strengthened because the concision of the plot made it seem a bit like instalove. Also, I wish the relationship between Hamal and the paranormal world was explained better because I didn't quite understand the way that he was equipped with supernatural powers. Also, the end threw in a chapter that was set one year after the ending of the book, and I thought that it was a nice way to see what the characters were doing after everything, but I wish it could have either been expanded so that the novel had two equal parts or else separated entirely, expanded, and made into a sequel. It felt long-winded and unnecessarily complicated for an epilogue, even though there did end up being a happily ever after.
But I loved the m/m relationship and the representation of two men of color falling in love amidst an emotional whirlwind of a plot. Also, the fact that the main character worked in a flower shop was such a nice, sweet touch. I definitely recommend this if you want a paranormal/fantastical graphic novel with a queer relationship.
This book was so sweet!! I've read ghost x human love stories before and always was skeptical, but this one pulled it off super well and I actually liked how this dabbled more in the paranormal world than the real one with the main character sort of acting as a liaison between the two. I loved the blooming relationship which was tentative but also fun and outgoing. The art style was pastel and beautiful, and it almost looked like video game graphics, which I thought was neat.
My only issue with this book was that the pacing and structure of it felt a bit off. I wish we'd had more time to see the two's relationship progress and to witness moments where their bond to each other strengthened because the concision of the plot made it seem a bit like instalove. Also, I wish the relationship between Hamal and the paranormal world was explained better because I didn't quite understand the way that he was equipped with supernatural powers. Also, the end threw in a chapter that was set one year after the ending of the book, and I thought that it was a nice way to see what the characters were doing after everything, but I wish it could have either been expanded so that the novel had two equal parts or else separated entirely, expanded, and made into a sequel. It felt long-winded and unnecessarily complicated for an epilogue, even though there did end up being a happily ever after.
But I loved the m/m relationship and the representation of two men of color falling in love amidst an emotional whirlwind of a plot. Also, the fact that the main character worked in a flower shop was such a nice, sweet touch. I definitely recommend this if you want a paranormal/fantastical graphic novel with a queer relationship.
September 16, 2021
9/16/21: Reread again for a YA class, in Fall 2021, in a kind of unit on romance, and this fits, but this time I noticed all the (light) horror in it. I mean, it is still sweet love, but it also has this Reaper/Necromancer/Ghost dimension in it that helps us as a class transition to YA horror (such as We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson and the lightly, California-style gothic YA novel I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson. I also thought about George Saunders' Lincoln in the Bardo as I thought of the ghosts who need to move on from the liminal transition state/bardo/purgatory. Or even those ghosts in Lord of the Rings who fight to be able to be released).
7/6/21: Re-read for a comics class, summer 2021.
7/5/18: Re-read for comics class, summer 2018. We were reading shoujo manga romances so thought we compare/contrast this romance with them. In short, this is a romance, just starting out, I think, between a gay ghost named Blue and a gardener named Hamal. Feels very west coast (Young is from Seattle), we decided: nature/flowers, sort of a hippie vibe. Very sweet. On one level it is also about a depicting and embracing lots of differences. Lots of different body shapes and sizes and colors and ethnicities and sexualities. Brightly colored illustrations, too.
Here's some examples of her work:
3/21/18: Original review, a little edited:
Taproot is a sweet queer supernatural romance about a gardener, Hamal, who can see ghosts, and the ghost, Blue, who falls in love with him. Not everyone can see ghosts, now; I know this because I never seem to see them and meet lots of people (even members of my own family) who see them. But Hamal does (there you go!), and he sees others, mostly young ones, some of them recently having become spirits.
We may have lots of assumptions about ghosts, whether we believe in them or not; maybe we think they need some kind of resolution before they can move properly on. This seems to be true for some of the ghosts in this story, but we get a little deeper on the topic, and see various reasons spirits hang around. A (soul) Reaper shows up, reveals to Hamal that Hamal is actually a necromancer (those of the living who can actually interact with the dead). Well, what future can there be for a living boy and a dead boy, even if they are in love? They all know the reaper needs to move souls from one dimension to the next, so ultimately Hamal and Blue are a temporary relationship.
But there are other ghosts around, too, including two adorable little girls, who really need to get to a better place. Nature (gardener, remember?) figures in the story, of course with the help of Hamal. Including Zom-bees! Very sweet, sort of adorable story. Way too short, just a story, really, maybe pointing to a series? Lovely romantic drawing, with a sweet resolution. Maybe a little abrupt, which led me to think it was the first in a series, but now it does not look like it, and the finish is sweet as it is. Maybe primarily for middle grades and teens, though it is a "new adult" story, too.
7/6/21: Re-read for a comics class, summer 2021.
7/5/18: Re-read for comics class, summer 2018. We were reading shoujo manga romances so thought we compare/contrast this romance with them. In short, this is a romance, just starting out, I think, between a gay ghost named Blue and a gardener named Hamal. Feels very west coast (Young is from Seattle), we decided: nature/flowers, sort of a hippie vibe. Very sweet. On one level it is also about a depicting and embracing lots of differences. Lots of different body shapes and sizes and colors and ethnicities and sexualities. Brightly colored illustrations, too.
Here's some examples of her work:
3/21/18: Original review, a little edited:
Taproot is a sweet queer supernatural romance about a gardener, Hamal, who can see ghosts, and the ghost, Blue, who falls in love with him. Not everyone can see ghosts, now; I know this because I never seem to see them and meet lots of people (even members of my own family) who see them. But Hamal does (there you go!), and he sees others, mostly young ones, some of them recently having become spirits.
We may have lots of assumptions about ghosts, whether we believe in them or not; maybe we think they need some kind of resolution before they can move properly on. This seems to be true for some of the ghosts in this story, but we get a little deeper on the topic, and see various reasons spirits hang around. A (soul) Reaper shows up, reveals to Hamal that Hamal is actually a necromancer (those of the living who can actually interact with the dead). Well, what future can there be for a living boy and a dead boy, even if they are in love? They all know the reaper needs to move souls from one dimension to the next, so ultimately Hamal and Blue are a temporary relationship.
But there are other ghosts around, too, including two adorable little girls, who really need to get to a better place. Nature (gardener, remember?) figures in the story, of course with the help of Hamal. Including Zom-bees! Very sweet, sort of adorable story. Way too short, just a story, really, maybe pointing to a series? Lovely romantic drawing, with a sweet resolution. Maybe a little abrupt, which led me to think it was the first in a series, but now it does not look like it, and the finish is sweet as it is. Maybe primarily for middle grades and teens, though it is a "new adult" story, too.
October 8, 2020
Wholesomeness at it's finest: a graphic novel about a ghost and gardener falling in love. An unbearably sweet story that had me in tears by the ending.
★~ What is this book about? ★~
Taproot follows Hamal, a gardener with an ability to see ghosts.
Blue is dead, and more than a little surprised to discover that Hamal can still see him. The two become best friends, and Blue eventually starts falling for him. Conflict arises when a reaper comes to town, threatening to end the their seemingly unbreakable bond.
★~
Keezy Young’s colour palette and drawing style is just gorgeous. The visuals alone were enough for me to grant this a fairly high rating; I simply couldn’t look away!
Hamal and Blue were both incredibly sweet. I had the best time following their adventures, even when the plot grew worrying. I became so attached to their relationship within such little time, it’s no wonder I cried near the end. This was a beautiful graphic novel, for sure.
★~ What is this book about? ★~
Taproot follows Hamal, a gardener with an ability to see ghosts.
Blue is dead, and more than a little surprised to discover that Hamal can still see him. The two become best friends, and Blue eventually starts falling for him. Conflict arises when a reaper comes to town, threatening to end the their seemingly unbreakable bond.
★~
Keezy Young’s colour palette and drawing style is just gorgeous. The visuals alone were enough for me to grant this a fairly high rating; I simply couldn’t look away!
Hamal and Blue were both incredibly sweet. I had the best time following their adventures, even when the plot grew worrying. I became so attached to their relationship within such little time, it’s no wonder I cried near the end. This was a beautiful graphic novel, for sure.
May 8, 2022
A cute and unusual graphic novel but would have worked better with a better developed plot.
Hamal, a gardener, sees and speaks to many ghosts while he is working. One of these ghosts is Blue, who is also nursing a secret crush on Hamal. Meanwhile, something strange seems to be happening in the in-between world because of which Blue realises that Hamal might be in danger. Will Blue be able to save Hamal forms the rest of the story.
Pros:
👍 Queer love story that is handled decently.
👍 Art style is stunning. The gardens and ghosts especially are stunning.
👍 Loved the afterword by the author.
Cons:
👎 Insta romance that is sweet but rushed.
👎 I didn’t like the structuring. The plot development is quite haphazard. The story began in one place and ended in a different place altogether. The scenes switch very abruptly. There is no background to the characters. There is a lot of random to-and-fro in the timeline.
If you want to try a queer graphic novel with great illustrations, you can still give this a try. It would have been a must-read had the characters and their back stories been fleshed out more and the kinks in the scene changes been ironed out. You might like it as long as you don’t overthink it. A “go with the flow� approach will work best.
3 stars.
My thanks to Oni Press and NetGalley for the DRC of “Taproot�. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
***
Join me on the Facebook group, , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
Hamal, a gardener, sees and speaks to many ghosts while he is working. One of these ghosts is Blue, who is also nursing a secret crush on Hamal. Meanwhile, something strange seems to be happening in the in-between world because of which Blue realises that Hamal might be in danger. Will Blue be able to save Hamal forms the rest of the story.
Pros:
👍 Queer love story that is handled decently.
👍 Art style is stunning. The gardens and ghosts especially are stunning.
👍 Loved the afterword by the author.
Cons:
👎 Insta romance that is sweet but rushed.
👎 I didn’t like the structuring. The plot development is quite haphazard. The story began in one place and ended in a different place altogether. The scenes switch very abruptly. There is no background to the characters. There is a lot of random to-and-fro in the timeline.
If you want to try a queer graphic novel with great illustrations, you can still give this a try. It would have been a must-read had the characters and their back stories been fleshed out more and the kinks in the scene changes been ironed out. You might like it as long as you don’t overthink it. A “go with the flow� approach will work best.
3 stars.
My thanks to Oni Press and NetGalley for the DRC of “Taproot�. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
***
Join me on the Facebook group, , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
May 26, 2022
THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE, it made my heart melt like a popsicle on a hot summer day.
If you're looking for a cute queer comic book that will fill the void that finishing the Heartstopper series created, look no further you'll love this one !
The illustrations were oh so beautiful and you all know how much i love the color green (how surprising, a queer person in love with the color green omg !! 🙄) so it was a blessing to my eyes.
The plot was really sweet and fun but it felt a little too disjointed at times and a bit rushed when it came to the main "plot twist" (if you can call it that) and i feel like it could have been a bit longer !
I really enjoyed it nonetheless <3
Thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for this ARC !
If you're looking for a cute queer comic book that will fill the void that finishing the Heartstopper series created, look no further you'll love this one !
The illustrations were oh so beautiful and you all know how much i love the color green (how surprising, a queer person in love with the color green omg !! 🙄) so it was a blessing to my eyes.
The plot was really sweet and fun but it felt a little too disjointed at times and a bit rushed when it came to the main "plot twist" (if you can call it that) and i feel like it could have been a bit longer !
I really enjoyed it nonetheless <3
Thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for this ARC !
May 24, 2022
A new edition of Seattle-based, queer/non-binary comic artist, Keezy Young’s award-winning debut. It’s a YA, queer love story, frothy but with a slightly gothic feel. Blue’s a teen ghost who falls for Hamal a gardener at Takashi Flowers. Hamal can communicate with spirits but doesn’t know why, and he and Blue quickly form a close bond. When they’re threatened by the appearance of a sinister, reaper figure they have to work together to survive. The narrative’s a little sketch-like in places, and the mythology could be clearer, but it’s a sweet story and I loved the use of colour, particularly the vibrant depictions of plants and flowers, although the graphic style overall’s not my favourite kind. This new edition includes a section charting Taproot's development from web comic to graphic novel, and an afterword by Young on the background to her work.
Thanks to Netgalley and Oni Press for an ARC
Thanks to Netgalley and Oni Press for an ARC
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July 18, 2022story coulda been fleshed out more but i am very much here for the vibes! hope there’s a second one 🌱
April 16, 2020
**** 3.5 stars ****
The color palette is what drew me into this book: primarily shades of green and blue, offset with generous helpings of cream. It gave the book a unified feel, and it needed that, because it actually consists of two stories set a year apart. I would have found it more powerful if it had concluded at the end of the first story. Still, I'm rounding up because of the pleasure the artwork brought me.
The color palette is what drew me into this book: primarily shades of green and blue, offset with generous helpings of cream. It gave the book a unified feel, and it needed that, because it actually consists of two stories set a year apart. I would have found it more powerful if it had concluded at the end of the first story. Still, I'm rounding up because of the pleasure the artwork brought me.
January 11, 2021
2.5 stars.
This was...cute. It didn't really do much for me though. The art was pretty and I liked Blue and Hamal's relationship, but the plot felt disjointed.
This was...cute. It didn't really do much for me though. The art was pretty and I liked Blue and Hamal's relationship, but the plot felt disjointed.
December 31, 2021
rep: poc (Muslim?) mlm mc, mlm couple
ARC provided by the publishe.
What I mostly want to yell about here is beautiful & pure & will restore your faith in love and humanity. It's also a huge spoiler though so I can't say what exactly is it. It doesn't even have to be the main selling point for the story tbh but for me, as a gay reader, it's definitely the most important part. Just believe me when I tell you, you will be overjoyed with the gay rep in this one.
Taproot tells a story of Hamal, a beautiful kind-hearted gardener who sings to his plants at night so they would grow better. He can also see ghosts. We first meet him as he's chatting with Blue at a flower shop where he works. Blue is one of the ghosts. And it would be just a cute little story of two boys flirting all the time if not for the Reaper that appears suddenly with a deal. Because it is a story about ghosts, what you're probably expecting at this point must happen - the balance must be restored in the world.
The art is amazing. It's all warm colors and round lines, with no sharp edges & it somehow makes you feel safe. It also makes it seem like you've already known the characters for ages, like they're your childhood friends. Everything seems familiar, like a small cottage in the woods you visit every summer or your grandma's kitchen filled with all your favourite foods. It's a really magical experience and it works so well with such a soft, delicate story.
Oh, and another cool thing?? I'm pretty sure there was like... maybe one white person in the background somewhere... It's so refreshing to read something that's so unapologetically not catered to the white straight audience.
My mind keeps coming back to that plot twist which is a Spoiler but god!!! I don't remember the last time a story made me this happy!!! I know I will be rereading this a lot to make myself feel better. It's soft and tender in the most beautiful ways and I'm so very grateful it exists.
ARC provided by the publishe.
What I mostly want to yell about here is beautiful & pure & will restore your faith in love and humanity. It's also a huge spoiler though so I can't say what exactly is it. It doesn't even have to be the main selling point for the story tbh but for me, as a gay reader, it's definitely the most important part. Just believe me when I tell you, you will be overjoyed with the gay rep in this one.
Taproot tells a story of Hamal, a beautiful kind-hearted gardener who sings to his plants at night so they would grow better. He can also see ghosts. We first meet him as he's chatting with Blue at a flower shop where he works. Blue is one of the ghosts. And it would be just a cute little story of two boys flirting all the time if not for the Reaper that appears suddenly with a deal. Because it is a story about ghosts, what you're probably expecting at this point must happen - the balance must be restored in the world.
The art is amazing. It's all warm colors and round lines, with no sharp edges & it somehow makes you feel safe. It also makes it seem like you've already known the characters for ages, like they're your childhood friends. Everything seems familiar, like a small cottage in the woods you visit every summer or your grandma's kitchen filled with all your favourite foods. It's a really magical experience and it works so well with such a soft, delicate story.
Oh, and another cool thing?? I'm pretty sure there was like... maybe one white person in the background somewhere... It's so refreshing to read something that's so unapologetically not catered to the white straight audience.
My mind keeps coming back to that plot twist which is a Spoiler but god!!! I don't remember the last time a story made me this happy!!! I know I will be rereading this a lot to make myself feel better. It's soft and tender in the most beautiful ways and I'm so very grateful it exists.
June 14, 2022
Thank you to Oni Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Taproot is absolutely spellbinding, but then again, a queer love story between a ghost and a florist was always going to be.
With an incredibly distinct art style that will certainly have me buying a physical copy to peruse through and admire at length. Its beautifully drawn natural settings and a heartwarming (if slightly peculiar) story put me in mind of Studio Ghibli for all the right reasons. Loveable characters in an enchanting world, and just a little bit of magic. What's not to love?
In as few as 122 pages I grew to adore these characters, including the big bad! Each character had a unique personality with their own endearing quirks and I found them to be positively charming, so much so that I found myself giggling at several points. Any story that manages to make me laugh out loud (especially when death is a key theme) is highly commendable.
The narrative itself was incredibly sweet, and the concept is a brilliant one. I do, however, wish that it had been expanded upon and given a little more depth. Some of the key scenes felt a little rushed which pulled me out of the story, where they should have been pulling me in.
Overall, I think Taproot is a delightful novel and will absolutely be recommending it, I only wish it could have been longer.
TWs: Death, Child Death (past, off-page), Terminal illness (past, off-page), blood (mild)
Taproot is absolutely spellbinding, but then again, a queer love story between a ghost and a florist was always going to be.
With an incredibly distinct art style that will certainly have me buying a physical copy to peruse through and admire at length. Its beautifully drawn natural settings and a heartwarming (if slightly peculiar) story put me in mind of Studio Ghibli for all the right reasons. Loveable characters in an enchanting world, and just a little bit of magic. What's not to love?
In as few as 122 pages I grew to adore these characters, including the big bad! Each character had a unique personality with their own endearing quirks and I found them to be positively charming, so much so that I found myself giggling at several points. Any story that manages to make me laugh out loud (especially when death is a key theme) is highly commendable.
The narrative itself was incredibly sweet, and the concept is a brilliant one. I do, however, wish that it had been expanded upon and given a little more depth. Some of the key scenes felt a little rushed which pulled me out of the story, where they should have been pulling me in.
Overall, I think Taproot is a delightful novel and will absolutely be recommending it, I only wish it could have been longer.
TWs: Death, Child Death (past, off-page), Terminal illness (past, off-page), blood (mild)
September 8, 2017
Well, that was officially one of the cutest things I've ever read.
Taproot follows the stories of two boys who fall in love: the catch is, one's a ghost! Blue has been stuck in between the world of the living and the great beyond for a while when he meets the first human who's ever seen him, a gardener named Hamal. When a Reaper informs the boys that Hamal is actually an accidental necromancer, they're given a very specific task: restore order to the local forest, or suffer the consequences of an imbalanced world.
Seriously, this graphic novel is so adorable and sweet, and the art is full of whimsy. It's a little creepy and a whole lotta cute, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good, sweet-hearted queer read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Diamond Book Distributors for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Taproot follows the stories of two boys who fall in love: the catch is, one's a ghost! Blue has been stuck in between the world of the living and the great beyond for a while when he meets the first human who's ever seen him, a gardener named Hamal. When a Reaper informs the boys that Hamal is actually an accidental necromancer, they're given a very specific task: restore order to the local forest, or suffer the consequences of an imbalanced world.
Seriously, this graphic novel is so adorable and sweet, and the art is full of whimsy. It's a little creepy and a whole lotta cute, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good, sweet-hearted queer read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Diamond Book Distributors for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
June 3, 2022
Taproot is a YA graphic novel that tells the story of Hamal, who has the ability to see -and talk- to ghosts, and Blue, the ghost he’s in love with. I read this in the middle of a very stressful week and it was the perfect story to disconnect, smile and enjoy how cute and wholesome it was. As someone who has Casper as favorite sad-romance scene -yes, over Titanic-, their impossible love was killing me.
“You don’t get to decide what will make me happy, Blue. You act like everything is fine the way it is, but it isn’t fine.�
() “What’s the point? I’m already dead.�
The drawings were a delight to see and I loved the colors. There were a few pages at the end where the author explains part of the process, with sketches of the characters and palettes of colors that made me appreciate it even more.
My only critique is that I wasn’t as much a fan of the plot, mainly because the ‘plot twist� was too soon. While it surprised me, I wish there were more scenes to really care about the characters and build enough tension to make it explode when the twist was finally revealed.
I kindly received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
“You don’t get to decide what will make me happy, Blue. You act like everything is fine the way it is, but it isn’t fine.�
() “What’s the point? I’m already dead.�
The drawings were a delight to see and I loved the colors. There were a few pages at the end where the author explains part of the process, with sketches of the characters and palettes of colors that made me appreciate it even more.
My only critique is that I wasn’t as much a fan of the plot, mainly because the ‘plot twist� was too soon. While it surprised me, I wish there were more scenes to really care about the characters and build enough tension to make it explode when the twist was finally revealed.
I kindly received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 25, 2021
Taproot: A Story about a Gardener and a Ghost had an interesting premise but felt like it was just a snippet of a larger story. The plot seemed to jump forward in time several times without much warning and ended kind of abruptly. It left me a bit frustrated as I didn't feel like I'd read a complete story. The art was lovely, though, and Young's take on ghosts was very interesting.
April 28, 2022
This is a queer paranormal romance. The paranormal elements are interesting and offer a sweet perspective to things generally depicted as harsh and evil. The romance element has a tinge of tragedy that is quickly washed away to become a fulfilling love story.
I love the art of this graphic novel. The color palette is particularly appealing, contrasting the real world and the world of the dead with ease and in a way that makes reading along a pleasant experience. Yet, the story as a whole at times feels jumpy and unconnected.
Jumpiness is common in the graphic novels, but in this one may not be working in favor of good storytelling, but creating gaps that left me wondering, did I skip a page?
Nonetheless, I enjoyed getting to know Blue and Hamal but my favorite character is by far the very mysterious and quite mischievous Reaper.
I love the art of this graphic novel. The color palette is particularly appealing, contrasting the real world and the world of the dead with ease and in a way that makes reading along a pleasant experience. Yet, the story as a whole at times feels jumpy and unconnected.
Jumpiness is common in the graphic novels, but in this one may not be working in favor of good storytelling, but creating gaps that left me wondering, did I skip a page?
Nonetheless, I enjoyed getting to know Blue and Hamal but my favorite character is by far the very mysterious and quite mischievous Reaper.
June 29, 2018
The art was very pretty, the characters were very sympathetic, the creepy forest was very creepy, the romance was very sweet, and the jokes were very punny. My only complaint is that I would have liked it to be longer, not just because I was enjoying it so much but because I think the suspense needed to be drawn out a bit for greater impact.
Will definitely pick up anything else Young creates!
April 2, 2018
The author mission was to "draw and write stories she wanted to see more of growing up - stories starring queer characters, brightness, a little creepiness, and a lot of heart."
This is a cute comic about a gardener and a ghost targeted at a teen audience. I liked the art, the diversity on the page, and the queer romance, but the plot itself was not developed enough for me. I am delighted that books like these exist today, and hope it finds its way into the hands of a youngster in need of some light.
This is a cute comic about a gardener and a ghost targeted at a teen audience. I liked the art, the diversity on the page, and the queer romance, but the plot itself was not developed enough for me. I am delighted that books like these exist today, and hope it finds its way into the hands of a youngster in need of some light.
October 4, 2017
I wanted to love this, but Taproot was a disappointing book for me. The artwork was nice and the story was sweet (could've done with more meat on its bones, imo) but altogether I was underwhelmed.
ps If you're looking for LGBT graphic novels to read I'd recommend One Hundred Nights of Hero and Nimona, which I thought were both excellent.
ps If you're looking for LGBT graphic novels to read I'd recommend One Hundred Nights of Hero and Nimona, which I thought were both excellent.
October 4, 2018
A GAY, GHOST, GRAPHIC NOVEL?!?!
September 9, 2017
I was drawn to Keezy Young's Taproot by the paranormal story elements and the interesting use of muted colours on the cover. Both indicated that this graphic novel would stand apart from others I've previously read. While I'm used to graphic novels that are brightly coloured and full of action sequences, I felt like I was floating through a dream while reading Taproot.
Hamal has been able to see ghosts since childhood when he thought they were imaginary friends. Hamal works as a gardener at Mr. Takashi's Flowers and has conversations with his ghost friends while he's working, which causes his boss and customers to find him odd but he's so good at his job that it doesn't cause him any real problems.
I'm usually quite allergic to love stories but this one between Hamal, the gardener and Blue, the ghost was so sweet that my allergy didn't flare up once. Blue was lonely when he first started hanging around Hamal. Blue was shocked to learn that Hamal could see and communicate with ghosts. A friendship formed between the two before blossoming into mutual love.
Besides his friendship and love with Blue, Hamal is also friends with two ghostie girls, Joey who is a child and April, a mischievous teenager. All three are in-betweeners, ghosts that for whatever reason haven't moved on yet.
Something strange is happening in the spirit world. The ghosts are being pulled into a dark forest for short periods of time but no one knows why. One time Blue is pulled into this mysterious forest he meets a reaper who wants to make a deal. Will Blue make the ultimate sacrifice for love?
I did have a bit of trouble connecting all of the dots during my first read as there was a lot covered in a short story and it seemed to jump around a bit. I enjoyed my second run through a lot more and found it a much more cohesive and satisfying read, getting my head around connections I'd missed the first time.
I loved the use of colour throughout this graphic novel, with the contrast between a dominance of soft greens and blues in Hamal's world and the harsh black and dull greys and browns of the forest. The colours and style of Keezy Young's illustrations added to the overall mood of the graphic novel, something that would have been diminished had bright colours been used. I adored the continued use of flowers throughout the story.
I received an ARC from NetGalley (thank you so much to NetGalley, Lion Forge and Diamond Book Distributors for the opportunity) in exchange for honest feedback.
Hamal has been able to see ghosts since childhood when he thought they were imaginary friends. Hamal works as a gardener at Mr. Takashi's Flowers and has conversations with his ghost friends while he's working, which causes his boss and customers to find him odd but he's so good at his job that it doesn't cause him any real problems.
I'm usually quite allergic to love stories but this one between Hamal, the gardener and Blue, the ghost was so sweet that my allergy didn't flare up once. Blue was lonely when he first started hanging around Hamal. Blue was shocked to learn that Hamal could see and communicate with ghosts. A friendship formed between the two before blossoming into mutual love.
Besides his friendship and love with Blue, Hamal is also friends with two ghostie girls, Joey who is a child and April, a mischievous teenager. All three are in-betweeners, ghosts that for whatever reason haven't moved on yet.
Something strange is happening in the spirit world. The ghosts are being pulled into a dark forest for short periods of time but no one knows why. One time Blue is pulled into this mysterious forest he meets a reaper who wants to make a deal. Will Blue make the ultimate sacrifice for love?
I did have a bit of trouble connecting all of the dots during my first read as there was a lot covered in a short story and it seemed to jump around a bit. I enjoyed my second run through a lot more and found it a much more cohesive and satisfying read, getting my head around connections I'd missed the first time.
I loved the use of colour throughout this graphic novel, with the contrast between a dominance of soft greens and blues in Hamal's world and the harsh black and dull greys and browns of the forest. The colours and style of Keezy Young's illustrations added to the overall mood of the graphic novel, something that would have been diminished had bright colours been used. I adored the continued use of flowers throughout the story.
I received an ARC from NetGalley (thank you so much to NetGalley, Lion Forge and Diamond Book Distributors for the opportunity) in exchange for honest feedback.
August 19, 2017
This is simply the story of Blue and Hamal. One is a ghost, and the other can see dead people. One is in love with his best friend, the other is trying to hide his feeling.
Nobody knows why, but ghosts are suddenly seeing a dark forest where everything seems to be dead, and it looks like it has something to do with Hamal.
This is a really cute story, I personally really liked the art style and the colours chose by the artist, it’s just so pleasing to the eye!
I wish it had been longer because sometimes I felt like the story was lacking some explanation, you didn’t really have any idea why some of the things were happening, but it doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the story. I really did.
I liked the story between Blue and Hamal, though I would have liked more background, because when you meet them, they’ve already known each other for a year.
I’m guessing Hamal is maybe bisexual or pansexual, he does say that he’s interested in girls and end up being with Blue, so maybe he is, or maybe he doesn’t label himself, like I said it’s not explicit but I didn’t mind.
I recommend this quick and lovely read!
3.75
Thank you Netgalley for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Nobody knows why, but ghosts are suddenly seeing a dark forest where everything seems to be dead, and it looks like it has something to do with Hamal.
This is a really cute story, I personally really liked the art style and the colours chose by the artist, it’s just so pleasing to the eye!
I wish it had been longer because sometimes I felt like the story was lacking some explanation, you didn’t really have any idea why some of the things were happening, but it doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the story. I really did.
I liked the story between Blue and Hamal, though I would have liked more background, because when you meet them, they’ve already known each other for a year.
I’m guessing Hamal is maybe bisexual or pansexual, he does say that he’s interested in girls and end up being with Blue, so maybe he is, or maybe he doesn’t label himself, like I said it’s not explicit but I didn’t mind.
I recommend this quick and lovely read!
3.75
Thank you Netgalley for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
September 4, 2017
A copy was provided by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
From the start I knew this was going to be freaking cute as heck. The character designs reminded me of Lance and Hunk from Voltron so much and that just made it even more enjoyable for me.
This graphic novel filled me with joy and even bitter-sweetness in some parts. The colors were lively and beautiful and it's the perfect soothing read we need in times like these.
I loved the diverse cast, especially the main characters and how both were soft and kind to each other. It's such a healthy depiction of love. I'm so glad I picked this up when I had the chance and I can't wait to read more from this artist!
From the start I knew this was going to be freaking cute as heck. The character designs reminded me of Lance and Hunk from Voltron so much and that just made it even more enjoyable for me.
This graphic novel filled me with joy and even bitter-sweetness in some parts. The colors were lively and beautiful and it's the perfect soothing read we need in times like these.
I loved the diverse cast, especially the main characters and how both were soft and kind to each other. It's such a healthy depiction of love. I'm so glad I picked this up when I had the chance and I can't wait to read more from this artist!
May 10, 2020
A sweet and gentle, slow-paced, supernatural gay romance.
From the cover, I thought the main characters were female for some reason, and it took me several pages to shake off this misconception.
Oddly, the main story seems to end about three-quarters of the way through, and then without any indication we are given an extended coda or short story featuring the same characters. It's all good, but threw off the pacing of expectations for someone like me who constantly checks the page count.
From the cover, I thought the main characters were female for some reason, and it took me several pages to shake off this misconception.
Oddly, the main story seems to end about three-quarters of the way through, and then without any indication we are given an extended coda or short story featuring the same characters. It's all good, but threw off the pacing of expectations for someone like me who constantly checks the page count.
April 27, 2022
I was given an arc of this recently and was excited to pick it up. A queer fantasy graphic novel? Right up my street!
The illustrations in this are gorgeous and the story feels very whimsical. I did feel quite confused - at certain points I was convinced I had missed a few pages as it didn't make sense, but I hadn't.
I enjoyed this, but didn't love it.
Thank you to NetGalley, Oni Press and Keezy Young for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
The illustrations in this are gorgeous and the story feels very whimsical. I did feel quite confused - at certain points I was convinced I had missed a few pages as it didn't make sense, but I hadn't.
I enjoyed this, but didn't love it.
Thank you to NetGalley, Oni Press and Keezy Young for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
August 19, 2022
I tried. I really hoped this would get at least a 3-star rating. But, I can't get there.
This is a supposedly "sweet" love story about a --bisexual?-- gardener, who appears to be Middle-Eastern based on his skin color and name (but that is never made clear). He has a budding romance with a ghost named "Blue." Both guys have darker skin without explanation. It is likely that "Blue" is entirely gay, based on the fact he says Hamal likes boobs (implying that Blue might not), but that's really just a shot in the dark.
Hamal is a necromancer, unintentionally using his power to meet all the ghosts in his neighborhood, and thereby cultivate his relationship with Blue. But beyond learning that, and maybe a tiny bit about the rules for ghosts in this world... There is nothing deeper.
For all that Blue is scared of "the forest" and a Reaper character, we are never given an explanation for how the afterlife really works in this reality. No one explains what happens after a ghost is "reaped." Do they travel to an afterlife, or cease to exist? They don't explain what happens if the scary forest gets you. They don't explain WHY Hamal is a necromancer, or if there are any other mages in this universe. They don't explain why Blue became a ghost, although there is a single line to suggest that the way he died is that he was hit by a truck.
We know nothing about our two main characters' families, religion, or anything else. I don't just bring up religion because Hamal may or may not be Muslim, based on his name and appearance. Rather, religion would be a natural subject for these characters to talk about, what with their utter CERTAINTY of the existence of an afterlife. That should raise a bunch of questions about God, Heaven, Hell, etc. But these questions are never really raised, let alone answered.
Also, it is natural for young LGBT people to struggle with religion because sometimes they're not sure if their orientation is a sin. Or, we question if it were God's plan to create us this way. But here, the two main characters seem to have no problem with being gay. I'm not sure if that's because they're both so legitimately proud, or if it's simply due to the cold vacuum that is the substance of this story.
There's just... Nothing.
For all that this graphic novel tried to explore weighty issues of the afterlife, ghosts, unfinished business, necromancy, and gay romance? There just wasn't any real substance here. The romance felt like a relationship between much younger characters. They acted like I did as a 15-year-old gay guy. But Hamal and Blue are seemingly much older, if Hamal is working full time and Blue is described working as a teacher's assistant (which would require him to be at least 18 and possibly have completed some post-secondary school).
So, they're grown men acting like silly gay boys? Oooo-kay...
Disappointing overall.
This is a supposedly "sweet" love story about a --bisexual?-- gardener, who appears to be Middle-Eastern based on his skin color and name (but that is never made clear). He has a budding romance with a ghost named "Blue." Both guys have darker skin without explanation. It is likely that "Blue" is entirely gay, based on the fact he says Hamal likes boobs (implying that Blue might not), but that's really just a shot in the dark.
Hamal is a necromancer, unintentionally using his power to meet all the ghosts in his neighborhood, and thereby cultivate his relationship with Blue. But beyond learning that, and maybe a tiny bit about the rules for ghosts in this world... There is nothing deeper.
For all that Blue is scared of "the forest" and a Reaper character, we are never given an explanation for how the afterlife really works in this reality. No one explains what happens after a ghost is "reaped." Do they travel to an afterlife, or cease to exist? They don't explain what happens if the scary forest gets you. They don't explain WHY Hamal is a necromancer, or if there are any other mages in this universe. They don't explain why Blue became a ghost, although there is a single line to suggest that the way he died is that he was hit by a truck.
We know nothing about our two main characters' families, religion, or anything else. I don't just bring up religion because Hamal may or may not be Muslim, based on his name and appearance. Rather, religion would be a natural subject for these characters to talk about, what with their utter CERTAINTY of the existence of an afterlife. That should raise a bunch of questions about God, Heaven, Hell, etc. But these questions are never really raised, let alone answered.
Also, it is natural for young LGBT people to struggle with religion because sometimes they're not sure if their orientation is a sin. Or, we question if it were God's plan to create us this way. But here, the two main characters seem to have no problem with being gay. I'm not sure if that's because they're both so legitimately proud, or if it's simply due to the cold vacuum that is the substance of this story.
There's just... Nothing.
For all that this graphic novel tried to explore weighty issues of the afterlife, ghosts, unfinished business, necromancy, and gay romance? There just wasn't any real substance here. The romance felt like a relationship between much younger characters. They acted like I did as a 15-year-old gay guy. But Hamal and Blue are seemingly much older, if Hamal is working full time and Blue is described working as a teacher's assistant (which would require him to be at least 18 and possibly have completed some post-secondary school).
So, they're grown men acting like silly gay boys? Oooo-kay...
Disappointing overall.
Read
January 24, 2024Cute, I suppose, but a bit too underdeveloped and disjointed for me.
August 15, 2017
*Digital arc gently provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review+
2.5 gardening stars
This is fluffy and cute romance. A gardener who can see ghost, and is following by them. Blue , the ghost, resigned in hopeless love. But some creepy darkness is stalking, menacing their peaceful existence.
I have some problems following the jumps of the story, and would be appreciated more details about the life and background of Hamal (is a nickname? ). And Blue.
It has the hints of being conducive to a mystery series.
The art is nice. Nice coloring and style.
Looks like that it was not my cuppa.
2.5 gardening stars
This is fluffy and cute romance. A gardener who can see ghost, and is following by them. Blue , the ghost, resigned in hopeless love. But some creepy darkness is stalking, menacing their peaceful existence.
I have some problems following the jumps of the story, and would be appreciated more details about the life and background of Hamal (is a nickname? ). And Blue.
It has the hints of being conducive to a mystery series.
The art is nice. Nice coloring and style.
Looks like that it was not my cuppa.
January 1, 2024
I’m torn. The characters, the wholesome love story, and glimpses into this world are delightful and lovely but this doesn’t function as a strong standalone.
It feels like half or even a third of the story. I wish we had more background on the characters, more information on the world building/necromancy, and a more cohesive progression of events.
The art style, though, is gorgeous and I have absolutely fallen in love with looking at these panels.
CW: death (including off-page child death)
It feels like half or even a third of the story. I wish we had more background on the characters, more information on the world building/necromancy, and a more cohesive progression of events.
The art style, though, is gorgeous and I have absolutely fallen in love with looking at these panels.
CW: death (including off-page child death)
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