Delicates (Sheets #2) by Brenna Thummler

 
Delicates by Brenna Thummler
My Rating: ★★★★

I received a copy from Oni Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A year after the events of the first book, Majorie Glatt is trying to figure out her life. She’s about to start eighth grade and has been trying to get the attention of her crush all summer but has found herself a new member of his mean group of friends instead. Her new friends have begun to target one of their classmates, Eliza Duncan. Eliza is obsessed with trying to photograph ghosts, which has made her even less popular than before. Bullied and feeling invisible everywhere else in her life, Eliza is getting closer to wanting to become one of the ghosts she has been trying to find.

I read the first book and loved it, so I knew I had to pick this one up when I saw it was becoming a series. I was a little confused since the first book wrapped up in a way that seemed like a stand-alone story, but I decided to pick it up anyway. The first book is about Majorie, who was trying to find her place in the world as well as figure out how to continue life without her mother. This time around, we see it’s been a year and she’s still trying to find her place. Unfortunately for her, she thinks that place might be with a group of mean people claiming to be her friends.

The story expands a bit, and we follow another character, Eliza, as well. Eliza is used to being bullied and her interests, ghosts and ghost photography, doesn’t help her make friends. She does try, but those who are not bullying her aren’t interested in befriending a girl dubbed as weird. Meanwhile, Majorie is busy trying to fit in with her new friends and stands on the sidelines as the bullying occurs.

As the book continues, we see the two of them begin to overcome their individual struggles. Depression and suicide are present in Eliza’s plot, so that is something to take into consideration before giving this book to younger readers. Bullying is also prevalent. I like that this book encourages readers to speak up about depression in addition to encouraging readers to look at how their actions and their friend’s actions impact others.

I think this is a great follow-up to the first book and it covers some very important topics. I’m interested in seeing if there will be a third book in the series or if this will end at two books.