A ranger’s job is to protect but the position isn’t given to anyone. When proving herself worthy results in the injury of the winged horse, Rose is given another job. Helping the lazy Leone seems like a punishment until Rose realizes some lessons are yet to be learned and it comes from understanding who she is. Along the way, Leone might learn something too! 

Firstly, I’m not sure about the blurb. The Rowan part doesn’t come until later and is a part of character and plot development. Not revealing it might have been better maybe. 

After loving the Tea Dragon Society trilogy, I was delighted to get approved for this book. The author’s illustrations tell the story with a few words to ease the narration. I also love how seamlessly the author includes gender identity in the work. 

As a middle-grade fantasy, this one is pretty low-stakes and super cozy. It is soothing, gentle, mellow, and heartwarming. However, it also tends to rush through some scenes while lingering on others. 

Without revealing spoilers, I’ll say that the book subtly and deftly shows the wannabe ranger’s dilemma about identity. The solution is simple acceptance, which fits the cozy and utopian-ish vibe of the book. 

I love the Pegasus. It looks so majestic and beautiful! There are many frames without text. These effortlessly advance the plot. The silence feels peaceful and respectful (like how we don’t speak in scared sites). Every character is distinctly drawn, so there will never be any confusion about who’s who. 

Why did I not rate it higher? Leone needs more backstory. The focus is on Rowan but also on Leone. This didn’t work as well as it should have. A few more pages would have helped. 

To summarize, A Song for You and I is a beautiful, sweet, and lovely book about identity, nature, and friendship. The book has a few sample practice sketches at the end. These are my favorites! Is there anything better than getting a sneak peek into the illustrator’s drawing book? 

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Graphic, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #ASongForYouAndI