I've been jonesing for a Steven Universe fix and was briefly excited when I found this book in my local library's catalog that I hadn't yet read. The library has shoved it in with the juvenile graphic novels, but it is more a text-heavy picture book with brief bios, personality profiles, and facts about the various members of the cast.

Unfortunately, it's rather dull to read, but it further strengthens my notion to give the series yet another rewatch as it is my favorite animated series ever.

FOR REFERENCE:

Table of Contents:

The Crystal Gems

• Steven Quartz Universe
• Garnet
• Amethyst
• Pearl
• Rose Quartz

Homeworld Gems

• Lapis Lazuli
• Peridot
• Jasper

Fusions

• Opal
• Sugilite
• Alexandrite
• Malachite
• Stevonnie ( )

Nothing new if you've watched Season 1, but it's written from Steven's perspective and is absolutely adorable. ( )

Nice, easy read
9:05 pm 7 December 2016
Guide to the Crystal Gems (Steven Universe) - Rebecca Sugar
But I'd been hoping for more information. I knew little enough about the Gems and their world - I've seen the first season and read a couple comics - that enough of this felt new to me that I was interested. It was mostly illustrations and screen caps - and I feel like most of this was taken directly from the show.


The introduction where Rebecca Sugar says Steven will be taking over is adorable, it's all told in Steven's voice - except the part about Fusion Gems which Garnet narrates since she's a Fusion Gem - and it's all very in character.

I wasn't upset, or even disappointed that there wasn't more. I'd yet to see these books and didn't know how much to expect. I think my expectations just didn't match up with this book. Even though I wanted more information, I was charmed with what I was given as it lined up with the show. Cute, funny, full of warmth and heart.

A lot of it assumed that you were reading this and living in a world where you might meet the Gems, even those on the show. Like with Pearl, Steven said that she didn't understand humans much, but that she was very interested in them, especially as she stayed on Earth to protect the world and the people who live don that world. Just explain what you like to her if you happen to meet her, he suggests, as she's patient and will try different things.

On some level, these little tidbits - how to act around the Gems - were more helpful in getting to understand them better. (And Steven. How he spoke about the Gems - with such great affection - said as much about him as it did about the Gems themselves.) On the other hand, this is a very short book with very large text and a lot of margins and images. There's just not that much space to pack in that much more information.

I'll take it for what it was: a cute way to spend my morning. I appreciate it for that, even if there's not much more to go on here.
media tie-in Juvie read in 2016 ( )