Flocks

I have been meaning to read this book for a long while now, because I had bought a mini-comic that was a draft of one of the chapters years ago but never followed up because of life and who-knows-what-else going on. Happily, I found it in a library. Libraries rule!

Flocks is an incredible book, a candid look at a person who was assigned female at birth and raised in a conservative, Christian family in Louisiana. What I think makes this book exceptional is its combination of imagery, plotting, and exploration of religious belief. It is drawn in a mostly realistic style, though the main character is almost always depicted as a button-eyed rag doll. It is almost viscerally painful to read about how isolated that L. felt during childhood, being constantly faced with contradictory feelings to what was being preached at church. Being so completely othered and trying to reconcile thoughts with religion is one tremendous struggle, and I found it very powerful that they did not shy away from sharing just how profound their religious faith was to them.

I do not think it is too much in giving away the plot that L. eventually transitioned to being a man, but what makes this book special is just how much detail and nuance is given to that journey from childhood, through finding solace and kindred spirits through academics, and to adulthood and building a family. He also does not necessarily vilify his family, as they are depicted as supportive in some ways even if they do not always understand or approve of what they see happening. Ultimately, this book is about communities and relationships and how they can damage and/or validate you. Flocks is an insightful and moving account of one person's figuring out who he is and all of the fallout and victories that accompany the process.

L. Nichols wrote and drew this book, and they are artist and illustrator who publishes work with the Grindstone Comics imprint. They have also published a follow-up book I Am Only A Foreigner Because You Do Not Understand that continues looking at their continuing transition to a more nonbinary identity. They speak about their work on Flocks as a mini-comic as well as their other comics work in this interview from 2013 (pre-transition) and also this one from 2018 (post-transition).

I was not able to locate many reviews of this book, which is a shame. Publishers Weekly named it one of their Big Indie Books of 2018. Meepelous wrote, "L.’s irresistibly charming drawings demonstrate what makes Flocks so special: L.’s boundless empathy.”  Blackraven called it "an odd little gem."

Flocks was published by Secret Acres, and they offer more info about it here. Trigger warning: this book features a lot of emotional trauma, some sexual situations, and depictions of self-harm.

A Quick & Easy Guide to Queer & Trans Identities

A Quick & Easy Guide to Queer & Trans Identities is just what it says in the title, an accessible primer on LGBTQIA+ matters for those who would like to know more. It is divided into pointed chapters that answer specific questions, namely defining the terms queer, gender identity, gender expression, dysphoria, and asexuality. It also explores the concept of coming out as well as provides some elementary information about healthy relationships. 

The book presents serious material in a breezy and whimsical way. Its narrators are a group of snails who are observing a queer educator campout, providing an outsider/insider viewpoint. As you can see from the excerpt below, the artwork is playful and expressive. 

I really like the pastel color scheme, as well as the blue/green/yellow strips that follow each chapter that feature Sproutlings, a bunch of fantastic woodland creatures that enact the ideas contained in each chapter. All in all, I appreciated just how much information this book communicates in a fast and friendly way. It also contains a few activity pages in the back, as well as a list of great online resources. It's a great introduction for anyone wanting to learn more about the basics of LGBTQIA+ identities.

Cartoonists and illustrators Mady G and Jules Zuckerberg collaborated on this book. Mady G has made lots of shorter comics and has worked for a number of high-profile illustration clients. Zuckerberg has also illustrated the Printz Honor book Queer Ducks (And Other Animals). They both speak about their work on this quick & easy guide in this interview.

Most of the reviews I have read about this book have been positive. Alec Chunn wrote, "Though the book is slim, it effectively covers a broad swath of identities and topics." Becca called it "witty, engaging, and down-to-earth." Johanna Draper Carlson was less taken with it and opined, "the book often reads as a decorated lecture."

A Quick & Easy Guide to Queer & Trans Identities was published by Limerence/Oni Press, and they offer a preview and more information about it here.

The Well

I recently got to know about Jon Allen's Ohio Is For Sale series and read the first collection of those strips. They feature a cast of 20-something characters, depicted as animals but who have real human problems and relationships interspersed with some fantastical elements.  The Well is the latest book set in that universe, and it was available from my local library. Libraries RULE!

The star of The Well is Veronika, a reserved 24-year old who lives with her parents, has a jerk boyfriend in a band, and who has not had a job in about a year.

This situation changes when the band goes on tour, she gets to crash at her boyfriend's gross apartment, and she gets a job coding for a local energy drink/wellness company. She settles in smoothly at first, makes a couple of work friends, Persephone and Dave, and gets into a new pattern. Dave is a go-getter who obviously has a crush on her while Persephone is an open lesbian who has learned not to get involved with straight women (maybe), but they all get along and occasionally go out for drinks. Their dynamics are fun to see, but something is not right with the company's owners.

Her bosses Susan and Jake are distant and weird, and eventually it's revealed that they are running illegal experiments involving the toxic morass that lies below the building as well as the huge creature that lives there. Veronika figures out that something hinky is going on, but she and her co-workers still get roped into the situation. What follows opens her eyes to how she views the world and her role in it.

The artwork in this book is very clean and simple, with bold characters rendered in black, white, and grayscale. This style belies a complexity of character and plotting, and this book is incredibly compelling. I read the whole thing, more than 700 pages (!), in one sitting. It is a master class in graphic storytelling, and I cannot recommend it enough. There are two other books, Julian in Purgatory and The Lonesome Era, available from this series, and I need to get my hands on them ASAP.

All of the reviews I have read about this book have been positive. François Vigneault wrote, "Over the many pages of this book Veronika clearly emerges as Allen’s most well-rounded and engaging protagonist yet." Phantastic Reads opined, "I love Allen’s deceptively simple art, and he’s got some really fun backgrounds in this one. The creeping suspense is a great counterpoint to Veronika’s very real personal problems, and it all comes to a head and wraps up beautifully."

The Well was published by Top Shelf Productions, and they offer a preview and more here. For those interested, Allen speaks about his work on this book in this interview. And if it is not clear by now, this book is not for kids.

This Place Kills Me

I recently borrowed this book from my local library. Libraries RULE!

This Place Kills Me is a murder mystery set at an all-girl private school in the 1980s. The main character is Abby, the new girl there who does not really fit it. She carries the baggage of being expelled from her last school for shady, possibly drug-related reasons. Also, she is a lesbian and catches a lot of flak from other students, which also affects her roommate Claire.

When a student commits suicide after a production of Romeo and Juliet, the two roommates begrudgingly join forces to investigate a few irregularities and find out a strange pattern that may explain what actually happened. The mystery is truly gripping, and part of the fun is figuring out whodunit.

This book has multiple strengths, chief among them the splendid and atmospheric artwork as well as strong characterizations. Abby's feelings of isolation really come through in the visuals, as well as the ornate decor of the school and many of its fancy students. I loved how the characters interact and how they did not end up making nice over the course of the narrative even as they collaborated. In many ways, this book seems like the "beginning of a beautiful friendship," with a pair of unlikely partners solving crime. And I would love to see more adventures featuring these characters.

This Place Kills Me was written by Mariko Tamaki and drawn by Nicole Goux. Tamaki is a prolific writer who has won a ton of awards, including multiple Eisners, being a finalist for the Printz Award (twice!), and a Caldecott Honor. She is known for the graphic novels This One Summer, Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me, and a few prior entries in DC Comics' YA graphic novel line, including I Am Not Starfire. Goux has several graphic novels to her credit, including Punk'n Heads, Pet Peeves, and Forest Hills Bootleg Society. Tamaki speaks about This Place Kills Me in this interview.

Nominated for an Eisner Award, this book has received much praise. In their starred entry, Kirkus Reviews concluded it was "truly exceptional; a standout." Sean Dillon called it "a thrilling story highly worth recommending." In an another starred review in the School Library Journal, Angie Jameson wrote, "Stunning illustrations coupled with a thrilling plot make this a standout title that belongs in all YA graphic novel sections."

This Place Kills Me was published by Abrams Fanfare, and they offer more information about it here. 

Night Chef

I borrowed this book from my local library, and you know what? Libraries RULE!

 Of late, I have been reading through some of this year's Eisner Award nominees, and Night Chef is up for Best Publication for Kids. The titular character is a raccoon who lives in the walls of a restaurant. When night falls, this nocturnal critter sets to work making her culinary magic. 

All of this comes to a halt one day when she happens upon a baby crow, and they set off on a journey into the woods to get that chick home. They meet all sorts of interesting creatures along the way, including a mole who runs his own restaurant, dumpster-dwelling raccoons, and a murderous owl. I love the way that all of these animals and their personalities seamlessly combine into a fun and organic story that has whimsical touches as well as some high-stakes suspense. This book just left me feeling flat-out happy when I finished it. It is an utter delight, with its evocative watercolors and genuinely lovable characters.

This literary confection was concocted by Mika Song. She has illustrated numerous picture books as well as a series of graphic novels for younger readers beginning with the Eisner Award-nominated Donut Feed the Squirrels. She has also been posting a webcomic called Dee Dee. She talks about her work on Night Chef  in this interview.

All of the reviews I have read about this book have sung its praises. In their starred entry, Kirkus Reviews summed up, "A deeply satisfying adventure for readers young and old." Susan Harari wrote, "Song’s delicate and beautiful watercolor illustrations, with added black lines for emphasis, and her elegant, hand drawn lettering make this book a standout." April Spisak called it a "warm, endearing graphic novel."

Night Chef was published by Random House Graphic, and they offer more information about it here. 

Hello Sunshine

Hello Sunshine has been sitting in my to-read pile for much too long. When I finally began reading it, I had a difficult time putting it down. This book is about Alex, a teen boy who has had a mental break and disappeared after a violent episode. Searching for him are Noah, a football player who is secretly his boyfriend, his angry brother Jamie, their dog Cass, their friend and neighbor Sky, and Alex's best friend and Jamie's girlfriend Izzy. Each chapter is told from each of their viewpoints, contributing to the suspenseful series of revelations about their family and what Alex is going through. It is also a gateway into each character's thoughts and feelings. 

Aside from learning about this ersatz Scooby gang, which takes a tremendous amount of character work, we also gain insight into Alex's plight, which involves a frightening combination of the mental health issues and the supernatural. The plot navigates a delicate balance between educating about his mental state as well as delving into a Stygian horror, replete with demons and false faces. Along the way, the characters all reveal something about themselves and their mettle.

The artwork in this book also manages a difficult balance, with affecting emotional moments and interactions as well as depictions of truly horrific creatures and realms. Alex's mental space is not for the meek, and it is a testament to his friends and family that they even attempt to approach it. I feel that this book is a success on pretty much every level, and I cannot recommend it enough.

Author Keezy Young has made the award-winning supernatural romance graphic novel Taproot as well as several impressive mini-comics, including the autobiographical Sunflowers and horror stories like It's Bitter, Baby, and It's Very Sweet. She speaks extensively about her work on Hello Sunshine in this interview.

Nominated for the Best Publication for Teens Eisner Award, this book has received many positive reviews. Cassy Lee called it "an artfully compelling and haunting read." Kirkus Reviews described it as being "beautiful, spooky, and emotional." Andy Oliver wrote, "It’s an astonishing piece of comics, one of the finest examples of graphic fiction of this decade, and a book that is deserving of all the acclaim it has received."

Hello Sunshine was published by Hachette Books, and they offer a video preview and more here. This book is meant for YA readers, and it contains profanity as well as references to self-harm and suicide.

Trumpets of Death

I have not read a graphic novel quite like Trumpets of Death, and it's a very memorable and haunting book. Its protagonist is Antoine, a young boy whose parents are struggling and seemingly heading for divorce. So his father brings him to the country to live with his parents, Antoine's grandmother and grandfather. The grandmother dotes on him, making him his favorite foods and catering to his wants. His grandfather is the total opposite, alternating between ignoring him and treating him with disdain. 

Yikes!

One day while out foraging for mushrooms, unbeknownst to anyone, Antoine is transformed into a majestic, white stag. He escapes and frolics in the woods, staying out there for weeks, avoiding humans altogether, as deer do. Things get tense and intense when his grandfather sets up a deer stand for hunting.

I am not quite sure what young people would make of this story, but it is a wild one, ripe for interpretation and analysis. I found the book gripping because of the narrative, intense character work, and also because of the dreamlike artwork, which uses color to some very interesting effects. There is so much to take in and make sense of here: it's part fable, part examination of family dynamics, part coming-of-age tale. This book has stuck with me.

Trumpets of Death is the debut graphic novel by Simon Bournel-Bosson, a graphic designer from France, where this book was originally published. He speaks about his work on it in this interview. The translation was done by Edward Gauvin.

All of the reviews I have read about this book have been positive. Kirkus Reviews called it "an unsettling, thought-provoking coming of age." Gene Ambaum wrote, "I’m not sure what most young people will make of the book, but it’s a quick, enjoyable read that’s more literary than most graphic novels marketed to them." Amber Love called it " pure magic."

Trumpets of Death was published in the USA by Graphic Universe, and they offer more info and preview images here. 

I borrowed this book from my local library. Libraries rule!