An entertaining and uplifting LGBTQ+ take on a Shakespearean classic.
Romance and adolescent hijinks abound in Chase’s LGBTQ+ YA graphic novel.
Hero, who uses the pronoun they, is nervous about their first day as a “freshie” at Messina High, despite being the principal’s kid. But they have their cousin Beatriz for support and even sign up for a school club: the Queer Student Alliance. It only gets better when they have a run-in with sophomore Claudio. While the two hit it off, there’s an unexpected obstacle—Beatriz doesn’t like the idea of Hero with Claudio, as he’s friends with her jock ex-boyfriend, Ben, who feels the same way about this potential union. There may be something still there between the former couple, so what’s to stop Hero, Claudio, and a few of their friends from somehow manipulating them into falling back in love? Meanwhile, perpetually sullen juniors DJ, Roach, and Connie dream up a plan to stick it to Messina, where everyone is, in their estimation, “so uptight.” Unfortunately, their scheme involves Hero and Claudio, and could very well bring their flourishing romance to a sad halt. Chase has fun reinterpreting William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, from the masquerade homecoming dance to variations on character names. Knowing the play isn’t a prerequisite, as this graphic novel touches on such relatable topics as identity, bullying, and friendship turning into sexual attraction. The diverse cast offers an inclusive message as the story showcases kids of different races, body types, and sexual identities all getting along (or trying to). The school setting is used to get effect; there are plenty of student-made flyers/posters, comedic scenes that unfold in the cafeteria or the locker room, and a guidance counselor who’s better at trotting out her impressive vocabulary than advising kids. Illustrator Stelladia and colorist Ellie Wright’s artwork adds rich hues (vibrant backdrops, Hero’s lavender hair) and sprightly panel design, as when the gym’s open doors form a panel of their own.
An entertaining and uplifting LGBTQ+ take on a Shakespearean classic.Pub Date: Nov. 18, 2025
ISBN: 9781545820827
Page Count: 175
Publisher: Mad Cave Studios / Maverick
Review Posted Online: Aug. 19, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Funny, heartfelt, and absolutely adorable.
A queer love triangle leads to an unexpected romance.
Belle Hawkins, high school senior and school mascot (she wanted a role where she didn’t have to show her face), finally finds the courage to ask out her crush, confident head cheerleader Regina Moreno. But she learns Gina already has a girlfriend, star athlete Chloe Kitagawa. Meanwhile, Gina has a Ten-Year Plan, and she refuses to let Chloe get them off track by failing her English class. Knowing Belle would be keen to please her, Gina gets her to tutor Chloe. Turns out, Belle and Chloe were friends when they were kids. As the school year progresses, Chloe and Gina’s relationship has its ups and downs, their friendships with Belle grow, and Belle’s romantic feelings change. With a palette of pink hues and strong black outlines, the cartoon art uses exaggerated elements for comedic effect and to cue heightened emotions. The three leads have well-developed personalities and are all lovingly imperfect and relatable. They are physically distinct with notably different body shapes, styles of gender expression, and ethnicities. Belle appears White and is cued Jewish, Chloe’s name implies Japanese heritage, and Gina is Brazilian American. Queerness is normalized, and the shifting dynamics of queer women between friendships and romantic partnerships are accurately depicted, making the happy ending believable. There’s enough conflict to propel the plot and give space for growth, but overall, this low-stakes tale feels like a warm, charming hug.
Funny, heartfelt, and absolutely adorable. (Graphic romance. 13-18)Pub Date: March 21, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-250-78412-4
Page Count: 320
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
PERSPECTIVES
A triumphant queer coming-of-age story that will make your heart ache and soar.
A 17-year-old struggles to navigate friendship and finding herself while navigating a toxic relationship.
Biracial (East Asian and white) high schooler Freddy is in love with white Laura Dean. She can’t help it—Laura oozes cool. But while Freddy’s friends are always supportive of her, they can’t understand why she stays with Laura. Laura cheats on Freddy, gaslights and emotionally manipulates her, and fetishizes her. After Laura breaks up with her for a third time, Freddy writes to an advice columnist and, at the recommendation of her best friend Doodle, (reluctantly) sees a psychic who advises her that in order to break out of the cycle of her “non-monogamous swing-your-partner wormhole,” Freddy needs to do the breaking up herself. As she struggles to fall out of love and figure out how to “break up with someone who’s broken up with me,” Freddy slowly begins to be drawn back into Laura’s orbit, challenging her relationships with her friends as she searches for happiness. Tamaki (Supergirl, 2018, etc.) explores the nuances of both romantic and platonic relationships with raw tenderness and honesty. Valero-O’Connell’s (Lumberjanes: Bonus Tracks, 2018, etc.) art is realistic and expressive, bringing the characters to life through dynamic grayscale illustrations featuring highlights of millennial pink. Freddy and her friends live in Berkeley, California, and have a diversity of body shapes, gender expressions, sexualities, and skin tones.
A triumphant queer coming-of-age story that will make your heart ache and soar. (Graphic novel. 14-adult)Pub Date: May 7, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-62672-259-0
Page Count: 304
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: March 6, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019
SEEN & HEARD
BOOK TO SCREEN
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