A zany, surreal compilation that reframes and celebrates female friendship.
High school besties Nathalie and Marie are back in a new collection that reveals the origins of their yearslong friendship and the eponymous game of hypotheticals they like to play.
The major story arc is a joking wish on a lamp that catapults the girls into a fairy tale. Our heroes are no damsels in distress, however, and their predicament provides a rich setup for exploring the powers of naming and identity. Bookending the primary adventure is a series of episodic one-shots that capture the reality and cringe comedy of being a teen, including scholastic struggles, crushes, and gym class. Readers new to the series are cleverly oriented through several pages of opening character sheets. Yet those unfamiliar with the first collection may struggle to keep up with the repartee and frenzied movement between panels. Interludes, such as letters and an activity book, help measure the pacing without dampening the joy. A poignant two-page spread alluding to the Covid-19 pandemic, juxtaposed with Nathalie’s and Marie’s opposite approaches to lockdown, creates one of several beautiful moments. The teens’ sincere friendship (with a side of good-natured ribbing) is grounded in mutual respect and love. Except for a villain, adults are out of frame or obscured by word bubbles. Most characters appear white; Marie reads Black and has a white grandfather.
A zany, surreal compilation that reframes and celebrates female friendship. (Graphic fiction. 13-17)Pub Date: Oct. 24, 2023
ISBN: 9781603095303
Page Count: 88
Publisher: Top Shelf Productions
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Mercurial and cartoonishly violent but enjoyable thanks to its exuberance.
The lives of two high school students become intertwined as trails of pain and destruction are left in their wake following the All-City Karate Tournament.
It’s love at first sight for awkward Benjamin Harrison High student Don Jones when he’s pitted against Lincoln High’s Samantha Steadman for a shot at the finals in the local karate tournament. After Sam quickly defeats Don, he asks her on a date, and the two instantly connect, leading to a follow-up at prom. All is well until Don’s murderous ex-girlfriend, Astor Violenzia, shows up to the after-party, and chaos ensues. Broken into three unpredictable and highly energetic acts—with key and unexpected moments occurring off page—the story feels like a playful tribute to ’80s pop culture that’s gone off the rails. The dramatic fight sequences offer a head nod to Bryan Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim series. The violence, which drives the story forward, can come across as gratuitous but is in line with the narrative’s cheeky nature, while the characters subvert the expectations of their stereotypes. Fiery orange coloring and plentiful action lines match the story’s fast pace. Sam has light blond hair and tan skin; Don has brown skin and Afro-textured hair. Diverse body types and skin tones are represented among the cast members.
Mercurial and cartoonishly violent but enjoyable thanks to its exuberance. (Graphic fiction. 13-17)Pub Date: May 7, 2024
ISBN: 9781250868657
Page Count: 176
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2024
A welcome hit into the outfield of books about queer athletes.
A closeted teen steps up to the plate for a cute boy—and himself.
After jocks ridicule and knock over his history class presentation, freshman Jonah picks up the pieces. Cute classmate Elliot helps. That small act of kindness makes sparks fly, cuing confusing feelings. Jonah decides to join the baseball team to get closer to Elliot—even if it means enduring more bullying from the other teammates. But Coach Jackson sees Jonah’s athletic potential and takes him under his wing. As the plot follows the four baseball seasons until Jonah’s graduation, Jonah slowly goes from laughingstock to star. But does he ever truly fit in? Cartoonist and editor Newman’s semiautobiographical graphic novel debut is a heartfelt tale of self-discovery. Consolidating all four years of high school into one book makes for a quick pace. Clever paneling and nearly wordless sequences effectively pump the brakes for key moments—and show glimpses of Jonah’s wild imagination. Despite the rampant bro culture and homophobia of the aughts setting, multiple queer characters of all ages at various stages of coming out add an important sense of community and possibility. A subplot about a female teammate briefly touches on sexism. Though the ensemble cast is diverse in skin tone, the majority of the main cast present white; Coach Jackson is Black.
A welcome hit into the outfield of books about queer athletes. (author’s note, process notes, resources) (Graphic fiction. 14-17)Pub Date: March 26, 2024
ISBN: 9781524884826
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Review Posted Online: Dec. 16, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2024
PERSPECTIVES
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