A light and largely appealing queer romance.
Two boys explore a budding romance in this slice-of-life graphic novel set in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 2013.
Carter wants nothing more than to hook up with Adrian, the only gay guy he’s interested in at his high school in a “painfully boring suburb.” Carter’s unrequited pursuit of Adrian is, at first, solely motivated by physical attraction (“I’m just trying to get laid”). Adrian finds this distasteful, a feeling he expresses in a way that unfortunately references gender stereotypes: “I know I’m being a total girl about this, but I really don’t want to have sex with someone I don’t love.” But Carter begins to show more genuine interest, winning him over. The pair fumbles through challenges, like Carter’s lack of academic motivation and Adrian’s parents’ high expectations, and romantic tension builds as their relationship becomes one of sincere love and care. Carter’s laid-back attitude complements Adrian’s high-strung personality, creating an entertaining relationship dynamic. This work, which originally appeared as a webcomic, features some updated illustrations. The soft color palette, expressive facial expressions, strong visual gags, and dynamic panel compositions will keep readers engaged. Carter and Adrian, who present white, initially feel generic and underdeveloped, but they become more well-rounded as the story progresses. The exploration of life as a queer teenager is overall surface-level but maintains a level of charm and relatability.
A light and largely appealing queer romance. (bonus comics, creators’ note) (Graphic romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 11, 2025
ISBN: 9781250870124
Page Count: 256
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2025
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away.
A Mexican American boy takes on heavy responsibilities when his family is torn apart.
Mateo’s life is turned upside down the day U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents show up unsuccessfully seeking his Pa at his New York City bodega. The Garcias live in fear until the day both parents are picked up; his Pa is taken to jail and his Ma to a detention center. The adults around Mateo offer support to him and his 7-year-old sister, Sophie, however, he knows he is now responsible for caring for her and the bodega as well as trying to survive junior year—that is, if he wants to fulfill his dream to enter the drama program at the Tisch School of the Arts and become an actor. Mateo’s relationships with his friends Kimmie and Adam (a potential love interest) also suffer repercussions as he keeps his situation a secret. Kimmie is half Korean (her other half is unspecified) and Adam is Italian American; Mateo feels disconnected from them, less American, and with worries they can’t understand. He talks himself out of choosing a safer course of action, a decision that deepens the story. Mateo’s self-awareness and inner monologue at times make him seem older than 16, and, with significant turmoil in the main plot, some side elements feel underdeveloped. Aleman’s narrative joins the ranks of heart-wrenching stories of migrant families who have been separated.
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-7595-5605-8
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
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