by Mariko Tamaki & illustrated by Steve Rolston ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2008
A charming tale of a shy babysitter looking to break out of her shell. Teenaged Emiko finds herself at a crossroads in defining her own identity. Her friends, once geeks, now concentrate solely on finance, leaving Emiko to discern who she wants to be without the comfort of a group. When she learns about a performance-art group called “The Freak Show,” she feels immediately drawn to and intrigued by this counter-culture assemblage. Finding her confidence, she auditions a piece and is accepted—although she has stolen the material for her piece, and is consequently riddled with shame. Emiko is easy to relate to—slightly plump in Rolston’s panels, shy and socially aloof, letting thoughts carry the bulk of the story. This female protagonist will fit nicely among the ranks of Minx’s other cast of characters including Dixie, Lily and the Janes. A nice story of fitting in, what it means to find yourself and the lengths one will go to achieve that goal. Nothing earth-shatteringly new here, but an inviting tale nonetheless. (Graphic fiction. YA)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2008
ISBN: 978-1-4012-1536-1
Page Count: 186
Publisher: Minx/DC Comics
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2008
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by Jillian Tamaki & Mariko Tamaki ; illustrated by Jillian Tamaki
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by Kathleen Glasgow ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 30, 2016
This grittily provocative debut explores the horrors of self-harm and the healing power of artistic expression.
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New York Times Bestseller
After surviving a suicide attempt, a fragile teen isn't sure she can endure without cutting herself.
Seventeen-year-old Charlie Davis, a white girl living on the margins, thinks she has little reason to live: her father drowned himself; her bereft and abusive mother kicked her out; her best friend, Ellis, is nearly brain dead after cutting too deeply; and she's gone through unspeakable experiences living on the street. After spending time in treatment with other young women like her—who cut, burn, poke, and otherwise hurt themselves—Charlie is released and takes a bus from the Twin Cities to Tucson to be closer to Mikey, a boy she "like-likes" but who had pined for Ellis instead. But things don't go as planned in the Arizona desert, because sweet Mikey just wants to be friends. Feeling rejected, Charlie, an artist, is drawn into a destructive new relationship with her sexy older co-worker, a "semifamous" local musician who's obviously a junkie alcoholic. Through intense, diarylike chapters chronicling Charlie's journey, the author captures the brutal and heartbreaking way "girls who write their pain on their bodies" scar and mar themselves, either succumbing or surviving. Like most issue books, this is not an easy read, but it's poignant and transcendent as Charlie breaks more and more before piecing herself back together.
This grittily provocative debut explores the horrors of self-harm and the healing power of artistic expression. (author’s note) (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: Aug. 30, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-101-93471-5
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2016
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by Holly Black ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 2, 2018
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in.
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32
Our Verdict
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New York Times Bestseller
Black is back with another dark tale of Faerie, this one set in Faerie and launching a new trilogy.
Jude—broken, rebuilt, fueled by anger and a sense of powerlessness—has never recovered from watching her adoptive Faerie father murder her parents. Human Jude (whose brown hair curls and whose skin color is never described) both hates and loves Madoc, whose murderous nature is true to his Faerie self and who in his way loves her. Brought up among the Gentry, Jude has never felt at ease, but after a decade, Faerie has become her home despite the constant peril. Black’s latest looks at nature and nurture and spins a tale of court intrigue, bloodshed, and a truly messed-up relationship that might be the saving of Jude and the titular prince, who, like Jude, has been shaped by the cruelties of others. Fierce and observant Jude is utterly unaware of the currents that swirl around her. She fights, plots, even murders enemies, but she must also navigate her relationship with her complex family (human, Faerie, and mixed). This is a heady blend of Faerie lore, high fantasy, and high school drama, dripping with description that brings the dangerous but tempting world of Faerie to life.
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in. (Fantasy. 14-adult)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-316-31027-7
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Sept. 25, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2017
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by Holly Black ; illustrated by Rovina Cai
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by Holly Black & Kaliis Smith ; illustrated by Ebony Glenn
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by Holly Black
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