Staff Picks Updates: Family

In this graphic memoir Bechdel, best known for Fun Home and Dykes to Watch Out For, explores her complicated relationship with her mother and her somewhat subconscious search for mother figures in other women in her life, particularly her therapist. She masterfully weaves in references to notable psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott, Virginia Wolfe, and other great authors who influenced her understanding of her relationship with her mother in a way that is nothing but literary.

Adults with a strained relationship with a parent will relate to Bechdel's search for a deeper understanding of her relationship with her mother.

Nudity and sexual situations, brief depiction of body horror

Tayla Cardillo

Christine is making their first trip to see family in Mexico without their parents or siblings. Their main worry at first is the fact that Christine still struggles to speak Spanish, though they can understand it pretty well, but with time, they settle into a routine. They learn about the places their mother grew up around. After their mother joins the trip, they realize how homesick they are for Texas but continue learning, trying new things, and exploring.

With a focus on the real world and history, this is a good comic for readers of nonfiction and biography. Ay, Mija! is also bilingual, so Spanish learners and families with mixed Spanish and English can appreciate the challenge and representation of dialogue in both languages. The themes of learning family history and finding one's place in the world can be a good pick for many teens feeling out of place.

Shannan Prukop

Charise is creative and active, yet her actions often hurt her younger brother, Daniel. In this graphic memoir, she reflects on her actions and explores what it means to be a good sibling.

With its evocative illustrations and thoughtful storytelling, Bad Sister will appeal to readers looking for stories with realistic yet complicated sibling dynamics like the ones in Smile or Sisters or stories about “bad kids.”

Some blood

Megan Rupe

This graphic novel shows that it's never too late to be with the love of your life or to be your truest self. This story follows Hazel and Mari, who meet in 1963 when Mari moves to New Jersey from California and starts attending the same school as Hazel. They become fast friends, but both of them secretly want more. Soon after they both confess their feelings to each other, they are caught kissing by Mari's grandmother and are forced to stop seeing each other by both of their families. They both go on to marry men and start families of their own, but both of their lives are turned upside down when, almost 50 years later, they meet and kiss again.

Everyone looking for a rainbow romance with a happy ending.

Homophobia

Tayla Cardillo

Tessa Hulls' grandmother and mother managed to escape communist China, yet her grandmother suffered a breakdown and never recovered. In this powerfully drawn memoir, Hulls explores her family's history to figure out how it has shaped her psyche and impacted her relationship with her mother and grandmother.

Mixing Chinese history with her family's story and drawn with powerfully compelling illustrations, Feeding Ghosts will appeal to readers interested in stories about intergenerational trauma and/or Chinese history.

Hull’s family story takes place in the aftermath of China’s Communist Party’s rise to power; therefore, many difficult topics are discussed, including violence, famine, abuse, and cannibalism. There is also discussion of suicide and mental illness.

Megan Rupe

Jarrett's family has never looked the way most other kids' families look. He was raised by his grandparents, and his mom would make brief appearances in his life in between her stints in rehab or prison for drug-related crimes. No one ever even talks about his dad, to the point that Jarrett doesn't even know his name until he's a teenager. This story explores his experience being raised by this very complicated family and how art helped him process his feelings and find his place in the world.

Anyone who feels like art is their lifeline in a turbulent world will resonate with this book.

Addition/drug abuse, estranged parent(s)

Tayla Cardillo

Filipino siblings JJ and Althea struggle to fit in at school and want nothing to do with their family's food truck. JJ and Althea are in for a surprise when they get attacked by mysterious creatures and discover their parents have been sitting on a big secret. Can JJ and Althea sort themselves out and save the world?

With delightful and often humorous family dynamics and bold action sequences, readers who enjoy a heavy dose of fantasy with their family adventures will likely enjoy Mabuhay. Althea and JJ's struggles to fit in as Filipino students in a mostly non-Asian community will likely resonate with readers who liked stories similar to American Born Chinese.

Bullying; fantasy violence (but nothing gory)

Megan Rupe

Safia's life is upended by a fire taking her family's home and bookstore, as well as her parents. Then the orphanage lets her know that she has a distantly related aunt who's looking to take her in! Over time, Safia gets to know Aunt Whimsy and Miss Cathryn and learns that she's been on all kinds of adventures, which Safia assumes she'll never get to do. The adventure finds them, leading Whimsy and Cathryn to confront the past and their coddling of Safia. There are spies, curses, chaos, and a found family, so everything a story needs.

This is a great choice for readers who enjoy a little whimsy and a lot of adventure in their stories. The world of My Aunt is a Monster has an almost Lemony Snicket feel. However, it also deals with grief, learning to trust, and pushing past assumed limitations, which can be fantastic for readers who need some encouragement. If readers loved Grace Needs Space or The Moth Keeper, they'll likely enjoy this one, too.

Shannan Prukop

Sora is sixteen, wants to be a painter, and is gay. The last thing is the hardest because he just knows if he comes out, he'll be bullied and disowned, so he puts on a mask around his family and classmates. He pretends there could possibly be a romantic relationship between him and his best friend, a girl. When he ends up at Mr. Amamiya's out-of-the-way coffee shop, he sees for the first time an out and proud gay man. They become friends, and Amamiya encourages Sora's interest in painting by working on a mural in the coffee shop. There are some twists and painful moments, but Our Colors shows that life is as beautiful as it is complicated.

Readers of queer stories exploring identity like Our Dreams at Dusk or Is Love the Answer are likely to enjoy this one as well. The artwork is also gorgeous, and there's a mood similar to Makoto Shinkai's movies, so it could be a good recommendation for fans of films like Your Name.

Shannan Prukop

During a visit to the United States, Feng-Li and her siblings discover that they will be staying in the U.S. permanently while their parents travel back and forth from Taiwan. On their own in an unfamiliar place, the siblings will have to figure out how to work together to fulfill their American dream.

Weaving her own experiences into the story, Betty C. Tang tells an engrossing story about the importance of sibling relationships in the face of challenges. Readers who enjoy nuanced family immigrant stories will want to pick up Parachute Kids.

Bullying; racism

Megan Rupe

Avery is one of seven kids. She shares a room with her younger sister and feels like there is nowhere quiet in her house where she can hear herself think, never mind working on her art. She wants her own room, but her parent's plan is to move another of her siblings into her room so that her teenage brother can have his own room. Frustrated and looking for any way to have some peace and quiet this summer, she hatches a plan to try to earn enough money through odd jobs to be able to redo their basement into a room for her. Will she be about to carve a space for herself in her house, or will even bigger changes turn her plan upside down?

Anyone who had to share a room with a sibling will relate to this story.

Tayla Cardillo