Staff Picks: Creature Feature

Eighth-grader Artie is trying to get shots of the full moon when she discovers her mother is a werewolf! Artie soon discovers she's also one, and her mom introduces her to a whole community, but also more threats far more deadly than her bullies. However, Artie can't shift, and her mom's still hiding things about her human dad who is no longer around. Can Artie figure out how to use her powers and truly claim her place? With fantastic, action-packed illustrations and a unique take on werewolves, Artie and the Wolf Moon should not be missed.

Readers looking for coming of age stories with tight knit families

Bullying and racism

Megan Rupe

Tony and Eli are polar opposites in the high school pecking order; Tony is a track star while Eli misses a lot of school due to illness. As they begin to fall for one another, they confront growing pains and the mysterious monster in the woods.

Readers who like a bit of moody horror with their teen romances

Megan Rupe

Everyone is looking for somewhere to belong; for Barney, it's somewhere that he can be trans and accepted. For Norma, it's managing social anxiety and autism while working in a theme park. For Pugsly...well, that's complicated. See, there's a portal to hell inside the celebrity Pauline Phoenix's theme park! And Norma, Barney, and Pugsley get wrapped up in Courtney's schemes. Come for the thrills, stay for the chilling visions of the future!

There's a lot in the mood and themes of DeadEndia that feel similar to Gravity Falls and Adventure Time, so fans of these series might try picking this up. The theatrical nature of the story with supernatural elements could appeal to fans of Backstagers as well.

There is some discussion/visuals of Barney having to deal with a family not accepting his transness, but nothing too distressing.

Shannan Prukop

In 1889, Dracula's brides nail him to his coffin. In Los Angeles in 1974, a woman desperate for youth frees him. And photographer Quincy Harker is caught in the middle of it.

Fans of retellings that explore classic stories with a contemporary, feminist lens

Some gore; death

Megan Rupe

In this webcomic turned graphic novel, Anderson (author/artist of Sarah's Scribbles) explores the domestic life of a vampire and a werewolf that are in love. We see their relationship grow from meeting at a bar to moving in together as they learn the dos and don't of dating other supernatural creatures.

Anyone liking for slice of life with a supernatural twist.

Tayla Cardillo

In the witch Agnes' magical garden, each veggie and fruit does their part; Garlic, bless her, tries. But Garlic is pretty anxious about everything, even with the support of her friend Carrot. When rumors of a vampire taking up residence in the nearby forest reach the garden, somehow Garlic gets voted to investigate (against her will). Having to rely on herself and face her fears, as well as confront misunderstandings, will be good for her! Hopefully.

Readers who enjoy a spooky but still cozy story will enjoy the mix of scares and jokes in this comic. The art is lovely too, and the book is in a large format, so fans of beautiful magical landscapes in comics like Nightlights will enjoy the scenery in here.

Shannan Prukop

Mooncakes is the perfect book to curl up with as the weather starts to change. Young witch Nova is reunited with her childhood crush Tam in order to get to the bottom of some strange demon activity in her quaint New England Town (that is totally NOT Salem, Massachusetts). Although that may sound scary, the real focus of this story is family (blood and chosen) and figuring out your path in life.

Readers who loved the Tea Dragon series' mix of fantasy elements and cozy atmosphere with love this graphic novel.

Tayla Cardillo

Julie and Selena are girlfriends and werewolves, and the two identities can be hard to balance. Add in the chaos of the gregarious Chet, Julie's friend, and coworker, who loses something vital to them via a sketchy magician. Now the two are helping Chet while dealing with several other small mysteries around town, like what's up with Cassie, and did you see those shadows?

Everything about the first volume of Moonstruck is incredibly sweet and cute; the following volumes get darker and deal more with the girls' troubled relationship, but this is a great choice for someone wanting a queer romance story with magic. And unsurprisingly, it's a great choice for someone who's read Lumberjanes and wants something a little more grown-up (since Grace Ellis helped make Lumberjanes).

Shannan Prukop

A mysterious virus wipes out any human over thirteen, and vampires have captured the remaining children to serve them. Yuichiro wants to destroy the vampires who enslaved him and killed the only family he had left. When he escapes the vampires' underground empire, he learns of the Japanese Imperial Demon Army, which is working to rebuild humanity. While Yuichiro wants nothing more than to spring into action, it's not going to be as easy as he thinks!

Readers who love supernatural, action-packed stories, and protagonists with grit and faults galore

Blood and violence

Megan Rupe

In this Mean Girls meets Teen Wolf tale, new student Becca is welcomed into the group of the most popular girls at school. At a party during a full moon, Becca learns the real reason these girls have been so nice to her, they need a new member of their pack. At this party, they find their prey, young men who take advantage of teenage girls. But when the hunger sets in, will they be able to stick to their noble cause of making the world safer for young women like them, or will they start killing in cold blood?

Fans of Paper Girls will love the #GirlSquad vibes in this graphic novel.

Violence/blood, sexual assault, underage drinking

Tayla Cardillo