Armed with a flashlight and his knife (with a sharp point, serrated edge, and nail file), young Dave prepares to dive deeper and deeper (and deeper) into the watery abyss to find his missing mother…
Deeply Dave is a graphic novel written and drawn by Michael Grover and adapted from Grover’s original webcomic of the same name. Dave is a young boy diving into the deep and dark water to look for his mother, whose spaceship went missing far below. How this came to pass is revealed throughout the story, but much like Dave, the reader is facing the unknown with only certain elements of the story being revealed at first. Throughout his journey, Dave meets a unique cast of characters, some friend and some foe, who add heart and charm to the story.
The publisher describes Deeply Dave as a “madcap, hilarious adventure” and it certainly is that, but it is more than its funny moments, though those are incredible. This book achieves the delicate balance of sprinkling humor onto a story with serious undertones mixed with hope. Such a concoction is what life is all about, which is why reading Deeply Dave is such an incredible experience.
Grover’s narrative ability is elevated through the skillful use of visual art. The characters and setting may seem simplistic at first, but the sparse use of shapes and colors is intentional, juxtaposed against meaningful perspective drawing to create depth and ambience. Grover’s original webcomic has music, animation, and a scrolling website to add atmosphere to the story. Gentle and attentive care has been taken to recreate Deeply Dave in a physical print format. Panels that once existed on the web have not simply been placed on a page and printed. Careful choices have been made in terms of adapting animations into static panels. The physical book is printed on its side so that pages are flipped vertically in order to mimic the scrolling feature of the webcomic.
The publisher’s age rating for Deeply Dave is ages 8-12, which is a great age group for it, but, much like the title suggests, this book goes deeper than that. Teens and adults will enjoy this whimsical yet serious tale that’s about more than just a boy looking for his missing mother. The publisher markets Deeply Dave for fans of the animated series Adventure Time, and the comparison is apt. There are some darker plot elements and subtle moments that will resonate with older readers. The physical book of Deeply Dave would make a great addition to libraries searching for a graphic novel with wide age appeal and an innovative style. Readers who love the graphic novel should definitely check out the original webcomic by Grover as it is one of the most original pieces of art that has come along recently.
Deeply Dave By Michael Grover Henry Holt, 2025 ISBN: 9781250331038
Company Age Rating: Ages 8-12
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Middle Grade (7-11), Older Teen (16-18), Teen (13-16), Tween (10-13)
Many young people know what they want to do with their lives from the very beginning. Ema Asano is one such person. Most of her classmates are focused on fashion and dating. But Ema cannot be bothered with such things. She dreams of following in the footsteps of her parents, who were both police officers before their deaths defending their community. Until such time as she can become a real cop, Ema roams the streets of Tokyo as a vigilante.
Ema’s diligence leads her into the bad part of town one night after her older sister, Yuko, goes missing. To her horror, she discovers that Yuko was lured there by one of her co-workers, Tamaki, who is a vampire in need of a meal. Ema is ready to call the authorities, but is stopped by another of Yuko’s co-workers, Taiga, who also a werewolf.
That encounter marks the night when Ema’s vigil becomes something else entirely. For there are monsters in the shadows besides vampires and werewolves. And Tamaki and Taiga, despite nominally being on opposite sides of an eternal war, find they have more in common with each other than their own kind. Thus forms an unusual team, as the trio work to put down those monsters who cannot control their urges to kill.
On the surface, there is little to distinguish Outsiders from other urban fantasy series. Indeed, creator Akira Kanou freely admits to having been inspired by the Twilight Saga. And there certainly are innumerable horror series built around the idea of a rivalry between werewolves and vampires. Despite this, Outsiders puts enough unique spins on its mythology to mark it as unique. It also boasts some twisted artwork with a far lighter and sketchier style than one would associate with a horror shojo.
Outsiders defies expectations in other ways as well. Usually, a novel of this sort would inevitably feature a love triangle between the teen heroine and the two dashing older men who barely look older than her. There is no such romance in Outsiders. While Ema does show some casual interest in wondering what dating a vampire or a werewolf would be like, her feelings are not reciprocated by Tamaki or Taiga. In fact, most of the romance in this first volume involves subtle hints of a growing attraction between the vampire and werewolf. All these twists help to make Outsiders into something unique that may appeal to fans of the genre looking for something different.
Outsiders Vol. 1 is rated 12+ by Titan Manga. I consider that to be a fair grade for the content. There is a fair bit of violence and bloodshed, but nothing inappropriate to a T-rated Manga. As noted, there is no sexual content or nudity. Indeed, there is barely any hit of romance and most of that confined to meaningful glances between the two male leads that the heroine presumes mean something more. The closest any of the characters come to impropriety is Tamaki undressing and dressing an unconscious Ema in clean clothes after her own clothing is torn while trying to save her sister. Even then, he is a perfect gentleman, and explains he only did this because he couldn’t well let Ema (who is immune to his hypnosis powers for some reason) run off into the night in a bedraggled state.
Outsiders Vol. 1 By Akira Kanou Titan, 2025 ISBN: 9781787745711
Company Age Rating: 12+
NFNT Age Recommendation: Older Teen (16-18), Teen (13-16) Creator Representation: Japanese, Character Representation: Japanese,
The new hefty graphic novel by K. Wroten (co-author of My Ex-Girlfriend’s Ex-Girlfriend is My Girlfriend) is a pretty relatable exploration of grief, toxic relationships/friendships, and depression that is likely to find its fanbase in readers nostalgic for early 2000s emo music.
The book follows Carson and her best friend, Ash, while they float between high school and local concerts with the kind of apathetic attitude only the coolest teens can muster. Chapters are laid out like the tracks on a mix tape called, of course, Everyone Sux But You, that Ash creates for Carson. All the songs (and a lot of music references in the book) are from bands like Taking Back Sunday, My Chemical Romance, etc. and they are included in their entirety at the end of the book (some creative Spotify users have already created accompanying playlists).
When we meet them, Carson is starting to realize she has romantic feelings for her friend just as Ash is beginning a flirtation with a guitar-playing exchange student. She is also trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life moving forward—something she has been indifferent about—and still processing the death of her mother alongside her witchy aunt and guardian, Deb.
While Ash has an unusual relationship with her own mom, Carson’s mom is someone we see only in flashbacks that are heart wrenching and slowly unveil how she died. Both characters had a connection to Carson’s mom, and each has a different perspective of her life and who she was. Compounding their shared grief is their complicated relationship with each other. Both Carson and Ash drag other people—crushes and friends—into the messiness of their dynamic, although everyone else around them sees the toxicity of their bond and the path to destruction they are both on with much more clarity. When it comes down to it, the message of the book is that sometimes we have to break free of the narratives we tell ourselves in order to find out who we are.
It’s not a perfect story. Much of it is confusing and messy—both in terms of the art and also the story itself. The font is a bit hard to read at times. Sometimes, the illustrations are rendered in such a way that it makes it hard to distinguish who is who and when something is taking place. The palette is very minimal—mostly black, white and a light indigo- that lends a bit of gloominess to the story but also might have contributed to some of my confusion while reading.
I do think, although imperfect, this book shows potential in Wroten’s storytelling capabilities and will most likely satisfy fans of the Young Adult graphic novel Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me. Despite its messiness in presentation, it is going to stick with me —and I feel like it’s going to stick with a lot of other readers, too.
Everyone Sux But You By K. Wroten Henry Holt, 2025 ISBN: 9781250821669
NFNT Age Recommendation: Older Teen (16-18), Teen (13-16)
Best friends Grace and Lola are on a mission to understand love! In volume one, the girls decide to research the topic, interviewing people at school to learn more about the elusive and confusing emotion and keeping their findings in a notebook called The Love Report. In volumes two and three, they have other things going on: new friends and fun adventures, including a beachy trip to Sardinia. Everywhere they go, though, Grace and Lola find reasons to wonder about love. Boys flirt with them, but what are their intentions? Should Grace confess her feelings to her new crush?
The girls are more casual now about their investigation; no more notebook or interviews, just lots of conversations and musing. And love isn’t the only thing on their minds. A boy at school is bullying and harassing people, including some of Grace and Lola’s friends. Grace is frustrated with shuttling between the households of her newly divorced parents. Lola struggles with body image issues. Their friend Adele has a rough home life, but is suddenly finding major success as an artist. But in and around all that, there’s enough romantic drama and intrigue to keep Grace and Lola asking questions about the nature of love.
Strong female friendships are the throughline of this series. Grace and Lola have some challenges to their bond in volume one, but come through them closer than ever. They also befriend Adele, Felicity, and Charlie, who all get more attention in the second and third volumes. Sometimes, the story follows one of them for awhile, showing the reader things that Grace and Lola don’t know. This expands the world of the story, since their experiences are very different—and sometimes creates juicy drama, as when the readers learn a secret Charlie is keeping from the others. All of these girls mean well and care about each other, and they are all spunky and willing to get creative to take on bullies or help their friends.
These books are translated from French (BeKa is a France-based two-person writing team). The translation is polished – minor errors noted in my review of volume one appeared in an advance copy, and have been corrected. The first two English volumes each collect and translate two of the shorter French volumes, while the English book three translates only one volume, so these three books contain volumes one through five of the French version of The Love Report.
These books touch on some heavy topics. Multiple characters have body image issues, and several have strained relationships with their parents. The school bully is constantly harassing people, especially girls, both in person and online. He even gets scandalous photos of a classmate (wearing a bra but no shirt) and shows them to other classmates. There is some harsh language (e.g. slut, bitch), which is used very rarely and not by the protagonists. Sex is only referred to occasionally, with no specifics. Refreshingly, the one queer couple is quickly accepted by most of the characters.
The manga-inspired art is detailed and full of rich, exuberant colors. Each character has a different personal style and shows it off with lots of fun, varied outfits and hairstyles. There are many different settings, from school to Adele’s art studio to the beaches of Sardinia, and they all add visual interest without stealing the spotlight from the characters.
This series will appeal to readers who like lots of emotion and drama. Grace and Lola are curious but tentative and nervous about love and romance, which will be relatable to some young readers. Hand it to fans of school stories and friendship stories, especially those who like high-drama manga.
The Love Report By BeKa Willcox Art by Maya Willcox Hippo Park / Astra Books for Young Readers, 2024 ISBN: 9781662640605
Volume
ISBN
2
9781662640605
3
9781662640889
Company Age Rating: 10 and up
NFNT Age Recommendation: Teen (13-16), Tween (10-13) Creator Representation: French, Italian, Character Representation: Queer,
Nordlys, or Northern Lights, is a Peter Pan retelling fused with Norwegian folklore and fantasy, based on author Malin Falch’s webcomic, Fjordson. Originally written in English and drawn while Falch attended university in the United States, the webcomic was picked up as a print series in Norway in 2018 and now comes back to English speaking readers with the translation of its first volume.
Fourteen year old Sonjia longs to join her favorite uncle on his long and mysterious camping trips and she’s captivated by the art he creates of fantastical creatures out in the wilderness. She’s awoken one night to the sounds of a troll boy rummaging around her house. Recognizing him from her uncle’s sketches, she eagerly asks him about his home. He introduces himself as Espen, asks her to come back with him, opens a portal and leads her through to another world.
Sonja soon meets talking animals as well as the troll children Espen cares for, and learns about the magical troll forest she’s been brought to. She’s introduced to dragonflies, tiny dragons with a magic dust that makes an individual lighter on their feet when sprinkled with it. She helps the group steal some dinner from a local troll farmer and his wife. As the dark settles in, the group huddles close and Espen tells Sonja the story of his greatest rival, the viking earl Hjalmar. Vikings are a variety of humans living in this magical version of Norway that have a distaste for trolls and other forest creatures. Hjalmar has a particular vendetta against Espen, after Espen severed his sword hand and fed it to an ancient serpent. Now with a hook in place of the hand, Hjalmar sails the waters with his crew seeking to destroy the serpent before it destroys him.
Dangers lurk everywhere for Sonja and Espen. A large and powerful flesh-hungry troll has been awakened by Sonja’s presence and now seems to be hunting her, upsetting all the creatures in the forest. Hjalmar has struck a deal with a witch offering him respite from the serpent in exchange for Espen’s life. She lends him the power of her apprentice, a young girl with magic that can kill trolls. While all of these things are happening, Sonja’s uncle uses his own portal to enter the forest, frantically searching for his niece, only to be kidnapped and imprisoned by unfriendly trolls.
Writing-wise, there’s plenty of intrigue with multiple plotlines intertwining, and Falch does a good job world building without bogging the reader down with excessive dialogue or exposition. Nothing in this volume is likely to subvert the reader’s expectations, and the connections to tales of Peter Pan are pretty obvious, but the added folklore makes it fresh and interesting.
The art of Nordlys is really its strong point, with vivid colors and gorgeously crafted landscapes. Characters have bright eyes and expressive faces, engaging the reader and pulling them into the dialogue. The tone of each scene is expertly handled through color and lighting, shifting the reader easily between the lighthearted parts of the narrative and the darker, more terrifying sections. The darker scenes are arguably the most intriguing, but every panel is lush and eye-catching.
While Nordlys is a pleasant adventure, the magical version of Norway is a dangerous place and mild, mostly bloodless violence occurs throughout. As mentioned previously, there are depictions of limbs being severed, as well as people being eaten by large creatures. There is mild physical abuse, animal harm, and brief depictions of death, all shown in a way that is appropriate for the publisher rating of ages 12 and up. This series would be great in a teen collection and would be perfect for fans of fantasy and adventure.
Nordlys By Malin Falch Inklore, 2025 ISBN: 9780593726914
Company Age Rating: 12 and up
NFNT Age Recommendation: Older Teen (16-18), Teen (13-16), Tween (10-13) Creator Representation: Norwegian, Character Representation: Norwegian,
I won’t lie, seeing this book (or any) pitched as a retelling of The Beauty and the Beast is what caught my eye. I am what the kids call “a sucker.” But we can unpack all that later.
Brielle and Bear might have the vague skeleton of the classic fairy tale it was based on, but it definitely has its own narrative—a fact that I think is a positive for the story.
That being said, this story is a little hard to get into. There is certainly a lot to like, but ultimately this book is the opposite of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts.
Brielle is our heroine, and she knows it. She exudes Main Character Confidence and narrates her life using a set of rules that she pulled from her familiarity with fairy tales. She meets Atohi “Bear” Yona while at work at Once Upon A Time University’s bookshop. It’s charmed at first sight, and the story expands on their relationship and the friends they surround themselves with.
Before I get into criticism, let’s look at what slaps:
The art is gorgeous. Brielle and Bear is full of color, whimsy, visual motifs, and beautiful homage to both western-style animation and manga. The atmosphere (and names of every location and character) is very dreamy and perfect for this fairy tale-esque story.
The cast is very diverse. The author specifically wrote that she wanted to create a cast that reflected her time at university, and there was care taken to make every identity unique and specific.
There is some very kind and sympathetic discussion of neurodiversity and physical disability. Brielle has vitiligo, it is seen as running in her family. Bear has dyslexia. One of the things I thought was really beautiful about the story was how much Bear enjoys writing poetry and reading—passions that I do no typically see paired with this particular condition.
Unfortunately, each of these items tend to fall apart under close scrutiny. The art for the settings and environments and locations is so beautiful, but it tends not get center stage with lots of rendering and color. The line drawings are beautiful, but the structures sit with a selected color pallet for the page and remain, well, in the background. It is a logical choice, but it does feel like leaving free points on the floor.
The cast is diverse, but then what? Apart from some phrases in Spanish, this is an aspect of the story that is not referenced or acknowledged. Again, perhaps I have misinterpreted this choice. It might be nice to just see this as a way things are, without it being worthy of commentary.
The vitiligo and dyslexia do pertain to the plot, but it is incredibly minimal. Each character has already overcome the trauma and difficulty that comes with having these conditions. I would say this is consistent through the story as a whole – the stakes are incredibly low. I was never worried about a resolution to an issue, and each issue was small; the biggest one being 2 arguments between Brielle and Bear that are resolved through straightforward communication.
I fear this comic is trying to push its fairy tale origins into its pages, but there really is no need for that. There doesn’t seem to be any magical elements to this world—there are no spells, curses, prophecies, and certainly no beasts. I would have liked to see this story develop on its own, flown far from its magical origins. It sounds like more volumes are coming out, and maybe those books will address some of my concerns, but for now, this story is a slice of cake that is mostly frosting.
Although I personally didn’t enjoy this narrative, I would encourage everyone to look at Doku’s website to look at the visual development journey that these illustrations went on—they are simply gorgeous.
NOTE: Author is black and from England; African-American was picked as creator representation as this was the closest option that is available through NFNT.
Brielle and Bear By Salomey Doku Harper Collins, 2024 ISBN: 9780008617561
Company Age Rating: 13+
NFNT Age Recommendation: Older Teen (16-18), Teen (13-16) Creator Representation: African-American, Character Representation: African-American, First Nations or Indigenous, Disability,
Imagine you’re about to be trapped in a car on a road trip with your estranged parent (who has a history of misunderstanding and misgendering you). Now imagine that road trip takes a turn into a spirit realm where you’re trapped and have to work together to find your way back. This is what is in store for Misha in Askel Aden’s debut graphic novel, Love, Misha.
Our first introduction to Audrey and Misha is as Misha says their goodbyes to family members as they’re about to embark on a three-week road trip with their mom, who seems impatient to head out while Misha is reluctant. The bond Misha has with their aunt and cousins is immediately in contrast with their detachment from their mother. Where Misha and Audrey’s relationship seems in turn contentious and awkward, Misha’s other relationships seem familiar and tender. Already, author and artist Aden has given a clue to the kind of strained relationship we are about to see unfold.
It only gets worse when Audrey presents Misha with a dress “for special occasions.” Misha is nonbinary, clearly uncomfortable with the idea of wearing dresses, and has recently given themselves a buzzcut; meanwhile, Audrey is still hoping to connect with someone she considers her daughter. For good reason, Misha is not ready to forgive their mother’s history of neglect or present insensitivity.
Their first night on the road is spent apart, Misha feigning illness to stay in the hotel room while Audrey dines out alone. What starts as a story about a teen and their parent trying to connect on a road trip quickly spins into paranormal fantasy when Audrey and Misha take a wrong turn and wind up in the Realm of the Spirits. Here they are befriended by one such spirit named Odun who offers to help them get out of the realm and back to the land of the living. But of course, Odun has secrets and a past, too.
The relationship between Audrey and Misha is at once messy and realistic with believable dialogue and fraught silences. As characters, I felt like Audrey took a while to grow on me and I think this is in part due to her lack of accountability until nearer to the end of the book. Overall, this becomes a story of forgiveness, but it doesn’t tie up into a neat ending. Characters are flawed and relatable. Besides nonbinary representation, there is a brief mention of Audrey’s past postpartum depression.
The illustrations are gorgeous and easy to enjoy. Full-page illustrations act as chapter dividers, and settings and characters are precisely drawn with smooth lines and warm tones – giving the book a cozy, dreamy feeling.
Fans of cozy fantasy like Legends and Lattes or Molly Knox Ostertag’s graphic novel The Deep Dark will likely be drawn to this book. Teen and younger adult readers seem like the intended audience, but I think a mature middle schooler or older adult would enjoy this as well.
Love, Misha By Askel Aden Macmillan First Second, 2025 ISBN: 9781250866226
Company Age Rating: 14-18
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18), Teen (13-16) Creator Representation: Nonbinary , Character Representation: Depression
Introverts, rejoice! Finally there is a graphic novel that sees us and our daily struggle to avoid being a person in the world! How to Meet No One: An Introvert’s Guide to Surviving a World Filled with People by Ainsley Drew shares tips through playful humor about how to live your best introverted life. Drew started posting her art on Instagram under the handle @lousydrawingsforgoodpeople in 2020, with her signature rounded people and animals, sporting small eyes and wide smiles, usually accompanied by a frank phrase or joke. This book is an extension of that work and readers familiar with her Instagram will find themselves at home here.
Readers follow an unnamed purple cat-shaped character as they move through their day in an exhausting world full of people. From going to work, the awkwardness of ordering coffee, to finding oneself in a cramped elevator, the reader receives tips and insights about how to avoid interacting with any of the individuals someone might encounter during the daily grind. We follow this little purple person as they employ tactics that help them fulfill their ultimate goal of being left alone in their own comfortable home. And, for readers that live with family or roommates, there are survival tips for them too.
As an introvert myself, the wit and authenticity had me laughing out loud. The art is simple, colorful, and has a silly cuteness to it that makes it a pleasure to experience. There are little details on many of the pages that enhance a gag or make the world feel alive. For example, there are sometimes faces on inanimate objects that react to the scene around them, literally making the world alive. I appreciated references to sensory sensitivities, like a declaration for no overhead lights and a love for cancelled plans. And while our purple hero does lots of hiding and running away from others, there are some hilarious ideas for surviving when you actually have to leave the house.
One of my favorite things about How to Meet No One is the positive messaging about being an introvert. Drew explains in her introduction and conclusion that the reader is not alone or strange for not wanting to socialize the way society has prescribed. She encourages readers to take care of their needs and seek professional help if their situation calls for it. There’s even some very practical tips for managing social anxiety when out in the world, and maybe the best piece of advice is that it’s okay to say no. Within this short story introverts will see themselves and know they are not alone.
How to Meet No One is a fantastic comic for any introverted, sensory sensitive, neurodivergent, or socially anxious reader looking for a sanctuary where they will feel seen. Both teens and adults will find it relatable and entertaining. This title might even be great for extroverts trying to peek into the minds of their introverted loved ones. I honestly wanted this book to be longer and I look forward to what comes next from this author.
How to Meet No One An Introvert’s Guide to Surviving a World Filled with People By Ainsley Drew Union Square & Co., 2025 ISBN: 9781454958260
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18), Teen (13-16)
He is Pumpernickel Pickle Periwinkle Chukwu Okorafor, but you may call him Periwinkle. At night, when his Earth family is asleep, Periwinkle flies his ship beyond the atmosphere and embraces his other identity… Space Cat!
The Space Cat is the incredible tale of award-winning fantasy and science fiction author Nnedi Okorafor’s cat Periwinkle with a speculative twist. Readers are introduced to Periwinkle and his family, their home and Periwinkle’s secret lair, as well as Periwinkle’s night time activity of racing against another space cat, Orange Meow. Constantly bested by Orange Meow, Periwinkle returns to Earth already contemplating improvements to his ship.
A few flashbacks fill readers in on some of Periwinkle’s background: when he was adopted by his human family, how he took a little time to get settled in with his new family, and how he handled a couple of unique situations, one with an extraterrestrial twist and one with a more mundane origin. Both situations, regardless of their causes, will be very familiar to cat owners. There are also references that Periwinkle has an extraterrestrial lineage.
In the present time, Nnedi, Anya, and Periwinkle will travel to Nigeria to live for a year while Nnedi works on a book there. Though he has been to space countless times, Periwinkle learns that he has not explored his Earth home as much, and Nigeria introduces him to new experiences and friends. Though some humans in Nigeria treat cats a little differently than back home, Periwinkle will not let their mistrust stop him from doing what’s right when they are threatened.
Nnedi Okorafor’s writing is already a force to be reckoned with, but it’s incredible how well matched it is with Tana Ford’s art. Ford’s artistry is the perfect compliment to Okorafor’s story and helps bring it to life on page. Her bold lines coupled with her masterful use of color will make readers want to savor each panel. Sepia tones indicate flashbacks, bright, warm colors evoke Nigeria, and otherworldly blues and purples capture Periwinkle’s space adventures. Ford effectively uses panels to convey the story as well: jagged, diagonal panels bring action to life while full page spreads are used to great effect. The characters Nnedi herself and her daughter Anya are realized perfectly, and the other humans and animal characters are expressive and beautifully rendered. Of course, no one compares to Periwinkle. Readers will fall for his big, blue eyes and feel every emotion he feels. He is the star of the story, and Ford realizes that with loving detail.
The publisher’s age rating for The Space Cat is ages 8-12, which is on point, but readers of all ages can enjoy Periwinkle’s adventures. Some humans are mean toward Periwinkle and other animals, but bravery and kindness triumph over any maliciousness, whether human or alien. One minor note is that Periwinkle and the other animals communicate with an abbreviated form of English, which may catch some readers unawares at first. However, it is an endearing trait that readers will soon pick up on, and Okorafor weaves it seamlessly with her human characters’ more natural English speech. Overall, The Space Cat is a must for any library collection. Be sure to check out the photos at the end of Nnedi, Anya, their other cat Neptune, and of course, Periwinkle!
The Space Cat By Nnedi Okorafor Art by Tana Ford Macmillan First Second, 2025 ISBN: 9781250817488
Company Age Rating: 8-12
NFNT Age Recommendation: Middle Grade (7-11), Teen (13-16), Tween (10-13)
Hawthorne Vandecast is entering their villain era… or trying to. If anyone would start taking them seriously. Instead, they’re a potion barista being prepped by their mother to take over the family coffee shop in the aptly named Idlewood -a painfully common village only recently released from the horrifying rule of Lady Wrath and her Brigade of Shade. Released, but not freed because Lady Wrath and her team’s influence still sits over the town like an evil, alluring mist. And they’re looking for new recruits. Hawthorne yearns for the rock star lifestyle promised by the Brigade and the chance it gives them to finally be more than a boring, common potion barista. How hard could it be when their biggest competition seems to be sweet as syrup Maple, who couldn’t have an ounce of Evil in her whole body?
Hard. Very hard. Like, embarrassingly hard. A nightmare audition leads to an oopsie assassination leaving Hawthorne in charge and finally seeing what being a villain is. Will they like it? Will it finally make them feel different and special? Or is being Evil more than wearing cool long coats and living in a castle?
There is a sweetness and irreverence to Evil-ish that is incredibly charming. Debut creator Kennedy Tarrell gives this YA graphic the feel of a 90’s Disney fairytale (which fits with the career outlined in their bio) while twisting tropes and appealing to the cheeky bent that’s so big in that genre right now. Readers want the villain’s story and Tarrell offers a view of the hurt people behind villainous tropes and how their stories might not match what we expect.
The pseudo-Medieval village of Idlewood is both comforting and obviously grating for a growing independent spirit like Hawthorne. Tarrell’s art adds to that comfort and familiarity, leading the reader to expect something predictable and basic and this book is neither. Tarrell’s subtlety in small character moments gives the story and the figures populating it a depth and humanity that defy the fairytale aesthetic of the art. The dialogue is almost perfectly matched to that. You can practically hear the giggle in Maple’s early dialogue and the disdain dripping from Hawthorne’s. It’s immediately immersive and exciting.
Hawthorne is an amazing character, immediately recognizable to teen readers as someone desperate to be more than people see them as while not being sure how to be. They are relatable and earnest while also being just a little clueless. Hawthorne is presented as nonbinary and this is an element that’s just part of the story in such a beautiful way. They feel different from the village not because they’re non-binary, but because -like a lot of teens- they want to be more special than they feel like they are. It’s a character element that is universal tied to a character identity that is underrepresented.
Evil-ish, available for purchase July 22, 2025, is so much of what I love: it’s funny, different, and shockingly heartwarming without taking itself too seriously. It’s an easy next read for fans of Nimona or Maelstrom: A Prince of Evil. Teen readers can easily find characters to relate to in this story while also, hopefully, recognizing that every character and person has a backstory that may be worth learning.
Evil-ish By Kennedy Tarrell Feiwel and Friends, 2025 ISBN: 9781250839954
Company Age Rating: 14-18
NFNT Age Recommendation: Older Teen (16-18), Teen (13-16)
Armed with a flashlight and his knife (with a sharp point, serrated edge, and nail file), young Dave prepares to dive deeper and deeper (and deeper) into the watery abyss to find his missing mother…
classmates are focused on fashion and dating. But Ema cannot be bothered with such things. She dreams of following in the footsteps of her parents, who were both police officers before their deaths defending their community. Until such time as she can become a real cop, Ema roams the streets of Tokyo as a vigilante.
of grief, toxic relationships/friendships, and depression that is likely to find its fanbase in readers nostalgic for early 2000s emo music.
people at school to learn more about the elusive and confusing emotion and keeping their findings in a notebook called The Love Report. In volumes two and three, they have other things going on: new friends and fun adventures, including a beachy trip to Sardinia. Everywhere they go, though, Grace and Lola find reasons to wonder about love. Boys flirt with them, but what are their intentions? Should Grace confess her feelings to her new crush?
webcomic, Fjordson. Originally written in English and drawn while Falch attended university in the United States, the webcomic was picked up as a print series in Norway in 2018 and now comes back to English speaking readers with the translation of its first volume.
sucker.” But we can unpack all that later.
No One: An Introvert’s Guide to Surviving a World Filled with People by Ainsley Drew shares tips through playful humor about how to live your best introverted life. Drew started posting her art on Instagram under the handle @lousydrawingsforgoodpeople in 2020, with her signature rounded people and animals, sporting small eyes and wide smiles, usually accompanied by a frank phrase or joke. This book is an extension of that work and readers familiar with her Instagram will find themselves at home here.
He is Pumpernickel Pickle Periwinkle Chukwu Okorafor, but you may call him Periwinkle. At night, when his Earth family is asleep, Periwinkle flies his ship beyond the atmosphere and embraces his other identity… Space Cat!
