We are looking for reviewers, staff feature writers, and a review copy coordinator for the site.
If you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at writing reviews or blogging about comics, graphic novels, manga or anime AND you are a library worker, we want you.
We are seeking a diverse array of interested writers and reviewers interested in all kinds of comics. If you’ve applied in the past, please apply again with your updated information and experience.
Please send in your application by Sunday, November 2 at midnight PST.
We will get in touch with all applicants by MONDAY, November 17.
k
Reviewer Expectations
To turn in (at least) one review a month.
Select titles for review from our submitted review copies first, then owned/borrowed copies second
To help create recommended and/or topical lists
To occasionally contribute special features
Feature Writer Expectations
Coordinate and write (at least) one article or list per month
Work with other staff to create group lists
Pitch at least three features ideas and/or topics a year for the Features team to work on together
Coordinate and participate in special features including creating core lists, hosting and writing round table discussions, or responding to library-specific collection questions
Review Copy coordinator Expectations
Contact publishers to request digital and physical review copies
Answer emails from publishers, creators, publicists, etc. regarding sending review copies
Receive, upload, and organize digital review copies
Check review copies for eligibility for review
Alert staff to new titles
t
Ask yourself
Can you can commit to writing one review by the end of each month?
Are you prepared to discuss constructive criticism and work with our editors to craft your review?
Are you flexible in reviewing different genres and types of titles aimed at different age ranges?
Please understand that we only accept applications from library workers or library school students as a way to keep the perspective of the site consistent and distinct.
We can offer review copies of titles (in digital formats and occasionally in print) and a chance to write for a professionally recognized resource. At this time all positions are volunteer: we cannot offer payment except in the form of the review copies of titles. If you are interested, please fill out our official application forms.
Questions?
Drop us an email if you have any questions about writing for the site.
We are looking for reviewers, staff feature writers, and a review copy coordinator for the site.
If you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at writing reviews or blogging about comics, graphic novels, manga or anime AND you are a library worker, we want you.
We are seeking a diverse array of interested writers and reviewers interested in all kinds of comics. If you’ve applied in the past, please apply again with your updated information and experience.
Please send in your application by Sunday, November 2 at midnight PST.
We will get in touch with all applicants by MONDAY, November 17.
k
Reviewer Expectations
To turn in (at least) one review a month.
Select titles for review from our submitted review copies first, then owned/borrowed copies second
To help create recommended and/or topical lists
To occasionally contribute special features
Feature Writer Expectations
Coordinate and write (at least) one article or list per month
Work with other staff to create group lists
Pitch at least three features ideas and/or topics a year for the Features team to work on together
Coordinate and participate in special features including creating core lists, hosting and writing round table discussions, or responding to library-specific collection questions
Review Copy coordinator Expectations
Contact publishers to request digital and physical review copies
Answer emails from publishers, creators, publicists, etc. regarding sending review copies
Receive, upload, and organize digital review copies
Check review copies for eligibility for review
Alert staff to new titles
t
Ask yourself
Can you can commit to writing one review by the end of each month?
Are you prepared to discuss constructive criticism and work with our editors to craft your review?
Are you flexible in reviewing different genres and types of titles aimed at different age ranges?
Please understand that we only accept applications from library workers or library school students as a way to keep the perspective of the site consistent and distinct.
We can offer review copies of titles (in digital formats and occasionally in print) and a chance to write for a professionally recognized resource. At this time all positions are volunteer: we cannot offer payment except in the form of the review copies of titles. If you are interested, please fill out our official application forms.
Questions?
Drop us an email if you have any questions about writing for the site.
Interest in BL (boys love) & yuri/GL (girls love) is on the rise, especially as publishers start bringing more over to the US. So what is it? Basically, it’s manga featuring same gender romantic and/or sexual relationships. There’s a long and complex history to both, so if you’re interested in learning more there’s books out there on the topic.
When it comes to choosing what to put on library shelves, the things you’re probably already doing with other manga like checking reputable review sites and looking at what other libraries collect still work here too. Hopefully this list can serve as a starting point, but there’s so many great series we didn’t have room to stuff in here.
Doughnuts Under a Crescent Moon
Shio Usui
Hinako says she wants a boyfriend to fit in with her coworkers, but doesn't feel happy with her work or life in general. In contrast, her coworker Asahi focuses on her work and her younger sister and doesn’t think she’ll ever fall in love. When Hinako crumbles under the pressure, Asahi offers her a doughnut and kindness. Soon, Hinako and Asahi find themselves spending time together and valuing each other more and more. But are they just friends or more than friends?
Appeals to
With its focus on the characters' exploration of love, Doughnuts Under a Crescent Moon is a tender read, ideal for readers seeking stories about characters navigating societal expectations to find happiness. While neither character is identified as asexual, ace-spec readers will likely find much to enjoy here. Readers who liked the gentle romance of She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat will want to check out this series as well.
Content Notes
Internalized homophobia and struggles with amatonormativity; implied family death and familial discord
Recommended by
Megan Rupe
Even Though We're Adults
Takako Shimura
Ayano is a single elementary school teacher in her 30s, and one night, she meets the intriguing woman Akari at a bar, where they almost kiss. One thing leads to another, and the two of them begin to explore the idea of some kind of relationship. Then, Ayano discovers that not only is Akari not single, but she's actually married to a man and wants them all to meet. Adulthood truly is complicated. What makes this manga fantastic and a little unusual is that the main characters are both in their 30s and dealing with the usual adult life problems, whereas many yuri stories focus on teens.
Appeals to
Readers who gravitate towards stories filled with drama but prefer it to be more grounded will likely enjoy this one. Similarly, if they tried Run Away With Me Girl and wanted something a little more toned down, definitely give Even Though We're Adults a try. Because the story focuses on adults, it skirts many of the tropes of yuri in many ways, making it a good choice for readers new to yuri who want to give it a try. It's also refreshing to see adults navigating identities, and it can really resonate with some readers.
Creator Identities:
Japanese |
Main Character Identities:
Japanese |
Lesbian |
Recommended by
Shannan Prukop
I Hear the Sunspot
Yuki Fumino
Kohei desperately wants to connect, but his hearing loss impacts his social interactions. Taichi is a loud, ravenous guy who offers to be Kohei’s notetaker in exchange for free lunches. As they grow closer, their relationship begins to mean a great deal to Kohei.
A sweet story about navigating connection, I Hear the Sunspot will especially appeal to readers who are in the mood for a gentle romance.
Content Notes
Ableism
Recommended by
Megan Rupe
Kase-San And...
Hiromi Takashima
Kase is the cool and popular track star of the school, while Yamada is the quiet and clumsy one in the background watering the school's flower gardens. So when Kase catches Yamada's eye, Yamada assumes this could go nowhere. Kase proves her wrong, and over the remaining years of high school, their relationship continues to flourish. Then college comes, and now they have a whole new set of problems to navigate, such as dorms, curfews, and living far away from each other. This series falls into several yuri tropes, including the tall, dark-haired, cool girl paired with the more feminine, shorter, blond girl, and the denial of attraction because, oh no, we're both girls, though it doesn't do that one too badly.
Appeals to
This series is sweet, funny, and shows a couple as they transition from crushes to relationships, from high school to college. It's a fantastic pick for readers new to yuri, as it acknowledges its tropes but isn't bound by them, and slowly shows readers that these characters have depth. It is a slow-burning slice-of-life story, so readers seeking a faster pace may become frustrated by its gentle and gradual progression.
Content Notes
Some partial nudity, discussion of sex
Creator Identities:
Japanese |
Main Character Identities:
Japanese |
Queer |
Recommended by
Shannan Prukop
Old-Fashioned Cupcake
Sagan Sagan
39-year-old Nozue's life is all routine - work, sleep, repeat - and he's decided it's enough. But his coworker Togawa, ten years his junior, decides that won't do, and starts shaking up Nozue's routine. Over time, Nozue realizes just how sad he'd let his life become and how special Togawa is to him. It turns out, those feelings are mutual. However, whether this sweet relationship will sour over time due to the realities of work and their age difference remains to be seen. May-December romances are a kind of subset within BL (much like in romance novels), and this short series does it well. This series also falls slightly into the trope of the relationship being kept secret, but it is resolved in a way that is very modern and healthier than many other BL series.
Appeals to
Readers who enjoy slice-of-life romances will likely enjoy this one, though it does have sex scenes in it, so those new to BL may be a bit surprised, especially in comparison to many yuri series. There are also a surprising number of BL series that are slice-of-life stories centered around food, so if a reader enjoys series like What Did You Eat Yesterday or Confessions of a Shy Baker, they'll likely enjoy this one too.
Content Notes
Censored sex scenes, censored nudity, discussions of homophobia
Creator Identities:
Japanese |
Main Character Identities:
Japanese |
Gay |
Recommended by
Shannan Prukop
Our Dining Table
Mita Ori
Salaryman Yutaka lives a lonely and lackluster life until he runs into Tane and his big brother Minoru while eating lunch outside his job. Yukata shares his onigiri with Tane and loves how he makes it, so he goes over to their house to show them how he makes it. Minoru learns that cooking requires a little more care and finesse than his all-boys household is used to, and Yukata learns how to come out of his shell and be comfortable sharing his time (and meals) with people.
Appeals to
Fans of Heartstopper or Bloom will love this queer romance, centered around cooking.
Creator Identities:
Japanese |
Main Character Identities:
Japanese |
Gay |
Recommended by
Tayla Cardillo
Our Not So Lonely Planet Travel Guide
Mone Sorai
After Asahi has a health scare and needs surgery, with only his close friend Mitsuki by his side to support him, Mitsuki proposes that they travel around the world together. If they are still dating at the end of the trip, they should consider getting married. While always practical, Asahi agrees, he thinks their trip is more likely to end with him being alone than the two of them being together forever. This series follows their travels around the world and their growing closeness. It also explores both of their anxiety about being accepted as a gay couple by both their loved ones and the greater society.
Appeals to
Part travel guide and part slow-burning romance between 2 young men, this title will satisfy readers' wanderlust and their desire for realistic queer romance.
Content Notes
Discussions of Homophobia, alluding to sexual situations
Creator Identities:
Japanese |
Main Character Identities:
Italian, Japanese |
Queer |
Recommended by
Tayla Cardillo
Restart After Coming Back Home
Cocomi
After getting fired from his job in Tokyo, Mitsuomi returns to his hometown in disgrace. He meets Yamato, a cheerful young man who already seems better integrated into the town than Mitsuomi ever was. Although the two are opposites, they nevertheless find themselves growing ever closer.
Appeals to
With its story that balances a tender dynamic with coming-of-age themes, teen and adult readers who like a good grumpy/sunshine romance will want to pick up Restart After Coming Back Home. Restart After Coming Back Home has a satisfying conclusion, yet readers who enjoy this one will be happy to know that there is a follow-up called Restart After Growing Hungry.
Content Notes
Internalized homophobia
Recommended by
Megan Rupe
Sasaki and Miyano
Shou Harusuno
Great for folks new to the BL genre, Sasaki and Miyano is a cute romance between the meek and studious Yoshikazu Miyano and his more brash, delinquent upperclassman Shumei Sasaki. Miyano, despite having been primarily attracted to girls, is a fan of boys' love comics (comics mainly created by straight women for straight women). His upperclassman, Sasaki, catches him reading a volume at school one day and sees an opportunity to get closer to Miyano over a shared interest. Their friendship evolves into romance over the course of the series, with Miyano highlighting which real-life scenarios also mirror popular BL tropes.
Sasaki and Miyano are very cute and sweet; it does not contain explicit content. And since Miyano likes to compare everything that happens in his relationship to BL tropes he's seen in comics, it can serve as a sort of guide to popular writing clichés and scenarios commonly associated with the genre.
Recommended by
Al Marcellus
She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat
Sakaomi Yuzaki
Yuki Nomoto, a woman living alone in Tokyo, is passionate about cooking. Although she has an engaged following on her food-centric social media account, she laments that her lack of friends is keeping her from cooking party-sized portions. After a bad day at work, Nomoto cooks up a storm, but with her small appetite, she isn't sure how to eat it all up before the food goes bad. She remembers an elevator ride with her neighbor from two doors down, Totoko Kasuga, and the bags of food she was carrying all for herself. Notomo takes the initiative, and she and Kasuga begin to share meals, forming a close bond. Notomo eventually begins to develop feelings for her hard-to-read, though very kind, neighbor. What other feelings and foods will arise in this new relationship? In addition to a lesbian love story (with perhaps some hints at an ace/arospec protagonist), this series also contains numerous cultural and social insights into Japan. Enjoy the slow bloom of affection between these two women as they navigate their feelings towards each other and their livelihoods. Slice-of-life stories about adults are relatively rare, and I wanted to bring this to the attention of potential readers.
Appeals to
Adults, older teens
Content Notes
Although I feel that this series is very appropriate for teens (there is nothing explicit), the story seems to have been written to appeal to adults who lack the social freedom for self-expression that kids typically have. Self-reflection is conducted independently of pop culture and social norms; these women are grown and working adults, and the story is mainly free of yuri tropes that might appeal to younger readers.
Creator Identities:
Japanese |
Main Character Identities:
Japanese |
Lesbian |
Recommended by
Al(lison) Dohhr
The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All
Sumiko Arai
Mitsuki Koga is a high school girl with an interest in dad rock (okay, okay...CLASSIC ROCK). She helps her uncle part-time in his record store, where she does her best to keep anonymous (note: high school is compulsory in Japan, and most schools restrict their students from working while still enrolled). She dresses androgynously, covers her face, and keeps quiet. Her classmate, Aya Oosawa, enticed by the music within the store, finds herself attracted to this shy shopkeeper. The series revolves around Mitsuki trying to keep her real identity as Aya's classmate a secret, while doing her best to maintain a friendship with her. They have a lot to learn about each other!
Appeals to
Teen girls
Content Notes
No explicit content - it's all hand-holding and blushing faces!
Recommended by
Al Marcellus
Whisper Me A Love Song
Eku Takeshima
Having an all-girl band play at your high school entrance ceremony would be pretty memorable on its own, but for Himari Kino, she also fell in love at first sight. After watching 3rd year Yori Asanagi as the lead singer of a band called SSgirls, she couldn't stop thinking about her. That means she's her biggest fan, right? The same day, she runs into Yori in the hall and tells her that she "fell in love at first sight" with her. Yori is left wondering if she really means it or is just star-struck. Meanwhile, Yori can't stop thinking about Himari either, her cute smile, her bubbly energy. Has lightning struck twice for these two teenagers, and do they feel the same way about each other, or is it just friendship for one of them and a hopeless crush for the other?
Appeals to
Readers who love the "grumpy/sunshine" trope will enjoy the dynamic between cool, older Yori and bubbly, naive Himari.
A cryptic mystery ensconced in a fairy tale fantasy world permeates Keiichi Hara’s (Colorful, Miss Hokusai) anime adaptation of Mizuki Tsujimura’s Lonely Castle in the Mirror, an enchanting tale about the ties of friendship that bind us together. A story centered on a group of outcast middle grade adolescents who, for various reasons, avoid going to school, find connection with each other in a fantastic world where they band together to unravel a mystery while discovering that they share more in common than they realize.
The story begins when Kokoro wakes up one morning with stomach pains that prevent her from attending school. She has been confined to her home for several weeks now after a bullying incident at school instigated by a gang of mean-spirited girls. The mirror in her bedroom emits a sparkling glow on this morning, casting a light that turns into a magical portal. Upon stepping through the mirror, she beholds a castle straight out of a fairy tale perched on a cliff surrounded by the sea. She is greeted by a young girl wearing a wolf mask who assigns a single task: Kokoro, along with six other students who have somehow also transported to this world, must find a secret room containing a key that will grant its finder a wish, but there is one caveat: This task must be completed by spring time, and they must leave the castle by five o’clock each day or else face a ferocious wolf that prowls about, stalking its prey with a voracious appetite.
Segmented into a series of months, each scenario unpacks the inner stories of each student: Timid Kokoro suffered from bullying classmates at school; headstrong Aki experienced molestation from her father; Masamune the gamer was taunted for his habitual lying; pushover Ureshino was teased for his failed attempts to win affection from girls, and so forth. Despite their imperfections however, these students learn to accept each other and their flaws. What shines are their back stories as they crystalize and sharpen into focus, highlighting deeper secrets that reveal they have more in common than they initially realized. But what unites them all and why can they not find each other in the real world? In this blend between fantasy and reality, the architectural aesthetics of the castle rooms contrast in tone and style with the tawdry mundaneness of their everyday lives, poignant moments unravel through unspoken silences, and an uplifting musical soundtrack reinforces the narrative action, propelling the story to its triumphant climax.
At the heart of Lonely Castle in the Mirror, themes of bullying, acceptance, isolation, trust, and friendship interlock like shifting pieces of a complex yet beautifully rendered mosaic, bridging the disparate lives of each character across time and space. A refuge for the harsh toils of school and life itself, this anime combines elements of magical whimsy, mystery, and fantasy that will appeal to middle grade viewers, illuminating the astonishing connections we hold and cherish within each other.
Lonely Castle in the Mirror Directed by Keiichi Hara GKIDS Films/Shout! Factory, 2023 Run time: 116 minutes minutes Stream this series
NFNT Age Recommendation: Teen (13-16) Creator Representation: Japanese, Character Representation: Japanese,
In 2002, I launched No Flying No Tights as a resource for library workers, educators, and fans. Our goal was and is to review comics from a library point of view and advocate for the format.
For over 20 years, we’ve continued to be a resource, especially for library workers. We work to make sure everyone has comics on their shelves and is supported showcasing the format.
Over the years, we’ve tried ads and other funding options to support the site, but none felt like the right fit. We want to remain an independent, trustworthy site for our readers.
School’s out for the summer! Dive into these kids graphic novels featuring summer camps, mysteries, and neighborhood hijinks.
Be Prepared
Vera Brosgol
Vera doesn't need to look very hard to see all the reasons that she doesn't fit in. Her single mom doesn't have the money to buy her trendy dolls or clothes that her friends have, she has to cram all of the girls into her small room when she has sleepovers, and all the other girls from school go away to camp every summer, something else her mom can't afford. When Vera hears about a Russian camp at her church, one that the church will help them pay for, she thinks this is her ticket to having something in common with the girls she goes to school with. But Russian camp is not like the summer camps she had heard about from her peers. At Russian camp you speak Russian, learn about Russian history, practice survival skills, stay up throughout the night defending the camp from invaders (the boys' camp), and there is no indoor plumbing. But over the course of the summer, Vera learns a lot about herself and how to make meaningful friendships.
Readers of Svetlana Chmakova and Raina Telgemeier will love this summery slice-of-life story.
Creator Identities:
Russian-American |
Main Character Identities:
Russian-American |
Recommended by
Tayla Cardillo
Camp
Kayla Miller
When Olive and her friend Willow go to sleepaway camp, Olive eagerly throws herself into making friends and the camp activities. Willow, however, struggles to fit in with the new campers and clings to Olive, who soon becomes resentful. Can their friendship survive camp?
Appeals to
Readers who like the realistic friendships and colorful art in Roller Girl will enjoy Camp and the other Olive books.
Recommended by
Megan Rupe
Long Distance
Whitney Gardner
Not only is Vega dealing with moving from Oregon to Washington and thus leaving her best friend behind, but now her best friend stops talking to her. And to make matters worse, Vega's dads decides that signing her up for summer camp is the best way to get her to make friends. All of Vega's fears seem to come true as things at the camp get weirder and weirder, but when it turns out the answer actually is that it's aliens the adventure kicks off. By the end of it all, Vega not only saves her campmates but also makes a new group of friends.
Appeals to
Long Distance's mix of science fact and fiction is a great choice for readers that like a little fantasy in their fiction, as seen in comics like Jukebox or Living with Viola. There are so many comics that are either heavily fantasy/sci-fi or very set in the real world, it can be hard to find recommendations for kids that want something in-between. I also love that we see Vega's parents in the comic as actual presences with their own worries and struggles, even if that's only on the fringes of the story.
Recommended by
Shannan Prukop
Shark Summer
Ira Marcks
Gayle's got enough on her plate with an injured arm, possibly ruined baseball career, and her mom trying to open an ice cream business, so the last thing she wants to deal with is a movie crew coming to town and taking things over. But newcomer to town Elijah's enthusiasm and curiosity, plus the prize money for a movie-making competition, pulls Gayle out and learning about Martha's Vineyard's myth of the phantom shark. This leads the two to Maddie, and this unlikely trio learns to trust each other over the summer while making their film. Besides, it's all just stories, there can't be a real ghost, right?
Appeals to
There's horror, there's discussions of film-making, there's local history: this comic's got a little bit of everything. Of course, it is also very much referencing the movie Jaws, so if for some reason there's a middle-grade reader out there who loves that franchise this will be a hit. But the search for the truth brings to mind comics like The Leak, and the supernatural elements can appeal to readers of comics like The Aquanaut. Also worth noting: there is a deaf side character in the adult cast, with signing on page. He's only in one scene, but it was exciting to see nonetheless.
Content Notes
Some fake blood, fake severed limbs, and sharks.
Recommended by
Shannan Prukop
Shirley & Jamila Save Their Summer
Gillian Goerz
Jamila Waheed agrees to hang out with Shirley Bones so that she can go to the local basketball court instead of science camp. However, she soon finds herself intrigued by the fact that several neighborhood kids visit Shirley for help with various issues, and her eccentric acquaintance (friend?) has a knack for resolving them. When Oliver asks for help finding his missing gecko, Shirley and Jamila find themselves with an exciting mystery that will test their dynamic.
Appeals to
Kids who like stories like Roller Girl and Kayla Miller's Click series might want to give this one a go, especially if they are interested in detective stories! The story does a good job of capturing an eccentric detective in the the vein of Sherlock Holmes while also describing relatable and realistic relationships and situations kids might face.
Content Notes
Brief discussion of childhood cancer and bullying
Recommended by
Megan Rupe
Wait Till Helen Comes
Mary Downing Hahn
Meredith Laxton
Adaptations from one format to another can be hit or miss, but this one is an absolute hit. Laxton and Badgett's illustration work adds to the tension and terror of Hahn's story, bringing it to a new generation of kids. It keeps the core story of an unhappy blended family pushed unexpectedly into the country one summer by parents who seem to think this will help. The house and area are immediately creepy, and Molly's bratty stepsister Heather doesn't help matters. Things escalate until Molly ends up saving Heather from a ghost, and the whole family begins the healing process.
Though there is an actual ghost in the story, Wait Till Helen Comes is also very much about how not addressing past trauma can affect our behavior and prevent us from moving forward. As such, it's great for readers that enjoyed stories like Lost Soul, Be At Peace, The Sleepover, or Lighter than My Shadow. The actual ghost elements mean this comic is also a great choice for readers that like to be scared but don't want any super scary monsters or especially terrifying imagery as might be found in Goosebumps or Five Nights at Freddy's. There are bones towards the end of the comic, but they're treated with sympathy rather than fear ultimately.
Recommended by
Shannan Prukop
Witches of Brooklyn: S'More Magic
Sophie Escabasse
Effie is (reluctantly) off to witchy summer camp where she and her fellow campers learn how to connect to nature and magic. Effie's a bit out of her depth, and that is not just because of her new powers and the dragon!
Appeals to
Readers who enjoy magic-filled adventures such as the Okay Witch and Lumberjanes will enjoy this book in the Witches of Brooklyn series.
Let’s go all around the world with comics either about travel, or set in or written by people in countries other than the US. Either travelling physically or in our minds, these stories will inspire a new perspective. Take a trip just by reading on your couch and let your mind do the wandering.
A First Time for Everything
Dan Santat
In this heartwarming memoir, Dan Santat tells the story of his Europe trip the summer before high school. With warmth and humor, Santat explores a lot of firsts: first time outside his hometown, first taste of Fanta, and first love.
Readers looking for a great coming-of-age story that captures the joys and pains of teenage years; readers who need a story that shows things can get better after middle school
Creator Identities:
Thai-American |
Main Character Identities:
Thai-American |
Recommended by
Megan Rupe
Aya: Life in Yop City
Marguerite Abouet
Clement Oubrerie
Aya is an intelligent girl who wants to become a doctor; her friends Bintou and Adjoua are trying to find love in their vibrant hometown, Yop City. As the girls figure out their lives, their families and community have their own stories as well. There's never a dull moment in Yop City!
Appeals to
Readers looking for fun and funny slice-of-life stories featuring African characters
Content Notes
Brief sexual harassment, nudity (although the situation is one where it makes sense to be naked)
Creator Identities:
French, Ivorian |
Main Character Identities:
Black, Ivorian |
Recommended by
Megan Rupe
Cats of the Louvre
Taiyo Matsumoto
As might be expected, this is the story of cats that live at the Louvre Museum in France. But it's also so much more: a discussion of how people process art differently and how personal that process is, the delicacy of life, and what one place and its people look like over time. And much like visiting a museum, each time reading through Cats of the Louvre is a slightly different experience. Also, the cats are pretty cute.
The easy answer here is to recommend this to fans of Taiyo Matsumoto's other works or people that tend to go to museums or art shows, but let's not go with the easy answer. The human element of the story makes it a solid recommendation for readers of Our Colors or Blackwater, where the pains of growing up and facing unexpected moments in life center around stories that may or may not be supernatural. Meanwhile, the cat's eye view of the story could pull in readers of the growing genre of sweet and serious cat manga, like Cat + Gamer or A Man and His Cat.
Creator Identities:
Japanese |
Main Character Identities:
Recommended by
Shannan Prukop
Daytripper
Gabriel Ba
Brás de Oliva Domingos is an aspiring novelist, living in Brazil, whose day job is writing obituaries. This graphic novel presents different vignettes of Brás life, each ending with his death. As the reader explores the different "possible futures" of this one man, they are forced to contemplate the fragile and fleeting nature of life.
Those who enjoy non-linear storytelling telling or more advent-guard graphic novels that play with the format and what it can do.
Content Notes
Character Death
Creator Identities:
Brazilian, Latinx |
Main Character Identities:
Brazilian |
Recommended by
Tayla Cardillo
Night Bus
Zuo Ma
Explore the surreal landscape between sleeping and waking, memory and reality, with the main character as the story drifts between moments. Sometimes we're in rural China, visiting the main character's grandmother, other times in the city with an artist identifying with a stray cat. The stories do interconnect and weave together, but it all has a filter of nostalgia and sadness between moments of real world, completely mundane moments. It's as much a journey through people and their memories as it is about the places these people's memories exist in.
Appeals to
Pick up Night Bus if you like Tillie Walden's exploration of West Texas in Are You Listening? or the mix of magic, memory, and trauma in Middlewest. Pick up Night Bus if you like comics that let the visuals do the storytelling, and are okay with some of those visuals being a little upsetting. Pick up Night Bus, and see where the dreams take you.
Content Notes
This story deals with things like death, dementia, and frustration at how modernization is changing the landscape, often using imagery involving bugs. Some can be pretty grotesque.
Creator Identities:
Chinese |
Main Character Identities:
Chinese |
Recommended by
Shannan Prukop
Our Not-So-Lonely Planet Travel Guide
Mone Sorai
How about a comic not just set outside the US, but actually about international travel? The deal these boyfriends have made is that if they can travel around the world together, they'll get married. The first volume starts with them departing Japan and beginning their journey, and each volume so far has covered a few countries per volume as they work their way westward around the world. They meet other LGBTQ+ people, get sick, and learn how to be better partners for each other. Oh, and there are fun tidbits about each country, so it's totally educational.
Appeals to
Since this is about two men in a relationship, Our Not-So-Lonely Planet Travel Guide is an easy pick for readers of BL, but keep in mind that this falls in the more domestic and sweet stories like What Did You Eat Yesterday or Restart After Coming Home. But just because it's a MLM relationship doesn't mean it's only for BL readers; this is a great choice for anyone that likes sweet romance stories, especially with the trope of a prickly person being paired with a daydreamer.
Content Notes
Some discussion of homophobia or fears of being mistreated over being LGBTQ+
Creator Identities:
Japanese |
Main Character Identities:
Japanese |
Gay |
Recommended by
Shannan Prukop
Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea
Guy Delisle
In this graphic memoir, Delisle explores a perspective that many Westerners do not have access to, which is what it's like to live in North Korea. Delisle spends two months in Korea working for a French animation company and this graphic novel describes him, living, working, and trying to understand the restrictive country that is North Korea. Since cameras were not allowed in the country, Delisle used his artistic ability to capture the things witnessed there, sketching and journaling every day to try to remember it all.
Those who enjoyed stories about people living and enduring extraordinary (and sometimes oppressively) situations like Ducks by Kate Beaton or Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi will enjoy this book.
Content Notes
Discussion of Propaganda
Creator Identities:
Canadian |
Main Character Identities:
Canadian |
Recommended by
Tayla Cardillo
Shubeik Lubeik
Deena Mohamed
A poor woman saves up to buy a powerful wish, only for the authorities to imprison her. A college student wrestles with the ethical implications of using a wish to fix their mental health. These are just a couple of the stories in Shubeik Lubeik, which take place in a world where wishes are real and can be purchased.
Appeals to
Readers who enjoy thoughtful, expansive fantasy will enjoy the excellent worldbuilding and personal stories in Shubeik Lubeik.
Content Notes
Violence, death, abuse, depression
Creator Identities:
Egyptian |
Main Character Identities:
Egyptian |
Recommended by
Megan Rupe
Summer Spirit
Elizabeth Holleville
During a summer at her grandmother's house, Louise is realizing how un-fun it is to be the youngest. Her sister and her cousins want to talk about boys and sneak out late, and Louise is feeling left behind. Then she meets Lisa, someone her age who always seems to be around when the teenage drama between her cousins and sister becomes too much, but Lisa is not just another girl who lives in the neighborhood, she's a ghost haunting her grandmother's property. Will Lisa be a friendly spirit guide as Louise navigates getting older or will she be something darker?
Appeals to
Readers who love the mix of sisterhood and the paranormal in M is for Monster will enjoy this book.
This review refers to the hardbound trade which comprises the first five issues of Animal Castle. It’s marked volume 1 and it is a handsome volume, indeed! I read the first five issues as the individual comics, through my subscription at my favorite comics pusher, so I was curious to see what the compiled edition looked like. This glossy library bound edition shows the richly painted art from the first comic cover and includes a preamble by the author, all the variant covers, and lots of bonus material displaying the original pencils and thumbnails. The cover art wraps around to the back side. It should hold up to many circulations.
This storyline is essentially Orwell’s Animal Farm, yes, but updated and retold in a new chilling way, putting a wider variety of animals in the different roles, and exploring more intimately what each character has to give up to change their brutal conditions. The dictator and general for life, Silvio, is a corpulent shaggy bull with googly stern eyes, Texas Longhorn-type horns, a protruding lip, and large jowls that somehow seem familiar. His hench-dogs are slobbery, idiotic, and brutal, and are rendered in Felix Delep’s lanky whispy pencils. All the animals have amazingly human expressions, and it’s easy to empathize with each. Indeed, many of the scenes are heartbreaking.
The story revolves around a starving young mama cat named Miss Bengalore and her attempts to organize the Castle against the brutality of Silvio’s reign. The Hindi-sounding name is not a coincidence, as she’s shown early in the book what happens to those who speak up and riot. She has all she can handle with her three kittens and her forced work hauling stones all day to Silvio’s commanded building of a wall fortress, but, one night, she sees an old gray rat, a traveling storyteller named Azelar, do a performance about, “a little man, a fakir who fights against a king and an empire….” Is Azelar’s appearance a coincidence? Or does he have more to teach the Castle animals? When the old rat is injured trying to escape the guard hounds, Miss B. rescues him. Can he convince Miss B. and the other animals to work towards a better life away from Silvio’s grasp?
The story pacing kept my interest and the colors are muted and appropriate for a difficult story like this. The lettering is very small, so I needed my cheaters to read it. Even though this story is based on Animal Farm, this is not a story for middle graders. There is considerable violence as well as adult situations, even though those are animal-portrayed adult situations. In a country where some try to ban mouse-nakedness, librarians should be aware that this comic discusses very hard political issues, and the brutality is explicitly portrayed. I suggest putting this title either in the adult area or young adult.
Animal Castle, vol. 1 Vol. 1 By Xavier Dorison Art by Felix Delep Ablaze, 2022 ISBN: 9781684970032
Publisher Age Rating: 16+ NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18)
The cover of this graphic novel makes one assume that it’s about the author’s marriage to his long-time partner, but by the end of the 112 pages, you will change your assumption. This witty, humane, honestly perceptive story about two men in a relationship and where they are right now in their lives in this country is more of a snapshot in time, with all the attendant Woody Allen-New York-neurotic angst one would expect from a working artist.
That’s not to say this isn’t an enjoyable read. It is. It’s like sitting down with your best friend to trade personal anecdotes, hurts, and love stories, with all the warmth that connects you to them. Honestly, Kirby is so perceptive and intuitive about himself and his partner and their families and friends, you feel like you’ve known them forever. I imagined us sitting with coffee while he admits in one page that he’s sometimes “micro-aggressive” in his select use of the word “husband” to other people.
As the graphic novel advances, Kirby uses red and blue colored pencils on a monochromatic background to draw attention to main parts of the story, express emotion, and communicate extra little funny comments on the side. There are extra comments squished in everywhere! Don’t miss the “Earthlink” comment on page 34 or the “Young Rob” on page 48.
The thing is, Kirby starts the story admitting that “he doesn’t have a sentimental bone in his body” and feels apathetic about getting married to partner John. He’s also nervous about getting older, and while he’s “adept at putting off scary stuff,” after Minnesota legalizes gay marriage, they decide to do it, just for the legalistic freedom it will give them.
Despite how much he tries to convince himself that marriage is just dotting an i or crossing a t, both men look positively scared but happy at the moment they hear, “I now pronounce you married.” So, maybe it was kind of a big thing after all? This moment is repeated on eleven other pages as the author places it against the background of what was happening politically in this country and how that affected people that don’t toe the WASP-traditional-nuclear-family-choice line.
Despite how happy they are as a couple, as time passes and they get on with their lives, with all the happiness and sadness that entails, Kirby compares their familial bliss with what’s going on in the country at large, and here is where the graphic novel changes to a very different theme. Part two is more of a recounting of the Trump years, the abolition of Roe v. Wade, the killing of George Floyd, mass shootings, and how the couple navigates the constantly changing landscape of the recent United States decisions.
At one point Kirby muses, “it sure would be nice to just not think about it anymore…but that’s not the world we live in.”
I remember as a child learning about the Civil Rights Act, which was voted into law the year before I was born. My childlike brain said, “Okay, that’s solved—they passed a law. So, like, that’s fixed, right?” It took me years to learn that it’s not that easy. So…me too, Rob. Me too.
Even when Rob and John are discussing these events with their friends, they’re sensitive and considerate to possible different opinions, and the story has such a good use of framing and flow to echo the previous pages in the story. This ties the first half of the story into the second half’s discussion.
I feel like the four pages of wedding-themed music and six pages of wedding-themed movies could have been less, and it slowed the story’s momentum. But that’s a small quibble for such an enjoyable read.
This graphic novel has no depictions of sexual acts but does portray two men kissing. There is no violence. There are many, many depictions of typical day to day adult family life, like grocery shopping, dog walking, working on the computer, and dinners out with friends. It should be shelved in the adult section and is recommended for any library.
Marry Me a Little: A Graphic Memoir By Rob Kirby Graphic Mundi, 2023 ISBN: 9781637790397
Publisher Age Rating: 16+ NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18)
Vi was supposed to enter Arden High with her twin brother, but then he decided to go off to boarding school. Now Vi is starting high school alone and she is not happy about it. Plus, at Arden High, humans like Vi attend alongside fairies, ghosts, and other magical creatures, so it’s disorienting, to say the least.
But it’s not all bad. Since she doesn’t have to wear a uniform, Vi can finally dress how she wants, in beanies and baggy clothes. She quickly makes friends with a group of quirky outsiders and even meets a cute poet-slash-influencer named Orsino. The only problem is, all of Vi’s new friends assume she’s not interested in guys. So even though she spends lots of time with Orsino, he only seems to think of her as a friend . . . and he wants her help to ask his crush, Olivia, to the Twelfth Grade Night dance. Which is extra awkward, because Olivia? Is into Vi.
Modern high school shenanigans (complete with mistaken identities on Instagram), supernatural creatures, tons of Shakespeare references, and a diverse cast combine in this sweet, spirited romantic comedy. Vi is struggling to figure things out while feeling abandoned by her twin, and it’s fun to watch her make friends and find a place for herself at Arden High. Meanwhile, the romantic misunderstandings and the antics of her new friends and the supporting cast—like the fairy royalty who semi-literally rule the school—make for a light-hearted romp with plenty of winks at anyone familiar with Shakespeare’s comedies.
Vi doesn’t quite know whether or not she likes girls, but she does like guys, regardless of the assumptions people might make based on her androgynous outfits. Olivia definitely likes girls, and plenty of people, male and female, are crushing on her. Vi’s twin is bisexual, as is one of her new friends. The nonchalance and playfulness around gender and orientation are refreshing and mesh well with the Shakespeare-inspired romantic mix-ups.
The art is colorful and active, with detailed and expressive characters taking the spotlight over the more minimal backgrounds. The lineart is relaxed, with a pencil-sketch look, but not rough or unfinished-looking. The colors vary with the scene and setting, and are often used to reinforce a mood (e.g. dappled greens and earth tones in the woods, stormy grays during a flashback to Vi’s father’s funeral, saturated pinks and purples at the Twelfth Grade Night dance). We also get plenty of manga-style sparkle effects, especially when someone interacts with their crush—which, given the plot of this book, happens a lot.
Despite the focus on romance, this book contains nothing steamier than a quick kiss. There is some deceit and pranking, but the pranksters end up feeling guilty and apologizing by the end. Vi is carrying sadness about being separated from her twin, and also about losing her father, but works through some of those feelings on the way to the sparkly happy ending.
This is an upbeat romp full of mischief and mix-ups but also friendship, family, and finding happiness. Hand it to fans of the Heartstopper series, books by ND Stevenson, and to any young reader looking for a sweet, inclusive rom-com.
Twelfth Grade Night, Vol. 1 By Molly Horton Booth, Stephanie Kate Strohm Art by Jamie Green Hyperion, 2022 ISBN: 9781368064651
Publisher Age Rating: 12-18 NFNT Age Recommendation: Teen (13-16), Tween (10-13) Creator Representation: Nonbinary, Chronic Illness
Tsujimura’s Lonely Castle in the Mirror, an enchanting tale about the ties of friendship that bind us together. A story centered on a group of outcast middle grade adolescents who, for various reasons, avoid going to school, find connection with each other in a fantastic world where they band together to unravel a mystery while discovering that they share more in common than they realize.
This review refers to the hardbound trade which comprises the first five issues of Animal Castle. It’s marked volume 1 and it is a handsome volume, indeed! I read the first five issues as the individual comics, through my subscription at my favorite comics pusher, so I was curious to see what the compiled edition looked like. This glossy library bound edition shows the richly painted art from the first comic cover and includes a preamble by the author, all the variant covers, and lots of bonus material displaying the original pencils and thumbnails. The cover art wraps around to the back side. It should hold up to many circulations.
The cover of this graphic novel makes one assume that it’s about the author’s marriage to his long-time partner, but by the end of the 112 pages, you will change your assumption. This witty, humane, honestly perceptive story about two men in a relationship and where they are right now in their lives in this country is more of a snapshot in time, with all the attendant Woody Allen-New York-neurotic angst one would expect from a working artist.
Vi was supposed to enter Arden High with her twin brother, but then he decided to go off to boarding school. Now Vi is starting high school alone and she is not happy about it. Plus, at Arden High, humans like Vi attend alongside fairies, ghosts, and other magical creatures, so it’s disorienting, to say the least.
