LOVE, MISHA

During a road trip, a mother and teen stumble into the Realm of Spirits.

Misha, who presents nonbinary and white, lives with their aunt Maggie. Their mom, Audrey, hasn’t been around much, and when she is present, she’s often misgendering them or acting disappointed that they aren’t a girl. Aunt Maggie asks Misha to write Audrey a letter expressing the feelings they can’t verbalize and go on a trip with her so they can connect. While searching for a haunted castle, Misha and Audrey end up lost in the woods. They eventually find a seemingly abandoned town that at night suddenly fills with spirits. Odun, a tricky humanoid wolf spirit with brown skin and white hair, informs them that most spirits eat humans; with few choices, they decide to accept his invitation to travel together. Misha and Audrey have differing opinions about how to find their way back to the Material Realm, and their fights are exacerbated by their emotional baggage. The story’s resolution is realistically messy, with a cathartic breaking point leading to Audrey’s conscious decision to try to be a better parent. While these delightfully flawed characters have a compelling arc, the worldbuilding and Odun’s story both could use a bit more oomph. The Realm of Spirits and some of its creatures are reminiscent of Studio Ghibli films, a feeling that is amplified by the earth-toned illustrations.

An extended mother-child therapy session, with magic.