Striking artwork coupled with a lively story will inspire readers to break free from gendered expectations.
A teenage girl embarks on a dynamic journey of self-discovery in the 1990s feminist punk scene.
Seventeen-year-old Valerie Simmons feels trapped in her suburban neighborhood with her traditional parents; ballet class is the only place she can escape the otherwise stifling expectations thrust upon her. But now, even ballet adds pressure; a strict instructor insists she lose weight in order to keep performing. Driven to extreme measures, Valerie resorts to smoking to suppress her appetite, inducing vomiting, and refusing to eat. During this crisis of self, Valerie befriends Kat, a free-spirited girl who introduces her to a new community of people and ideas in the local punk scene. Inspired by this environment of freedom and self-expression, the two young White women start a band with Rudie, a self-described SHARP (Skinhead Against Racial Prejudice) who is Black. As Valerie’s band takes off, she develops healthier habits and better self-esteem and embarks on a liberating journey to discover what womanhood means to her. A riot spurred by racial tension occurs in the beginning, but the subject of race is not explored further. A muted color scheme of tender pinks, purples, and blues works to create a nostalgic, lively atmosphere throughout. The juxtaposition of figures and backgrounds on the page deftly takes advantage of negative space, making full use of the comic format to tell this rousing tale.
Striking artwork coupled with a lively story will inspire readers to break free from gendered expectations. (Graphic fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-62010-776-8
Page Count: 184
Publisher: Oni Press
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2020
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters.
When star hockey player Alec Barczewski’s estranged childhood friend, Dani Collins, moves to town, they end up in a mutually beneficial fake-dating relationship that reignites old feelings.
Following her parents’ divorce, Dani and her mom move in with Dani’s hockey legend grandfather in Southview, Minnesota, where she spent a month every summer as a child and where her friendship with Alec grew. Between visits, the two were pen pals, but they eventually fell out of touch. Despite some tensions over their loss of friendship, the high school seniors reconnect. Desperate to get off Harvard’s waitlist, Dani needs another extracurricular activity, while Alec—whose reputation took a hit when a photo of him holding a bong appeared on social media—is eager to improve his tarnished image for NHL scouts. The pair strike a deal: They’ll fake date, making Alec look like a stable guy whose academically gifted girlfriend is related to hockey royalty, and in exchange, he’ll get Dani a team manager position that will catch the eye of Harvard’s admissions officers. Eventually, complicated feelings about their past, stressful family relationships, and their brewing romance boil over. Romance fans will love the deliciously tension-filled scenes between Alec and Dani, who are believable friends with heavy demands weighing on them. They feel like real teenagers, and readers will enjoy rooting for them as the well-paced story unfolds. Main characters present white.
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 30, 2025
ISBN: 9781665921268
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2025
SEEN & HEARD
A troubling depiction of an unhealthy relationship.
A battered girl and an injured rugby star spark up an ill-advised romance at an Irish secondary school.
Beautiful, waiflike, 15-year-old Shannon has lived her entire life in Ballylaggin. Alternately bullied at school and beaten by her ne’er-do-well father, she’s hopeful for a fresh start at Tommen, a private school. Seventeen-year-old Johnny, who has a hair-trigger temper and a severe groin injury, is used to Dublin’s elite-level rugby but, since his family’s move to County Cork, is now stuck captaining Tommen’s middling team. When Johnny angrily kicks a ball and knocks Shannon unconscious (“a soft female groan came from her lips”), a tentative relationship is born. As the two grow closer, Johnny’s past and Shannon’s present become serious obstacles to their budding love, threatening Shannon’s safety. Shannon’s portrayal feels infantilized (“I looked down at the tiny little female under my arm”), while Johnny comes across as borderline obsessive (“I knew I shouldn’t be touching her, but how the hell could I not?”). Uneven pacing and choppy sentences lead to a sudden climax and an unsatisfyingly abrupt ending. Repetitive descriptions, abundant and misogynistic dialogue (Johnny, to his best friend: “who’s the bitch with a vagina now?”), and graphic violence also weigh down this lengthy tome (considerably trimmed down from its original, self-published length). The cast of lively, well-developed supporting characters, especially Johnny’s best friend and Shannon’s protective older brother, is a bright spot. Major characters read white.
A troubling depiction of an unhealthy relationship. (author’s note, pronunciations, glossary, song moments, playlists) (Romance. 16-18)Pub Date: Nov. 28, 2023
ISBN: 9781728299945
Page Count: 626
Publisher: Bloom Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 21, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2023
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