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Weekend Pick for August 25, 2023

8/25/2023

Weekend Pick for August 25, 2023

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Over My Dead Body (2022), Sweeney Boo

As the summer finally starts to wind down, and our thoughts turn to the upcoming "spooky szn", it seems the perfect time to cuddle up with a good book about magic, mysteries, and dark academia. Over My Dead Body, with words and stunning - seriously stunning - art from Sweeney Boo. In this graphic novel, "foundling" Abby Younwity, a student at the Younwity Hidden Institute of Witchcraft, wakes to discover that her friend, mentee, and fellow "foundling" Noreen has disappeared into the Forbidden Forest. Though the other students are content to let the administration handle it, Abby is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery and save Noreen. As Samhain approaches, Abby and her familiar, Seymour, uncover a conspiracy that threatens them all.

Given the similarities, many may be quick to compare this text to Harry Potter. After all, there are witches and mysteries and forbidden forests and a focus on found families. However, this is where the similarities end. Boo deftly avoids relying on stereotypes as characterization, and the text is filled with diverse racial representation as well as characters that are diverse in race, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Though the story covers familiar territory, Sweeney Boo's unique approach and breathtakingly beautiful panels make this book a fantastic addition to the genre.

Guest Contributor Bio: Alicia Burnette Whitley
Alicia is PhD Student in Literacy and English Language Arts Education at North Carolina State University. Prior to entering the PhD program, she taught high school English (9th Grade, African-American, YA, and British Literature). Her passion is culturally relevant and critical pedagogies, with a particular interest in multimodal texts and inclusive literary practices.

Thank Alicia for being our August contributor for the Weekend Picks! I have four new books in my shopping card thanks to you!

Happy reading!
Nikki ❤

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Weekend Pick for August 18, 2023

8/18/2023

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Weekend Pick for August 18, 2023

Pumpkinheads (2019), by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks

Pumpkinheads is a sweet workplace rom-com about friends Josiah and Deja who keep the Succotash Shack running at a pumpkin patch each autumn. It's the Halloween of their senior year - their last shift together - and Deja is on a mission to make sure that her work-bestie Josiah finally gets to talk to the girl he's been pining over for the past four years. She's also aiming to try all of the tasty foods the patch has to offer, no small task in and of itself. The night sees Josiah and Deja set off on an epic adventure fraught with peril and sparkling with the magical promise of autumnal treats and Halloweeny goodness that I yearn for at the end of summer.

As with many of Rainbow Rowell's novels and graphic novels, the story is focused on relationship building and self-discovery. Main characters Deja and Josiah have an odd-couple, quirky charm that works well. Introverted Josiah, for example, has struggled to make connections with the other employees at the park. Deja, on the other hand, seems to know everyone and encounters several exes over the course of the night. The two have a familiar sort of Dharma and Greg, Oscar and Felix, or Eleanor and Chidi type of relationship yet, through Rowell's writing and character development, manages to avoid reducing their character traits to the confines of the trope. Hicks's incredible art also brings the story to life, with a style that works well at representing a diversity of ethnicities and body types that other artists sometimes struggle with. The story is heartwarming, amusing, and sweet. Moreover, the novel itself flies by, and thus makes for a great weekend read.

Guest Contributor Bio: Alicia Burnette Whitley
Alicia is PhD Student in Literacy and English Language Arts Education at North Carolina State University. Prior to entering the PhD program, she taught high school English (9th Grade, African-American, YA, and British Literature). Her passion is culturally relevant and critical pedagogies, with a particular interest in multimodal texts and inclusive literary practices.

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Weekend Pick for August 11, 2023

8/11/2023

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Weekend Pick for August 11, 2023

Needle & Thread (2022) by David Pinckney, Ennun Ana Iurov, and Micah Myers

Alicia Burnette Whitley

If adolescence is about figuring out who you are, then perhaps the next step into adulthood is figuring out how to be yourself in a world that might not want you to be. This is the conflict that lies at the heart of Needle & Thread, another young adult graphic novel from the new Mad Cave Comics young adult imprint, Maverick. In their final year of high school, main characters Noah and Azarie find themselves both facing this problem. At the outset their identities seem to be as diametrically opposed as possible. Noah is a quiet kid, the child of a firefighter and a police officer, who was once lambasted by the entire class for daring to discuss his dream of being a costume designer. Outgoing Azarie, the child of a famous mother and a politician father, is a cheerleading valedictorian whose every move is lauded by her peers. Noah is Afro Latino, middle class, with one close friend - Hiroki. Azarie is white, affluent, with thousands of social media followers.

The two couldn't seem more different, superficially. However, when they discover a shared love of video games, comics, and cosplaying the two seem to hit it off right away, further bonding over the ways in which their parents try to control their futures - Noah's parents routinely put down his sewing as "just a hobby" while Azarie's parents seem to be totally concerned with how her existence fits within their carefully crafted public image. Aided by a passionate English teacher and her small circle of diverse cosplay enthusiasts, the two make it their mission to create a show stopping piece for their local comic con's cosplay contest.

Throughout this coming-of-age story, both Noah and Azarie have to discover that it's not always easy to be who you are in a world that thinks it knows what you should be. Refreshingly, there is no star-crossed lovers romance in this plot! Instead, the story focuses on the platonic and complicated friendship that Noah and Azarie have to work to develop over the course of the text. Writer David Pinckney's characters are by turns funny and flawed and the text makes brilliant use of epistolary elements - like texts and cell phone notifications - to aid in crafting the tale. Artist Ennun Ana Iurov, a newcomer to graphic novels, has a unique style honed by her work on 'zines. Though it takes a little getting used to, the pastel palette and rich detail bring the story to life. Though there are a few places where the story falls a little flat.

Some of the characters do veer into well trod tropes - of course Noah and Azarie are flanked by a popular mean girl and a geeky best friend. And a few of the situations seem highly implausible - Noah's parents grilling the English teacher about writing a recommendation for him to a school that wasn't on their approved list, for example. However, criticisms aside, ultimately the novel works as a fun and fast-paced graphic novel with a positive message about the power of living your life out loud.

Guest Contributor Bio: Alicia Burnette Whitley
Alicia is PhD Student in Literacy and English Language Arts Education at North Carolina State University. Prior to entering the PhD program, she taught high school English (9th Grade, African-American, YA, and British Literature). Her passion is culturally relevant and critical pedagogies, with a particular interest in multimodal texts and inclusive literary practices.

She also loves: Star Trek, videogames, graphic novels, cartoons, and podcasts.

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Weekend Pick for August 4, 2023

8/4/2023

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Weekend Pick for August 4, 2023

Hello Weekend Pick Enthusiasts!

Happy August to all of you! Many of you will be headed back to school soon (I start August 7th!) and may be in need of a weekend read after all the craziness at school. I know I will. Let me introduce you to our guest contributor for this month Alicia Burnette Whitley.

Alicia is PhD Student in Literacy and English Language Arts Education at North Carolina State University. Prior to entering the PhD program, she taught high school English (9th Grade, African-American, YA, and British Literature). Her passion is culturally relevant and critical pedagogies, with a particular interest in multimodal texts and inclusive literary practices.

She also wasn't sure if she should include that following, but I think you'll agree it's necessary information. She is also passionate about Star Trek, videogames, graphic novels, cartoons, and podcasts. Our interests are what makes us us!

Alicia is going to be diving into all the YA Graphic Novels that have been on her "must-read" list for some time and share them with us, which will inevitably be added to all of our lists (am I right?!).

Welcome Alicia, we can't wait to read all your picks!

Happy reading!
Nikki ❤

In the Shadow of the Throne (2022) by Kate Sheridan, Gaia Cardinali, and Micah Myers

Usually, when we think about comics and graphic novels for young adults, we tend to think of books that come from the Comic Big Two - either Marvel or DC. However, my goal this summer was to read a few brilliant graphic novels that are off the beaten graphic novel path. In the Shadow of the Throne from Maverick, the new young adult imprint of Mad Cave Studios, is one such. The story that effectively calls on familiar fish-out-of-water tropes when older brother Jordan wanders off from his wild siblings and annoying parents during a museum trip (What eldest sibling among us hasn't had this experience?) and stumbles into a fantasy land filled with elves, magic, and sword-wielding knights.

Jordan embodies the true epic hero. His outsider perspective and ingenuity come in handy as he navigates political intrigue, dodges mysterious assassins, and falls in love with the handsome prince with a dark secret of his own. Of course there is action, adventure, revenge, and betrayal. Although many of these tropes have been explored before, and the plot will seem familiar to readers who love Dungeons and Dragons, writer Kate Sheridan brings their own perspective and twists to the well-worn and familiar beats of The Hero's Journey. Unlike many of the heroes that dominate these types of stories, Jordan is Filipino American and gay, two facts which don't define his character but do inform his actions. What's more, the stunning art from Gaia Cardinali and the creative team's fantastic use of light and layout make this queer romance, epic fantasy, adventure an absolute pleasure to get lost in for a weekend.

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