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Comics & Graphic Novels December 2023
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Period: the quick guide to every uterus
by Ruth Redford
This 4-color graphic novel guide embraces all the icky, all the sticky, and all the confusing of our monthly cycle, acknowledging that there's no cookie cutter way to manage the physical and emotional mayhem. Filled with consumable, bite-sized tips, tricks, and "inside" medical information, this humorous, character-driven guide is the best friend you never knew you needed. And with its fully gender-, body-, and sexuality-inclusive content, this is the no-judgement zone. Whether you're dreading your first period or can't wait to throw a Period Party, you'll find all the answers you need right here.
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Are You Willing to Die for the Cause? revolution in 1960s Quebec revolution in 1960s Quebec
by Chris Oliveros
It started in 1963, when a dozen mailboxes in a wealthy Montreal neighborhood were blown to bits by handmade bombs. By the following year, a guerrilla army camp was set up deep in the woods, with would-be soldiers training for armed revolt. Then, in 1966, two high-school students dropped off bombs at factories, causing fatalities. What was behind these concerted, often bungled acts of terrorism, and how did they last for nearly eight years? In Are You Willing to Die for the Cause?, Quebec-born cartoonist Chris Oliveros sets out to dispel common misconceptions about the birth and early years of a movement that, while now defunct, still holds a tight grip on the hearts and minds of Quebec citizenry and Canadian politics.
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I must be dreaming
by Roz Chast
Ancient Greeks, modern seers, Freud, Jung, neurologists, poets, artists, shamans-humanity has never ceased trying to decipher one of the strangest unexplained phenomena we all experience: dreaming. Now, in her new book, Roz Chast illustrates her own dream world, a place that is sometimes creepy but always hilarious, accompanied by an illustrated tour through "Dream-Theory Land" guided by insights from poets, philosophers, and psychoanalysts alike. Illuminating, surprising, funny, and often profound, I Must Be Dreaming explores Roz Chast's newest subject of fascination-and promises to make it yours, too.
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Roaming
by Jillian Tamaki
Over the course of a much-anticipated trip to New York, an unexpected fling blossoms between casual acquaintances and throws a long-term friendship off-balance. Emotional tensions vibrate wildly against the resplendently illustrated backdrop of the city, capturing a spontaneous queer romance in all of its fledgling glory. Slick attention to the details of a bustling, intimidating metropolis are softened with a palette of muted pastels, as though seen through the eyes of first-time travelers. The awe, wonder, and occasional stumble along the way come to life with stunning accuracy.
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A guest in the house
by Emily Carroll
After many lonely years, Abby's just gotten married. She met her new husband--a recently widowed dentist--when he arrived in town with his young daughter, seeking a new start. Although it's strange living in the shadow of her predecessor, Abby does her best to be a good wife and mother. But the more she learns about her new husband's first wife, the more things don't add up. And Abby starts to wonder...was Sheila's death really by natural causes? As Abby sinks deeper into confusion, Sheila's memory seems to become a force all its own, ensnaring Abby in a mystery that leaves her obsessed, fascinated, and desperately in love for the first time in her life.
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The hills of Estrella Roja
by Ashley Robin Franklin
When college freshman Kat Fields receives a mysterious email urging her to visit a relatively unknown Texas town with a history of witchcraft, strange sightings, and "devil lights"--glowing red stars that appear above the town's hills every night--she ditches her plans for spring break and takes a solo road trip to Estrella Roja to investigate for her podcast, Paranormal Texas, catchphrase: "Y'all stay spooky!" Meanwhile, Marisol "Mari" Castillo, is also headed for Estrella Roja to attend the funeral for her abuela whom she hasn't seen since childhood, when her mom cut ties with the family and left town. Feeling lost and bored, she decides to help Kat after a chance meeting at the local diner--and, okay, it doesn't hurt that Kat is super cute. As the two girls grow closer not only to each other, but to uncovering the dark legacy that the town was built on, they discover that something hungry lurks beneath the strange stars and that in the hills of Estrella Roja, some secrets should stay buried.
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Hockey girl loves drama boy
by Faith Erin Hicks
It should have been a night of triumph for Alix's hockey team. But her mean teammate Lindsay decided to start up with her usual rude comments and today Alix, who usually tries to control her anger, let it finally run free. Alix lashes out and before she knows it, her coach is dragging her off Lindsay, and the invitation to the Canada National Women's U18 Team's summer camp is on the line. She needs to learn how to control this anger, and she is sure Ezra, the popular and poised theater kid from her grade is the answer. So she asks for his help. But as they hang out and start get closer, Alix learns that there is more to Ezra than the cool front he puts on. And that maybe this friendship could become something more.
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Mabuhay!: A Graphic Novel
by Zachary Sterling
Struggling to fit in at school, first-generation Filipino siblings JJ and Althea find their world turned upside down when the witches, ogres and other creatures from Filipino folklore come to life, forcing them to embrace who they really are to save their family.
Genre: Fantasy comics; Fairy tale and folklore-inspired fiction Themes: Defend the realm!; Hidden heritage; Immigrant experiences Character: Asian Storyline: Character-driven; World-building; Own voices Tone: Angst-filled; Funny Writing Style: Attention-grabbing Illustration: Colorful; Cartoony
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Duel
by Jessixa Bagley
When her popular sister Gigi humiliates her on the first day of school, Lucy snaps and challenges her to a duel with high sisterly stakes that divides the school into factions and fractures their family even further.
Genre: Sports fiction; Realistic fiction Themes: Dealing with bullies Character: Unspecified people of color; Multiracial Storyline: Own voices; Character-driven Pace: Intensifying Tone: Angst-filled Writing Style: Richly detailed
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Saving sunshine
by Saadia Faruqi
It's hard enough being a kid without being teased for a funny sounding name or wearing a hijab. It's even harder when you're constantly fighting your sibling--and Zara and Zeeshan really can't stand each other. During a family trip to Florida, when the bickering, shoving, and insults reach new heights of chaos, their parents sentence them to the worst possible fate--each other's company! But when the twins find an ailing turtle, it presents a rare opportunity for teamwork--if the two can put their differences aside at last.
Genre: Realistic fiction Themes: Road tripping; Meet the family Tone: Upbeat; Moving; Angst-filled
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Candle point
by Mike Deas
When a wild winter storm rolls in and all the power goes out, Kay stays with her reclusive aunt, Gayle, the lighthouse keeper of Candle Point. On the long trek through the blustery snowstorm, Kay stumbles upon an injured moon creature. Kay smuggles her new friend into her aunt's lighthouse to take shelter from the cold. While exploring the lighthouse she discovers a network of tunnels and a colony of moon creatures. Kay tries to reunite the abandoned creature with its family but she can't do it alone. She tricks her friends into coming to the lighthouse and into the tunnel to help her reunite the hurt animal, but with no success. Desperate to heal her new friend, Kay plucks a mysterious moon crystal from the moon creatures' nest, an action that sets off a dangerous chain of events. The group becomes stranded when a cliff-and the bridge that leads in and out of Candle Point-collapses into the waves below. Can Kay regain the trust of her friends and restore the balance before Candle Point completely crumbles into the ocean?
Genre: Action and adventure comics Themes: Friendship; Mythical creatures Writing Style: Attention-grabbing
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Eerie tales from the School of Screams
by Graham Annable
Guaranteed to scare readers silly, this collection of five terrifying tales follows Davis and Emily as they listen to their classmates tell the spookiest, most chilling stories ever.
Genre: Horror comics; Comics and Graphic novels; Anthologies Character: Twisted Tone: Scary; Funny
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Things in the basement
by Ben Hatke
It was supposed to just be a normal basement--some storage boxes, dust, you know, the usual basement stuff. But when Milo is sent by his mother to fetch a sock from the basement of the historic home they've moved into, Milo finds a door in the back thathe's never seen before. Turns out that the basement of his house is enormous. In fact, there is a whole world down there. As Milo travels ever deeper into the Basement World, he meets the many Things that live in the shadows and gloom...and he learns that to face his fears he must approach even the strangest creatures with kindness.
Character: Courageous Tone: Whimsical; Suspenseful Writing Style: Descriptive; Attention-grabbing
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Barb and the battle for Bailiwick
by Dan Abdo
While trying to harness the mystical power of the Ghost Blade, Barb and her friends, along with five Wise Wizards, face off against Witch Head's Shadow Army as Porkchop makes sure there are enough snacks for everyone.
Genre: Action and adventure comics; Fantasy comics; Humorous stories Themes: To the rescue! Character: Courageous Tone: Funny; Gross; Suspenseful Writing Style: Attention-grabbing
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Find out more great reading recommendations in NoveList!
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