February Staff Picks!

Flamer by Mike Curato (he/him)
It’s the summer between middle school and high school, and Aiden Navarro is away at camp. Everyone’s going through changes–but for Aiden, the stakes feel higher. As he navigates friendships, deals with bullies, and spends time with Elias (a boy he can’t stop thinking about), he finds himself on a path of self-discovery and acceptance.
If you were ever the “weird kid”, this book is for you. In a moving story (with a sweet ending), you remember what it was like being a kid who didn’t fit in. Beginning to realize you may be queer is always confusing, especially when the boys around you are so rowdy, but you will always find those who support you. Friends can carry us through a lot, and even when it’s awkward or painful, it’s lovely. It felt so healing to read this story, as the former weird kid of summer camp. I highly recommend this challenged and banned book to everyone; queer stories are important and cannot be silenced!

Batman: Court of Owls by Scott Snyder, Greg Capulo, and Jonathan Glapion
Any DC Comics fans out there may be rolling their eyes at this pick – it’s a bonafide modern classic, and a bit silly that it took me so long to read it. But I finally did and, let me tell you, it’s beloved for a reason!

This gritty, no-nonsense (more so than usual) take on the caped crusader weaves a mystery through the annals of Gotham City history that makes it feel new all over again, even to our protagonist. As Bruce unravels an apparent conspiracy he can’t let himself admit is real, the city he thought he knew better than anything (and probably anyone) reveals hidden depths that strike right at the heart of the Wayne legacy.

I won’t lie, I love watching my favorite characters suffer, and if you’re anything like me, then this read is right up your alley. It’s hard to believe that Bruce makes it out alive of this one, but even more so, that his mind leaves intact! Unless… it doesn’t?

If you’re interested in Batman at all, I think you need to give Court of Owls a go. It’s a gripping mystery with fantastic writing that gives substance to some of the more comic book-ish twists and turns, and has definitely secured its place among my favorite Bruce Wayne tales!

A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat
Do you know someone who thinks graphic novels “aren’t real books?” Well, I have a delightful example to add to your counter argument! A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat is a pitch-perfect memoir about a school trip to Europe the summer before he started high school. As a “good kid,” who faces bullying at school, the trip helps bring him out of his shell as he experiences lots of fun firsts and adventures–including first love and first Fanta! Plus, it won the 2023 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. That means it competed with print only offerings in middle grade and YA. That’s a big deal!

I can see why the NBA committee loved this book. If you’re familiar with Dan Santat’s picture books or other graphic novels, you’ll recognize his expressive character design and beautiful coloring, but in this book, he brings some stunning specificity to famous European sights, such as the Eiffel Tower, and Wimbleton, as well as fun attention to local cuisine (especially all the flavors of Fanta). But what really shines in this memoir is his charming, realistic dialogue that accurately reflects the awkwardness and enthusiasm of a teen experiencing firsts. It’s not overly sweet though. Santat also unflinchingly portrays experiences of being bullied in middle school in seamlessly executed, purposeful, flashbacks. Finally, the pacing of the story which revolves around the trip, is masterful and satisfying. It’s not every graphic novelist who can make me feel at ease with how they are managing all the complexity of the format, but Dan Santat can do it.

Because it will inevitably be an issue in the current climate of book banning, I will say that young Dan has his first (almost legal) sips of beer in Germany, and some chaste kissing. The publisher recommends this book for ages 10-14, which is in between middle grade and YA. That makes it a little tricky to shelve or recommend without knowing where a particular kid is at, but I would definitely recommend it for anyone (adults too!) ages 10+. It’s funny! It’s heartwarming! It’s relatable! The art is beautiful! The pacing is immaculate! If you read it, let me know what you think.

Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol
Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol, published in 2011, tells the tale of our title character Anya, who blames her Russian heritage and friends for why she doesn’t fit in with those she deems popular and cool at her preppy private school.

In the midst of Anya being all consumed by her teen angst and anxiety, she falls down a well in the woods near her neighborhood. It’s there that she meets Emily, a teen ghost trapped in the well for the last 90 years. Anya escapes the well, as does Emily much to Anya’s surprise. Emily works hard to prove she can be Anya’s spectral BFF. After all, Emily missed out on normal teenage girl years, so she wants to stick around and enjoy Anya’s.

All you kiddos born in 2011 are officially teens now, so go read this YA creepy coming-of-age story now that you are of age.

Betwixt by Junji Ito and Assorted Artists
I make it no secret that Snotgirl is my all time favorite comic, and a large part of that is thanks to Leslie Hung’s artwork. I have post notifications for her on Instagram, and when she tweeted that she had a short story in Junji Ito’s Betwixt, I ran to tell Betty that we HAVE TO HAVE IT! Lucky for me, she already ordered it and I was over the moon. I bought it as soon as it came out, and oh my God. Junji Ito selected the participating artists masterfully. Every short story carries a different tone, and they shine in their differences from one another. Ranging from biblical to eldritch, every single one is compelling and has me on the edge of my seat.

The coolest aspect of the book was something I didn’t even know until I got halfway through it. As manga readers know, comics from Japan are read backwards from a western perspective– right to left, as opposed to left to right. It’s labeled a horror manga anthology, so I started reading the book right to left. And then, suddenly, at the very middle of the book, was a title card informing me to FLIP THE BOOK OVER to read the American-made horror comics! I lost my mind. I hadn’t seen a book play with the medium like this before and I was not at all surprised that it was from the mind of Junji ito. Reading the American comics the western way after reading the Manga the opposite way created this feeling of unease, like I was reading through something I shouldn’t be. The anthology is amazing, meta-textual, genius, and at its core, full of really good short stories that can be finished in a single sitting. Pick it up! See what I’m yapping about! I could talk about this book forever!

Drinking With Wizards, Warriors and Dragons by Thea James and Pamela Wiznitzer
Although different from my unusual recommendations–this book is a cookbook, specifically for mixology–it’s amazing. If you are as much of a fantasy nerd as I am and love all of the classics while drinking a nice drink (alcoholic or nonalcoholic) while reading, this book is perfect for you! From classics like the Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien, Harry Potter by J.K Rowling, The Sandman by Neil Gaiman, The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan, and even The Princess Bride by Willian Goldman, this mixology book has a lot of recipes themed around these fantastic books. So far personally i’ve tried the recipe called “Edmunds Temptation” inspired after the first book of The Chronicles of Narnia series. It’s a rose and lemon drink that I enjoyed a lot! I substituted the tonic for some sprite to make it non alcoholic, which is usually my go to for this book when it comes to substitutions for those of us who are under the age of 21 but are still nerds! Bottoms up!