YA

Little Moons / Jen Storm, Ryan Howe (Illustrator),  Alice RL (Colorist), Nickolej Villiger (Letterer)

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Little Moons
By: Jen Storm, Ryan Howe (Illustrator), Alice RL (Colorist), Nickolej Villiger (Letterer)
Genre: Graphic Novel, YA
Number of Pages: 64
Published: September 3, 2024
Publisher: HighWater Press
Dates Read: April 11, 2026
Format: Library Book / Paperback	ISBN: 9781774921074

It’s been a year since Reanna’s older sister, Chelsea, went missing on her way home from school. Without any idea what happened, Reanna and her family struggle to find closure. Because of the memories, Reanna’s mom moves to the city, leaving behind Reanna and her little brother to go live with their dad.

Reanna is hurt and feels alone, but she’s anything but that; light turns on in empty rooms and objects move without being touched and her brother sees little moons everywhere.

This short graphic novel tackles the heart wrenching topic of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirited People in Canada and how one family handles their grief of a loved one gone. I truly appreciate how the author also incorporates cultural forms of mourning from her own Ojibwe traditions.

I wish it went into a little more about the little moons, but overall, I still thought this was a powerful read.

From the Roots Up (Surviving the City #2) / Tasha Spillett, Natasha Donovan (Illustrator), Donovan Yaciuk (Illustrator)

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From the Roots Up (Surviving the City #2)
By: Tasha Spillett, Natasha Donovan (Illustrator), Donovan Yaciuk (Illustrator)
Genre: Graphic Novel, YA
Number of Pages: 64
Published: October 17, 2020
Publisher: HighWater Press
Dates Read: April 11, 2026
Format: Library Book / Paperback	ISBN: 9781553798989

In the sequel to Surviving the City, Dez’s grandmother has passed away and they are now living in a group home. On top of their grief, Dez is also navigating a new relationship and their identity as a Two-Spirit person.

Miikwan is crushing on the new student, Riel, but doesn’t fully understand what Dez is going through. Elder Linda is trying her hardest to be supportive, but doesn’t know how to respond to challenging the gendered protocols she’s grown up with.

I am so glad this goes into Two-Spirit individuals and how they can sometimes be treated in the Indigenous Community. I knew in certain ways, Two-Spirit individuals were usually regarded highly because they were connected to both genders, but I had never thought about what they do during specific gender role ceremonies.

I believe the author did a fantastic job to where she not only teaches the reader, but does so in a way that is relatable to the teenagers who would most likely pick this up. I can also appreciate how Elder Linda discusses with the teens her fault in how she approached the gendered protocols – adults don’t often apologise to teens, so it was nice to see that happen.

Overall, this is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel for young adults that explores not only Dez’s journey as a Two-Spirit but also the community around them who help.

Surviving the City (Surviving the City #1) / Tasha Spillett, Natasha Donovan (Illustrator), Donocan Yaciuk (Illustrator)

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Surviving the City (Surviving the City #1)
By: Tasha Spillett, Natasha Donovan (Illustrator), Donocan Yaciuk (Illustrator)
Genre: Graphic Novel, YA
Number of Pages: 56
Published: March 1, 2019
Publisher: HighWater Press
Dates Read: April 11, 2026 
Format: Library Book / Paperback	ISBN: 9781553797562

Miikwan and Dez are best friends. Miikwan is Anishinaabe; Dez is Inninew and together they navigate the challenges of growing up in an urban landscape. They’re so close, they even did their Berry Fast together. But when Dez’s grandmother becomes too sick to care for Dez, the threat of a group home becomes closer. Fearing being taken away, Dez disappears. Miikwan’s wound of her mother’s disappearance and murder resurfaces as the community tries to find Dez before it’s too late.

I’ve been wanting to read more Indigenous Voices and this series was on a list I found, so I immediately put them on hold at my library. Even as it highlights the teens going to school, hitting the mall, and working on a class project, this short graphic novel begins the dive into the discussion of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirited People in Canada.

I really like the depiction of spirits in this story, for both Indigenous Peoples and Non-Indigenous. I do wish a few of the ceremonies mentioned and done in the story talked more about what it was for, but that also opens the door for doing research myself and finding out too.

Overall, a wonderful, short graphic novel that just scratches the surface of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirited People in Canada.

Queen Kodiak / Christopher Greenslate, Riccardo Faccini (Illustrator), Dearbhla Kelly (Colorist), Justin Birch (Letterer)

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Queen Kodiak
By: Christopher Greenslate, Riccardo Faccini (Illustrator), Dearbhla Kelly (Colorist), Justin Birch (Letterer)
Genre: Graphic Novel, Young Adult
Number of Pages: 168
Published: January 26, 2026
Publisher: Maverick
Dates Read: March 15, 2025
Format: Library Book / Paperback	ISBN:9781545821015

After the death of her mother, seventeen-year-old Joey moves to Alaska’s Kodiak island with her absent dad. There, she befriends a giant bear she names Little Bear. However, hunters discover Little Bear’s existence and kill him. When they do, they awaken his mother, Queen Kodiak, a colossal, super-charged Kodiak grizzly bear, who is now on a rampage. Can they save Seattle before Queen Kodiak gets there?

I enjoyed the art of this novel and the fact that this was a quick read, but there were parts of this graphic novel that I felt could have had better transitions from one part to the next instead of otherwise feeling like a giant jump was being made – I would flip pages back and forth to make sure the numbers were in order. There was also some unexplained stuff too – like why can Joey see auras around some people?! Maybe this will be a series, or at least have another book since it ended with “The End?”

Overall, I enjoyed the fast paced story and if I come across a sequel, I’d be sure to pick it up, but I don’t think I’ll be actively searching for it though.

The Red Car to Hollywood / Jennie Liu

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The Red Car to Hollywood
By: Jennie Liu
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction
Number of Pages: 256
Published: March 4, 2025 (1st Published January 1, 2025)
Publisher: Carolrhoda Lab
Dates Read: February 18, 2026 - February 25, 2026
Format: Hardcover		ISBN: 9781728493213

Trigger Warnings: racism, sexism, sexual assault

Sixteen-year-old Ruby Chan considers herself a modern, independent American teenager. But when her secret relationship with a white boy implodes and is revealed to her very traditional Chinese parents, her life gets locked and chained. Her parents hire a matchmaker to find her a Chinese husband and her dad will also look for a husband on his business trip to China. 

Meanwhile, Ruby meets the nineteen-year-old film star, Anna May Wong at her family’s laundromat and the girls quickly strike up a friendship. Anna May defies Chinese convention by working as an actress on the silver screen and she scoffs at others’ assumptions about her. If she can forge her own path, so can Ruby.

I could really tell the research Jennie Liu had done with this novel and appreciated how she showed the issues Chinese teens dealt with in the 1920s. This isn’t a time in history I read too often so it was a learning experience for me as well. I have read about a few laws that were put into place in America around the 1940s but was not aware some of them were put into place decades before. 

I appreciated Ruby’s growth and determination about forging her own path but still trying to be somewhat respectful. Though the story ends on a high note, it’s not wrapped up sweet and nicely and leaves room for the reader to imagine Ruby’s story beyond the time we read with her. 

Overall, this is an informative, coming of age, historical fiction about growing up as a female Chinese American in Los Angeles’ Chinatown in 1920 that any historical reader would enjoy.

*Thank you Carolrhoda Lab and LibraryThing for a copy of this title in exchange for an honest review

Hello Sunshine / Keezy Young

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Hello Sunshine
By: Keezy Young
Genre: Graphic Novel, Young Adult, Horror
Number of Pages: 384
Published: September 23, 2025
Publisher: Little, Brown Ink
Dates Read: January 19, 2026 - January 19, 2026
Format: Library Book / Hardcover	ISBN: 9780316509473

When a troubled teen disappears from his small town, his loved ones go on a paranormal journey to save him from his inner demons.

It’s taken me a while to review this book simply because trying to put into words how amazing I think the author did in showing and handling the character’s mental health struggles was brilliant and impactful. Every member of the group had their own journey throughout this story and each arc felt complete at the end. I appreciated the struggle Noah had between religion and his sexuality, I was a little nervous about it going into this, but that turned around pretty quickly.

I’m a huge Hawkeye fan, and the artwork in this graphic novel really reminded me of Matt Fraction’s 2010’s Hawkeye. The art style, color, and texture of the panels gave the perfect amount to make it supernaturally and horror-y at the same time. 

Without getting into too much of the storyline due to spoilers, I just want to say that the mixture of what was real and what was only available to the one character was phenomenal and well taken care of. With both the visual and the dense dialog pages, Keezy Young showcases the losing of one’s mind by mental illness more effectively than I’ve seen with a graphic novel in a long time.

Low Orbit / Kazimir Lee

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Low Orbit
By: Kazimir Lee
Genre: Graphic Novel, YA
Number of Pages: 336
Published: April 29, 2025
Publisher: Top Shelf Productions
Dates Read: November 23, 2025
Format: Library Book / Paperback

Azar feels stuck. Her mom’s job moved them to Vermont, where she doesn’t know anyone and her only friends are the next-door neighbors: an aging sci-fi writer and his nonbinary teen, Tristan. For a while, Azar can escape her troubles by disappearing into the pages of her neighbor’s novel, The Exiles of Overworld. When her queerness throws her life out of wack, Azar realizes some secrets can’t hide forever.

This is much more slice of life than fantasy like I originally thought from the cover, but that slice of life aspect of it is still a good read, which is about hiding a part of you from those you care about. The fantasy part of it was from the high fantasy novel Azar is reading, but to be honest, that kind of took me away from the storyline of Azar and at times were even confusing as to what is happening in that world. I know it was her escape and that’s what the panels were showing, but I think it could have been done differently to show that.

Other than that, I did enjoy the story and the overall themes of honesty, being true to yourself, friendships, and even convention culture.

The artwork was fantastic and detailed and I always found myself lingering a little bit on pages to see what was in the background.

Overall, a great coming of age, queer young adult novel to add to a collection.

Ditching Saskia / John Moore, Neetols (Illustrator)

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Ditching Saskia
By: John Moore, Neetols (Illustrator)
Genre: Graphic Novel, YA
Number of Pages: 192
Published: October 1, 2024
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
Dates Read: November 23, 2025
Format: Library Book / Paperback

Damian has been struggling in his new high school, so he decides to summon his mother’s ghost so he can talk things out. Through a mixup, he accidentally summons Saskia, a scruffy, annoying kid. Damian is trying to figure out his new life, he doesn’t need some kid following him around trying to “help”. But, Saskia is suffering too, and everything they’re both hiding deep down may be what they need to heal.

This is a touching story, but I wish it kind of dove more into some of the storylines. We only briefly touched on Damian and his relationship with his mom as well as Saskia’s story and how she became a ghost. I feel like it’s only the beginning of the story (and partially the middle really), but I do wonder if there’s a followup to this graphic novel.

The cover is a little misleading as the panels themselves are mostly grey and white with the only color being that of the orange magical flower. But, just because it’s in black and white, doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the artwork! It was still captivating and beautiful to look at while reading.

Overall, a fast, magical realism young adult read about grief, friendship, and self-confidence. Anyone who appreciates a good little magic/haunting mixed in with the troubles of growing up would enjoy this graphic novel.

Pizza Witch / Sarah Graley, Stef Purenins

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Pizza Witch
By: Sarah Braley, Stef Purenins
Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, YA
Number of Pages: 296
Published: September 16, 2025
Publisher: Image Comics
Dates Read: October 21, 2025
Format: Library Book / eBook

All Roxy wants to do is be the best Pizza Witch ever, but that’s hard to do with semi-unsupported parents and her uninspired boss at the Pizza joint. But, her boss finally gives her a quest to retrieve a powerful pizza artifact – the Remarkable Oregano!

With her cat George by her side, Roxy sets off into the unknown for the adventure that finally awaits! Will it be filled with pizza magic, wild challenges, and maybe even some romance?? Or, will her dreams be squashed like a tomato? 

This is a silly graphic novel, but in the best way. Who knew there were witches who specialized in food – and who knew one of those food specialties could be pizza?? And, who could forget a sassy talking cat companion?? Mix all of that together alongside brilliantly bright and colorful artwork and you’ve got yourself a Pizza Witch!

The artwork and style do give the feel of young adult readers, the book states 14+, but I like preteens could also enjoy it <spoiler> there’s one instance with a middle finger being given, the word ass being used a lot, and romance </spoiler>. Adults would love this title for the escapism of it – again, a sassy talking cat best friend and a Pizza Witch!

Overall, this was a fun read that will clearly become a series, and a series in which I will be keeping my eye out for.

Tall Water / S.J. Sindu, Dion MBD (Illustrator)

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Tall Water
By: S.J. Sindu, Dion MBD (Illustrator)
Genre: Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction
Number of Pages: 256
Published: August 12, 2025
Publisher: HarperAlley
Dates Read: September 2, 2025
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Trigger Warnings: civil war, violence, death

Ever since Nimmi turned sixteen, she’s yearned to meet her mother in Sri Lanka to ask her why she refuses to leave the island. Her father is going back there for the first time since the war as a reporter on assignment, but he refuses to take her, telling her Sri Lanka is too dangerous.

But when Nimmi has a dream about her mother asking to come find her, Nimmi knows she must go. Sneaking a purchase of an airplane ticket, her father is livid when he sees her at baggage claim in Sri Lanka – but by then it’s too late and he agrees to help Nimmi make contact with her mom. Nimmi tags along with her father and his guide, past checkpoints and armed soldiers, increasing the knowledge of war that rages there.

The day after Christmas, disaster strikes and a tsunami hits the island. Now, stranded amid the destruction, Nimmi must try and reunite with her family.

Besides this graphic novel having interesting characters and plot, this also offers a lot in the cultural and historical context of Sri Lanka. Because, okay, I knew about the 2004 tsunami and the devastation it caused throughout the Indian Ocean, but I don’t think I realized that Sri Lanka was going through a Civil War at the exact same time. It’s also just kind of crazy. It’s brought up that there are tourist areas and then there are the war areas and that people would still go on vacation there?! That’s wild to me.

Overall, this is a beautifully done graphic novel that brings up the themes of emotional, physical, and mental ramifications of both civil war and the tsunami as well as empathy, bearing witness, and coming of age.

*Thank you HarperAlley and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review