Bad Mormon

Bad Mormon

By Heather Gay

First Gallery Books, 2023. 287 pages. Biography

Born and bred to be devout, Heather Gay based her life around her faith. She attended Brigham Young University, served a mission in France, and married into Mormon royalty in the temple. But her life as a good Mormon abruptly ended when she lost the marriage and faith that she had once believed would last forever. With writing that is beautiful, sad, funny, and true, Heather recounts the difficult discovery of the darkness and damage that often exists behind a picture-perfect life, while examining the nuanced relationship between duty to self and duty to God. Exposing secrets she once held sacred, Bad Mormon is an unfiltered look at the religion that broke her heart. 

This is an open and honest take on one woman's struggle to live her life authentically. I liked how Heather's cheeky tone (something I enjoyed about her on the RHOSLC show) comes through. This book is an excellent choice for anyone who is looking for a memoir about coming to terms with who you are as a person, even if that means leaving behind what you once held dear. 

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Enough Already

By Valerie Bertinelli

Mariner Books, 2022. 243 pages. Biography

Behind the curtain of her happy on-screen persona, Valerie Bertinelli's life has been no easy ride, especially when it comes to her own self-worth. Valerie shares personal stories: hitting her fifties, taking care of her dying mother, the evolving relationship with her husband, a career change, her relationship with food, and the battle to believe in herself as she is. 

Heretic

By Jeanna Kadlec

Harper, 2022. 259 pages. Biography

Jeanna Kadlec knew what it meant to be faithful--in her marriage to a pastor's son, in the comfortable life ahead of her, in her God--but there was no denying the truth that lived under that conviction: she was queer and, if she wanted to survive, she would need to leave behind the church and every foundational building block she knew. Heretic is a memoir of rebirth. 

Leaving the Saints

By Martha Nibley Beck

Crown Publishers, 2005. 306 pages. Biography

As "Mormon royalty," Beck was raised in a home frequented by her church's high elders, and her existence was framed by their strict code of conduct. In this thoughtful examination of faith, Beck chronicles her difficult decision to leave the Mormon church, and her struggle to overcome a dark secret buried in her childhood. 

Untamed

By Glennon Doyle

The Dial Press, 2020. 333 pages. Biography

In her most revealing and powerful memoir yet, Glennon Doyle explores the joy and peace when women stop striving to meet others' expectations and start trusting the voice deep within them. 

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Movements and Moments

Movements and Moments

Edited by Sonja Eismann

Drawn & Quarterly, 2022. 261 pages. Graphic Novel

Indigenous Peoples all over the world have always had to stand their ground in the face of colonialism. While the details may differ, what these stories have in common is their commitment to resistance in a world that puts profit before respect, and western notions of progress before their own. Movements and Moments is an introductory glimpse into how Indigenous women tell their stories in their own words. 

Each of the stories highlighted in Movements and Moments is unique, with their own storytelling style and artwork, yet they all deal with universal issues and themes such as injustice and intolerance. This graphic novel is a great introduction to indigenous feminist history in the global south. As a collection, this book shows the power of community and advocacy. 

If you like Movements and Moments you might also like:

Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists

by Mikki Kendall

Ten Speed Press, 2019. 195 pages. Young Adult Comics

The ongoing struggle for women's rights has spanned human history, touched nearly every culture on Earth, and encompassed a wide range of issues, such as the right to vote, work, get an education, own property, exercise bodily autonomy, and beyond. Examining where we've been, where we are, and where we're going, Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists is an indispensable resource for people of all genders interested in the fight for a more liberated future. 

Becoming Kin

by Patty Krawec

Broadleaf Books, 2022. 203 pages. Nonfiction

Weaving her own story with the story of her ancestors and with the broader themes of creation, replacement, and disappearance, Krawec helps readers see settler colonialism through the eyes of an Indigenous writer. Settler colonialism tried to force us into one particular way of living, but the old ways of kinship can help us imagine a different future. Krawec asks, What would it look like to remember that we are all related? How might we become better relatives to the land, to one another, and to Indigenous movements for solidarity? Braiding together historical, scientific, and cultural analysis, Indigenous ways of knowing, and the vivid threads of communal memory, Krawec crafts a stunning, forceful call to 'unforget' our history. 

Rolling Blackouts

by Sarah Glidden

Drawn & Quarterly, 2016. 298 pages. Graphic Novel

Cartoonist Sarah Glidden accompanies her two journalist friends as they research potential stories on the effects of the Iraq War on the Middle East and, specifically, the war's refugees. As the crew works their way through Turkey, Iraq, and Syria, Glidden observes the reporters as they ask civilians, refugees, and officials, "Who are you?" Everyone has a story to tell: the Iranian blogger, the United Nations refugee administrator, a taxi driver, the Iraqi refugee deported from the US, the Iraqis seeking refuge in Syria, and even the American Marine.

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Reader, I Murdered Him

Reader, I Murdered Him

By Betsy Cornwell

Clarion Books, 2022. 291 pages. Young Adult Fiction

Adele grew up in the shadows--first watching from backstage at her mother's Parisian dance halls, then wandering around the gloomy, haunted rooms of her father's manor. When she's finally sent away to boarding school in London, she's happy to enter the brightly lit world of society girls and their wealthy suitors. Yet there are shadows there, too. Many of the men that try to charm Adele's new friends do so with dark intentions. With a queer romance at its heart, this lush historical thriller offers readers an irresistible mix of vengeance and empowerment. 

This reimagining of Adele Varens provides an enlightening and thrilling background to the vain and precocious child in Jane Eyre. The novel, told from Adele's point of view, elaborates on her dark childhood, lonely adolescence, and eventual coming out into society. I enjoyed the themes of found family, female vengeance, and first loves. 

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Lavender House

By Lev AC Rosen

Forge, 2022. 274 pages. Fiction

While investigating the mysterious death of matriarch Irene Lamontaine, head of a famous soap empire, Andy Mills is seduced by the safety and freedom found in Lavender House, where a queer family lives honestly and openly, until he becomes a pawn in their deadly game.

One for All 

By Lillie Lainoff

Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, 2022. 389 pages. Young Adult Fiction

In 1655 sixteen-year-old Tania, daughter of a retired musketeer, finds out after her father's murder that he has arranged for her to attend Madame de Treville's newly formed Académie des Mariées in Paris. It turns out that the Académie is less a school for would-be wives, and more a fencing academy for girls, so Tania begins her training to be a new kind of musketeer, and to get revenge for her father.

Theater of Marvels

By Lianne Dillsworth

Harper, 2022. 310 pages. Fiction

With her success riding on her ability to keep her real identity secret, Zillah, an orphan from the slums of London who has achieved theatrical fame as The Great Amazonia, "a savage queen from darkest Africa," finds her planning upended when she is torn between two men--a mysterious black gentleman and her boss's friend who offers her the world.

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Fish Swimming in Dappled Sunlight

Fish Swimming in Dappled Sunlight

By Riku Onda

Bitter Lemon Press, 2022. 204 pages. Fiction

Set in Tokyo over the course of one night, Aki and Hiro have decided to be together one last time in their shared flat before parting. Their relationship has broken down after a mountain trek during which their guide died inexplicably. Now, each believes the other to be a murderer and is determined to extract a confession before the night is over. Who is the murderer and what really happened on the mountain? In the battle of wills between them, the chain of events leading up to this night are gradually revealed. 

This is a fascinating study of character, atmosphere, and metaphor. For such a short book, it's still a slow burn and you meander through flashbacks and old memories to understand more about the characters. It's got complex emotions, discombobulated memories, and tangled motivations, which all add to the suspense and speculation. This is a great choice for those who enjoy psychological thrillers. 

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Disorientation

By Elaine Hsieh Chou

Penguin Press, 2022. 403 pages. Fiction

A struggling PhD student makes a shocking discovery about a famous Chinese American poet that sets into motion a series of escalating events, both humorous and fraught, that culminates in an incendiary reckoning of her relationships, beliefs, and identity. 

Survive the Night

By Riley Sager

Dutton, 2021. 324 pages. Mystery

When her best friend is the third victim of a serial killer targeting college students, Charlie decides to leave campus and take a trip home. She accepts a ride from a stranger she met at the campus ride board, but the longer she sits in the passenger seat, the more Charlie notices that there's something suspicious about him. As they travel an empty highway in the dead of night, an increasingly anxious Charlie begins to think she's sharing a car with the Campus Killer. 

We Were Never Here

By Andrea Bartz

Ballantine Books, 2021. 305 pages. Fiction

After a backpacking trip in Chile with her best friend Kristen goes horribly wrong, Emily is forced to confront their violent past and wonders if she can outrun the secrets they share or if they will destroy her relationship, freedom and even her life.

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And We Rise

And We Rise

By Erica Martin

Viking, 2022. 153 pages. Young Adult Nonfiction

Erica Martin's debut poetry collection walks readers through the Civil Rights Movement, including both the well-documented events and lesser-known moments that were just as crucial to the Movement and our nation's centuries-long fight for justice and equality. A poignant, powerful, all-too-timely collection that is both a vital history lesson and much-needed conversation starter in our modern world. 

Wow this little book packs a powerful punch. While difficult to read at times (it is quite emotional), it is a necessary history lesson. Martin masterfully commands each page and the visual art of the poems is stunning. Every single word, down to the last letter, is placed exactly where it is meant to be. This would be a great collection to read and listen at the same time so that you get the full impact of the repetitions, rhythm, and visual imagery. Whether you're a teen or adult, this book is an excellent choice. 

If you like And We Rise you might also like: 

African Town

By Irene Latham

G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2022. 438 pages. Young Adult Fiction

In 1860, long after the United States outlawed the importation of enslaved laborers, 110 people from Benin and Nigeria were captured and brought to Mobile, Alabama. At the end of the Civil War, the survivors created a community for themselves they called African Town, which still exists to this day. Told in 14 distinct voices, this powerful novel-in-verse recreates a pivotal moment in US and world history. 

Ain't Burned All the Bright

By Jason Reynolds

Atheneum, 2022. Unpaged. Young Adult Fiction

A smash-up of art and text for teens that viscerally captures what it is to be Black. In America. Right Now. And all of the symbolism attached to that word, especially NOW. And so for anyone who didn't really know what it means to not be able to breathe, REALLY breathe, for generations, now you know. And those who already do, you'll be nodding yep yep, that is exactly how it is. 

Hollow Fires

By Samira Ahmed

Little Brown and Company, 2022. 404 pages. Young Adult Fiction

After discovering the body of fourteen-year-old Jawad Ali in Jackson Park, seventeen-year-old journalism student Safiya Mirza begins investigating the murder and ends up confronting white supremacy in her own high school.

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Joseph Smith and the Mormons

Joseph Smith and the Mormons

By Noah Van Sciver

Abrams ComicArts, 2022. 455 pages. Graphic Novels

In Joseph Smith and the Mormons, author and illustrator Noah Van Sciver, who was raised a Mormon, covers one of history's controversial figures, Joseph Smith. The book discusses all of the monumental moments during Smith's life, including the anti-Mormon threats and violence which caused his followers to move from New York to Ohio, Smith's receiving the commandment of plural marriage, his imprisonments, his announcement to run for president of the United States, and his ultimate murder by an angry mob in 1844. With a respectful and historical approach, and strikingly illustrated, this graphic novel is the ultimate book for those curious about the origins of the Mormon faith and the man who started it all.

It's probably impossible to depict a person's entire life, but this graphic novel comes close. The book is a massive undertaking, as it clocks in over 400 completely illustrated pages. The pacing is done well, with full page spreads interspersed to give the reader a breather. Noah Van Sciver does an excellent job of humanizing historical figures and providing context behind the stories. Van Sciver moves the story through dialogue rather than a narrator, which helps the reader make their own conclusions. Also helpful are the historical notes included in the back of the book. Overall it is an impressive feat of storytelling. 

If you like Joseph Smith and the Mormons you might also like:

Messenger: The Legend of Joan of Arc

By Tony Lee

Candlewick Press, 2015. Unpaged. YA Comics

It is 1424. France and England have been fighting for more than a hundred years, and Jehanne D'Arc experiences her first saintly vision. From a small town to the cathedral of Reims, Joan follows her faith and leads the French to victory. But not everyone believes in the divine voices she hears. Some call her a heretic and want her burned at the stake. A visually striking, action-packed story of a young woman who become a heroine whose name would be remembered for centuries to come.

The Glass Looker

By Mark Elwood

Luman Books, 2021. 150 pages. Graphic Novels

The Glass Looker follows an ordinary American farm boy named Joseph Smith who discovers he possesses the magical ability for seeing in stones. Learn the origin story of the boy-prophet through illustrated accounts collected from Joseph, his family, neighbors and enemies.

Renegade: Martin Luther

By Dacia Palmerino

Plough Publishing House, 2017. 155 pages. Graphic Novels

The life of reformer Martin Luther in graphic novel format. Martin Luther, a spiritual and historical giant, is loved and hated to this day--and for good reason. Five hundred years ago a brash young monk single-handedly confronted the most powerful institutions of his day. His bold stand sparked the Protestant Reformation and marked one of the great turning points in history. 

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Blade of Secrets

Blade of Secrets 

by Tricia Levenseller 

Feiwel and Friends, 2021. 324 pages. Young Adult 

Ziva prefers metal to people. She spends her days tucked away in her forge, safe from society and the anxiety it causes her, using her magical gift to craft unique weapons imbued with power. She receives a commission from a powerful warlord, and the result is a sword capable of stealing its victims' secrets--a sword with the strength to topple kingdoms. When Ziva learns of the warlord's intentions to use the weapon to enslave all the world under her rule, she takes her sister and flees. Now they're on a quest to keep the sword safe until they can find a worthy wielder-- or a way to destroy it entirely. 

Levenseller delivers again with this fast-paced YA adventure. She spends lots of time on the character development, relationships, and dialogue. I like that Ziva, while totally competent and skilled at her trade, is no warrior/princess/chosen one. She does have magical capabilities, but also deals with severe social anxiety, and so is a fairly relatable protagonist. While the story does take place in a magical world, it's easy enough to follow along as the worldbuilding is not complex. I won't spoil anything, but I will say that it ends on quite the cliffhanger so I've already put the second book on hold! 

If you like Blade of Secrets you may also like: 

Cursed

by Thomas Wheeler

Simon & Schuster BFYR, 2019. 408 pages.

Nimue grew up an outcast. Her connection to dark magic made her something to be feared in her Druid village, and that made her desperate to leave. That is, until Red Paladins slaughter her entire village, and Nimue's fate is forever altered. Charged by her dying mother to reunite an ancient sword with a legendary sorcerer, Nimue is now her people's only hope. 

The Novice

by Taran Matharu 

Feiwel and Friends, 2015. 355 pages. Young Adult

When blacksmith apprentice Fletcher discovers that he has the ability to summon demons from another world, he travels to Adept Military Academy where must decide where his loyalties lie. The fate of an empire is in his hands.

The Traitor's Game 

by Jennifer A. Nielsen 

Scholastic Press, 2018. 388 pages. Young Adult 

Embroiled in a cruel immortal king's politics in spite of having spent three years in exile, Kestra Dallisor, daughter of a high-ranking official, is kidnapped by a group of rebels. They require her to search for a lost weapon capable of destroying the throne, a plan that she endeavors to sabotage despite conflicting loyalties.

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Inheritance: A Visual Poem

Inheritance: A Visual Poem

By Elizabeth Acevedo

Quill Tree Books, 2022. 48 pages. Young Adult Nonfiction

Interweaving a powerful message of self-love, award-winning author and poet Elizabeth Acevedo celebrates the beauty and meaning of natural Black hair through her most famous spoken-word poem. Paired with full-color illustrations by artist Andrea Pippins, this poem can now be read in a vibrant package, making it the ideal gift, treasure, or inspiration for readers of any age. 

I loved both the poem and the illustrations, I only wish it was longer! It is very powerful, honest, and full of love. 

If you like Inheritance: A Visual Poem, you may also like:

For Everyone

By Jason Reynolds

Antheneum, 2018. 101 pages. Young Adult Fiction

Originally performed at the Kennedy Center for the unveiling of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and later as a tribute to Walter Dean Myers, this stirring and inspirational poem is New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award finalist Jason Reynolds's rallying cry to the dreamers of the world.

Hairvolution

By Saskia Calliste

Supernova Books, 2021. 240 pages. Young Adult Nonfiction

Do you love your natural hair? Some of the world's most inspiring black women tell us about their attitudes to, and struggles with, their crowning glory. Kinky, wavy, straight or curly, this book will help you celebrate your natural beauty, however you choose to style your hair. The power is in our hair. And we've come to tell the world what ours can do!

Say Her Name

By Zetta Elliott

Jump At The Sun, 2020. 83 pages. Young Adult Nonfiction

Inspired by the #SayHerName campaign launched by the African American Policy Forum, these poems pay tribute to victims of police brutality as well as the activists insisting that Black Lives Matter. Elliott engages poets from the past two centuries to create a chorus of voices celebrating the creativity, resilience, and courage of Black women and girls. This collection features forty-nine powerful poems, four of which are tribute poems inspired by the works of Lucille Clifton, Audre Lorde, Nikki Giovanni, and Phillis Wheatley.

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All Boys Aren't Blue

All Boys Aren't Blue 

By George M. Johnson

Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2020. Biography

In a series of personal essays, prominent journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist George M. Johnson explores his childhood, adolescence, and college years in New Jersey and Virginia. From the memories of getting his teeth kicked out by bullies at age five, to flea marketing with his loving grandmother, to his first sexual relationships, this young-adult memoir weaves together the trials and triumphs faced by Black queer boys. Both a primer for teens eager to be allies as well as a reassuring testimony for young queer men of color, All Boys Aren't Blue covers topics such as gender identity, toxic masculinity, brotherhood, family, structural marginalization, consent, and Black joy. Johnson's emotionally frank style of writing will appeal directly to young adults.

I was so captivated by this memoir that I could not put it down! It felt like a friendly conversation between the author and reader. Johnson writes in the introduction that this book is geared toward young adults, and even though some of his experiences might be more mature, since they happened to him as a young adult he hopes that by sharing them he can help other young adults. I loved hearing his stories about his community, family, and friends. He offers much needed hope and insight on what it means to be Black, queer, and joyful. 

If you like All Boys Aren't Blue you may also like:  

I'm A Wild Seed

By Sharon Lee De La Cruz

Street Noise Books, 2021. 87 pages. Graphic Novels

A collection of lively autobiographical comics guiding the reader through an understanding of queerness and what it means to one woman of color.

Unprotected

By Bill Porter

Abrams Press, 2021. 278 pages. Biography

Billy Porter's Unprotected is the story of a young man whose unbreakable determination led him through countless hard times to where he is now; a proud icon who refuses to back down or hide. Porter is a multitalented, multifaceted treasure at the top of his game, and Unprotected is a resonant, inspirational story of trauma and healing, shot through with his singular voice.

We Are Not Broken

By George M. Johnson

Little, Brown & Company, 2021. 221 pages. YA Nonfiction

This is the vibrant story of George, Garrett, Rall, and Rasul -- four children raised by Nanny, their fiercely devoted grandmother. The boys hold each other close through early brushes with racism, memorable experiences at the family barbershop, and first loves and losses. And with Nanny at their center, they are never broken. 

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Arden Grey

Arden Grey 

By Ray Stoeve 

Amulet Books, 2022. 278 pages. Young Adult Fiction 

Sixteen-year-old Arden Grey is struggling. Her mother has left their family, her father and her younger brother won't talk about it, and a classmate, Tanner, keeps harassing her about her sexuality--which isn't even public. (She knows she likes girls romantically, but she thinks she might be asexual.) At least she's got her love of film photography and her best and only friend, Jamie, to help her cope. Then Jamie, who is trans, starts dating Caroline, and suddenly he isn't so reliable. Arden's insecurity about their friendship grows. She starts to wonder if she's jealous or if Jamie's relationship with Caroline is somehow unhealthy--and it makes her reconsider how much of her relationship with her absent mom wasn't okay, too. Filled with big emotions, first loves, and characters navigating toxic relationships, Ray Stoeve's honest and nuanced novel is about finding your place in the world and seeking out the love and community that you deserve. 

I like the way this book handles relevant teen issues such as navigating new friend groups, what to do when your best friend dates their first girlfriend, or dealing with an emotionally and physically absent parent. It is a pretty emotion-filled book, which makes sense as it is about a teenager in high school. I think where this book really excels is in the relationships between characters and I like seeing how these shift and change throughout the book. Overall this feels authentic and relatable. 

The Field Guide to the North American Teenager

By Ben Philippe

Balzer + Bray, 2019. 372 pages. Young Adult Fiction

A hilarious YA contemporary realistic novel about a witty Black French Canadian teen who moves to Austin, Texas, and experiences the joys, clichés, and awkward humiliations of the American high school experience--including falling in love.

Loveless 

By Alice Oseman

HarperCollins Children's Books, 2020. 432 pages. Fiction

Georgia has parents who are still in love, two sets of grandparents that are still together, and a brother who married his girlfriend, but at eighteen she has never even kissed someone (not even her lesbian best friend, Felipa) or particularly even wanted to. At the prom afterparty she is surrounded by couples making out, and she really does not know what is wrong--but in college she comes to understand herself as asexual/aromantic, and to capture the part of her identity that has always eluded her.

Ramona Blue 

By Julie Murphy

Balzer + Bray, 2017. 408 pages. Young Adult Fiction

Struggling with the loss of her home and her dysfunctional family after Hurricane Katrina, gay teen Ramona finds solace in a new swimming hobby while developing confusing feelings for a boy who challenges her perceptions.

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Notable Native People

Notable Native People

By Adrienne Keene

Ten Speed Press, 2021. 143 pages. Young Adult Nonfiction

An accessible and educational illustrated book profiling 50 notable American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian people, from NBA star Kyrie Irving of the Standing Rock Lakota to Wilma Mankiller, the first female principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. Celebrate the lives, stories, and contributions of Indigenous artists, activists, scientists, athletes, and other changemakers in this illustrated collection. Also offers accessible primers on important Indigenous issues, from the legacy of colonialism and cultural appropriation to food sovereignty, land and water rights, and more. An indispensable read for people of all backgrounds seeking to learn about Native American heritage, histories, and cultures, Notable Native People will educate and inspire readers of all ages.

This is an absolutely beautiful book, both in content and illustration. It's a great entry-level read as it highlights 50 mini biographies of different Indigenous people. I really enjoyed the essays spread throughout as they provide an underrepresented perspective of US history. As much as I learned from this book, it made me realize how much more there is to learn. Overall, a very inspiring read. 

If you like Notable Native People you might also like: 

Come Home, Indio

By Jim Terry

Street Noise Books, 2020. 231 pages. Graphic Novel

In this memoir we are invited to walk through the life of the author, Jim Terry, as he struggles to find security and comfort between the Ho-Chunk community of his Native American family in Wisconsin and his schoolmates in the Chicago suburbs. 

An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States

By Roxanne Dunbar-Oritz

Beacon Press, 2014. 296 pages. Nonfiction

Told from the point of view of Native Americans, this book challenges the founding myth of the United States and shows how the policies against the indigenous peoples was genocidal and imperialist.

Traditional Skills of the Native Americans

By David Montgomery

Lyons Press, 2021. 215 pages. Nonfiction

This book is geared toward all ages and gives step-by-step instructions on scores of crafts and outdoor skills cultivated by various Native American peoples over the centuries. In the spirit of "creativity kits," this book outlines the history and purpose of the activity and then shows how to replicate the exact process, whether it's tanning leather; making moccasins; creating tools and utensils, musical instruments, and jewelry; or preparing food. 

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Home is Not a Country

Home is Not a Country

by Safia Elhillo

Make Me A World, 2021. 215 pages. YA Fiction

Nima wishes she were someone else. She doesn't feel understood by her mother, who grew up in a different land. She doesn't feel accepted in her suburban town; yet somehow, she isn't different enough to belong elsewhere. Her best friend, Haitham, is the only person with whom she can truly be herself. Until she can't, and suddenly her only refuge is gone. As the ground is pulled out from under her, Nima must grapple with the phantom of a life not chosen--the name her parents meant to give her at birth--Yasmeen. But that other name, that other girl, might be more real than Nima knows. And the life Nima wishes were someone else's is one she will need to fight for with a fierceness she never knew she possessed.

I listened to this novel-in-verse as an audiobook, which was read by the author herself. I thought it an exquisite piece of writing. Elhillo captures the heartbreak and yearning of what it means to be the child of immigrant parents. She also includes some light magical realism, which I was not expecting. A masterfully written work that examines belonging, immigration, racism, generational trauma, guilt, identity, and home. 

If you like Home is Not a Country, you might also like:

Clap When You Land

by Elizabeth Acevedo

Harper Teen, 2020. 417 pages. YA Fiction

An evocative novel in verse follows the experiences of two grieving sisters who navigate the loss of their father and the impact of his death on their relationship.

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

by Erika L. Sanchez

Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2017. 344 pages. YA Fiction

When her seemingly perfect sister dies in a tragic accident, Julia, who longs to go to college and move into a home of her own, discovers from mutual friends that her sister may not have been as perfect as believed.

Punching The Air

by Ibi Aanu Zoboi

Balzer & Bray, 2020. 386 pages. YA Fiction

Traces the story of a young artist and poet whose prospects at a diverse art school are threatened by a racially biased system and a tragic altercation in a gentrifying neighborhood.

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Graceling: The Graphic Novel

Graceling: The Graphic Novel 

By Kristin Cashore and Gareth Hinds 

Etch, 2021. 257 pages. YA Comics 

Katsa is a Graceling, one of the rare people born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she lived a life of privilege until the day her ability to kill a man with her bare hands revealed itself during a royal banquet. Now she acts as her uncle's enforcer, traveling the kingdom and threatening those who dare oppose him. Everything changes when she meets Po, a foreign prince Graced with combat skills who is searching for the truth about his grandfather's disappearance. When Katsa agrees to help him, she never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace--or a terrible secret that could destroy them all. 

I remember liking the Graceling series as a teen so I was excited to read the graphic novel version. This adaptation stays true to the novel while adding more context, such as with the many illustrated maps. Those are helpful to reference throughout the book as Katsa and Po go on their journey. I also liked that the diversity hinted at in the novels is fully realized in this adaptation. I hope to see the rest of the series adapted into graphic form, and only wish that the book was longer! 

If you like Graceling: The Graphic Novel, you might also like: 

Girl From the Sea 

By Molly Ostertag 

Graphix, 2021. 245 pages. YA Comics 

Fifteen-year-old Morgan has a secret: she can't wait to escape the perfect little island where she lives. She's desperate to finish high school and escape her family and friends who don't understand Morgan at all. Then one night, Morgan is saved from drowning by a mysterious girl named Keltie. The two become friends and suddenly life on the island doesn't seem so stifling anymore. But Keltie has some secrets of her own. And as the girls start to fall in love, everything they're each trying to hide will find its way to the surface, whether Morgan is ready or not. 

Monstress 

By Marjorie Liu 

Image Comics, Inc., 2019. 505 pages. Graphic Novels 

Maika Halfwolf lives in a world gripped by war--an alternate, matriarchal 1900s Asia brimming with arcane dangers. As she struggles to overcome the trauma of violence and regain knowledge of her past, she becomes inextricably linked to an eldritch monster of tremendous power. This link will transform them both, and place them in the crosshairs of deadly powers both human and otherworldly. 

Nimona 

By Noelle Stevenson 

HarperTeen, 2015. 266 pages. YA Comics 

As sidekick and supervillain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. Their mission: prove to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren't the heroes everyone thinks they are. But as small acts of mischief escalate into a vicious battle, Lord Blackheart realizes that Nimona's powers are as murky and mysterious as her past. And her unpredictable wild side might be more dangerous than he is willing to admit. 

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