Picture books aren’t just for kids! Graphic novels have opened up a variety of new possibilities for storytelling. Our Three to Read Teen picks this week transport readers to fantastical lands where dreams come to life, villainy is a vocation, and a simple meal can be a matter of life and death. (And the art, of course, is a feast for the eyes.)
FIRE READ
Strange Bedfellows by Ariel Slamet Ries
Trigger warning: This book contains depictions of anxiety. Please exercise care while reading.
SUMMARY:
Meridian, the planet humans call home in this imagined future, is a veritable utopia. But Oberon Afolayan’s life is far from utopic right now. After suffering a major panic attack, he’s dropped out of university, ended a relationship, and isolated himself from friends and family. Then one morning, after years of being the only one of his siblings without psychic powers, Oberon realizes he can now manifest his dreams in real life. More specifically: the dream version of his high school crush, Kon, who disappeared nearly three years ago. Kon is determined to help Oberon navigate his new reality, but the deepening relationship between the two may just complicate matters.
WHY:
Praised for its surreal art and compelling story, Strange Bedfellows promises to be an instant favorite. Two-time Ignatz Award winner Ariel Slamet Ries creates an immersive, engaging solarpunk world, packed with trans and queer rep as well as racial and body diversity. The pressures and anxieties that overwhelm Oberon are relatable and familiar, even as his dreams force him out of his comfort zone. Tinged in eye-pleasing pastels, the world of Meridian is one you won’t want to leave, and its characters are friends you’ll never forget.
TEA TIME READ
Fustuk by Robert Mgrdich Apelian
SUMMARY:
Seventeen-year-old Katah Fustukian’s late father was a renowned chef in the Pars Empire. But Katah never knew him, and he seems not to have inherited the family’s culinary prowess. Then, as his mother falls gravely ill, Katah begins experiencing strange dreams: visions that lead him to a div, or magical creature, named Az. Katah and his two older siblings make a deal with Az: If they can cook a meal that lives up to their father’s standard, Az will help save their mother. But between brother Garo’s dedication to Hye food tradition and sister Noori’s preference for Pars cuisine, creating the most important menu of their lives may be easier said than done.
WHY:
Robert Mgrdich Apelian’s beautifully illustrated debut draws heavy inspiration from Armenian and Persian mythology. Every page is rich with the culture and history of Katah’s Armenian family, from historical artifacts to rugs inspired by Apelian’s own grandmother. And of course, there are the dishes — which readers may soon be able to recreate at home, if Apelian’s website is to be believed. At the story’s heart, of course, are Katah and his family, forging their own unique connections with their heritage. If you’ve ever navigated the liminal space between cultures — or just really love good food — give Fustuk a try.
HEAR ME OUT
Evil-ish by Kennedy Tarrell
SUMMARY:
Bored with their harmless fairytale life, potion barista Hawthorne Vandercast wants nothing more than to ditch their family’s cafe and embark on a life of villainy with the Brigade of Shade, known for terrorizing the city of Idlewood. But when their opportunity finally arrives, Hawthorne butchers the audition and is passed up for the sweet, flowery, irritating Maple McCoy. Maple’s offer to help Hawthorne with a second chance at proving themself ends, entirely accidentally, with Hawthorne in charge of the Brigade. As the organization grows stronger — and more evil — under their leadership, Hawthorne questions whether they really want to be a villain at all.
WHY:
Originating as a pandemic project, Evil-ish is the graphic novel debut of Disney animator Kennedy Tarrell. Its character design and worldbuilding bear the signature cozy hallmarks of a classic Disney romp, along with plenty of shenanigans to boot. Featuring organic queer rep, it’s a fun take on small-town angst with a wicked fantasy twist, excellent for anyone who loves misfit jerk characters.
That’s it for this week’s Three to Read Teen! Join us next week for more amazing recs to add to your TBR.
Click here for three YA novels centering protagonists with learning disabilities.
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