Kiss number 8

On the surface, Amanda's life seems ideal. She has good friends at church and school, a great relationship with her dad, and her only real problems are a nagging mom and unwanted attention from the boy next door. Overhearing her father talking to another woman changes everything in an instant. To make matters worse, Amanda is beginning to realize that she has romantic feelings for Cat, her best friend. Trying to cope with the confusion, Amanda makes some rash, poor decisions and digs herself into a heap of trouble, but help comes from a couple of unexpected sources. Realistic relationships, well-developed characters of all ages, and diverse and positive LGBTQ representation make this an excellent choice for a wide range of readers. Visually, the black-and-white pages are crowded with text and panels, but Crenshaw really captures the emotional qualities of every character. Amanda is particularly expressive, and her actions are authentically age-appropriate. This isn't the easiest coming-of-age story, but it's one that will resonate with young readers, especially those questioning their sexuality.--Summer Hayes Copyright 2010 Booklist

In 2004, Amanda's life is full of comfortable constants: attending her Catholic high school; spending time with her best friend, Cat; attending church with her family; and watching minor league baseball and bad TV with her beloved father. An overheard conversation and a mysterious letter set her on the path to uncovering a family secret; around the same time, she realizes that she is probably in love with Cat. Venable (Mervin the Sloth Is About to Do the Best Thing in the World) creates a remarkably full picture of Amanda's life-family, school, church, baseball, the local music scene, and the corresponding and overlapping relationship dynamics. Amanda's decisions-confronting her family about the secret, exploring her sexuality-lead to realistically messy consequences that are not easily remedied, and the way these open up and close off areas of her life is handled well. Blackandwhite cartoon art by Crenshaw (Test Your Baby's IQ) complements the narrative, offering distinct characters and conveying what the dialogue alone can't. A queer comingofage story that earns its powerful emotional impact. Ages 14-up. Author's agent: Barry Goldblatt, Barry Goldblatt Literary. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Gr 9 Up-Mads lives in a conservative community with her deeply religious parents. Her social circle includes her friends from Catholic school, Cat, Adam, and Laura, but her best friend is her father. After overhearing a phone conversation that upsets him, she realizes that he's hiding something, but her parents refuse to answer her questions, leaving her angry and betrayed. Mads also wonders why her first seven kisses, with boys, aren't as stirring as kiss number eight, with Laura, and why she feels something deeper than friendship for Cat. A mysterious letter and an explosive confrontation with her parents and grandparents lead to a difficult realization, shaking up their relationships. This graphic novel addresses transphobia, sexuality, and hypocrisy. The art's retro feel serves the story well and is most powerful when depicting the contrast between truth and lies. The characters aren't especially deep but they help frame Mads's world. The resolution is realistically complicated, highlighting Mads's agency as she manages her conflicts. Though characters spend more time than necessary proclaiming their trans- and homophobic views, Mads's decisiveness and the clear look at how so-called "values" can mask harmful attitudes make this a thought-provoking book. VERDICT A solid addition to YA shelves.-Carla Riemer, -Claremont Middle School, Oakland © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

The discovery of long-buried family secrets brings Amanda closer to owning her own. Amanda is the demure sidekick to the wild and sexy Cat, who knows how to have a good time but doesn't always know how to be a great friend. Her real best friend, though, is her Catholic dad. They go to Sunday baseball games, share favorite TV shows, and trounce each other in video games. When Amanda discovers that her runaway grandmother was actually an early transgender rights activist who transitioned late in life, it brings unbearable tension into their relationship. It also makes Amanda wake up to parts of herself she's not yet been able to acknowledge, such as how she really feels when she's around Cat. These revelations wreak havoc on her relationships. Fortunately, Amanda, who is white, finds a new, multiracial crew from the public school. Their lack of need for labels, for the gender binary, or to overexplain themselves allows Amanda to relax into self-acceptance. It's a story of family and friendship and love in all its forms, perfect for the graphic novel format and elevated by the combined art and narrative. For example, when Amanda's father tells his mother's story, his distorted recollections are laid out in juxtaposition with actual events, resulting in an achingly moving vignette. The characters shine, fully human and permitted to be flawed. Hope prevails. A rare blend of tender and revolutionary. (Graphic novel. 13-18) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

On the surface, Amanda's life seems ideal. She has good friends at church and school, a great relationship with her dad, and her only real problems are a nagging mom and unwanted attention from the boy next door. Overhearing her father talking to another woman changes everything in an instant. To make matters worse, Amanda is beginning to realize that she has romantic feelings for Cat, her best friend. Trying to cope with the confusion, Amanda makes some rash, poor decisions and digs herself into a heap of trouble, but help comes from a couple of unexpected sources. Realistic relationships, well-developed characters of all ages, and diverse and positive LGBTQ representation make this an excellent choice for a wide range of readers. Visually, the black-and-white pages are crowded with text and panels, but Crenshaw really captures the emotional qualities of every character. Amanda is particularly expressive, and her actions are authentically age-appropriate. This isn't the easiest coming-of-age story, but it's one that will resonate with young readers, especially those questioning their sexuality. Grades 8-11. Copyright 2019 Booklist Reviews.

In 2004, Amanda's life is full of comfortable constants: attending her Catholic high school; spending time with her best friend, Cat; attending church with her family; and watching minor league baseball and bad TV with her beloved father. An overheard conversation and a mysterious letter set her on the path to uncovering a family secret; around the same time, she realizes that she is probably in love with Cat. Venable (Mervin the Sloth Is About to Do the Best Thing in the World) creates a remarkably full picture of Amanda's life—family, school, church, baseball, the local music scene, and the corresponding and overlapping relationship dynamics. Amanda's decisions—confronting her family about the secret, exploring her sexuality—lead to realistically messy consequences that are not easily remedied, and the way these open up and close off areas of her life is handled well. Black-and-white cartoon art by Crenshaw (Test Your Baby's IQ) complements the narrative, offering distinct characters and conveying what the dialogue alone can't. A queer coming-of-age story that earns its powerful emotional impact. Ages 14–up. Author's agent: Barry Goldblatt, Barry Goldblatt Literary.(Mar.)

Gr 9 Up—Mads lives in a conservative community with her deeply religious parents. Her social circle includes her friends from Catholic school, Cat, Adam, and Laura, but her best friend is her father. After overhearing a phone conversation that upsets him, she realizes that he's hiding something, but her parents refuse to answer her questions, leaving her angry and betrayed. Mads also wonders why her first seven kisses, with boys, aren't as stirring as kiss number eight, with Laura, and why she feels something deeper than friendship for Cat. A mysterious letter and an explosive confrontation with her parents and grandparents lead to a difficult realization, shaking up their relationships. This graphic novel addresses transphobia, sexuality, and hypocrisy. The art's retro feel serves the story well and is most powerful when depicting the contrast between truth and lies. The characters aren't especially deep but they help frame Mads's world. The resolution is realistically complicated, highlighting Mads's agency as she manages her conflicts. Though characters spend more time than necessary proclaiming their trans- and homophobic views, Mads's decisiveness and the clear look at how so-called "values" can mask harmful attitudes make this a thought-provoking book. VERDICT A solid addition to YA shelves.–Carla Riemer, Claremont Middle School, Oakland