The Keeper
(Libby/OverDrive eComic, Kindle)

Preteen Aisha has lost her parents in a car accident. As a result, she is put into the custody of her feeble and infirm grandmother, who lives in a small, one-bedroom apartment in the same building in which she grew up. When Aisha finds an abandoned apartment upstairs, she learns about "the Keeper," a person or entity who took care of a baby after a tragedy there. When Grandma dies soon after Aisha joins her, Aisha tries to hide the death. What she doesn't count on is help from the Keeper. Cowritten by Due and Barnes, this story focuses on intergenerational caregiving and trauma in the Black community. The Keeper is a complex entity, keeping its charge alive while requiring a living being to survive, and Aisha is sympathetic as she grieves her many losses and tries to hide her secrets. Finnegan's use of shadows in his artwork highlights not only the darkness of the situation but also the secrets lurking within the apartment building. This graphic novel is relatively short, so it might be a good introduction to horror or graphic novels for those seeking an intriguing entry point.

This timely horror fantasy written by Due (The Living Blood) and Barnes (Lion's Blood) and drawn by Finnegan (the Nick Travers graphic novel series) unfurls a tale of survival and sacrifice set in an unassuming Detroit apartment building. After the parents of Aisha, a young Black girl, are killed in a car accident, she goes to live with her grandma, who warns her that "I can't sugarcoat the real world" but does her best to keep her granddaughter out of the foster care system. Exploring her grandmother's building with her friend Darnell, Aisha uncovers its connection to her family, its history of violence steeped in racial injustice, and the existence of the Keeper, a supernatural presence that "builds a nest inside you" and provides protection at a price. When Aisha's grandma is no longer able to look out for her, Aisha summons her own power as well as the menacing Keeper to carry on. Finnegan's sturdy, naturalistic art is workmanlike but holds a down-to-earth simplicity suited to a script that weaves volatile magic into the fabric of everyday life. Fans of smart horror will snap up this fresh, sharp take on the haunted house trope. Agent: Jack Jones, Jack Jones Literary Arts (Sept.)

Preteen Aisha has lost her parents in a car accident. As a result, she is put into the custody of her feeble and infirm grandmother, who lives in a small, one-bedroom apartment in the same building in which she grew up. When Aisha finds an abandoned apartment upstairs, she learns about "the Keeper," a person or entity who took care of a baby after a tragedy there. When Grandma dies soon after Aisha joins her, Aisha tries to hide the death. What she doesn't count on is help from the Keeper. Cowritten by Due and Barnes, this story focuses on intergenerational caregiving and trauma in the Black community. The Keeper is a complex entity, keeping its charge alive while requiring a living being to survive, and Aisha is sympathetic as she grieves her many losses and tries to hide her secrets. Finnegan's use of shadows in his artwork highlights not only the darkness of the situation but also the secrets lurking within the apartment building. This graphic novel is relatively short, so it might be a good introduction to horror or graphic novels for those seeking an intriguing entry point. Copyright 2022 Booklist Reviews.

This timely horror fantasy written by Due (The Living Blood) and Barnes (Lion's Blood) and drawn by Finnegan (the Nick Travers graphic novel series) unfurls a tale of survival and sacrifice set in an unassuming Detroit apartment building. After the parents of Aisha, a young Black girl, are killed in a car accident, she goes to live with her grandma, who warns her that "I can't sugarcoat the real world" but does her best to keep her granddaughter out of the foster care system. Exploring her grandmother's building with her friend Darnell, Aisha uncovers its connection to her family, its history of violence steeped in racial injustice, and the existence of the Keeper, a supernatural presence that "builds a nest inside you" and provides protection at a price. When Aisha's grandma is no longer able to look out for her, Aisha summons her own power as well as the menacing Keeper to carry on. Finnegan's sturdy, naturalistic art is workmanlike but holds a down-to-earth simplicity suited to a script that weaves volatile magic into the fabric of everyday life. Fans of smart horror will snap up this fresh, sharp take on the haunted house trope. Agent: Jack Jones, Jack Jones Literary Arts (Sept.)