# data[].attributes.headline
Toilet-bound Hanako-Kun volume 2 by Aidalro

# data[].attributes.subject
Toilet-bound Hanako-Kun volume 2 by Aidalro

# data[].attributes.body
I wanted to check out this popular series, honestly partly because of the name (the origin of which I now know). I see the appeal, it's got cute and zany humour, detailed and dynamic art and (what feels to me like) an original take on the school exorcism vibe. Read in December.

# data[].attributes.headline
Usagi Yojimbo Special Edition volume 2 by Stan Sakai

# data[].attributes.subject
Usagi Yojimbo Special Edition volume 2 by Stan Sakai

# data[].attributes.body
I had great fun re-reading these stories
and filling in the many gaps. I just love this bunny, the cinematic art and the classic storytelling. Read in December.

# data[].attributes.body
I can’t remember why I picked up this YA horror. It was OK, some set pieces workwd well, but other parts felt cliched, tonally weird or trying to be mysterious and self-aware but not pulling it off. There’s some deeply odd morality and glossed over nonsense/plot holes too. Read in December.

# data[].attributes.headline
A Tropical Fish Yearns For Snow volume 1 by Makoto Hagino

# data[].attributes.subject
A Tropical Fish Yearns For Snow volume 1 by Makoto Hagino

# data[].attributes.body
This is a cute/sad slowly developing romance between two girls, set at a high school and based around an aquarium club at the school. The art is good and the tonal shifts from exaggerated humour to interior emotions is handled well.  a consideration for work! Read in December.

# data[].attributes.headline
Fence Volume 2 by C.S. Pacat, Johanna The Mad & more

# data[].attributes.subject
Fence Volume 2 by C.S. Pacat, Johanna The Mad & more

# data[].attributes.body
I wanted to check this one out but could only find volume 2; it didn't matter! It's fun, it's a sports manga-inspired rivalry story with queer undertones. Like all sports stories of this kind there's also an attempt to educate readers about the rules and complexities of the sport at hand. It's fun but I'm not really a sports comic type of person. Read in December.

# data[].attributes.headline
Zatanna The Jewel of Gravesend by Arden & de Leon

# data[].attributes.subject
Zatanna The Jewel of Gravesend by Arden & de Leon

# data[].attributes.body
Well, it’s messy and unresolved but this may be my favourite of the DC YA graphic novels (so far). It’s a family secret magic drama wrapped in a puff of neon cotton candy and lots of fun. Read in December.

# data[].attributes.body
This is a downbeat adult indie graphic novel that feels so real, despite or because of the impressively mixed styles and disconnected characters. Most people will recognise themselves or others in the situations and small but heartbreaking moments and dialogue. Top drawer. Read in December.

# data[].attributes.body
I picked this as it’s popular with both teachers and students (and the much of the rest of the world). I enjoyed it, the style is lightly archaic but also radiantly modern. I came to realise, however, that this type of polished ‘literary fiction’ is not my favourite. It’s all well done, like an Oscar-winning film but, for ‘mature’ books I prefer something weirder. Read in December.

# data[].attributes.body
This is another DC YA graphic novel, featuring a teen version of Wonder Woman's sister trying to be normal against a tide of systemic racism and privilege. It's a little too neat and tidy and some may find the dialogue a little forced but overall it looks great, reads well and is a clear attempt to ground teen superhero stories in real, live issues and, well, the mess of life. Read in December.

# data[].attributes.headline
I'm A Wild Seed by Sharon Lee De La Cruz

# data[].attributes.subject
I'm A Wild Seed by Sharon Lee De La Cruz

# data[].attributes.body
This is a little book bursting with colour, rage and enlightenment. An impressive distillation of the big concepts around intersectionality but introduced in a cosy, welcoming way. Read in December.

# data[].attributes.body
This is a solid junior graphic novel about a 12 year old student journalist uncovering environmental crimes and corruption in her town whilst managing a crush, friendships and family. A good one for our junior school. Read in December.

# data[].attributes.body
There’s still so much going on that I feel a little lost at times but this volume benefits from a central quest/journey. The art is so, so, good. Read in December.

# data[].attributes.body
DC Comics seem to have a few of these standalone graphic novels authored by prominent YA prose fiction writers. It seems all very win/win but feels like a bit of a marketing ploy. The art, especially the colours, of this is great but the writing amd characterisation, less so. It makes me wonder if prose writers can easily jump over to comics. Is E Lockhart a comics reader themselves? Is the writing constrained by needing to fit a one shot story? The Harley Quinn book I read earlier is quite similar to this in many ways but superior in every way. Read in December.

# data[].attributes.body
This has been a hit with students and staff at work so went on my to be read list early on. The world Pacat builds feels built upon many others but still manages to be distinct and delivered with vitality. The twists or reversals felt a bit too dense for me but I appreciate that's both part of the genre and also likely a strong factor in the book's success. I'll read the second when it is published next year. Read in December.

# data[].attributes.body
This caught my eye and is very impressive.  It’s a fantasy series with horror elements and set in a richly imagined and original matriarchal society. The artwork is detailed and draws on what feels like a wide range of influences. There’s so much going on in this first volume thay it’s almost overwhelming, or I’m just tired. I’ll read on. Read in December.

# data[].attributes.body
Waaaaaaaa! This was mostly fun. It's a time-slip book about reconciliation and reparations through young teen characters. Cliched and predictable in places and, as with many YA books, almost all dialogue and rapid pacing, which isn't my bag. But, overall, a good book to recommend students who enjoyed Inheritance or Catching Teller Crow, if not as interesting. I note that there is some quite dubious white saviour threads here and unsatisfactory use of mostly passive Aboriginal characters, despite the efforts of the author. Read in December.

# data[].attributes.body
A different disaster but familiar territory for Stålenhag. This one is darker, simpler and more moralistic yet also miasmatic in the art and the narrative. Depressing and beautiful. Read in December.

# data[].attributes.headline
Seraph Of The End volume 1 by Kagami and Yamamoto 

# data[].attributes.subject
Seraph Of The End volume 1 by Kagami and Yamamoto 

# data[].attributes.body
I wasn’t into this one. It feels a bit too much of everything: vampires, demons, post apocalyptic, training school, high school… just so much thrown at the wall! The dialogue was uninspiring too, yes in translation. Read in December.

# data[].attributes.headline
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

# data[].attributes.subject
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

# data[].attributes.body
This is a popular book from work and, from what I gather has been a blockbuster for a long time. It was fun. I thought the characters were full and interesting and the switch between first person documents and third person narrative worked well. It's all completely improbable and relies on a lot of the reader ignoring very convenient coincidences and lapses. Annoyingly the victim of the hit and run is completely hung out to dry! Read in November/December.

# data[].attributes.headline
The Mystery of A Hansom Cab by Fergus Hume

# data[].attributes.subject
The Mystery of A Hansom Cab by Fergus Hume

# data[].attributes.body
This is a fun murder mystery written and set in 1880’s Melbourne. There’s lots of humour and literary references, as was the style then. I enjoy ‘dated’ books where the writer clearly thought of themselves as very modern at the time. What’s dryly amusing is that the sexist (and other) attitudes of the characters are challenged by other characters and generally haven’t changed that much. Read in November.

# data[].attributes.headline
Neverlanders by Tom Taylor and Jon Sommariva

# data[].attributes.subject
Neverlanders by Tom Taylor and Jon Sommariva

# data[].attributes.body
This a fun spin on the Peter Pan story with a smart, jokey and sensitive treatment alongside all the adventures. A good one for the junior school I think. Read in November.

# data[].attributes.body
My favourite stories in this collection were the first and last ones, perhaps because of the Footscray settings but also as a result of the more experimental approach. Overall I found the other stories a bit too predictable and weighted down by the need to name things in order to connect to the various settings. I checked out a review of this book, after finishing and I agree that the presentation of marginalised voices is strong, if suspect at times (how much do we apply 'own voices'? How much can a marginalised voice claim to speak for other marginalised voices?). The use of dialect and speech patterns in general is excellent but hardly 'doing of unheard things' the book's epigram promises. Read in November.

# data[].attributes.body
This volume centres around the amusingly downbeat and anticlimactic meeting of two superpowered psychos as well as some funny diversions. I borrowed 3 volumes so I’ll check out the next one. I feel like I would’ve loved this as a kid. Read in November.

# data[].attributes.headline
The Things We’ve Seen by Agustin Fernandez Mallo

# data[].attributes.subject
The Things We’ve Seen by Agustin Fernandez Mallo

# data[].attributes.body
This guy is amazing but perhaps not for everyone. There’s a very ‘indie film’ and collage vibe to his work which is both humorous and sad, intellectual and pop culture. I enjoyed his previous trilogy but this was even better, perhaps because it connects so much with the work of W. G. Sebald, which I have a soft spot for. Read in November.

# data[].attributes.body
This was something I'd seen around on 'best of' lists and then a student recommended it to me. I've not read the creator's One-Punch Man yet, so I wasn't familiar with the humorous nature of their style. Anyhow, genuinely funny and a mix of Akira, Jujutsu Kaisen style demon-battling and even a nod to 20th Century Boys with the cult storyline. The art style is kind of indie comics style, which I got into. Anyhow, good stuff. I'll read more. Read in November.

# data[].attributes.headline
Tender Is The Flesh by Augustina Bazterrica

# data[].attributes.subject
Tender Is The Flesh by Augustina Bazterrica

# data[].attributes.body
A bit disappointing this one. It was mentioned by a student and I can see it’s highly-rated, and yes, I finished it and it’s ‘powerful’ in a simple way but I didn’t enjoy it. Which of course people may say is the point but misunderstands what I mean. The writing is cold (which is also ‘the point’, I imagine), and the plot pared down and functional (again, ‘the point’, fans would argue) but it feels artless (‘the point’?) and clumsy. It just wasn’t interesting to me. One of those books which is almost immune to criticism because it clearly stakes a case for why eating meat is terrible and dehumanising and it’s hard to argue with that but you pretty much are being served an abattoir tour with a cliched narrator. Read in November.

# data[].attributes.body
Went in for the first issue, proper, after enjoying the ‘0’ volume. Not feeling it now. There are some fun ideas but it’s all too jumpy and fast for me now. Read in November.

# data[].attributes.body
A bit more silliness in this volume which is kinda a filler just hinting more at various secrets. Read in November.

# data[].attributes.body
Another really enjoyable volume! The fact that this whole volume only covers one short plan battle against the kaiju (plus all the side stories) makes me think this could be another epic from Urasawa! Read in November

# data[].attributes.body
This is certainly quite a magnificent achievement in graphic novel form, with a palette and mood similar to the classic Blankets. I had something nagging at me from about halfway through. The story is inspired by the author's own life but given a supernatural 'deal with death' spin and an added superpowers/wish fulfillment angle (which is pretty cool) but... The tortured artist and, sorry to say it, the 'pixie dream girl' relationship just became annoying for me. There's something else in here, a very old-fashioned idealisation of male/female characters that troubles me. It's folksy and, I feel, sexist, really. I'd love to read a feminist analysis of this book. Read in November.

# data[].attributes.headline
Usagi Yojimbo Special Edition volume 1 by Stan Sakai

# data[].attributes.subject
Usagi Yojimbo Special Edition volume 1 by Stan Sakai

# data[].attributes.body
It's been great reading these old stories. I had a few Usagi comics as a kid and loved them. Going back to these old stories and filling in all the gaps is nostalgic and fun. It's a bit like the feeling people my age get from watching old classic adventure films like the Indian Jones series. This volume ends with the epic political action story 'The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy' which, I kid you not, is almost Shakespearean in construction! Finished in November but read in bits and pieces all year.

# data[].attributes.headline
Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation volume 2 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

# data[].attributes.subject
Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation volume 2 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

# data[].attributes.body
And there’s still no raunchy bits, hahaha! These books are rated 17+ by the publishers and I had been led to believe this was for the sexual content but it’s all incredibly innocent and gentle so far: an accidental kiss, a brush if skin. So perhaps it’s about the horror elements? Those can be a little gross but it’s all fantasy style monster slaying. I can’t help but feel that, at least so far, the rating is about the fact it’s all very gently homoerotic. Perhaps the relationship will develop more now our two heroes are on the run. In any case this is still heaps of fun and, obviously intentionally, very funny in places too. Read in October.

# data[].attributes.headline
Dancing At The Pity Party by Tyler Feder

# data[].attributes.subject
Dancing At The Pity Party by Tyler Feder

# data[].attributes.body
This is an in-depth look at parent loss, cancer and grief in general. Feder uses a deceptively simple style to present complex, self-aware, humorous and metaphorical takes on her own experience in ways that make it relateable. Very nicely done.

# data[].attributes.body
Mixed feelings about this one. Positives: the dripping neon art, the playful and modernising approach to classic mythology, the foregrounding of relationships and gender politics, a sensitive tackling of coercive and controlling behaviours. Negatives: the mode is soapy teen drama, obviously the original myths have that 'soapiness' in them but there's a choppiness to dialogue that distances me from the story, even when the artwork is doing great things to create emotion. The pitch is something like 'the gods as glamorously rich and nasty party fiends' but I probably wouldn't enjoy a story about regular glamorously rich and nasty party fiends, so being gods can't improve on that! Cynically, you're always going to do well 'updating the classics to the kids' but the artwork is great and I'm interested in how webcomics are changing printed graphic novels. Read in October.

# data[].attributes.headline
Fine: A Comic About Gender by Rhea Ewing

# data[].attributes.subject
Fine: A Comic About Gender by Rhea Ewing

# data[].attributes.body
This is a rich, compassionate, self-questioning and enlightening non-fiction compendium of thematic interviews and autobiography concerning gender, imaginatively and artfully told. Super rich, inspiring and thought provoking. Read in October.

# data[].attributes.body
Nice to return to this sweet and intriguing series. I feel like I want to gift this to my son when he can read! Always so much wonder and joy. Read in October.

# data[].attributes.headline
Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation 1 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

# data[].attributes.subject
Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation 1 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

# data[].attributes.body
This novel (and not a graphic novel or manhua, as it may seem from the cover) was a student recommendation. I was warned that the translation might not be that good, and I had tried a fan translation of another of this same author's work where the translation was really dire. Thankfully, after the first awkward chapter, I thought the translation worked in English. This is a queer story but nothing really happens of that nature in the first book, where we get taken on different fun and often hilarious demon battling adventures. As I understand it the danmei (boys' love) elements ramp up in volume two, so we'll see. So far it's really entertaining. Read in October.

# data[].attributes.body
The end. The whole ‘story about stories’ and ‘manga about manga’ meta stuff is driven home here, nicely reaffirming and celebrating what this story is really about. Give me a few years and I may even read it all again!

# data[].attributes.body
So, this follow-up, two-volume story promises to end the whole saga… by continuing the whole ‘who is he?’ mystery and the impending world doom drama. It feels like one more turn of the wheel but the quality remains high. Read in October.

# data[].attributes.body
The ending features multiple explosions, endless destruction, and many scenes where characters just shout each other's names! Yet somehow it's gripping and a satisfying conclusion! Read in October.

# data[].attributes.headline
Stars in Their Eyes by Aśka and Jessica Walton

# data[].attributes.subject
Stars in Their Eyes by Aśka and Jessica Walton

# data[].attributes.body
Another student favourite and winner here. Two people meet at fan convention with their embarrassing but very sweet parents. Excellent use of the quiet space and reading time to contrast with the hectic convention and witty banter. Read in October.

# data[].attributes.headline
Pumpkin Heads by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks

# data[].attributes.subject
Pumpkin Heads by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks

# data[].attributes.body
I was looking at borrowing stats at work and saw this was popular so decided to check it out. It’s very cute, well paced and will make you hungry for various odd looking (to me) midwest USA autumn snacks. Read in October.

# data[].attributes.headline
Food Wars: Shokugeki No Soma, 1 but Yuto Tsukuda & Shun Saeki

# data[].attributes.subject
Food Wars: Shokugeki No Soma, 1 but Yuto Tsukuda & Shun Saeki

# data[].attributes.body
This kinda thing weirds me out. At times funny in that way over the top way but totally ruined by the distasteful sexualisation and use of food metaphors for near pleasure. Icky. Read in October.

# data[].attributes.body
Cute, pretty standard love triangle high school romance with a photography angle. At just three volumes, this might be worth picking up for work.

# data[].attributes.body
This is an epic, single volume manga that mixes a steampunk world, philosophical musings on religion and humanity, and almost Studio Ghibli approach to character . Sad and engrossing. Read in October.

# data[].attributes.headline
Before The Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

# data[].attributes.subject
Before The Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

# data[].attributes.body
Gave this bestseller a go as I was looking for more ‘grown up’ books with broad appeal but safe to recommend to young students. There are clichés and a very plain prose style but the characters and gentle weirdness of the setting and set up are charming. There are three books and an upcoming TV series. Read in October.

# data[].attributes.body
This is my second 'major' fantasy series, after Earthsea. Possibly I enjoyed the writing less in this one, possibly because the author had places they 'needed' to go and any 'wrap up' can feel a bit too 'plotted'. Others had warned me that this part leans a lot on philosophy and the religious elements. For me it was more the influences of classical myth that were stronger and the 'epic' vibe of world saving/shattering battles, life and death, beginnings and endings. However, although I preferred Earthsea overall, I would recommend this to students and am happy I gave this a go. Read in October.

# data[].attributes.headline
I Am Not Okay With This by Charles Forsman

# data[].attributes.subject
I Am Not Okay With This by Charles Forsman

# data[].attributes.body
Teen angst with a dark superpower element. So much packed into such a small, simple-looking book. It's pretty full on with lots that might trigger people, reader beware! I suspect lots more people are reading this based on the Netflix series. Read in October.

# data[].attributes.body
This has been a big hit and I finally caught up with it. AMAZING. A combined picture/text work that is beautiful, disturbing, mysterious and emotional. It's a dark techno-dystopia with survivalist elements and feels something like a video game mixed with an art show. Definitely want to read more by this guy and will probably get a copy of this for myself, lots of re-reading potential! Netflix film incoming too. Read in October

# data[].attributes.body
Picked this up based on it's popularity and but it didn't really grab me. I wasn't so into the art or the dialogue. Ah well! Read in October.

# data[].attributes.body
Everyone comes back for the end of the story... Yet it's not really the end because the 'sequel' 21st Century Boys is actually the end of the story, so now I have to go and find that (my local library can't get it!). Read in October.

# data[].attributes.body
After I'm finished with this I really want to look up some commentary or criticism about the story. There's so much in there but the parts that interest me the most are the literal application of a kids' idea of a story applied to the 'real' world and the focus on the world Expo events. Anyhow, penultimate volume! Read in October.

# data[].attributes.body
Back to the straight up filler or back-filler with this volume whereby we see some previous events from other characters’ perspective and find out where
some other folks have been. Two more to go! Read in October.

# data[].attributes.body
This short story collection started well for me but I gradually felt less involved, even if I finished it. The stories are a blend of modern, sarcastic, pop culture-referencing, self-aware narratives and speculative fiction or magical realism. Sadly, I think my prejudice against North American humorist writers got the better of this experience. Read in September-October.

# data[].attributes.body
Decided to check out this blockbuster series, in consideration for work. This is the prequel volume. At first I wasn't sure about it but it grew on me. It's kind of a horror battle manga but the whole world/mythology seems fun and there's lots of humour. I'll read volumes 1 & 2 or something and decide. Read in September.

# data[].attributes.body
Although there's probably a little too much going back and forward in the post-apocalyptic parts of the story, like returning to the same places and multiple rescues but... this was another fun volume. Various factions are combining to take on Tetsuo and Akira so there's a more natural momentum building, rather than the full throttle action of previous volumes.

# data[].attributes.body
My local library couldn’t get in vol. 2 so I read a summary and jumped into 3. Still that great blend of humour, genre situations and silliness. Definitely a fun series for work. Read in September.

# data[].attributes.body
This volume cribs from western and samurai films to create a break out and break in adventure, most enjoyable. Read in September.

# data[].attributes.body
Although not immediately apparent, this is the first book and doesn’t end with a finished story. It comes on as a awkward mix of boys love cuteness, high school DRAMA and tough guy hard knocks realism. The sepia, pencil style art is interesting but makes it feel distant. Read in September.

# data[].attributes.body
Who’s coming back? Who really died? Is one person really two? Mysteries still abound and there’s a hippie revolution on the way! Read in September.

# data[].attributes.body
This is sweet but oddly felt both rushed and elliptical. There’s also a strange passivity to the central character who is kinda outed and rushed along, perhaps that’s true to life, though. It works best for me when the art switches from realistic to metaphorical, but that’s probably just my taste. Read in September.

# data[].attributes.body
Here we are at the end. It's mostly a saying goodbye, to all the characters, not just the main one, some tying up of loose ends, some loosening of knots. It was great to revisit the stories I had read before and to experience the ones I had not. Read in September.

# data[].attributes.headline
Kimi Ni Todoke volume 1 by Karuho Shiina

# data[].attributes.subject
Kimi Ni Todoke volume 1 by Karuho Shiina

# data[].attributes.body
Checking out this cute romance, thanks to its popularity and the incoming live action Netflix series. Super sweet. We have the first few volumes on our shelves already. Read in September.

# data[].attributes.body
This is more like it! A student recommendation and a bit hit. Genuinely funny and the weird mix of comedy, action and sympathetic family/relationship drama is all handled well. The pseudo-European world is fun and the art is dynamic. I'll continue reading this one. Read in September

# data[].attributes.headline
Golden Time 1 by Yuyuko Takemiya and Umechazuke

# data[].attributes.subject
Golden Time 1 by Yuyuko Takemiya and Umechazuke

# data[].attributes.body
I can't remember why I picked this up from the library, perhaps popularity or that it started as a light novel (a genre I want to educate myself about for work). Anyhow, not my bag, it's comedy, romance, mystery (and supernatural later, I found out) but the depictions of the girls are icky and it's all very silly boys stuff, despite being set in a first year at university! Read in September.

# data[].attributes.headline
20th Century Boys Volumes 16 & 17 by Naoki Urasawa

# data[].attributes.subject
20th Century Boys Volumes 16 & 17 by Naoki Urasawa

# data[].attributes.body
We're mostly in the post-apocalyptic world now and The Friend's society is crumbling from within and without. The use of music, secret broadcasts, tunnels, lost songs and hideouts tells us something is rising from below. It's impressive what's been done with this story, impressively drawn out too (!) but I'm hopeful for an epic ending in the closing volumes. Read in September

# data[].attributes.headline
Boys Run The Riot volume 4 by Keito Gaku

# data[].attributes.subject
Boys Run The Riot volume 4 by Keito Gaku

# data[].attributes.body
Well that’s the end. A short series, which feels like it deserves to be revisited in the future with a second short series too. The ending keeps it real and lowkey, even if part of me wanted a more ‘Hollywood’ ending. Read in September

# data[].attributes.headline
Boys Run The Riot volume 3 by Keito Gaku

# data[].attributes.subject
Boys Run The Riot volume 3 by Keito Gaku

# data[].attributes.body
Might as well steam ahead with this one! This volume closes the circle on the outing incident with a reverse story and exploring non binary identities or those who resist any label and are uncertain of themselves. The supportive threads across identities and general ally-ship remain strong. Read in September.

# data[].attributes.headline
Boys Run The Riot volume 2 by Keito Gaku

# data[].attributes.subject
Boys Run The Riot volume 2 by Keito Gaku

# data[].attributes.body
Finally managed to return to this after volumes 2-4 arrived at my local library. The art feels a little weak at times but it still has impact and dynamism. The difficulties of coming out and various sensitivities and frustrations are explored and the background of the growing fashion brand is a driving narrative force. Read in September.

# data[].attributes.headline
Her Body & Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado

# data[].attributes.subject
Her Body & Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado

# data[].attributes.body
Amazing short stories that are witty, horrifying and moving, all at once. There’s magical realism and post modern horror but also a sense of deep commitment to real world trauma and lived issues. I’d been intending on reading this for a while and a friend’s post prompted me to go in, seeing as I’ve recently been mixing in more adult fiction with my reading for work. Very impressed. Read in September.

# data[].attributes.headline
The Sandman Volume 9 by Neil Gaiman and others

# data[].attributes.subject
The Sandman Volume 9 by Neil Gaiman and others

# data[].attributes.body
The penultimate collection is an epic tragedy of Dream’s end, the summation of his changed relationship to humanity and a downward race to destruction and rebirth. His passivity is revealed as having been masking his half aware manipulation and desire for punishment and change. Read in September.

# data[].attributes.body
This is a witchy story of inclusion and acceptance, with a focus on black and female characters. Funny and tender. The swampy bayou setting, the motorbike racing granny and the three-legged dog made it for me. A good one for work. Read in September.

# data[].attributes.body
A juicy dazzler full of magical weirdism! This is such a rich, fragrant, surprising novel and astonishing work of imagination. We get love, sex, politics, intolerance, race, cookery and addiction and more, all explored, sprinkled with magic. This was a recommendation from a friend and I’m glad I picked it up, a reminder to keep my eyes peeled for the types of adult fiction I enjoy. Read in September.

# data[].attributes.body
This is a really cute and fun teen superhero story that keeps it real while still delivering a little action at the end. Most of the drama is of the mother/daughter and expectations/frustrations variety but the voices feel authentic and the art is bright and inventive. Read in September.

# data[].attributes.body
This is a recent autobiographical manga marked for 16+ ages about realising you are a minority within a minority and struggling with a lack of understanding of and connection to the wider world, the queer world and your own self. It’s open and honest and wants to educate as well. I feel like this book will be appreciated by a wide range of people. Read in September.

# data[].attributes.body
We’re now in a post-apocalyptic Neo Tokyo and the Mad Max/Escape From New York vibes are strong. But the trippy metaphysical threads are also present
amongst the non-stop survivalist action. You just have to pause and admire the talent this guy has for frenetic pace and detailed art. Has anyone been better at drawing massive collapsing architecture? The constant threat of violence, including sexual assault is countered with all-action female badasses. Misanthropic and heroic at the turn of a page. Read in September.

# data[].attributes.headline
The Sandman Volume 8 by Neil Gaiman & others

# data[].attributes.subject
The Sandman Volume 8 by Neil Gaiman & others

# data[].attributes.body
This is a collection of tales framed by a group of people from different worlds meeting in an inn and sharing stories. There's a big event happening in the world of The Sandman too, which is hinted at in the last chapter. A good little breather before the home straight. Read in September.

# data[].attributes.headline
When One Person Dies The Whole World Is Over by Mandy Ord

# data[].attributes.subject
When One Person Dies The Whole World Is Over by Mandy Ord

# data[].attributes.body
This is a page a day for a whole year so n the life of the author. We see the humdrum and the epiphanies, the little moments of sadness and joy and the moments that will change your life. It’s a good one to read slowly and reflect on your own life. Read in September.

# data[].attributes.headline
Kubo Won't Let Me Be Invisible 1 by Nene Yukimori

# data[].attributes.subject
Kubo Won't Let Me Be Invisible 1 by Nene Yukimori

# data[].attributes.body
This is a boys' manga about a very shy lad who meets a girl who has a massive crush on him and takes him on as a kind of project. It treads a fine line between cute and annoying! Plus there's a strong 'magical pixie girl' element to Kubo, which isn't my bag. Read in September.

# data[].attributes.headline
Sandman Volume 7 by Neil Gaiman and more

# data[].attributes.subject
Sandman Volume 7 by Neil Gaiman and more

# data[].attributes.body
This arc ia a quest to find Dream’s brother, Destruction. It’s a road trip, driven by their sister, Delirium and sows the seeds for the end of the Endless. As always there are some great characters, masterful set pieces and rich allusions to history, philosophy and literature. Read in September.

# data[].attributes.body
This is a collection of short stories that feel like modern fairytales, of the eerie or gruesome kind. Some parts actually made me wince. It’s fantastic and darkly humorous and, I’d say, feminist. Read in August/September.

# data[].attributes.headline
Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

# data[].attributes.subject
Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

# data[].attributes.body
Picked this up based on its popularity, part one of a trilogy. It's an all-action space adventure that seems written to both embrace cliches and be self aware of them. It's certainly a page-turner and manages to incorporate other genres like heist capers and teen romance. At this point I'm not sure if I'll read the other parts but my only real qualm is how the sassy/quippy voice seems plugged into a 12-15 year old feel but the constant sexualisation feels older. So you have characters who behave like 17-19 year olds but talk like they're younger. Probably just splitting hairs here. Read in August.

# data[].attributes.body
Are we in the home straight? There's still 7 books to go! But yes, the second and (final?) catastrophe is upon us. Read in August.

# data[].attributes.body
This is an autobiographical graphic novel about the author's time as a junior ice skater. Of course it's really about so much more. The art is typically beautiful: simplistic at first glance but detailed and varied with dots and splashes of colour and silent panels to tell the emotional story. The vibe is sad, isolated, distant, hurt and confused but also empowering. It felt similar to the Tamakis' Skim, in that way, for me. Read in August

# data[].attributes.body
And then this volume returns to the flashbacks (triggered by another return - to the virtual world game) and mystery reveals! I think I will finish this series though, eventually! Read in August.

# data[].attributes.body
So… No red herring, instead we get some deadly salted salmon! At this point the whole ‘who is The Friend?’ mystery appears to have been cleared up and we’re swinging into The Race Against The Deadly Virus part 2. Perhaps that means all the flashbacks will end too. That’s probably a good thing. Read in August.

# data[].attributes.body
This volume really ramps up the ‘oh I’ve just remembered something important’ and ‘I know who The Friend is now’ drama but at least some answers are coming. Having said that, with 10 more volumes to go, I imagine these are red herrings. There are some very nice wordless scene changes in this volume. Read in August.

# data[].attributes.headline
The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix 

# data[].attributes.subject
The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix 

# data[].attributes.body
I tell students to stop reading something if they’re not enjoying it and have little hope of it improving. So, why did I keep reading this until around the 200 page mark? I like horror films, including the ones riffed on in this novel (which imagines that all the films were based on real murders and tells the story of the real surviving ‘final girls’). I was interested in what others have called the feminist intentions of the book. I like humour mixed with gross violence (!). But, EVENTUALLY,  I realised I was not looking forward to reading it and just found it  annoying. The vibe was like listening to someone who thinks they’re real smart and edgy but are just boring. It’s also very cheesy North American for me and has that ‘written for TV’ feel to it. Quit in August.

# data[].attributes.body
This is another book I read based on students' recommendations. It's a romance built on a spine of a medical condition, with a twist that you may well see coming but welcome. For me, the appeal comes from the strength of voice developed for the central character/narrator, her humour, intelligence. I also appreciated the multi-modal nature of the text, which I think makes it more accessible and fun for a wider variety of readers. Read in August

# data[].attributes.body
Back on this horse, might even finish this whole series. It’s a fine little old tangle by this point but the shift to the female characters has kept it fresh and energetic. Read in August.

# data[].attributes.body
I hadn’t realised that this was a sequel to another short series but it didn’t matter in terms of understanding what’s going on. It’s a dark fantasy romance with an emphasis on the romance. Some cool ideas but overall I wasn’t hooked or inspired to get it for the library. Read in August.

# data[].attributes.body
This book feels sadder and darker and I liked that. I enjoyed the introduction of two more worlds, the stronger presence of the witches, and the increasing Christian mythology aspects. I’m hoping yo complete the series this year. Read in August.

# data[].attributes.body
It's the end of the story (just four volumes!). Many things are left open ended but that's kind of the point. One of the main characters 'someone-san' who may or may not be asexual/aromantic is both a character and an embodying theme of the story: some things don't need to be pushed, helped or interrogated, they just need to be let be. Read in August.

# data[].attributes.body
Emotions still running super high and the drops into fantastic imagery are present. Like the previous volume we have here
people trying to help but making things worse or hurting others. Suppressed feelings and growing confidence. Our main character is almost unrecognisable compared to the start of the story. Read in August.

# data[].attributes.body
Finally got around to reading this huge hit. It's so well structured and literary (and self-aware of being literary and gently mocking of that). You can see why critics would find it easy to love: it's autobiography, it's literate in the sense of precise and well-turned sentences, and literary in the sense of making references to and drawing parallels with other (well regarded) fiction. But even with all that, it's easy to love, emotional, intellectual, humorous, bold and subtle. Read in August.

# data[].attributes.headline
At The World's End by Catherine Fisher and School For Supervillains by Louie Stowell

# data[].attributes.subject
At The World's End by Catherine Fisher and School For Supervillains by Louie Stowell

# data[].attributes.body
I was interested in the 'high interest, low vocabulary' or what we call 'fast reads' books at work. These two were chosen for me to read by students. One is a post-apocalyptic survivalist adventure, the other a humorous take on the 'extraordinary school' genre. The latter was written by readers choosing what happens at the end of each chapter, which is a cool idea. I'd like to find more in this vein, to recommend to students who struggle to read or commit to reading at home. Read in August.

# data[].attributes.headline
Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! Volume 1 by Sumito Ōwara

# data[].attributes.subject
Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! Volume 1 by Sumito Ōwara

# data[].attributes.body
I only read the first three chapters in this volume, enough to get a feel for it. I reckon this would be a lot of fun for younger readers and I’ll br suggesting it for the junior school. Read in August.

# data[].attributes.body
I like a bit of Kaiju action but I wasn’t feeling this one. The writing or translation at least, feels generic and rushed and there’s little space in the story, despite all the cool ideas. Read in August.

# data[].attributes.headline
The Sandman volume 6 by Neil Gaiman and more

# data[].attributes.subject
The Sandman volume 6 by Neil Gaiman and more

# data[].attributes.body
Back to this series and we’re now fully in the individual short stories phase. All the tales here are inspired by history or myth and all satisfy any need for fantasy and dark mystery. Read in August.

# data[].attributes.headline
Our Dreams At Dusk volume 2 by Yuhki Kamatani

# data[].attributes.subject
Our Dreams At Dusk volume 2 by Yuhki Kamatani

# data[].attributes.body
In this volume, the main character is trying to help a younger acquaintance whose confusion and frustration leads to lashing out. Lots of drama and great art again, with the underlying messages of patience, honesty and tearing down to build again, developing further. Read in August.