Blackwater

May 15, 2022
Blackwater, Maine, isn't an ordinary town, but Eli Hirsch and Tony Price are mostly ordinary boys. Eli, a trans Jewish boy, is isolated by an autoimmune disease, an overbearing mother, and a standoffish attitude. Popular track star Tony, who is cued as Puerto Rican, fights with his distant father and is watching his childhood best friend turn into a bully. But mysterious things are afoot: Tony is bitten by a werewolf, and Eli is being followed by a ghost. Trying to unravel the werewolf curse, Tony, Eli, and Marcia, Tony's levelheaded goth friend who reads as Black, investigate, coming across intriguing complications and haunting dangers. The horror elements are playful, spooky, but not too frightening, providing a backdrop that adds to the developing relationship between the boys. Despite some animosity, they accept one another exactly as they are, with no pretenses, as their friendship turns into a mutual crush. There's a kind earnestness to their connection, particularly Tony's easygoing support toward Eli's chronic illness. An exciting element lies in the artwork: The creators illustrate alternate chapters, with Arroyo's vivid and dynamic lines and more cartoonish style serving action scenes well and Graham's precise approach highlighting more heartfelt, character-driven moments. The styles blend together seamlessly to make a stronger whole. However, the story, while breezy and enjoyable, feels incomplete, missing details that would make characters and their emotional arcs more complex. A romantic romp through the supernatural. (Graphic horror. 14-18)

COPYRIGHT(2022) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

May 30, 2022
In this tense, character-driven supernatural drama, originally a webcomic, high schoolers Tony Price and Eli Hirsch forge a tender romance while a creature terrorizes their town’s woods. Puerto Rican–cued track star Tony, who hides his asthma from his peers, frequently butts heads with his inattentive father; meanwhile, trans, Jewish Eli, who has an undisclosed autoimmune disorder, struggles to make friends as his dismissive mother chips away at his self-esteem. When Eli catches Tony’s eye, Tony starts defending him from bullies including Tony’s childhood friend, and the two embark on an endearing courtship. Joined by cued-Black supernatural enthusiast Marcia, they investigate reports of something lurking in Blackwater’s woods, and Eli reveals he can see and interact with ghosts—specifically, a fisherman who seems to know the forest’s secrets. Arroyo and Graham alternate illustrating each chapter, rendered in grayscale with a small-town atmosphere. Arroyo portrays Tony’s narrative with kinetic art and layered paneling, while Graham offers thicker brushwork that elegantly depicts Blackwater’s landscapes through Eli’s eyes. Together, the creators weave a compelling high school drama, begetting adolescent growth through a captivating occult lens. Ages 14–up. (July)
■

July 1, 2022
Grades 8-11 Tony's a relatively tough guy in a small town, though the cracks in his facade begin to show when he gets closer to Eli, a weird, quiet kid who can see ghosts and is routinely the target of bullying. Things get genuinely weird, though, after Tony's bitten by a mysterious creature in the woods and starts to transform into a werewolf, and a particularly persistent ghost is clearly trying to tell Eli something important. Arroyo and Graham offer a nice twist on a classic werewolf tale in this eerie YA graphic novel; rather than the moon, Tony's outsized anger triggers his transformation, and he must contend with his unresolved problems--usually by clearly communicating his feelings--to keep the beast at bay. Arroyo and Graham's moody artwork features loping figures that look like they stepped out of a classic Disney animation, and plenty of gray shadows and jagged lines help convey atmosphere. Though some plot turns seems abrupt, the burgeoning romance between Eli and Tony is sweet. A paranormal romance that emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence.

COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 22, 2022

Gr 9 Up-Appropriately marketed as "Riverdale meets Stranger Things," this title is a queer romance with a paranormal twist, originally found on WEBTOON and now published as the first volume of a new series. Tony is a popular track star of Black Puerto Rican heritage who meets Eli, a white trans boy who has an autoimmune disorder. They become unlikely friends, and a tentative new romance later develops between them as they encounter ghostly beings and werewolves, all while dealing with high school drama. The book is illustrated by its two creators, Arroyo and Graham, who alternate drawing chapters in their own styles. At first, this takes some getting used to, but readers will quickly adapt. The styles complement each other; one is softer for the romantic subplot, the other a bit edgier. VERDICT For fans of Heartstopper and Teen Wolf, the blend of horror, sly humor, and an intriguing cliff-hanger will ensure readers return for the next volume. A recommended purchase for all YA graphic novel collections.-Nancy McKay

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.