The books Southern indie booksellers are recommending to readers everywhere!

Comics & Graphic Novels

Batman: White Knight by Sean Murphy

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Batman: White Knight by Sean Murphy
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This arc follows a man named Jack Napier who is bent on taking down Batman and exposing Gotham’s corruption-but is he a savior or a doomsman? Murphy does an excellent job making you go back and forth with this idea until the end. The art is serious and dark, setting the tone of the story well. A fun read, and one you’ll want to return to again and again.

Batman: White Knight by Sean Murphy, (List Price: $19.99, DC Black Label, 9781401279592, October 2018)

Reviewed by Hilton Airall, Carmichael’s Bookstore in Louisville, Kentucky

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My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999 Volume 1 by Mashiro

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My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999 Volume 1 by Mashiro
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I’ve been reading this manga online for a while and am so happy it’s getting an English print! This is one of my all-time favorite shoujo mangas, with a pretty big cast of characters, but all of them are fun and endearing. Akane and Yamada are adorable, and I really appreciate how they get together early on (without rushing the feelings), with the story following their relationship (and their relationship with their friends) closely in a wholesome slice of life. This manga explores different types of relationships and portrays people realistically. The gamer aspect is relatable for the current generation and is fun to read about. I’ll be collecting all the volumes!

My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999 Volume 1 by Mashiro, (List Price: $12.99, Inklore, 9781984862693, April 2024)

Reviewed by Kamilah Wong, E. Shaver, bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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My Gemini by Yuu Morikawa

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My Gemini by Yuu Morikawa
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I loved it! I’ve been looking for a standalone manga and this scratched all my itches. The art is gorgeous, and I love the mysterious vibe it has. The mystery around the twins and their relationship was very well done. I think the main character, John, could’ve been explored a little more and made him more important. “Hyde” kept telling him how important John is to him and his brother, but I wish we saw a bit more of that. The pacing and writing were both great, and the ending made me satisfied, even though it’s a little bittersweet.

My Gemini by Yuu Morikawa, (List Price: $15, Yen Press, 9781975366322, April 2024)

Reviewed by Kamilah Wong, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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Beetle & the Hollowbones by Aliza Layne

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Beetle & the Hollowbones by Aliza Layne
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I read Beetle & the Hollowbones in one sitting over morning coffee. The art and story charmed me to no end! This middle-grade graphic novel is a perfect recommendation for fans of Corpse Bride and Halloweentown, a creepy-cute and sweet tale of growing up, friendship, magic, and love. A must-read for fellow year-round Halloween lovers!

Beetle & the Hollowbones by Aliza Layne, (List Price: $12.99, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 9781534441545, April 2020)

Reviewed by Cristina Russell, Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida

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The Swords of Glass Vol. 1 (Oversized) by Sylvaine Corgiat

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The Swords of Glass Vol. 1 (Oversized) by Sylvaine Corgiat
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This world’s people will perish by burning up in a solar flare unless the four swords that rained down from the heavens are united to open a portal to an alternate universe. Unfortunately, the owner of the sword demands to use it for revenge first and doesn’t give a rat’s behind about suns dying or oceans evaporating. A compelling read and I’m interested to see how they expand on the lore of the swords.

The Swords of Glass Vol. 1 (Oversized) by Sylvaine Corgiat, (List Price: $29.99, Humanoids Inc., 9781643375762, April 2024)

Reviewed by Lana Repic, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen

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by Trung Le Nguyen
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This gorgeously illustrated graphic novel deftly weaves traditional fairy tales into the life of a young, gay teen just trying to figure everything out.

The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen, (List Price: $17.99, Random House Graphic, 9781984851598, October 2020)

Reviewed by Shauna Sinyard, Park Road Books in Charlotte, North Carolina

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Food School by Jade Armstrong

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Fool School by Jade Armstrong
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Fool School tells the story of a non-binary person going through a three-month recovery for their binge-eating disorder. Shows the struggles in their relationships, the friends they make in the program, and overall while starting to fully recover. Must read, fast book, cute graphics, not too heavy (told in a comedic way, but still tasteful). TW: for Eating Disorders

Food School by Jade Armstrong, (List Price: $15, Conundrum Press, 9781772620962, April 2024)

Reviewed by Stephanie St. John, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang

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Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang
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Val believes that her family is cursed and they will always be unlucky in love. I loved the sweet and charming graphics and learning about the art of lion dancing. Val’s courage and determination to try and open her heart even if it may end in heartbreak is inspiring. I truly enjoyed this book!

Lunar New Year Love StoryLunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang, (List Price: $25.99, First Second, 9781626728103, January 2024)

Reviewed by Keeshia Jacklitch, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Werewolf at Dusk: And Other Stories by David Small

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Werewolf at Dusk: And Other Stories by David Small
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David Small always packs a punch in the most sublet ways. His illustrations perfectly compliment these stories of longing and the fragility of life.

Werewolf at Dusk: And Other Stories by David Small, (List Price: $25, Liveright, 9781324092827, March 2024)

Reviewed by Rayna Nielsen, Blue Cypress Books in New Orleans, Louisiana

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Blood City Rollers by V.P. Anderson

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Blood City Rollers by V.P. Anderson
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Fast-moving, silly, with just the right amount of character introspection. When you fail at something you’ve literally dedicated your life to, it can feel like you’ve failed at life. Mira’s journey is very literal in that she gets injured and can no longer skate, disrupting her parents’ plans for the Olympics. Luckily, she’s kidnapped by a vampire roller derby team that is in desperate need of a “mandatory human member.”

Blood City Rollers by V.P. Anderson, (List Price: $13.99, Labyrinth Road, 9780593485712, April 2024)

Reviewed by Jamie Kovacs, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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The Werewolf at Dusk: And Other Stories by David Small

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The Werewolf at Dusk: And Other Stories by David Small
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David Small’s illustrations give life to three short stories about age. identity, and metamorphosis in the vein of Franz Kafka and Alfred Hitchcock. Each story positions a person beside a beast in some way, which aids in contextualizing our very human experiences. The illustration is dreamlike; and although the stories are short, they are abundant with depth.

The Werewolf at Dusk: And Other Stories by David Small, (List Price: $25, Liveright, 9781324092827, March 2024)

Reviewed by Isabel Agajanian, Oxford Exchange in Tampa, Florida

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I Feel Awful, Thanks by Lara Pickle

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I Feel Awful, Thanks by Lara Pickle
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Originally published in Spanish under the title Estoy Fatal, Gracias, this graphic novel follows Jo, a young witch who moves from Spain to London for a dream job making potions. But for all the good things in her life, there are quite a few bad things- an abusive team leader at work, a controlling roommate at home, and a boyfriend who tells her she just needs to more positive- and soon Jo’s depression and feelings that she’s trying so hard to keep locked away explode into literal dragons. This book is a charming way to learn to deal with overwhelming emotions, as Jo starts therapy and learns how to live with her feelings. I absolutely adore the world Pickle has created!

I Feel Awful, ThanksI Feel Awful, Thanks by Lara Pickle, (List Price: $17.99, Oni Press, 9781637153000, March 2024)

Reviewed by Kate Towery, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

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Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang

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Lunar New Year Love Story by Yang, Gene Luen
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A rom-com focusing on a young woman who makes a deal with a spirit over her heart, unless she can find true love, and her partner, who is shy and healing after a major loss. Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham use their prose and art to share a fun story, as well as education on Asian-American culture and history. A good romp of a read for those in love or trying to find it.

Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang, (List Price: $17.99, First Second, 9781250908261, January 2024)

Reviewed by Hilton Airall, Carmichael’s Bookstore in Louisville, Kentucky

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Ink Girls by Marieke Nijkamp

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Ink Girls by Marieke Nijkamp
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Ink Girls is a beautifully illustrated, sweet story about a group of girls in a Renaissance-inspired word who are determined to fight for truth. It shows firsthand how deeply important it is that truth comes first, above the discomfort of change. Everything else will fall into place, and friends deserving of you will flock to you. I can’t wait to push this graphic novel into everyone\’s hands!

Ink Girls by Marieke Nijkamp, (List Price: $15.99, Greenwillow Books, 9780063027107, November 2023)

Reviewed by Caitlyn Vanorder, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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49 Days by Agnes Lee

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49 Days by Agnes Lee
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An introspective and emotional exploration of life after death, both for those who have been lost and have experienced a loss, Lee has succeeded in capturing the full spectrum of emotions in a limited range of color. From scenes of laughter to those where no one can bear to speak, her graphic novel explores the different ways in which we know one another. What a deeply human story, and what a deeply moving way to consider each other. Part slice of life, part emotional trial, this is a particularly successful emotional exploration of grief.

49 Days by Agnes Lee, (List Price: $ , Levine Querido, 9781646143740, 2024-03-05)

Reviewed by Shae Jordan, Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia

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