GRAPHIC NOVELS

Blackwater

by Jeannette Arroyo & Ren Graham (text) & illus. by Jeanette Arroyo & Ren Graham
Holt. Jul. 2022. 304p. Tr $25.99. ISBN 9781250304025; pap. $$17.99. ISBN 9781250777058.
COPY ISBN
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.
Reviewed by Nancy McKay , Jul 22, 2022

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