Making Scents

In this graphic novel set in the 1950s, a boy named Mickey Spitz narrates the story of his unusual youth. With two dog lovers as parents and the family dogs as siblings, Mickey is raised more like a bloodhound than a child--and trained to be a super smeller. While his skill of scent is treasured at home, his teachers and classmates aren't as accepting. Appreciation grows after Mickey shows off his nose at a talent show, but tragedy hits before curtain call. Mickey is orphaned, whisked away from his animal siblings, and sent to live with his aunt and uncle (childless, almost strangers, and definitely not dog people). As Mickey adjusts to these changes and learns to be more of a kid than a canine, he begins to process his grief and make sense of his life, family, and future. Retro details in the illustrations create a nostalgic feel. Humor stems naturally from the absurdity of the premise, while the heartfelt moments are as tender as they come. The minimalist palette (usually one accent color at a time) shifts hues between panels and pages, with different colors reflecting mood or highlighting scent. The back matter features character sketches and detailed information about how the book was made. elisa gall