Slip: review

Marika McCoola has an MA in writing for children from Simmons College and is a former children’s book buyer at an independent bookstore in Massachusetts. Baba Yaga’s Assistant marks her publishing debut. She lives in Massachusetts.

Aatmaja Pandya is a cartoonist and illustrator from New York. She graduated from the School of Visual Arts in 2014 with a BFA Illustration degree. Her current project is Travelogue, a fantasy "diary" comic with a focus on worldbuilding. She likes drawing comics about wizards and video games and surly teens.

From Eisner-Award nominated writer Marika McCoola and debut artist Aatmaja Pandya, an emotional coming-of-age graphic novel for fans of Bloom and Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me.

Right before Jade is about to leave for a summer art intensive, her best friend, Phoebe, attempts suicide. How is Jade supposed to focus on herself right now?

But at the Art Farm, Jade has artistic opportunities she’s been waiting for her whole life. And as she gets to know her classmates, she begins to fall for whimsical, upbeat, comfortable-in-her-own-skin Mary. Jade pours herself into making ceramic monsters that vent her stress and insecurities, but when she puts her creatures in the kiln, something unreal happens: they come to life. And they’re taking a stand: if Jade won’t confront her problems, her problems are going to confront her, including the scariest of them all—if Jade grows, prospers, and even falls in love this summer, is she leaving Phoebe behind?

Thank you Algonquin Young Readers for the arc.

This was such a raw and emotional graphic novel, hitting some heavy themes as a young girl navigates finding inspiration for her art while agonizing over her best friend's suicide attempt. There were times when I was so immersed in the story that I forgot I was reading a graphic novel. It put me in a place of sadness while still having to go about our lives, which I am sure a lot of us have been through. The world still spins despite our pain.

Jade's art begins to come to life, mirroring her internalized feelings over being away from her friend and feeling helpless. They force her to face her pain and to look forward to what comes next in her life.

I loved that Jade soon gets some understanding of mental health and how deeply complex it can be. She feels like there must have been more she could do to stop her friend from feeling sad, but learns there is so much more to it. Her self-absorption is right for her age. I know there is a story about Jade, but I do wish there had been a bit more from Phoebe's point of view, but I loved the ending so much.

In the words of the great Keith Morrison: "Grief can be a powerful motivator one way or the other. You can either go down or find a purpose and sometimes the purpose can be amazing."

Rep: queer MC and romantic interest, South Asian MC, BIPOC B characters

Trigger warnings for: talk of attempted suicide, self-harm

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐