Constellations

by Kate Glasheen

Overview

A raw graphic novel debut about a queer teen living in the margins who is determined to find their way ahead.

Are you supposed to be a boy or a girl?

It's a question that follows Claire everywhere. Inescapable on the street, in school, and even at home. A black hole forever trying to pull them in. Claire knows what they’re supposed to be—and according to their Catholic family, that’s definitely not someone who’d kiss a girl at a party. When the news gets out, the questions get hard: Is Claire having a girlfriend the thing that feels wrong? Or is it being a girl?

The answer is easy: drink it all away.

When a downward spiral puts Claire on a collision course with court-ordered rehab, the unexpected happens: Claire is soon surrounded by a group of new friends and, with the help of a patient counselor, finds a space to unpack all the bad they've experienced. But as Claire’s release gets closer so does the question: Can Claire stay sober and true in a world seemingly never made for them?

Set in 1980s Troy, New York, Constellations is a portrait of a queer teen living in the margins but determined to find their way ahead. Done in watercolor and ink, debut author-artist Kate Glasheen has created a world where strong lines meet soft color, and raw emotions meet deep thought in this story of hope, humor, and survival.

A Booklist Editors’ Choice: Graphic Novel
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
A Booklist Top Ten First Novel for Youth

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823454884
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	05/23/2023
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

About the Author

Kate Glasheen was born and raised in Troy, New York and lived there until their departure for Pratt Institute for a BFA in Fine Art. Kate has since been a creator, artist, and contributor for several critically acclaimed books, participated in exhibitions and collections across the globe, and worked on several of the biggest properties in entertainment. Their artistic interests find communion in fine and sequential art under the notion that there’s something hilarious about something that’s not funny at all. Constellations is their author-artist debut. Kate lives, draws, and tattoos out of Philadelphia under the stringent supervision of Kipper the Cat.

Editorial Reviews

★ "A tale of gender identity and recovery that will resonate with readers and leave them ­thinking long after the final page. A first purchase for all young adult library ­collections."—School Library Journal, Starred Review

★"This solo debut—a fictionalized, somewhat autobiographical accounting, as indicated in an author’s note—explores its protagonist’s struggles to be a part of their family and community while learning to accept themself, potently reflecting on themes of addiction, healing, and identity."—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

★ "Thoughtful artistic choices pair well with an excellent, illustriously lyrical approach to gender-expansive identity. . . . Claire’s story is a multifaceted must-have for young adult readers looking to better grasp the intersection of addiction and identity."—Booklist, Starred Review
 
"Exaggerated size and perspective emphasize raw experiences throughout the graphic novel. . . . The watercolor and ink illustrations add even more weight to the scenes. . . ."—The Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Books

"A brutal story with glimmers of hope shining through. . . ."—Kirkus Reviews

"A unique journey that doesn't turn away from hard truths; courageously honest and vulnerable."—Iasmin Omar Ata, the Ignatz Award-winning creator of Mis(h)adra

"Heartfelt and realistic, and painted in beautiful, lively watercolors—Constellations pulls no punches about the realities of navigating addiction and bullying as a teen, while also honoring the people who help us to survive and grow along the way."—Melanie Gillman, creator of As the Crow Flies and Other Ever Afters
 
"Constellations is a gut punch for anyone who grew up as a delinquent queer kid, desperately trying to become a monster in a world that treats us like monsters. Glasheen's watercolors shine with the clarity of memory, bringing us into a real 1986 that feels present, reminding us that the pain of interpersonal trauma is both historical and modern. We're reminded that queerness, too, is both historical and modern, and that becoming your authentic self will always be healing, and will always bring us together."—Priya Huq, cartoonist of Piece by Piece: The Story of Nisrin's Hijab

From the Publisher

2023-02-08
A tale of gender and addiction.

Claire Dunroe lives in the crumbling industrial city of Troy, New York. The androgynous White teen often butts up against the question of what gender they are, and Claire’s working-class Irish Catholic family is not one to deal with issues of gender-based bullying or violence with sensitivity or support. With good friend Greg, Claire discovers that beer is a great way to dull the pain and starts drinking regularly. One particular bender—inspired by a girl who kisses Claire and then spirals into gay panic, followed by severe bullying at school—leads to Claire’s getting picked up by the police and then sent by a judge to a teen rehab facility. This is a brutal story with glimmers of hope shining through, complemented by harsh art, tangled lines, and blunt facial expressions. While this story may be cathartic for those who can relate to the subject matter or appreciated by readers seeking narratives dealing with trauma, overstuffed text boxes often devolve into melodramatic exposition or lengthy dialogue scenes in which Charlie, the main addiction counselor, lectures the audience both on and off the page about addiction and recovery. The author’s afterword gives a heartfelt explanation of how this not-quite-memoir dovetails with their life.

Successfully delves into issues but never quite coalesces into an engaging story. (Graphic fiction. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews