Crumbs: A Graphic Novel

by Danie Stirling

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

A magical bakery AND a delightful romance? Sign us up. This sweet-as-sugar graphic novel about friendship and first love is sure to make readers feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

An IndieBound Bestseller

Falling in love just got sweeter in this charming, romantic YA graphic novel from WEBTOON, the #1 digital comic platform. Ray, a young seer struggling with her powers, discovers first love and friendship in her town's magic bakery.

In a very special town, there’s an even more unusual bakery with a selection of baked treats hand-crafted to help your dreams come true. For Ray, a quiet young woman with special powers of her own, the order is always the same: a hot tea with a delicious side of romance.

When Ray meets Laurie, the kind barista who aspires to be a professional musician, she gets a real taste of love for the first time. But even with a spark of magic, romance isn’t so simple. Both Ray and Laurie are chasing their own dreams and even when Ray starts to see the future, she can’t predict her fate with Laurie.

Based on the beloved webcomic from WEBTOON, this sweet coming-of-age story of friendship and first love comes to life in graphic novel format with gorgeous illustrations and exclusive content.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780358467816
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	07/19/2022
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.20(d)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Danie Stirling is the creator of fantasy webcomics, Crumbs and Small Blessings. They’re fascinated by shiny things, and can sometimes be observed leaving their cave in the company of a pair of small wizardly dogs.

Twitter and Instagram: @Whitherling

Editorial Reviews

05/30/2022

Stirling’s romantic debut, based on the creator’s webcomic, adeptly blends love and magic on the precipice of change. Brown-skinned, teenage Ray, a Seer gifted with the ability to reveal hidden truths, frequents Marigold’s Bakery—whose magic-infused pastries help consumers manifest things such as confidence—to indulge in their signature pastry, Romance. There, she meets barista and aspiring musician Laurie, who invites Ray on a date. Ray, who has always avoided pursuing relationships because her power often reveals more than her partners are willing to share about themselves, tentatively accepts hopeless romantic Laurie’s advances, but their respective insecurities and divergent goals challenge the relationship. Together, they discover more about who they are and what they want, and grow as a couple, learning to balance each other’s personal and professional dreams. Employing delicate linework and soft, pastel coloring, Stirling’s understated art reveals a world brimming with memorable fantastical touches—such as techno-magical phone assistants Stella and Wobble, and Laurie’s woes over earning his broom flying license—adding charm and playfulness to this joyful volume. Characters, some queer, are portrayed with varying skin tones and body types. Ages 12–up. (July)

Publishers Weekly

An enthralling new world brimming with magic.” — Kirkus Reviews

“This story is the perfect amount of sweet…enchanting and picturesque. It has the perfect combo of fantasy, realism, and romance.” — School Library Journal

"This is a sweet love story, and readers will want to get cozy and grab a hot tea to go with this delicious slice of romance as the two leads find their way to each other." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“The art and colors are as soft as the story is sweet, and the denouement is a refreshing twist on a common trope. Perfect for tweens and teens who like romance comics.” — Booklist

From the Publisher

05/01/2022

Gr 7 Up—This delectable graphic novel is guaranteed to leave readers smiling as they are transported to a magical town with delightful characters. Ray is a gifted seer who likes to begin every week at the enchanting Marigold's Bakery with some freshly baked romance and a cozy cup of peace. It's not just the spellbinding treats that keep her coming back for more but the charming barista Laurie, who has started to take particular notice whenever she comes in the store. It is a delight to watch the two get together and support each other's aspirations. Ray's powers secure her a coveted spot in the mysterious council that governs their world, and Laurie think he has what it takes to be a famous musician. This story is the perfect amount of sweet without dipping into saccharine. Ray and Laurie are multidimensional characters with lofty goals and individual interests that keep their romance grounded and refreshingly healthy. The beautiful art takes worldbuilding to another level, creating the most enchanting and picturesque city imaginable. VERDICT This adorable web comic turned full-length graphic novel would be a fantastic addition to middle and high school collections. It has the perfect combo of fantasy, realism, and romance.—Michael Marie Jacobs

School Library Journal

2022-04-27
A seer (with limitations) experiences first love as she tries to navigate her future.

Unlike traditional seers, Ray can only see a person’s present, not their future. Despite the frustrating limitations of her gift, Ray studies at the Council Academy, hoping to join the Grand Council of Sorcerers. As a weekly reprieve, she visits Marigold’s Bakery, where the pastries possess spells to help manifest desired emotions or outcomes; Ray always chooses “romance.” It is there she meets barista Laurie, the owner’s nephew and an aspiring musician. The pair grow closer after Laurie invites Ray to an open mic night with his friends. As Ray contemplates whether the future she’s been working toward is truly the right one for her, Laurie is learning how to overcome rejection after rejection in his musical career. Despite life’s curveballs, each learns to look inward for answers but also lean into the other. Stirling’s graphic novel, adapted from a webcomic, presents readers with an enthralling new world brimming with magic. The bright pastel palette makes it all the more inviting. Steady pacing allows the story to blossom as Ray and Laurie grow as a couple and navigate the disappointments that come with chasing dreams. Brown-skinned Ray is fat with wavy brown hair; racially ambiguous Laurie has straight black hair, black eyes, and light skin. The supporting cast is diverse in race, sexuality, and body type.

A sweet romantic fantasy that tackles the uncertain future. (Graphic fantasy. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews