Kiss Number 8

by Colleen AF Venable, Ellen T. Crenshaw (Illustrator)

Overview

A 2019 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature Longlist Selection

A 2019 New York Public Library Best Books for Kids

A 2020 Tayshas Reading List Selection

A 2020 Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List Selection

Mads is pretty happy with her life. She goes to church with her family, and minor league baseball games with her dad. She goofs off with her best friend Cat, and has thus far managed to avoid getting kissed by Adam, the boy next door. It's everything she hoped high school would be… until all of a sudden, it's not.

Her dad is hiding something big—so big it could tear her family apart. And that’s just the beginning of her problems: Mads is starting to figure out that she doesn't want to kiss Adam… because the only person she wants to kiss is Cat.

Kiss Number 8, a graphic novel from writer Colleen AF Venable and illustrator Ellen T. Crenshaw, is a layered, funny, sharp-edged story of teen sexuality and family secrets.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781596437098
Publisher:	First Second
Publication date:	03/12/2019
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

About the Author

Ellen T. Crenshaw is a cartoonist and illustrator for books, editorial, advertising, comics, and children's media. Her work appears in Beer Advocate Magazine and The Nib, and her other books include Test Your Baby and Test Your Toddler's IQ (both written by Rachel Federman). She lives with her husband and two dragons. Kiss Number 8 is her first graphic novel.

Colleen AF Venable is an author, designer, and maker. Her books include the YA graphic novel Kiss Number 8 (illustrated by Ellen T. Crenshaw), the quirky counting boardbook One More Wheel (illustrated by Blythe Russo). Her graphic novel series Guinea Pig, Pet Shop Private Eye (illustrated by Stephanie Yue) was nominated for an Eisner for Best Publication for Kids and awarded “Best Book” recognition from Kirkus Reviews, NYPL, Bank Street, and the Junior Library Guild. In 2017 she was named a Publisher's Weekly StarWatch Top 5 Finalist.

Editorial Reviews

Venable's frequently heartbreaking recollection of the abuse and torment that people went through for being "different"—and the fact that it still happens all too frequently—is a powerful reminder of how far we still have to go.

The New York Times Book Review - Jen Doll

"Venable’s frequently heartbreaking recollection of the abuse and torment that people went through for being 'different' — and the fact that it still happens all too frequently — is a powerful reminder of how far we still have to go." —New York Times

"[This is] a story of family and friendship and love in all its forms, perfect for the graphic novel format and elevated by the combined art and narrative...the characters shine, fully human and permitted to be flawed. Hope prevails. A rare blend of tender and revolutionary." —Kirkus, Starred Review

"Thought-provoking... A solid addition to YA shelves." —School Library Journal

"The interest here is in comparing GLBTQ experiences across a gap of generations—it was difficult then, it can be difficult still, but there’s a promise of genuine happiness that makes following the heart worthwhile." —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

From the Publisher

★ 2018-12-09

The discovery of long-buried family secrets brings Amanda closer to owning her own.

Amanda is the demure sidekick to the wild and sexy Cat, who knows how to have a good time but doesn't always know how to be a great friend. Her real best friend, though, is her Catholic dad. They go to Sunday baseball games, share favorite TV shows, and trounce each other in video games. When Amanda discovers that her runaway grandmother was actually an early transgender rights activist who transitioned late in life, it brings unbearable tension into their relationship. It also makes Amanda wake up to parts of herself she's not yet been able to acknowledge, such as how she really feels when she's around Cat. These revelations wreak havoc on her relationships. Fortunately, Amanda, who is white, finds a new, multiracial crew from the public school. Their lack of need for labels, for the gender binary, or to overexplain themselves allows Amanda to relax into self-acceptance. It's a story of family and friendship and love in all its forms, perfect for the graphic novel format and elevated by the combined art and narrative. For example, when Amanda's father tells his mother's story, his distorted recollections are laid out in juxtaposition with actual events, resulting in an achingly moving vignette. The characters shine, fully human and permitted to be flawed. Hope prevails.

A rare blend of tender and revolutionary. (Graphic novel. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews