Taproot: A Story About A Gardener and A Ghost

by Keezy Young

Overview

"It's a pleasure to lose yourself in the beautiful artwork, and one of the loveliest queer romances I've ever read." — K. O'Neil, author of The Tea Dragon Society

Blue has been living as a ghost for a year when he meets Hamal, a beautiful and sweet gardener who has the ability to see and communicate with ghosts. Together, their friendship develops into something more, but being a ghost, Blue can never truly be connected with Hamal.

When Blue realizes Hamal’s strange ability may be putting him in danger, Blue has to find a way to protect him—even if it means leaving him.

Rainbow Book List Best Graphic Novel of 2017
Powell's Books Best of 2017
The Advocate's Best LGBTQ Graphic Novel of 2017

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781637150733
Publisher:	Oni Press
Publication date:	07/05/2022
Pages:	128
Sales rank:	253,954
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Keezy Young is a queer comic artist and illustrator from the Pacific Northwest, currently in Seattle, WA.

They grew up drawing on their walls, stealing a few extra chapters by nightlight after bedtime, making graveyards for lost animals in the forest with their brother and sister, and adding monsters and flowers to the margins of every homework assignment. Any opportunity to con their teachers into letting them illustrate a book report instead of writing one was taken. Although their art is self-taught, they credit Digimon, Hiromu Arakawa, Trina Schart Hyman, Arthur Rackham, and Studio Ghibli as important influences.

Today, Keezy writes, draws, and designs their own young adult comics. Their stories are cute, eerie, and often dark, but almost always hopeful at their core. Their work is character-focused, and they use action, romance, and mystery to explore LGBTQIA characters and themes, since those are the stories they always looked for growing up, but could rarely find.

Editorial Reviews

"Taproot approaches death with an honesty, respect, and resilience that you rarely see."

Women Write About Comics

"Taproot is like a garden for the heart, a warm and soulful story where nature is explored in all its forms. It's a pleasure to lose yourself in the beautiful artwork, and one of the loveliest queer romances I've ever read."

K. O'Neil

"This is a gorgeous and quiet story about love, hauntings, and things that grow."

Powell's Books (Staff Pick)

"Taproot is a beautiful tale of how love can power us in all the best ways, make us selfless, even seek to right the wrongs and heal what’s been wrecked."

Black Nerd Problems