Annick Press – Mom Read It

Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Teen, Tween Reads

Soul Machine provides a metaphysical deep dive for tweens and teens

Posted on May 12, 2025May 10, 2025 by Rosemary Kiladitis

Soul Machine, by Jordana Globerman, (June 2025, Annick Press), $17.9.9, ISBN: 9781773219592

Ages 12+

A young woman named Chloe lives with her older sister, Lacey, in a house in the country. Lacey makes breth on her spinning wheel – the raw material needed to craft souls – and frustrates Chloe at her refusal to fully teach her how to make it. Outside of their countryside life, the wealthy MCorp is mass-producing soul production using synthetic materials; Lacey and Chloe are one of the few independent, organic breth producers left. When the supply of breth runs out, Chloe journeys into the city to find a new source – and possibly, to figure out some ways to modernize, ala MCorp. What she finds instead are long-kept family secrets that put her and Lacey in Maya’s – the head of MCorp – crosshairs. Globerman gives readers a lot to think on here: themes of mass-production and ethics; consumption at any cost versus mindful creation; megacorporations versus independent makers, and how the soul fits into all of this. Maya is an almost comical villain, egomaniacal to the point of hilarity and determined to keep her comfortable lifestyle. Lacey nearly kills herself to keep her family’s breth business alive. Chloe, the younger sister, is at times brash and impudent, but begins to understand the big issues once she leaves home. A contemplative book created in two-color sequences, each color scheme relating to different chapters. Back matter includes discussion “questions with no wrong answers”. A good book club choice.

Graphic Novels, Realistic Fiction, Teen, Young Adult/New Adult

Three generations of women tell their stories in Age 16

Posted on June 24, 2024June 22, 2024 by Rosemary Kiladitis

Age 16, by Rosena Fung, (July 2024, Annick Press), $24.99, ISBN: 9781773218335

Ages 12+

Fung’s story reminds readers that 16 isn’t always sweet. Set in three areas of the world in three different decades, Age 16 tells the stories of a grandmother, a mother, and a daughter at age 16: In 1954, Mei Laan dreams of getting out of Guangdong, China. An arranged marriage may be her ticket to Hong Kong, and a better life. In 1972, 16-year-old Lydia wants desperately to dance and enjoy her life. Her critical mother never looks on the bright side of anything, and it’s hard not to be brought down by her harsh criticisms, particularly about her weight. Maybe if she heads to Toronto, things will be better? In 2000, 16-year-old Roz lives in Toronto, struggles with her weight and self-image. When her mother lets her know that her grandmother is coming to visit, Roz is taken aback – her mom and grandmother aren’t that close. When Mei Laan arrives, dour and full of criticism, everyone feels off-center. Through flashbacks, readers understand each woman’s struggles; through conversations and interactions, the characters ultimately peel away the layers of emotion and trauma. Age 16 brings home how some issues facing women never seem to change, while new challenges constantly emerge: physical beauty and value is a major theme running through the book, with Mei Laan constantly commenting Lydia’s, and later, Roz’s weight; Mei Laan’s own value to her family is through her marriageability. Both Mei Laan and Lydia are single mothers; Mei Laan uses this as another point of judgement against Lydia. Roz stresses about her body image, where Lydia embraces a more free, accepting attitude; most likely as protection and pushback against her mother. Rosena Fung skillfully blends three individuals across three generations to tell a powerful story about women and generational trauma. She tells each character’s story in a different color, allowing for a smooth change in narrative that won’t disrupt the reader. Mei Laan’s story is told with a green-blue wash; Lydia’s, in an orange wash, and Roz, in a purple wash. The illustration work is bold and filled with pop cultural details that will enhance reading. Back matter includes historical notes and resources for further reading. Age 16 is indispensible reading and belongs on every library’s bookshelf.

Age 16 has a starred review from Publishers Weekly and is an Indie Next choice. It is also one of Ms. Magazine’s Most Anticipated Feminist Books of 2024.

Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Middle School, Teen, Tween Reads

To This Day: A Graphic Novel’s Call to Anti-Bullying Action

Posted on April 9, 2015 by Rosemary Kiladitis

tothisday_1 To This Day: For the Bullied and Beautiful, by Shane Koyczan (2014, Annick Press) $19.95, ISBN: 978-1554516391

Recommended for ages 10-18

What began as a spoken word poem turned into a viral video, and has culminated in this gorgeous, touching graphic novel about the lasting damage caused by bullying. To this day, a boy saddled with a the nickname “pork chop” hates pork chops. To this day, a woman teased about a facial birthmark thinks she’s ugly, despite having a loving husband and family. To this day, bullied kids carry the battle scars they earned in the trenches of elementary, middle, and high school. This book, based on Shane Koyczan’s spoken word poem and animated by 86 animation and motion artists, contains the work of 30 artists and illustrators and give new life to Koyczan’s poem.

Bullying has become a hot-button topic in recent years, as cyberbullying changes all the rules. The attraction of anonymity makes bullies bolder, and victims find their tormentors omnipresent, thanks to 24/7 social media access. Crafting a multimedia work – a spoken word poem, a viral video, and now, a graphic novel, takes the bullying discussion to the arenas where tweens and teens live and interact. Making the discussion visual will help bring home the internal damage that bullying brings, hopefully making both bullies and the bullied understand that there are repercussions to bullying. There is someone on the other end of a computer or smartphone that is directly impacted by everything that one writes or records. In this case, a picture truly speaks a thousand words.

This would make for a great class discussion and could be paired with the video. There is also a free app available through iTunes. The To This Day Project website has anti-bullying resources, the video, and a link to the app available.