Mall Goth
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5.0 • 3 Ratings
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- $10.99
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- $10.99
Publisher Description
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me gets a Y2K twist in this coming-of-age young adult graphic novel from acclaimed comic artist Kate Leth about a 2000s goth teen whose favorite part of her new town is the mall.
Liv Holme is not exactly thrilled to be moving to a new town with her mother. After all, high school can be brutal, even more so when you’re a fifteen-year-old, bisexual goth. But Liv is determined to be who she is, bullies or not. Still, being the new kid and the only out student brings her a lot of unwelcome attention, and Liv flounders in her search for community. The only person who makes time for her is one of teachers, but Liv isn’t sure how to feel about the way he behaves toward her.
Thankfully, she’s found the perfect escape: the mall. Under its fluorescent lights, Liv feels far away from her parents’ strained marriage and the peers who don’t understand her. Amid the bright storefronts, food court smell, and anonymous shoppers, Liv is safely one of the crowd and can enjoy the feeling of calling the shots in her own life for once.
With the help of her suburban refuge, Liv sets off on a journey of self-acceptance and learns to navigate the ups and downs of high school and to recognize true friendship.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In 2003, openly bisexual goth girl Liv Holme, 15, is attending high school in Harbour City following a move with her parents, whose relationship is rocky. After a disastrous first impression at school, Liv soon finds people who understand her, including classmates who share her interests and a supportive English teacher, as well as a place to be herself at the mall where her mother works. But things get complicated when her goth friend Jake starts hitting on her despite being in a relationship with Layla, with whom Liv has established a strong friendship. Worse, she's embarrassed by her new mall job as a store mascot, and her teacher seems to have ulterior motives for his kindness. Leth (the Mysticons series) utilizes an inviting, flat-colored mix of Archie comics styling and '90s cartoon aesthetics to craft an early aughts, small-town environment brimming with visual jokes and period-authentic fashion. The creator persuasively presents Liv's struggles with routine issues including bad jobs, crushes, and friendship drama, as well as serious challenges surrounding parental conflict and predatory behavior, with a mixture of humor and solemnity, making for an impassioned graphic novel. Most characters are portrayed with pale skin. Ages 12–up.
