Renegade Girls (A Graphic Novel)
A Queer Tale of Romance and Rabble-Rousing
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- $1.99
Publisher Description
"Direct but not too heavy, bright with color and gentle in tone, Neus’s graphic novel is an absolute dream of an afternoon read." —The New York Times
A swoonworthy queer romance set against a riveting story of social change in the 1880s, this historical graphic novel reimagines the life of America’s first stunt girl—a young undercover reporter—and her whirlwind summer of romance and fighting injustice.
Seventeen-year-old Helena “Nell” Cusack came to New York this summer looking for a story—a real story. She dreams of one day writing hard-hitting articles for the New York Chronicle, but so far she's only managed to land a job as a lowly society reporter. That is, until Alice Austen strolls into her life, an audacious street photographer who encourages Nell to shake up polite society…and maybe also take a chance on love.
When her best friend, Lucia, is injured while working in a garment factory, Nell is determined to crack the story wide open. Posing as a seamstress, she reports on the conditions from the inside, making a name for herself as the Chronicle’s first ever stunt girl. But as Nell’s reporting gains momentum, so do the objections of those who oppose her. Will Nell continue to seek justice—even if it hurts her in the end?
Based on real-life stunt girl Nell Nelson and photographer Alice Austen, this tenderly drawn narrative is about bringing buried stories to light and the bravery of first love.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
A determined teen spending the summer with her wealthy aunt and uncle in 1880s New York City eschews societal expectations to find a suitor, instead working as a stunt reporter to expose the city's injustices in a gripping historical graphic novel by Muhammad Najem, War Reporter creators Neus and Robine. When Helena "Nell" Cusack learns that close friend Lucia, who also serves as Nell's family's household staff, endures grueling conditions in a sweatshop, Nell endeavors to shine a light on the systemic exploitation plaguing the city's working class. With support from photographer Alice, Nell delves into N.Y.C.'s darkest corners, grappling with ethical dilemmas and confronting the powerful elites who control the city. Robine's evocative illustrations and subdued palette effectively contrast the opulence of high society with the dire realities of factory life, while expressive characters and dynamic layouts amplify the emotional stakes, capturing the protagonists' exhaustion, defiance, and camaraderie. Nell and Alice's tender, nuanced relationship unfolds against the backdrop of a rigidly conservative society, offering a heartfelt exploration of labor rights, agency, and queer identity in an engrossing, socially conscious tale that resonates with contemporary discussions of systemic injustice and personal resilience. Ages 12–up.
