Buckle Up

Lindell (Blackward) packs big issues into the small space of a sedan in this heartwarming graphic novel that examines the aftermath of divorce. Lonnie’s mother always says that he and his older sister Nicole are “young, gifted, and Black.” Though the siblings turn the phrase into a tongue-in-cheek inside joke, Lonnie has been feeling small, angry, and alone ever since his parents divorced and his father moved out. To curtail taunting from his classmates about his parents’ split, Lonnie insists that his father pick him up from a corner far from school. Throughout this humorous novel, Lonnie and his father struggle to connect, which the creator depicts in a series of car-ride conversations. Annoyed by a homophobic comment from his father, Lonnie comes out as bisexual, an event that signals a turning point for father and son as they navigate their shifting relationship post-divorce. Their triumphs and missteps are equal parts awkward and tender, a dynamic that’s amplified by Lindell’s simple yet expressive digital drawings, which render Lonnie’s inner thoughts via monochrome line art that change color according to his mood. Ages 8–12. (Aug.)