As I Dream of You

Lines from and musings about the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice ground this breathtaking graphic novel romance about loss and moving forward. When musician Franny transfers into outdoorsy Sam’s Pennsylvania mill town high school, the teens bond and soon fall blissfully in love, despite their personal struggles opening up to other people. While driving together one stormy night, Franny crashes into an elk; though she dies on impact, an injured Sam is rushed to the hospital. Overcome with grief, Sam becomes depressed, his only solace being his nightly dreams of Franny. Sam grows obsessed with these brief dreamscape meetings, believing that, through his lucid visions, he can reconnect with Franny on the astral plane between life and death. Debut author Lee expertly captures Sam’s feelings of isolation and emotional intensity as he processes his grief via kinetic storytelling that’s amplified by Pham (Lunar New Year Love Story), whose fluid illustrations set the somber tone with a moody, grayish-blue color palette that incorporates warm, uplifting buttery tones during key moments. The result is an immersive and hopeful story that will incite both heartache and radiant joy. Ages 14–up. Illustrator’s agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties. (May)