Love, Misha

Even though nonbinary teenager Misha was braced for disaster during their road trip with their mother, they didn’t expect that they’d already be lost on day two of the excursion. Worse, they’ve stumbled into the Spirit Realm, which is populated by entities who feast on unsuspecting humans. A wolfish and mischievous spirit named Odun offers to guide them through the Ancient Forest to seek help from powerful beings who can traverse between the Spirit and Material Realms. But when they learn that their return hinges on mother and child reconciling, Misha loses hope: they’ve been at odds with their frequently absent parent for years. The strained relationship is worsened by their mother’s apparent struggle to accept Misha’s identity as well as Misha’s fears about expressing how their mother’s inconsistent behavior and misgendering has hurt them. As the duo contend with personal mistakes and traumas, they must also evade combative spirits and uncover Odun’s mysterious motivations. In this emotionally gratifying debut graphic novel, Aden utilizes warm, muted tones to render a comforting and eerie mythic setting against which parent and child learn how to navigate their shifting relationship. An author’s note and details about the novel’s design process conclude. Ages 14–up. Agent: Jennifer Laughran, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (June)