Low Orbit

Gr 9 Up–Azar, 15, a Malaysian American, recently moved to Vermont and has tried unsuccessfully to fit into her new community. She is struggling with her queer identity but bonds with nonbinary Tristan, a fellow teen who lives next door with their author father. Azar tries to forge a new path, but family and friend issues prove to be challenging, especially after an ill-fated trip to New York City. Debut author and illustrator Lee has crafted an earnest coming-of-age graphic novel. The purple-hued art hints at the depression and angst Azar feels about her parents’ separation, and the run-down building nearby that is earmarked for renovation is a clear metaphor for the upcoming changes in her life. Azar’s resilience can be a model for teens to recognize that the pain they are in now is not how they might feel in the future. Another note: readers might enjoy the story-within-a-story aspect of Tristan’s father’s sci-fi novel, while it might pull others out of the original narrative.