MADreads

Gong shows and freak woes

December 8th, 2008 Molly - Central

Mariko Tamaki’s two new graphic novels featuring arty biracial punk/Goth girls provide similar glimpses into teen angst. Both novels take place in Canada, in different decades, but could easily be set anywhere and anytime because the plots are so character driven.

Skim is generating a lot of buzz and is on the 2009 nominations list of Best Books for Young Adults from the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association, as well as the short list for Canada’s Governor General’s Literary Awards. The main character, Kimberly “Skim” Keiko Cameron is a wannabe Wicca with a classmate whose boyfriend commits suicide. Because of the suicide, the community is on alert and Kim is targeted as being “at risk” because she is a loner and wears a lot of black. While everyone is keeping an eye on Kim, the girl who really is at risk goes unnoticed.

Emiko Superstar is one of the final graphic novels in the much hyped but slow selling Minx series published by DC Comics. Emiko is a geek turned freak that performs on Friday nights at a performance art venue known as The Factory. Auditions for the Friday night show are judged gong style and it takes Emi weeks to get up the nerve to finally try out. She finds a stage persona by costuming herself in her grandmother’s sixties era go-go boots and Twiggy dresses and her performance material is stolen from the diary of the woman she baby-sits for. Emi achieves the stardom she yearns for, but feels that she has earned it through false pretenses.

In addition to the arty biracial punk/Goth Canadian girl main characters, the plots of both books are similar in that Kim and Emi need to reconcile who they are with who they are perceived to be. They are labeled geeks and itching to break free from their peers. Both books also deal with some heavy issues: key authority figures take advantage of teens in each novel, the girls grapple with different forms of abuse, the highs and lows of first loves and lesbian romances are explored.

The primary difference between the two books is in the artwork: Skim is more realistic, while Emiko is drawn in more of a comic book style. Both stories are compelling and I am wishing the author well during the upcoming awards season.

Entry Filed under: Graphic Novel, Young Adult