The Summer of Bitter and Sweet and Those Pink Mountain Nights by Jen Ferguson (YA, Métis)
Into the Bright Open by Cherie Dimaline (YA, Métis)
A Minor Chorus by Billy-Ray Belcourt (Cree)
Jonny Appleseed by Joshua Whitehead (Oji-Cree)
Buffalo is the New Buffalo by Chelsea Vowel (Métis)
Bonus: These are all novels, but for poetry, check out Disintegrate/Dissociate by Arielle Twist, This Wound is a World by Billy-Ray Belcourt, and full-metal indiqiqueer by Joshua Whitehead
Today on the site, we’re revealing the cover for Monster Crush, a graphic novel by Ellie Franey releasing March 12, 2024 from Dark Horse Comics! Not only has the the book been written and illustrated by Franey, but the seriously charming cover has as well! Here’s a little more about the story before we get there:
Discover a new coming-of-age fantasy with LGBTQIA+ themes that speak to those who have ever felt like an outsider. Dark Horse Books presents an unforgettable story of self-discovery and teenage romance with a monstrous twist in Monster Crush. The entire whirlwind adventure of love, gender, and big emotions is written, drawn, and colored by Twitch streamer and cat mom extraordinaire Ellie Franey (Gender Turbulence).
Ruby Reid has struggled with life at Crestwood High since her parents split up. However, when Ella Mooney moved to town, everything changed. Ella isn’t like most teens: she’s never been on a Ferris wheel, never had an ice cream cone, and sometimes she grows fangs and a tail!
It’s not just Ruby who is interested in the new girl; the pair find themselves on the run from a mysterious group that wants to capture Ella and her whole family!
“It has always been my personal and professional goal to create content that features and represents LGBTQIA+ characters.” says artist and author Ellie Franey. “Being in the [LGBTQIA+] community myself, it has been a dream come true to create and bring Monster Crush to life. It is my sincerest hope that young adults of any background can enjoy this heartfelt tale.”
Full of big crushes and even BIGGER monsters, the 272-page (6” x 9”) graphic novel Monster Crush will be in bookstores on March 12, 2024, and comic shops on March 13, 2024, and is available for pre-order at both bookstores and local comic shops for $19.99.
***
Erin Elizabeth Franey or Ellie, (she/they) is a Detroit-based illustrator & author with a BFA in Illustration from the College for Creative Studies. Their work blends graphic, comic, and digital art; touching on various topics from mental health to female empowerment and LGBTQ identity.When she’s not making comics, she’s streaming on Twitch, playing video games, or pestering her three cats. Follow Ellie on Twitter to keep up with their work.
