Everyone Sux but You

In this gripping graphic novel by Wroten (Eden II), high school senior Carson Flynn and her best friend, Ash, struggle to manage their unresolved grief over Carson’s mother’s recent death alongside claustrophobic feelings stemming from being queer in a small Midwestern town in the early aughts. The friends find solace in attending punk rock concerts and escaping into the roar and tumble of every mosh pit they can find. Intermingling flashbacks to Carson’s life before her mother’s death as well as scenes from various ages across Carson and Ash’s long-standing friendship provide heart-wrenching depth to the teens’ complexly intertwined emotions and insight into each girl’s private life. Carson’s veneer of indifference to school, family, and her future starts to crack as she begins developing feelings for Ash. As the pair begin to explore a romantic relationship, they’re also forced to confront the ways their previous apathy and coping mechanisms have hurt themselves and others. Sharp-edged illustrations with purple and black accents capture the moody atmosphere of the early 2000s gothic punk rock scene. The protagonists’ skin tones echo the hue of the page. Ages 14–up. (May)