Synopsis
Liv Holme is not exactly thrilled to be moving to a new town with her mother. After all, high school can be brutal, even more so when you’re a fifteen-year-old, bisexual goth. But Liv is determined to be who she is, bullies or not. Still, being the new kid and the only out student brings her a lot of unwelcome attention, and Liv flounders in her search for community. The only person who makes time for her is one of teachers, but Liv isn’t sure how to feel about the way he behaves toward her.
Thankfully, she’s found the perfect escape: the mall. Under its fluorescent lights, Liv feels far away from her parents’ strained marriage and the peers who don’t understand her. Amid the bright storefronts, food court smell, and anonymous shoppers, Liv is safely one of the crowd and can enjoy the feeling of calling the shots in her own life for once.
With the help of her suburban refuge, Liv sets off on a journey of self-acceptance and learns to navigate the ups and downs of high school and to recognize true friendship.
From: Simon & Schuster
Notes on This Title
The main character of this title is a 15 year old bisexual girl.
A teacher directs sexually predatory behavior towards multiple underage students. The ‘child abuse’ tag has been applied; per the National Child Abuse Coalition, a teacher can be considered a caretaker, and thus sexual miscontent on their part falls under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) (42 U.S.C. Section 5106g) definition of child abuse as “any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation”.
Awards
None.
Reviews
“A thoughtful, relationship-driven story.” (Source: Kirkus Reviews)
“The creator persuasively presents Liv’s struggles with routine issues including bad jobs, crushes, and friendship drama, as well as serious challenges surrounding parental conflict and predatory behavior, with a mixture of humor and solemnity, making for an impassioned graphic novel.” (Source: Publishers Weekly)
“Mall Goth is a satisfying tale with a simple message: avoid creeps and cheaters and embrace your fellow weirdos, and things might just work out okay.” (Source: Quill & Quire)
Interviews
The Nerd Daily: “Q&A: Kate Leth, Creator of ‘Mall Goth’“