Stitched #1--The First Day of the Rest of Her Life

June 1, 2017
Grades 5-8 Imagine waking up alone in a cemetery with no memories of who you are besides your name. That's what happened to Crimson Volania Mulch, who woke up to find herself all stitched up and, strangely, still alive. She meets some ghosts, a friendly werewolf girl, a cute swamp-monster boy, a wannabe witch, and a dreamy vampire in the first few days of her new life, such as it is. This adorable comic is supremely colorful and detailed, with artwork that's somewhere between typical Japanese manga and Cartoon Network house style, and the unconventional paneling is an interesting departure from traditional layouts. Since the general theme is spooky, the palette is fittingly rather dark, composed of shadowy jewel tones and unnatural hues, and the colors bleed all the way to the edge of the page. A cliff-hanger ending hints at a sequel, and a developing love triangle adds further intrigue. This spooky, atmospheric mystery will be a great fit for fans of Neil Gaiman and Craig P. Russell's Coraline (2008).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)