Book Review: Homebody
#CYBILS2024 Young Adult Graphic novel Nominee
HOMEBODY
by Theo Parish
HarperAlley, 2024
Combining traditional comics with organic journal-like interludes, Theo takes us through their experiences with the hundred arbitrary and unspoken gender binary rules of high school, from harrowing haircuts and finally the right haircut to the intersection of gender identity and sexuality—and through tiny everyday moments that all led up to Theo finding the term “nonbinary,” which finally struck a chord.1
audience: Teen (14) and Young Adult
tags: coming of age, contemporary, memoir, nonfiction, queer
Rachael Owen, Do Good with Books (Judge)
Excellent debut graphic memoir. I loved the lyrical voice that Parish has in parts of the story (with equally beautiful illustrations to accompany it), and I really that voice drives home the themes that Parish tries to get across in this book. If you’re looking for a YA graphic novel about being non-binary, I definitely think this would be a good book to start with.
CW: dysphoria, transphobia, deadnaming, homophobia, bullying, misogyny
Read Rachael’s review on Goodreads
Heidi Grange (Judge)
For a cis white woman, this book was a window to an unknown and misunderstood world. The limited color palette (white, pink, and purple) allowed the focus to remain on Theo. The sometimes symbolic art provided a glimpse into the mind of the author. The symbolism of the house shape around the human figure conveyed simply, but powerfully Theo's journey to finding home. Recommended for those who can relate to Theo and those who wish for greater understanding of them and their journey.
Read Heidi’s full review on her blog, Geo Librarian
Cover image, blurb, and tags sourced to Goodreads.com