Title: Northranger
Author: Rey Terciero
Publisher: HarperAlley
Publication date: June 6, 2023
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Summary
Cade has always been a horror movie fan. Horror movies can be scary, but as a closeted queer teen living in Texas, sometimes real life can be scarier.
In order to help support his family, Cade is sent to a ranch for the summer to be a ranch hand with his dad. It’s there that he meets Henry, who seems to be the only silver lining. After all, cleaning up horse poop and getting up early aren’t exactly what Cade had in mind for the summer.
But something sinister seems to be happening behind the scenes with Henry’s family. Can Cade figure it out before it’s too late?
Review: Time Out
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperAlley for an advanced copy of Northranger by Rey Terciero to review! Always down for a good queer graphic novel, so I was excited to pick this one up. From the art to the writing, I am happy to say that this one didn’t disappoint!
This is a loose retelling of Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, which Terciero talks about in the afterward. I haven’t read that particular Jane Austen book, so I didn’t realize that until the end! What I liked about the story was the way that horror movie elements were infused throughout, from the layout of some panels to the story with Henry’s family. It made the writing engaging, and paralleled what was happening in Cade’s own life.
The romance between Cade and Henry is sweet, but it also deals with difficult issues like mental illness and family acceptance. As we know from the current state of book challenges in Texas, being a queer teen there isn’t always easy. I appreciated the way this was acknowledged, and the ways that Henry and Cade dealt with it in different ways. There’s a little something for everyone there.
With a great cast of side characters as well, I think this will make a great summer read when it comes out in June. If you’re a fan of queer YA graphic novels, this one should definitely be on your radar.
4/5 stars