“Delicates weaves a deeply layered story of human fragility with just the right combination of humor and pathos. Beautifully written and masterfully illustrated, both kids and adults will love it.”
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Published March 2021 by Oni Press
SYNOPSIS
Marjorie Glatt's life hasn't been the same ever since she discovered a group of ghosts hiding in her family's laundromat. Wendell, who died young and now must wander the earth as a ghost with nothing more than a sheet for a body, soon became one of Marjorie's only friends. But when Marjorie finally gets accepted by the popular kids at school, she begins to worry that if anyone learns about her secret ghost friends, she'll be labeled as a freak who sees dead people. With Marjorie's insistence on keeping Wendell's ghost identity a secret from her new friends, Wendell begins to feel even more invisible than he already is.
Eliza Duncan feels invisible, too. She's an avid photographer, and her zealous interest in finding and photographing ghosts gets her labeled as different by all the other kids in school. Constantly on the outside, Eliza begins to feel like a ghost herself. Marjorie must soon come to terms with the price she pays to be accepted by the popular kids. Is it worth losing her friend Wendell? Is she partially to blame for the bullying Eliza endures?
Following the events of Sheets, Brenna Thummler's second original graphic novel, Delicates, tells a powerful story about what it means to fit in, and those who are left on the outside. It shows what it's like to feel invisible, and the importance of feeling seen. Above all, it is a story of asking for help when all seems dark, and bringing light to those who need it most.
blurbs
“Brenna Thummler’s Delicates perfectly captures the middle school experience of trying to navigate uncertain worlds, mired between childhood and adulthood, belonging and difference, and life and death (and not just because of the ghosts)! Thummler understands what many adults forget--that young teenagers are, above all else, people.”
– KEEZY YOUNG, creator of Taproot
“I wish Brenna Thummler would illustrate my life. I’d be lucky to live in such a well-loved and breathtaking world. If Sheets was about feeling invisible and ghostly, Delicates is about needing to be seen and heard. Thummler’s storytelling burns bright…”
– ARIEL BISSETT, book reviewer
"Delicates is a subtle, beautifully drawn story that will make your heart ache with empathy and hope."
– KAT LEYH, creator of Snapdragon
"Thummler captures the depths of teenage messiness and vulnerability through her rich settings and expressive faces, inviting the reader to join the characters as they navigate popularity, grief, and what it means to be a friend."
– SUZANNE WALKER, writer of Mooncakes
"In this uniquely charming story about compassion and friendship, Brenna Thummler explores our natural need for understanding, the sadness that can come in it’s absence, and the beauty of finally making a connection. A must read for ghosts and the living alike."
– KAYLA MILLER, creator of the Click series
READ WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:
Kirkus Reviews “An original exploration of what it means to be seen and accepted.”
Foreword Reviews STARRED REVIEW “Delicates is a sophisticated, beautiful graphic novel that gets to the heart of being a teenager.”
Northern Plunder “Brenna Thummler truly is a genius with this creation. Delicates is a brilliant coming of age story with a little paranormal twist…”
Film Stories ”It’s brief and bold and beautiful – both in its storytelling and in the rich pastel panels, that are simply wonderful to sink into.”
The Nerd Daily “…emotional, moving, and visually pleasing…”