NIGHT AND DANA GN

Anya Davidson's new YA graphic novel is a triumph, achieving that golden rung of young adult fiction: tackling complex issues by talking to her audience, not down at them. Dana and her friend Lily are horror-obsessed pranksters, pulling gruesome jokes on their fellow students. But when they go too far, the pair have to make some hard choices. And when Lily brings her new partner into the mix, Dana finds herself more and more isolated. Meanwhile a local ecological disaster prompts more tension when a film project is attempted by the trio. Davidson has crafted a fantastic coming of age tale for the modern age, dealing with topics such as friendship, identity, activism, art, and the environment.