Book Club

Book Club’s next read is ‘Slip’ by Marika McCoola

Join the live virtual author discussion with Porter Square Books' Katherine Nazzaro on July 27 at 6 p.m.

July 11, 2022

The Boston.com Book Club choice for July 2022 is “Slip,” written by Marika McCoola and illustrated by Aatmaja Pandya. This young adult graphic novel pairs an author beloved in the indie bookstore community with a debut illustrator in Pandya. It’s our first YA selection of the year, our second-ever graphic novel pick, and our first-ever YA graphic novel pick, and that makes it the perfect summer read.

Main character Jade is all set to head off to a prestigious art summer camp, but right before she goes, her best friend, Phoebe, attempts suicide. Now Phoebe is in the hospital and Jade can’t get in touch with her. Amidst all of that, she is supposed to be focusing on herself, on her art, and trying to create something special enough to attract the attention of art schools. Art Farm is something she’s waited her whole life for, but Jade just can’t focus. And that’s before her sculptures start coming to life and attacking her.

Throughout the summer, Jade will go on a journey to find herself through this suddenly very lively art. Each sculpture is full of all the emotions she won’t confront — so they start to confront her. While she hones her art in a supportive environment, she starts to learn more about herself, and just maybe falls in love for the very first time.

The graphic novel was a July/August Indie Next selection, which is a testament not only to the book’s quality, but also to the author’s relationship with the indie community. McCoola, the author, is a former owner of Porter Square Books, where she ran the store’s book fair business, among other things. In addition to that, McCoola is an illustrator, professor, editor, and consultant. Oh, and a New York Times bestseller for her first book, the kid’s graphic novel “Baba Yaga’s Assistant.”

It’s not just indie booksellers who love the book. Kirkus Reviews called the book “a fierce, transformative graphic novel about art and relationships.” School Library Journal was just as effusive with its praise, writing: “With themes ranging from mental health to self-discovery this art-infused text will entice graphic novel fans and art students and leave them wanting another installment of Jade’s story.”

Joining McCoola to talk about “Slip” will be Katherine Nazzaro, the manager of Porter Square Books: Boston Edition. The Boston Edition — Porter Square’s second location — is located inside Grub Street’s new complex in Boston’s Seaport, and opened last fall, a process that Nazzaro led. Nazzaro has been in bookselling for four years and came to Porter Square via Trident Books in downtown Boston. She is a self-described “big fan of all things genre,” particularly romance, horror, science fiction, and fantasy, and “Slip” has a lot of those elements in it, making her a natural fit for this discussion.

Join Marika and Katherine at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 27. RSVP today!

Buy “Slip” from: Bookshop | Porter Square Books