New Release: RUINED

RUINED by Sarah Vaughn, Sarah Winifred Searle, and Niki Smith
(First Second Books, Nov 2023)

The whole town is whispering about how Catherine Benson lost her virtue, though they can never agree on the details. Was it in the public garden? Or a moving carriage?

Only a truly desperate man would want her now―and that’s exactly what Andrew Davener is. His family’s estate is in disrepair, but Catherine’s sizeable dowry could set it to rights.

After the two wed, Catherine finds herself inexplicably drawn to Andrew. But could falling in love with her husband tear her marriage apart? In this richly detailed Regency romance, duty and passion collide in a slow-burn tale of intertwined fates.

Select praise for RUINED:

• Shelf Awareness starred review: “Readers looking for a quieter Bridgerton or a more diverse, steamier Austen novel will love this graphic novel.”

• Booklist review: “Sure to be a delight for fans of the show Bridgerton and other similar adaptations… Modern Austen fans should take a look.”

• “Ruined is a gorgeous historical romance you’ll immediately fall for.” - Culturess.com

New Release: CHUBBY BUNNY

CHUBBY BUNNY by Julie Murphy and Sarah Winifred Searle
(Balzer & Bray, Oct 2023)

The debut picture book from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dumplin’, with illustrations by acclaimed cartoonist Sarah Winifred Searle.

Barbara “Bunny” Binks comes from a long line of Barbaras, that started with her mother and grandmother. She loves putting her hair up in “bunny buns,” playing with her rabbit Ralph, and eating marshmallows.

Then one day, she participates in her favorite marshmallow eating contest at field day called “Chubby Bunny,” and her classmates start teasing her.

But with a little help from another Barbara, Bunny figures out a very sweet solution. 

Select praise for CHUBBY BUNNY:

• Booklist starred review: “Adorable Bunny is an exuberant and inventive protagonist, approaching life with zeal and creativity. The supportive familial relationships are a joy, and happily, Bunny is given the agency to reclaim her name and confidence on her own terms.”

• School Library Journal review: “Adorable, inclusive illustrations will draw many young readers in as they identify with one or more of the characters gracing the pages of this smart, fun, empowering story.”

New Release: THE GREATEST THING

It’s the first day of sophomore year, and now that Winifred’s two best (and only) friends have transferred to a private school, she must navigate high school on her own.

But she isn’t alone for long. In art class, she meets two offbeat students, Oscar and April. The three bond through clandestine sleepovers, thrift store shopping, and zine publishing. Winifred is finally breaking out of her shell, but there’s one secret she can’t bear to admit to April and Oscar, or even to herself―and this lie is threatening to destroy her newfound friendships.

With breathtaking art and honest storytelling, rising star Sarah Winifred Searle delivers a heartfelt story about love, friendship, and self-acceptance.

Select praise for THE GREATEST THING:

• "Raw and beautiful. A story that finds the tiny holes in your heart, tears them wide open, and puts in hope. Searle's art and mastery of the medium shines. I wish I had this book as a teen." — Colleen AF Venable, author of Kiss Number 8

• "Sarah Winifred Searle's comics look the way I wish the world did. She combines raw emotions with gorgeous artwork to create stories full of feeling, intention, and heart. Give this book to the teens in your life." —Tillie Walden, author of Spinning and Are You Listening?

• Girl’s Life review: “This graphic novel will give you serious feels... You'll cry, laugh, and smile through this slice-of-life read.”

• Kirkus review: “A poignant, honest, and deeply engaging work.”

THE GREATEST THING by Sarah Winifred Searle (First Second Books, Feb 2022)

• Booklist review: “In her crisp, precise art, Searle deftly depicts the emotions of her characters, largely through their expressive body language; Winifred’s slumped shoulders as she curls into herself are easily worth a thousand words... this is a sensitive, compassionate portrayal of teenage mental health struggles that emphasizes the importance of community, self-acceptance, and finding the courage to ask for help.”

• Publishers Weekly review: "Searle’s semi-autobiographical graphic novel covers teen relationships, mental health... and disordered eating with crackling specificity...a visually and emotionally satisfying read about escaping depression and loneliness through art-making."

• School Library Journal review:"...a lovely graphic novel that takes an honest look at how easy it is for teenagers to get lost in despair...This sensitive read is a must-have on library shelves."

New Release: WHO WAS THE GIRL WARRIOR OF FRANCE? JOAN OF ARC

WHO WAS THE GIRL WARRIOR OF FRANCE? JOAN OF ARC
written by Sarah Winifred Searle and illustrated by Maria Capelle Frantz
(Penguin Workshop, Jan 2022)

Presenting Who HQ Graphic Novels: an exciting new addition to the #1 New York Times Best-Selling Who Was? series!

Follow Joan of Arc on her journey to convince the Dauphin to let her lead the French army in the Battle of Orleans and win the Hundred Years' War. A story of faith, courage, and determination, this graphic novel invites readers to immerse themselves in the life of the teenage French heroine -- brought to life by gripping narrative and vivid full-color illustrations that jump off the page.

Select praise for WHO WAS THE GIRL WARRIOR OF FRANCE?

• Booklist review: "Joan of Arc’s faith and determination shine through in WHO WAS THE GIRL WARRIOR OF FRANCE?, which gives readers background on the Hundred Years War and shows Joan of Arc’s challenging journey to help end it. All the [Who HQ Graphic Novels] showcase the passions and urgency or risks behind their headline-making events and humanize the people who made them possible."

New Release: SINCERELY, HARRIET

Harriet Flores struggles with boredom and an unrequited crush while learning to manage her chronic illness through a long, hot, 1990s summer in Chicago. She uses her imagination to cope, which sometimes gets her into trouble, as she makes up fantastical fibs and wonders if there are ghosts upstairs. One neighbor, Pearl, encourages Harriet to read and write, leading Harriet to have a breakthrough and discover the power of storytelling.

Select praise for SINCERELY, HARRIET:

• Booklist review: “Middle-grade readers will relate to Harriet’s anxiety about fitting in and making friends, while also exploring subjects like ableism and intersectionality, which Searle depicts with grace and empathy.”

• Kirkus starred review: "The pacing is masterful as the truth behind Harry’s many fears is slowly and poignantly revealed, maintaining the tension and mystery of each story thread until the tapestry is complete. Searle tackles Harry’s anxiety about her illness as well as common adolescent concerns about friendships, school, and family with an honesty and tenderness that will resonate with readers... Heartfelt and heartwarming."

• Publishers Weekly review: "Comics creator Searle slowly unspools the story of a middle schooler living with multiple sclerosis... In jewel-toned art, Searle successfully creates a claustrophobic, lonesome ambience."

• School Library Journal review: "The wide-eyed, expressive characters and reassuring art are well suited to this introspective narrative."

SINCERELY, HARRIET by Sarah Searle (Lerner Graphic Universe, May 2019)

Awards and Nominations round-up!

AGENTS OF THE REALM by Mildred Louis was nominated for the 2018 Slate Cartoonist Studio Prize for Best Webcomic of the Year.

AS THE CROW FLIES by Melanie Gillman was named a 2018 Stonewall Honor Book, is a 2018 EGL finalist in both the Best of Middle Grade and Mosaic Award categories, and is one of YALSA's 2018 Great Graphic Novels for Teens.

ELEMENTS: FIRE, edited by Taneka Stotts, won a silver medal in the 2018 Independent Publisher Book Awards in the Graphic Novel / Drawn Book category and was nominated for two 2018 DINKy Awards. Shivana Sookdeo's contribution "Breath, Plucked From Heaven" was nominated for the 2018 Slate Cartoonist Studio Prize for Best Print Comic of the Year. 

FULL CIRCLE by Taneka Stotts and Christianne Goudreau was named a 2018 Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity nominee.

THE HAUNTED HOUSE PROJECT by Tricia Clasen is a 2017 Voya Top Shelf Fiction selection for middle grade readers. 

NO BETTER WORDS by Carolyn Nowak was nominated for a 2018 DINKy Award.

O HUMAN STAR by Blue Delliquanti made the 2017 James Tiptree Jr. Award longlist.

POCKETS by Melanie Gillman was nominated for two 2018 DINKy Awards and won in the Best Mini Comic category.

THE PRICE OF ACCEPTANCE by Sarah Searle was nominated for the 2018 Slate Cartoonist Studio Prize for Best Webcomic of the Year.

THE WITCH BOY by Molly Knox Ostertag is a 2018 EGL finalist and one of YALSA's 2018 Great Graphic Novels for Teens.

Deal Announcement: THIMBLE

Sarah W. Searle's middle grade graphic novel THIMBLE, which follows 12-year-old Harriet Flores across a restless late summer in 1996 as she struggles with a move from rural Indiana to Chicago, a one-sided penpal situation, chronic illness, and the idea that her new landlady has stored a dark secret on the unoccupied top floor of their building, to Greg Hunter at Graphic Universe, for publication in fall 2019, by Jen Linnan at Linnan Literary Management.

A.V. Club: Sarah W. Searle announces her new coming-of-age graphic novel THIMBLE