Full Shift: A Graphic Novel

by Jennifer Dugan, Kit Seaton (Illustrator)

Overview

In this queer, supernatural YA graphic novel from the author of Some Girls Do and the illustrator of Wonder Woman: Warbringer, a reluctant teen werewolf would do anything to be human—if that's what it takes to win her crush's heart.

Tessa feels like she doesn’t fit in anywhere. Not at school, where she can’t figure out how to confess the feelings she has for her friend Maddie. And definitely not at home, where the other werewolves in her family make her feel like an outcast because she can’t even shift into her full wolf form yet. Sometimes she thinks her whole life would be easier if she wasn’t a werewolf at all.

When word gets out that a group of werewolf hunters has infiltrated her pack’s territory and that they’ve developed a cure that can make werewolves human, Tessa thinks she’s found the answer to her problems. But when she discovers there might be more to the hunters’ plans than anyone knows, it’s up to Tessa to put herself on the line to protect the lives of those she loves most. And the only way to save them is to embrace the wolf inside her that is howling to get out.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593529850
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	08/27/2024
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	121,200
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.70(d)
Lexile:	HL370L (what's this?)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Jennifer Dugan is a writer, a geek, and a romantic who writes the kinds of stories she wishes she’d had growing up. She’s the author of the graphic novel Coven, as well as the young adult novels Playing For Keeps, The Last Girls Standing, Melt With You, Some Girls Do, Verona Comics, and Hot Dog Girl, which was called “a great, fizzy rom-com” by Entertainment Weekly and “one of the best reads of the year, hands down” by Paste magazine. She lives in upstate New York with her family, their dog, a strange kitten who enjoys wearing sweaters, and an evil cat who is no doubt planning to take over the world. You can visit Jennifer at JLDugan.com or follow her on Twitter and Instagram @JL_Dugan.

Kit Seaton has illustrated Coven by Jennifer Dugan, as well as the graphic novel adaptations of Leigh Bardugo’s Wonder Woman: Warbringer and Alexandra Bracken’s Brightly Woven. She is the co-creator of the comics Norroway and Afar. You can visit Kit at kitseaton.com or follow her on Instagram @kitandcatcomics.

Editorial Reviews

07/08/2024

Ever since her father’s death, teenage Tessa has felt increasingly alienated from her family of werewolves. It doesn’t help that she still can’t shift into full wolf form (“The number one reason my sister drives me up the wall is... she’s also a better werewolf than me”). Upon hearing rumor of a group of hunters with the ability to make werewolves human, she risks her life, and the safety of her family and friends, to learn more. She enlists the help of Madeline, her crush since fourth grade, to whom Tessa recently (and awkwardly) revealed her werewolf identity. But when Tessa inadvertently leads the hunters to believe that Maddie is a werewolf, Tessa must rally her pack for assistance in protecting Maddie. Tessa’s werewolf family nurtures and supports her even when she acts against their wishes in this refreshingly subversive graphic novel by collaborators Dugan and Seaton (Coven). Seaton’s noir-like illustrations and detailed backdrops blend realistic and stylized elements to evoke an appropriately spine-chilling creature feature atmosphere. Emotive facial expressions similarly elevate Dugan’s rapid-fire dialogue and character interactions, which add heft and heart that brings the protagonists to life in this story of loss and transformation. Characters are portrayed with varying skin tones. Ages 12–up. Author’s agent: Sara Crowe, Sara Crowe Literary. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

Praise for Full Shift:

“Hilarious and heartwarming . . . Part fast-paced adventure, part poignant coming-of-age romance . . . Pairs well with ­Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Lisa Sterle’s Squad.” —School Library Journal

“Entertaining . . . The balance between action and humor is held together by Tessa as an appealing lead. The queer teen is prickly, sometimes awkward, and often relatable as she tries to figure out who she is and her place in the world, all while dealing with grief. A satisfying supernatural story.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Classically illustrated . . . A supernatural story with themes of belonging, loss, and self-acceptance.” —Booklist

“Refreshingly subversive . . . Seaton’s noir-like illustrations and detailed backdrops blend realistic and stylized elements to evoke an appropriately spine-chilling creature feature atmosphere. Emotive facial expressions similarly elevate Dugan’s rapid-fire dialogue and character interactions, which add heft and heart that brings the protagonists to life in this story of loss and transformation.” —Publishers Weekly

“Equal parts action-packed and full of laughs, Full Shift is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel about found family, the charm and intensity of first crushes, and what it means to truly embrace who you are.” —Claribel A. Ortega, Eisner Award–Winning Author of Frizzy
 
“With funny, thrilling, and heart-wrenching moments, this is a lovely story about self-acceptance and belonging. Fellow supernatural romance fans are sure to have a blast!” —Deya Muniz, creator of The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich

From the Publisher

09/01/2024

Gr 7 Up—Unlike her popular sister, Tessa doesn't fit in. Always lagging behind, misfit Tessa can't even shift by choice; only when she loses her temper does the wolf within appear. It's not easy to be a werewolf or a queer teenage girl, and if she can't control her feelings and abilities, she'll fall further behind the pack. When Tessa's crush Maddie invites her to hang out in her bedroom, Tessa anticipates the big reveal, thinking that Maddie is also a supernatural being. But as Tessa shifts, Maddie comes out of the closet as queer. This is not the bonding experience either girl anticipated, and worse, Tessa has exposed her family's secret to a human and must drive a wedge between herself and Maddie to protect the pack. Following the lead on a cure to werewolfism, Tessa stumbles onto a plot to destroy werewolves, and her blundering puts everyone in danger, pursued by violent hunters. Dugan and Seaton's graphic novel is hilarious and heartwarming. The pages are illustrated with a subdued, pastel palette, bold lines, and deep shading that sets the tone for this well-rounded story. Readers will root for Tessa as she learns that speaking the truth allows her to accept herself, rebuild familial bonds, and get closer to her crush. VERDICT Part fast-paced adventure, part poignant coming-of-age romance, Full Shift is recommended for all teen collections and pairs well with Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Lisa Sterle's Squad.—Rebecca Jung

School Library Journal

2024-06-15
A werewolf struggles with her senses of self and belonging.

Tessa was born a werewolf, but her abilities lag behind those of others in her extended family; she still can’t fully shift, and honestly, she doesn’t even want to. Her dad was the only one who made her feel comfortable about her wolf, but he passed away. It’s hard enough that white-presenting Tessa has a longstanding secret crush on her friend Maddie (who’s cued Indian American), let alone adding her supernatural status into the mix. When rumors swirl about hunters in the area seeking to “cure” werewolves by turning them human, Tessa sees a chance to make her life easier, but she soon discovers that their intentions are far more sinister. A miscommunication leads to Maddie’s learning the truth about Tessa’s werewolf identity—and, as a result, Maddie unwittingly becomes a target of the hunters. To save her family and her crush, Tessa must embrace her full self. The easy-to-follow panels (even in chaotic action scenes) combined with inviting art make it a breeze to zip through this entertaining, straightforward tale. While Dugan doesn’t delve too deeply into the themes, she includes just enough substance to make the work gratifying. The balance between action and humor is held together by Tessa as an appealing lead. The queer teen is prickly, sometimes awkward, and often relatable as she tries to figure out who she is and her place in the world, all while dealing with grief.

A satisfying supernatural story.(Graphic paranormal. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews