''Kiss Number 8'' is a 2019

graphic novel A graphic novel is a self-contained, book-length form of sequential art. The term ''graphic novel'' is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and Anthology, anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comics sc ...

written by Colleen A. F. Venable, illustrated by Ellen T. Crenshaw, and published by

First Second Books First Second Books is an American publisher of graphic novels. An imprint (trade name), imprint of Roaring Brook Press, part of Holtzbrinck, Holtzbrinck Publishers, First Second publishes fiction, biographies, personal memoirs, history, visual e ...

. In 2019, the novel was longlisted for the

National Book Award for Young People's Literature The National Book Award for Young People's Literature is one of five annual National Book Awards, which are given by the National Book Foundation (NBF) to recognize outstanding literary work by US citizens. They are awards "by writers to writer ...

. The following year, it was a finalist for an

Eisner Award The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, are awards for creative achievement in American comic books. They are regarded as the most prestigious and significant awards in the comic industry and often referred ...

and Prism Award. The novel follows the protagonist's experiences through a series of horrible kisses and humorously explores her sexuality, family, and faith.

Reception

Reviews

''Kiss Number 8'' received starred reviews from ''

Kirkus Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus. The magazine's publisher, Kirkus Media, is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fiction, no ...

'' and ''

Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of ...

'', who respectively called the novel a "rare blend of tender and revolutionary" and a "queer coming-of-age story that earns its powerful emotional impact." ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'''s Jen Doll wrote, "Venable's frequently heartbreaking recollection of the abuse and torment that people went through for being 'different' — and the fact that it still happens all too frequently — is a powerful reminder of how far we still have to go." ''

School Library Journal ''School Library Journal'' (''SLJ'') is an American monthly magazine containing reviews and other articles for school librarians, media specialists, and public librarians who work with young people. Articles cover a wide variety of topics, wi ...

'' called the book "thought-provoking" and a "solid addition to YA shelves."

Awards and honors

In 2019, the

New York Public Library The New York Public Library (NYPL) is a public library system in New York City. With nearly 53 million items and 92 locations, the New York Public Library is the second-largest public library in the United States behind the Library of Congress a ...

included ''Kiss Number 8'' on its list of the best books for teens published that year. The following year, the book was included on the Texas Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List and the TAYSHAS Reading List.

Controversy

In the summer of 2021, at a

Leander Independent School District Leander Independent School District is a school district based in Leander, Texas ( USA) and covering a total of in Leander, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Jonestown, Round Rock in Williamson County and northwest Austin in Travis County. In 201 ...

board meeting, a parent complained about '' In the Dream House'', a memoir by

Carmen Maria Machado Carmen Maria Machado (born July 3, 1986) is an American short story author, essayist, and critic best known for ''Her Body and Other Parties'', a 2017 short story collection, and her memoir '' In the Dream House'', which was published in 2019 and ...

, which led to a review of all the books on the district's Language Arts Reading List. Eight books, including ''Kiss Number 8'', were ultimately removed. In August 2022, 62% of Jamestown Charter Township residents voted to defund their public library system after librarians refused to remove three books from the library's shelves: ''

Gender Queer ''Gender Queer: A Memoir'' is a 2019 American graphic memoir written and illustrated by Maia Kobabe. It recounts Kobabe's journey from adolescence to adulthood and the author's exploration of gender identity and sexuality, ultimately identifyin ...

'' by

Maia Kobabe Maia Kobabe (, born 1989) is an American cartoonist and author who wrote the memoir '' Gender Queer: A Memoir'' (2019). Life and career Kobabe was one of the first students enrolled in the Master of Fine Arts in Comics program at California Col ...

, ''Kiss Number 8'', and ''

Spinning Spin or spinning most often refers to: * Spin (physics) or particle spin, a fundamental property of elementary particles * Spin quantum number, a number which defines the value of a particle's spin * Spinning (textiles), the creation of yarn or thr ...

'' by

Tillie Walden Tillie Walden (born 1996) is an American cartoonist who has published several graphic novels and a webcomic. Walden won the 2018 Eisner Award for Best Reality-Based Work for her graphic novel ''Spinning'', making her one of the youngest Eisner A ...

. Community activists claimed that the presence of these books in the library's young adult and adult sections meant the library was trying to "groom" young children. According to Library Board President Larry Walton, without fund renewal, "the library will run out of money in 2023, jeopardizing its existence." Despite not wanting to close the library, Walton has stated that the board refuses to ban the books.

References

{{Reflist 2019 graphic novels 2019 children's books Censored books Censorship of LGBTQ issues First Second Books books Children's books with LGBTQ themes LGBTQ-related graphic novels 2019 LGBTQ-related literary works