Like any unconventional person in a small town, Montgomery has worked hard to find her tribe, those equally quirky people who help keep her strong. Monty has her two moms, of course. And she has her best friends, Thomas and Naoki, who join Monty in forming the Jefferson High Mystery Club. They don’t read whodunits; they explore the mysteries of the universe, from ESP to levitation. So even though the occasional jerks might make fun of Monty for her frumpy clothes, her lesbian moms and her gay best friend, she still feels safe.
That is, until the vehemently homophobic Reverend White moves to town, and his son transfers to Monty’s school. Suddenly, Monty feels like everyone she loves is under attack. As usual, Monty turns to the paranormal to help her solve her problems, but when her quest for supernatural knowledge fails spectacularly, Monty may be forced to acknowledge that there are as many surprising mysteries right at home as there are in the vast universe.
Mariko Tamaki is best known for her graphic novel collaborations with her cousin Jillian, including the award-winning This One Summer. Her first solo effort offers a complex and nuanced (and often very funny) portrait of a young woman in crisis. Monty is a realistically inspiring heroine—one who is flawed but comes to recognize her own faults and limitations. She sees her way toward real solutions, surrounded by people who love and value her despite, and even because of, those flaws.
This article was originally published in the May 2016 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.
