Punk Rock Karaoke - by Bianca Xunise

About the Book

"Ariel has dreams of leaving her southside Chicago neighborhood and making it big as a punk rocker with her best friends and bandmates now that they've graduated from high school, but the realities of young adulthood make that challenging and strain their friendships with each other"--

Book Synopsis

"Stole my heart from the first page to the last. Endlessly funny and sincere." --Tillie Walden, Eisner & Ignatz Award-winning cartoonist

Winner of the 2025 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work

A debut graphic novel from Ignatz Award-winning and nationally syndicated cartoonist Bianca Xunise.

When life gives you guitars, smash them!
School is out for summer and Ariel Grace Jones is determined to make it one for the books! Together with their bestie bandmates, Michele and Gael, Ariel believes they're destined to break into the music industry and out of Chicago's Southside by singing lead in their garage punk band, Baby Hares.

But before Baby Hares can officially get into the groove, the realities of post grad life start to weigh on this crew of misfits. Ari begins to worry that it's time to pull the plug on their dreams of making it big.
Just when all hope feels lost, a fellow punk and local icon takes an interest in their talent. It seems like he might be the only one Ariel can rely on as frustrations between bandmates reach at an all-time high.

Punk Rock Karaoke is a coming-of-age tale that draws upon the explosive joy of the underground scene, while raising questions about authenticity, the importance of community and what it means to succeed on your own terms.

Review Quotes

Praise for Punk Rock Karaoke

* "An electrifying tale of passion and the pursuit of punk dreams in this graphic novel debut. . .Utilizing a gripping narrative, relatable situations, and evocative artwork with an aesthetic that oozes with late-1970s zine flair, Xunise imbues this comic with a fervent exuberance that embodies the ethos of punk: being real and true to oneself, building community around unfettered self-expression, and creating lasting art that doesn't subscribe to the mainstream." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "The phenomenal art shows off the edgy and colorful tableau of the South Side Chicago punk scene, bringingreality and authenticity to the setting, and showcasing the author's experience . . . this glimpse into a world of music and friendship will resonate with many readers." --School Library Journal, starred review

"A vibrant, inclusive, feminist, punk-rock homage, guide, and coming-of-age story." --Kirkus Reviews

"Incredibly grounded in its neighborhood and scene, this is a great ride from start to finish." --Booklist

Winner of the 2025 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work-Youth/Teens
New York Public Library Best Book for Teens 2024
Chicago Public Library Best Teen Graphic Novels and Manga 2024
School Library Journal Best Graphic Novels 2024
2025 Society of Illustrators MoCCA Fest Excellence Winner in the Graphic Novel Category

About the Author

Bianca Xunise is a cartoonist based out of Chicago, Illinois. Their work primarily focuses on the plight, joy, and daily struggles of misfits within the black community. In 2017 Xunise earned an Ignatz for Promising New Talent for their comic Say Her Name, an autobiographical story of police brutality and social justice. In 2020 Xunise earned their second Ignatz for their contribution to Be Gay, Do Comics published by IDW. Xunise has collaborated with Vogue, The Washington Post, The Nib, and Believer Magazine. They are also a contributor to the book How We Fight Supremacy: A Field Guide to Black Resistance along with Ta-Nehisi Coates, Tarana Burk, and Harry Belafonte. Bianca became the first nationally syndicated non-binary cartoonist when they joined the comic strip Six Chix in 2020 as their first black creator.