Lucy in the Sky - by Kiara Brinkman (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

In this contemporary graphic novel, twelve-year-old Lucy discovers her father's collection of Beatles records and is inspired to form an all-girl rock band.

It's the first day of seventh grade, and everything is going downhill for Lucy Sutcliffe. At school, she has the feeling her friends are all leaving her behind. At home, her single father is in a rut, and her perpetually traveling photojournalist mother is more absent than ever. Worst of all, Lucy's grandmother is undergoing chemotherapy and is no longer the warm, vibrant presence that her family has come to depend on.

But everything changes the day Lucy discovers a box of her father's Beatles records. Inspired by their music, she gets a drum set and forms an all-girl rock band with her friends. But can she keep the band together when petty rivalries, unrequited crushes, and outside pressures threaten to tear it apart?

Review Quotes

"...Lucy in the Sky is a gorgeously-drawn book with a stunning mix of ligne claire and psychedelia, and Beatles easter eggs packed into each page for good measure. Whether you're an old fan or a new listener, Lucy in the Sky will lead you back to the long and winding road of youth, wonder, peace, and love." --The Beat, part of their "24 Best Comics of 2021" list

"In this work by a married creator pair, Chiki's bandes dessinées-style illustrations feature thin lines, flat colors, and character close-ups. Though the story rarely pauses for dramatic moments, Brinkman's (Up High in the Trees, for adults) characters wade through tender interactions, resulting in a soft and endearing look into a preteen world." --Publishers Weekly

"Brinkman deftly captures how friendships ebb and flow."--Kirkus

"Lucy in the Sky is more than the Beatles, but if they're the reason you pick this book up, that's terrific. This book deserves all your loving when it comes out on July 27th from First Second." --Comicon.com

"This book is definitely not one to read in one sitting, go take a break and then come back to it. It is huge. it is fun. Go check it out and remember middle school again!" --Sequential Tart

"There's music history, great character development, and a heroine you want to root for here, making this a great graphic novel to give to tweens and early teens, who will relate to the frustrating, sometimes frightening, changes that come with the territory."--Mom Read It

About the Author

Kiara Brinkman's novel, Up High in the Trees, was a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice and a Chicago Tribune Favorite Book. Lucy in the Sky is her first graphic novel.

Sean Chiki is a middle school teacher, a musician, and a cartoonist. His comic stories have appeared in collections from Skoda Man Press and have also been self-published in his series Wunderkammer.

Kiara and Sean live in California with their children and two cats.