Night and Dana - by Anya Davidson (Paperback)

About the Book

"When special-effects obsessives Dana and Lily begin work on an eco-horror movie, they realize they've been growing apart. But as everything starts going up in flames, Dana begins to forge her voice as a climate activist"--

Book Synopsis

A creative coming-of-age story for the climate-change generation

Dana Drucker fights boredom in her Florida beach town by crafting special-effects makeup--the more gruesome, the better. But when a messy prank with Dana's best friend Lily gets the wrong kind of attention, the girls have two choices: find a new creative outlet or leave high school without graduating.

To save their shot at diplomas, Dana and Lily join a community college film class. It gives Dana a chance to keep practicing her monster makeup, as she and Lily start work on a horror movie inspired by local ocean warming. And a search for filming locations puts Dana in the path of Daphne Ocean, an activist and self-proclaimed water witch--the perfect kind of inspiring outsider. But when filming starts, Dana finds herself growing apart from Lily, who doesn't seem to need her closest friend much anymore.

Soon, tempers are flaring, and Dana's pushing away old friends and her new mentor. But as everything starts going up in flames, Dana also begins to forge her voice. Night and Dana is a creative coming-of-age story for the climate-change era, a graphic novel about making art and growing up when it feels like the world is on fire.

Review Quotes

"The character designs stand out among other current graphic novels, with a more retro and realistic feel featuring orange, yellow, and green tones . . . A story that will resonate with teen and new adult readers." --School Library Journal

-- (11/1/2023 12:00:00 AM)

"Davidson gives this relatable coming-of-age tale an alt vibe with a retro, high-contrast color palette similar to newspaper comics and a boldly provocative art style." --Booklist

-- (8/29/2023 12:00:00 AM)

"In a retro style reminiscent of Archie comics, Davidson. . . fashions characters who are convincingly relatable." --Publishers Weekly

-- (7/14/2023 12:00:00 AM)