Unretouchable - by Sofia Szamosi (Paperback)

About the Book

"Olive is spending the summer before college helping a fashion-industry imaging specialist--and pondering the impact of this work behind the scenes"--

Book Synopsis

"One of the most memorable debut graphic novels in recent years."--IGN

Olive is spending the summer before art school at a coveted internship, helping one of the fashion industry's elite digital-imaging specialists. After a glamourous New York photoshoot, she learns that taking pictures is only the first step. She discovers the "violent verbs" (cut, crop, slice, lasso) of image retouching software and the secrets behind "virtual models."

Soon Olive is fixating on her own appearance and pondering the ethics of her work behind the scenes. As college gets closer, she'll try to get out of her own head, attempt to quit the Internet, and finally embrace image-making on her own terms. Unretouchable is a window into the little-known, hugely influential world of fashion photography and a tribute to self-acceptance.

"A tribute to self-acceptance."--AIPT

"Unretouchable perfectly utilizes the form to talk about the consequences of images and how they can be manipulated."--SCREENRANT

Review Quotes

"Sofia has a magical eye and voice. Her ability to take something classic and turn it on its head is something I had never seen before her work." --Emily Meade, actor, Dead Ringers, The Leftovers, and The Deuce

-- (5/1/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"Olive's journey to seeking balance on the social Internet is important. The black-and-white drawings contrast well with Szamosi's plot that grapples with the gray areas of contemporary life."--Booklist

-- (9/15/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"Soulful, playful, and full of heart, Unretouchable is a timeless coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of our modern, digital world." --Aliza Kelly, author, Starring You: A Guided Journey Through Astrology and This Is Your Destiny: Using Astrology to Manifest Your Best Life

-- (5/1/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"Szamosi employs witty narration and stark b&w ink to deliver a sincere, offbeat cautionary graphic novel of social media's pitfalls, including its effect on mental health and body image." -Publishers Weekly

-- (8/8/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"This tale pairs bold, blocky, black-and-white art with text sharing Olive's deeply introspective musings. . . . An appealing look at important issues . . ."--Kirkus Reviews

-- (6/15/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"Written with empathy, wisdom and humor, Unretouchable makes us feel heard and understood. I couldn't put it down!" --Sadie Radinsky, author, Whole Girl: Live Vibrantly, Love Your Entire Self, and Make Friends with Food

-- (5/1/2022 12:00:00 AM)