Kiss Number 8

A 2019 National Book Award for Young People's Literature Longlist Selection
A 2019 New York Public Library Best Books for Kids
A 2020 Tayshas Reading List Selection
A 2020 Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List Selection

Mads is pretty happy with her life. She goes to church with her family, and minor league baseball games with her dad. She goofs off with her best friend Cat, and has thus far managed to avoid getting kissed by Adam, the boy next door. It's everything she hoped high school would be... until all of a sudden, it's not.

Her dad is hiding something big--so big it could tear her family apart. And that's just the beginning of her problems: Mads is starting to figure out that she doesn't want to kiss Adam... because the only person she wants to kiss is Cat.

Kiss Number 8, a graphic novel from writer Colleen AF Venable and illustrator Ellen T. Crenshaw, is a layered, funny, sharp-edged story of teen sexuality and family secrets.

Publisher: First Second
Published: 03/12/2019
Pages: 320
Weight: 1lbs
Size: 8.40h x 6.00w x 1.00d
ISBN: 9781596437098
Age: Young Adult


Award: National Book Awards - Nominee


Review Citation(s):
School Library Journal 02/01/2019 pg. 78
Publishers Weekly 12/24/2018
Kirkus Reviews 01/01/2019 pg. 155
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 03/01/2019
Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2019 - Recommended, Satisfactory

About the Author

Colleen AF Venable is an author, designer, and maker. Her graphic novel series Guinea Pig, Pet Shop Private Eye (illustrated by Stephanie Yue) was nominated for an Eisner for Best Publication for Kids. Her other books include Mervin the Sloth is About to Do the Best Thing in the World and Amy the Red Panda Writes the Best Story in the World, both illustrated by Ruth Chan.

Ellen T. Crenshaw is a cartoonist and illustrator for books, editorial, advertising, comics, and children's media. Her work appears in Beer Advocate Magazine and The Nib, and her other books include Test Your Baby and Test Your Toddler's IQ (both written by Rachel Federman). She lives with her husband and two dragons. Kiss Number 8 is her first graphic novel.