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AUTHOR: Mariko Tamaki
ARTIST: Rosemary Valero-O’Connell
PUBLISHER: First Second
LANGUAGE: English
DATE: 2019
PAGES: 289
ISBN: 9781250312846
AWARDS: Walter Dean Myers Award (2020), VLA Graphic Novel Diversity Award for Youth Honor (2019), Prism Award for Mainstream Publisher (2020)
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me
by Mariko Tamaki
The day they got together was the best one of Freddy’s life, but nothing’s made sense since. Laura Dean is popular, funny, and SO CUTE … but she can be really thoughtless, even mean. Their on-again, off-again relationship has Freddy’s head spinning — and Freddy’s friends can’t understand why she keeps going back.
When Freddy consults the services of a local mystic, the mysterious Seek-Her, she isn’t thrilled with the advice she receives. But something’s got to give: Freddy’s heart is breaking in slow motion, and she may be about to lose her very best friend as well as her last shred of self-respect. Fortunately for Freddy, there are new friends, and the insight of advice columnist Anna Vice, to help her through being a teenager in love.
Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O’Connell bring to life a sweet and spirited tale of young love that asks us to consider what happens when we ditch the toxic relationships we crave to embrace the healthy ones we need.
INCLUSION CRITERIA
A love interest and main character (Laura Dean) is attracted to people of multiple genders.
TROPES
NOTE: Laura Dean is not a protagonist, she is a complicated teen love interest who treats the main character poorly. Her fluid attraction is not directly blamed for this behavior, but some readers may find the depiction uncomfortable.