Tamaki, Mariko. This Place Kills Me. Nicole Goux, Illus. Abrams/Fanfare, 08/2025. 272pp. Graphic. Trade $26.99. 978-1-4197-6846-0. GRADES 9–Adult. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Abby, the new girl at an all-girls boarding school, tries to overcome her outsider status by going to a cast party where she has a conversation with Elizabeth, an actor who is found dead in the woods the next morning. The story quickly rolls along, as Abby is determined to find out what happened to Elizabeth. Abby’s relentless quest for the truth awakens her roommate’s inquisitiveness and brings the two together in friendship. This whodunnit twists and turns through letters and posters and hidden notes. Figuring out the mystery is satisfying, yet the conclusion is a bit abrupt and unsurprising, as there isn’t enough character development to warrant the ending. The artwork, though, is the compelling force of this graphic novel, energetic and driving the devices used by the author. Panels zoom in and out cinematically, delivering scenes in varied points of view that elevate the noir feel of this book. The gray and pink color scheme allows for stunning illustrations. The story is set in the 1980s with plenty of references through music and dialogue, while vague allusions to drugs and alcohol use, sexual situations, and nascent recognition of queer people help complete the scene. Most characters present as white, while Abby presents as Japanese American.
Pauline Harris—San Francisco Public Library