Mall Goth

Set in the early 2000s, this young adult graphic novel by Kate Leth follows Liv Holme, a fifteen-year-old goth who is bisexual. When her mother moves them to a new town, Liv is far from eager for a fresh start, since she already knows how harsh high school can be for someone like her. She has decided to stay true to herself regardless of who tries to bring her down.

As the newcomer and the only openly queer student at her school, Liv attracts more attention than she wants and struggles to find people who accept her. The one adult who seems willing to spend time with her is a teacher, but she is unsure how to read the way he treats her.

The mall becomes her refuge. Under its fluorescent lights, she can forget her parents' tense marriage and the classmates who don't get her. Among the storefronts, the food court aromas, and crowds of strangers, she blends in and enjoys a rare sense of control over her own life.

Over the course of the story, Liv works toward accepting herself, weathers the highs and lows of high school, and learns to tell genuine friends from everyone else.