#navigating with you

[jeremywhitley]

Aces & Aros: An Ace and Aromantic Comic Book Anthology Has Launched on Kickstarter

New York, New York (April 28th) Following the success of Transphoria: A Trans Anthology, Bi Visibility: A Bisexual Anthology, and the Ringo Nominated Hairology, Lifeline Comics launches a new anthology on Kickstarter May 27th - Aces & Aros: An Ace and Aromantic Comic Book Antholgoy. A 100 paged comic book from the creative minds of Kat Calamia (WEBTOON’s Slice of Life), Phil Falco (WEBTOON’s Slice of Life), and Jeremy Whitley (Princeless, My Little Pony, Unstoppable Wasp). 

The 21 stories tackles the different spectrums of the ace and aros identities through a wide variety of genres including espionage, fandom, fantasy, slice of life, and so much more! 

There are 20+ creators with the likes of Kelly Fitzpatrick (Bitch Planet, Archie) Bailie Rosenlund (Gwenpool) C.K. Carpenter (unSEEN/unHEARD: Disability & Neurodivergence, Scott Snyder Presents Tales from the Cloakroom), Mau Mora (HAUNTING The Game), Emily C. Martin (Progressively Horrified Podcast), and more!

Tiers range from a physical and digital copy of the book, hardcovers, mystery boxes, and more! You can support the Aces & Aros’ Kickstarter campaign right here.

[the-dust-jacket]

Congratulations to the 2025 Stonewall Award winners and honorees!

[logarithmicpanda]

Navigating With You (Jeremy Whitley/Cassio Ribeiro/Nikki Foxrobot)

Two teenage girls meet as they start a new school, and bond over a manga series they both used to love but never finished

As they track down the volumes, they grow closer

Rep: disabled black lesbian, bisexual latina with ptsd

This graphic novel manages to pack a lot in relatively few pages: fandom, trauma, activism, romance...

8/10

[richincolor]

We have a nice mix of genres available to you this week! Which of these books are you interested in?

Ash’s Cabin by Jen Wang First Second

Ash has always felt alone. Adults ignore the climate crisis. Other kids Ash’s age are more interested in pop stars and popularity contests than in fighting for change. Even Ash’s family seems to be sleepwalking through life. The only person who ever seemed to get Ash was their Grandpa Edwin. Before he died, he used to talk about building a secret cabin, deep in the California wilderness. Did he ever build it? What if it’s still there, waiting for him to come back…or for Ash to find it? To Ash, that maybe-mythical cabin is starting to feel like the perfect place for a fresh start and an escape from the miserable feeling of alienation that haunts their daily life. But making the wilds your home isn’t easy. And as much as Ash wants to be alone…can they really be happy alone? Can they survive alone? From New York Times –bestselling author and illustrator Jen Wang comes a singularly affecting story about self-discovery, self-reliance, and the choice to live when it feels like you have no place in the world.

The Dark We Know by Wen-yi Lee Zando – Gillian Flynn Books

Art student Isadora Chang swore never to return to Slater. Growing up, Isa never felt at ease in the repressive former mining town, even before she realized she was bisexual—but after the deaths of two of her childhood friends, Slater went from feeling claustrophobic to suffocating. Isa took off before the town could swallow her, too, even though it meant leaving behind everything she knew, including her last surviving friend Mason. When Isa’s abusive father kicks the bucket, she agrees to come back just long enough to collect the inheritance. But then Mason, son of the local medium, turns up at the cemetery with a revelation and a plea: their friends were murdered by a supernatural entity, and he needs Isa to help stop the evil—before it takes anyone else. When Isa begins to hear strange songs on the wind, and eerie artwork fills her sketchbook that she can’t recall drawing, she’s forced to stop running and confront her past. Because something is waiting in the shadows of Slater’s valleys, something that feeds on the pain and heartbreak of its children. Whatever it is, it knows Isa’s back… and it won’t let her escape twice.

Kisses, Codes, and Conspiracies by Abigail Hing Wen Feiwel & Friends

Tan Lee finds himself embroiled in an unusual love triangle, all while trying to defuse a heist, unravel a conspiracy, and navigate the most complicated babysitting assignment ever in this YA novel by national bestselling author Abigail Hing Wen. After a magical kiss at Prom, best friends Tan Lee and Winter Woo agree to cool it off, a plan that goes awry when their parents jointly head off to Hawaii and leave Tan and Winter to babysit Tan's sister Sana together. If that isn't complicated enough, Tan's ex-girlfriend from Shanghai arrives on his doorstep with money stolen from her billionaire father and thugs on her heels. Tan soon finds himself on the run, trying to out-manuever international hackers and protect his friends, family and sister - and his own heart.

The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko Amulet Books

The smallest spark can bind two hearts . . . or start a revolution. In the magic-soaked capital city of Oluwan, country bumpkin Small Sade needs a job—preferably as a maid, with employers who don’t mind her unique appearance and unlucky foot. But before she can be hired, she accidentally binds herself to a powerful god known only as the Crocodile, who is rumored to devour pretty girls. Small Sade entrances the Crocodile with her secret: she is a Curse Eater, gifted with the ability to alter people’s fates by cleaning their houses. The handsome god warns that their fates are bound, but Small Sade evades him, launching herself into a new career as the Curse Eater of a swanky inn. She is determined to impress the wealthy inhabitants and earn her place in Oluwan City . . . assuming her secret-filled past—and the revolutionary ambitions of the Crocodile God—don’t catch up with her. But maybe there is more to Small Sade. And maybe everyone in Oluwan City deserves more, too, from the maids all the way to the Anointed Ones.

Navigating With You written by Jeremy Whitley & illustrated by Cassio Ribeiro Maverick

Neesha Sparks is a disabled, vocal community activist with a passion for costume design. Gabby Graciana is an optimistic surfer - and, like Neesha, a new kid at school. When the two girls discover that they like the same manga series, Navigator Nozomi, they become more than just fellow new kids. But it was more than just having read the same book series--neither of them had finished it! Soon, they become new friends on a mission - to track down the remaining Navigator Nozomi books. This slice-of-life romance follows the two girls as they adventure across North Carolina to find each book, with their story intercut with the tales of Navigator Nozomi. Neesha and Gabby find more than just the books though—they find acceptance, friendship, understanding, and love.

[ultrameganicolaokay]

Navigating With You OGN by Jeremy Whitley and Cassio Ribeiro. Cover by Ribeiro. Out in August.

"A charming POC-led WLW romance where two new friends hit the road in search of the missing volumes of their favorite manga.

Neesha Sparks is a disabled, vocal community activist with a passion for costume design. Gabby Graciana is an optimistic surfer - and, like Neesha, a new kid at school. When the two girls discover that they like the same manga series, Navigator Nozomi, they become more than just fellow new kids. But it was more than just having read the same book series--neither of them had finished it! Soon, they become new friends on a mission - to track down the remaining Navigator Nozomi books. This slice-of-life romance follows the two girls as they adventure across North Carolina to find each book, with their story intercut with the tales of Navigator Nozomi. Neesha and Gabby find more than just the books though-they find acceptance, friendship, understanding, and love."

[roesolo]

YA LGBTQ+ romance: Navigating with You

Navigating with You, by Jeremy Whitley/Illustrated by Cassio Ribeiro, (Aug 2024, Mad Cave Studios), $14.99, ISBN: 9781952303609 Ages 12+ Neesha Sparks is a queer, black, disabled community activist who loves costume design and manga. She’s moved from Queens, NY to North Carolina, and is not having a great first day of school. Gabby Graciana is a surfer girl from Florida, also new to North…

[vulpixbookpix]

Navigating With You by Jeremy Whitley

4.5 out of 5 stars

Thank you Netgalley for providing digital advanced copy in exchange for honest review.

Neesha and Gabby are the new kids at school. Despite Neesha's attempts to start off as a "loner," Gabby manages to talk her into eating lunch together and being lab partners. They eventually start talking and realize that they read the same manga when they were younger. The two decide to find the volumes to read together, which prove to be a bit difficult as they're out of print and hard to find.

Their friendship blossoms as they spend the school year searching for the manga volume by volume. While they read the adventures of Navigator Nozomi, a romance starts to bloom between the two of them.

I enjoyed the scenes of the manga incorporated into the story. It helped to see how Gabby and Neesha could've interpreted parts of it differently while they were reading. Neesha is a young girl who feels like she has to fight all the wrongs in the world, and possibly the world itself if it tries to say that she can't do something due to her disability. Gabby, on the other hand, seems to be able to go with the flow and brush off a lot--until she doesn't.

The graphic novel itself deals with characters struggling with PTSD, the world not being accessible to all, and, overall, family and friends who accept you and are supportive. This was a great read.

[bookshelvesandtealeaves]

[instagram]

Huge thank you to Mad Cave Studios and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was the CUTEST DANG THING. Oh my gosh, my heart. I loved everything about it.

I loved the way this book tackled so many heavy topics in such a heartfelt, earnest way. Neesha’s disability, both characters races and sexuality, biphobia, Gabby’s PTSD, all of it felt so thoughtful and planned out. Nothing felt tacked on for the sake of it or under-developed. This book made me so emotional.

I loved the story within a story and the way it really brought these two together. Their quest to find each volume was so much fun and getting the last volume genuinely made me tear up!

The romance is so soft and sweet and full of understanding. Neesha and Gabby have such great, open communication. They just really seem to get each other and are comfortable asking for what they need or offering something the other might need and it just made my heart feel so full.

Honestly, I can’t recommend this one enough.

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 4.5/5

Book Blurb: A charming POC-led WLW romance where two new friends hit the road in search of the missing volumes of their favorite manga.

Neesha Sparks is a disabled, vocal community activist with a passion for costume design. Gabby Graciana is an optimistic surfer - and, like Neesha, a new kid at school. When the two girls discover that they like the same manga series, Navigator Nozomi, they become more than just fellow new kids. But it was more than just having read the same book series--neither of them had finished it! Soon, they become new friends on a mission - to track down the remaining Navigator Nozomi books. This slice-of-life romance follows the two girls as they adventure across North Carolina to find each book, with their story intercut with the tales of Navigator Nozomi. Neesha and Gabby find more than just the books though—they find acceptance, friendship, understanding, and love.

Review:

A charming and sweet story about two girls who find friendship and romance when they try and find the missing volumes of their favorite manga. Neesha Sparks is a disabled community activist with a passion for costume design. Gabby Graciana is a optimistic surfer, and both girls are new kids at school. When they both discover that they like the same manga series, Navigator Nozomi, they become friends. Neither of them has actually finished reading the series and decide to track down the remaining books together... and along the way find romance and friendship in each other. This was a really sweet read and the story was touching, I love the emphasis on friendship and the slice of life aspect of the story was great. I would absolutely recommend this book!

*Thanks Netgalley and Mad Cave Studios | Maverick for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

[graphicpolicy]

Preview: Navigating With You

Navigating With You preview. A charming POC-led WLW romance where two new friends hit the road in search of the missing volumes of their favorite manga #comics #comicbooks #graphicnovel

[quirkycatsfatstacks]

Review: Navigating With You

Author: Jeremy WhitleyArtist: Casio RibieroPublisher: MaverickReleased: August 13, 2024Received: NetGalleyFind it on Goodreads | More Graphic Novels Summary: Neesha Sparks and Gabby Graciana are two very different young women. While they met by chance, if it wasn’t for one common passion, they may never have become so close. That passion? The love of a comic series (Navigator…

[jeremywhitley]

From the publisher that brought you Transphoria, Bi Visibility, and Hairology comes Aces & Aros: An Asexual and Aromantic Comic Book Anthology!

Kat Calamia & Phil Falco (Lifeline Comics) are joined on the Editorial Team by prolific demisexual creator, Jeremy Whitley, who will tell you below why this anthology and Aspec Representation is so important:

"As I discussed in my story in this anthology, a few years ago I had the amazing experience of making a comic about being Ace with a full team of Aspec creators. I can't express how fulfilling that experience was. It was like I'd had the same song in my head for years and I'd been trying to hum it to people, but nobody had ever heard it. Then suddenly I was in a room where four other people not only knew it, but knew parts of it that I couldn't remember. They remembered it. Maybe they even knew the song's name. It was incredible and I wanted more Ace people to have that feeling. When Kat and Phil gave me the opportunity to work on this, I thought how incredible it would be to have a team full of people who knew different parts of this song. If there were enough of it, maybe we could actually get other people to understand it. We could actually help the people out there who had a few notes stuck in their head recognize the song. Now it's your turn. You get to help us sing this song and share it with more people. I can't wait for you to hear it. It might be more familiar than you realize."

Aces & Aros features the work of Jeremy Whitley (Unstoppable Wasp, My Little Pony), Kelly Fitzpatrick (Archie), Jenn K. Tidwell (Red Vs. Blue, RWBY), Derek V. Song & Alex Brennan-Dent (WEBTOON's Fantasy High), Bailie Rosenlund (Avengers Academy), Mauricio Mora (HAUNTING, Damsel from D.I.S.T.R.E.S.S.), Emily C. Martin (Princeless), C.K. Carpenter (Scott Snyder Presents Tales from the Cloakroom), Rani Sisavath (WEBTOON's Kai), Yonson Carbonell (Strange Ranger), Michela Cacciatore (Soleil, IDW, Disney’s Lorcana), and many more talented creators!

Before we get into all of the beautiful stories in this anthology, let us take a minute to let you know about a pair of FREE Ace and Aro Enamel Pins!

It's become a tradition on our campaigns to offer FREE BONUS ITEMS to any backers who support our campaigns for certain pledge amounts. And this time, we're offering two awesome Ace/Aro Enaeml Pins!

$40-59 Pledge: Choose "Ace of Spades" or "Aro Quiver" Enamel Pin

You'll select which of these Pins ("Ace of Spades" or "Aro Quiver") you'd like to receive in your Reward Survey after the campaign ends.

We recommend our "Aro/Ace Faerie" Hardcover or our Ace and Aro Bundle reward tiers to automatically qualify for your choice of either pin!

$60+ Pledge: Choose "Ace of Spades" or "Aro Quiver" Enamel Pin

Both Pins are designed by Valeria Peri (Slice of Life). We recommend the Kickstarter-Exclusive "Card Sharks" Hardcover reward tier or higher to automatically qualify both both free pins!

[schistcity]

ohhh… you guys are like… STUPID stupid

[ddrunkdazed]

By the time Sylus gets home, you’ve been asleep for enough time to feel well rested.

He goes on about his usual routine: disarming himself, checking that everything is running smoothly, having a steaming shower. If he notices that you’ve been staring at him the whole time he’s been coming and going in and out the room, he doesn’t say anything.

Maybe he’s not even aware that you’re awake. After all, Sylus doesn’t like disturbing you, especially not when you’re sleeping. Or maybe he just likes to feel your eyes on him — he’s mentioned it before. And so, you scan his every move, the way his muscles ripple under the satin robe he likes to wear after showering, and how he flexes as he throws on his pajamas.

You stare at him for so long that you’ve started to drift off again. Perhaps you weren’t entirely awake and your longing for Sylus’ presence made you conjure him up, almost like a genie had granted you a wish; and your wish would always, always be him.

You feel his lips press to your forehead, his slender fingers softly caressing your cheek before he sits on the bed, the expensive mattress barely dipping under his weight, “Get some rest, sweetie.”

Sylus lies down next to you and now it’s your turn to feel his eyes on you, while he traces your features softly with the tip of his finger, as if he intends to commit you to memory in that precise moment.

For a brief second, you’re tempted to start one of your bantering moments, those when you both pretend you’re not equally crazy about the other even though you spend the entire day longing for him. Even in your busiest moments, your brain still supplies you with brief moments of intense yearning, like your souls are trying to constantly reach for each other.

You both end up falling asleep, but before the sun rises, you wake up again. This time, Sylus’ back is facing you. So strong, yet so soft. Your dragon, in all his glory. So vulnerable, with all his scars, lying there next to you.

Instinctively, you raise your hand, the unbearable need to touch him taking over you. And yet, you stop yourself, fingers tingling as your hand hangs mid-air. Sylus barely shuffles and you lower your hand softly, your eyes burning holes on his pale skin, a confession in the tip of your tongue.

Still, you hold back. You can just stare at his back the whole day. At least until you’re courageous enough to mutter the three words that have been stuck in your throat for so long.

[zooophagous]

I wish people understood more that animals go through puberty just like people do, and that "teen" animals will have new and often unpleasant behaviors as they grow and try and figure out their place in the world.

Many of the animals I see being rehomed are right at the one to two year old mark, when maturity is still an ongoing process and their behaviors get more intense. Be patient with them! They DO grow out of it!

Aster was a holy terror until he was almost 3 and now he's the best cat I've ever owned. If you can't deal with these changes, adopt a mature animal instead of getting a puppy or kitten, because it's more likely than not they will have a turbulent teen phase.