July’s New Graphic Novels Are Scorchingly Good

Summer is not my favorite season by a long shot, but even I must admit that everything, the bright blue skies, the flourishing trees, the profusion of flowers, looks great at this time of year. And these freshly published graphic novels aren’t too shabby either.

This month, you’ll find a lot of books about dancing for some reason, I didn’t plan it that way, but here we are. There are also stories of young aliens figuring out who they are and even some romance stories about finding love in the last place you expect. At least, I hope you will find them: pub dates can change at the last minute, so double-check before hitting that order button!

Corpse de Ballet by Megan Kearney (Jul 7)

More than anything, Rosamund wants to become a great dancer and prove she deserves her place at her exclusive boarding school. But between the pressure to do well, a student’s unexplained disappearance, and strange secret meetings, the price of success might be higher than she expects.

Kloud 9: The Star Soldier by AJ O. Mason and Dominic Bustamante (Jul 7)

Kal has never really belonged anywhere on Earth, so when he finds out the cute boy he’s been seeing is really an alien on the run, he decides to follow him out into the cosmos, and into a thrilling adventure that will help Kal understand the truth about his past and the importance of family.

Orion by Ngozi Ukazu (Jul 7)

If you enjoyed last year’s Barda, Orion is sure to be right up your alley! Orion has always felt out of place on paradisaical New Genesis. Turns out there’s a reason for that: he was adopted from the hellish planet Apokalips. Confused and upset, Orion will have to decide if his destiny will be dictated by the family that birthed him or the one that raised him.

Memories of Giselle by Katia Vecchio (Jul 14)

As she moves through adolescence, Giselle feels less and less like herself. Perhaps this is unsurprising, given her difficult family situation, but there’s something else going on, something that Giselle can’t really remember. She will have to figure out what that something is if she hopes to truly move forward.

Sora & Haena! Volume One by Jackbull (Jul 14)

Sora and Haena are polar opposites, but each has something the other needs: Sora is smart enough to tutor Haena so she gets into college, and Haena is outgoing enough to help Sora attract a boyfriend. The more time they spend together, however, the more they start to focus on other things, namely, each other.

To Dance the Moon and Stars by Tasia M S and Barbara Perez Marquez (Jul 14)

Myra’s people are depending on her to protect them by becoming their new high priestess to the god Alrun. But Alrun has forbidden dancing, the thing Myra loves most in the world aside from her best friend, the crown prince. How much will she have to sacrifice to do the right thing?

Dare You to Dance by Rebecca Mock (Jul 28)

Gracie works best when she has someone else to compete against. At the two-week ballet workshop she’s attending in New York, that someone is Sariah, who seems to have no interest in anything except dance. Can Gracie help her find the fun in ballet, and in friendship?

How Lucky Am I by Christian Watson (Jul 28)

Join Mr. Skelly, a thoughtful skeleton on a journey of self-discovery, as he shares words of encouragement and wisdom. In such a chaotic world, a calming and beautiful book like this one is more necessary than ever.

The New Release Index has a more complete list of this month’s new books!