Belle of the Ball
| Belle of the Ball | |
|---|---|
| Date | March 21, 2023 |
| Page count | 320 pages |
| Publisher | First Second |
| Creative team | |
| Writer | Mari Costa |
| Artist | Mari Costa |
Belle of the Ball is a 2023 LGBTQ romance graphic novel by Mari Costa.
Plot
Belle Hawkins, a teenage girl who acts as her high school's mascot, develops a crush on cheerleader Gina. Gina, already in a relationship with star athlete Chloe, gets Belle to serve as Chloe's English tutor. As the school year progresses, Belle's romantic feelings shift.[1][2][3]
Reception
Reception to the book was largely positive. Kirkus Reviews described the book's main trio as "lovingly imperfect and relatable" and concluded that it was a "low-stakes tale [that] feels like a warm, charming hug".[1] The Hub, a blog for the Young Adult Library Services Association, praised the distinct designs for the main cast as well as pink-toned color scheme, and compared the book to Alice Oseman's Heartstopper or Lee Knox Ostertag's The Girl from the Sea.[2] It was also reviewed by the School Library Journal.[4]
The book was included in the 2024 Top Ten for the American Library Association's Great Graphic Novels for Teens[5], and was a finalist for the 2024 Lambda Literary Award for LGBTQ+ Comics.[6]
References
- 1 2 BELLE OF THE BALL | Kirkus Reviews.
- 1 2 Milburn, Rachel (2023-04-13). "Great Graphic Novels (#GGN2024) Featured Review: Belle of the Ball by Mari Costa". The Hub. Retrieved 2026-08-02.
- ↑ Reid, Calvin. "Panel Mania: Belle of the Ball by Mari Costa". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ Mari, Costa. "Belle of the Ball". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2026-08-02.
- ↑ "2024 Great Graphic Novels for Teens Top Ten | Young Adult Library Services Association". www.ala.org. Retrieved 2026-08-02.
- ↑ "Lambda Literary Award Finalists 2024: Announcing the 36th Annual Lammys Shortlist | Them". www.them.us. Retrieved 2026-08-02.