Hello Sunshine (graphic novel)
| Hello Sunshine | |
|---|---|
| Date | September 23, 2025 |
| Page count | 384 pages |
| Publisher | Little, Brown Ink |
| Creative team | |
| Writer | Keezy Young |
| Artist | Keezy Young |
| ISBN | 9780316509572 |
Hello Sunshine is a 2025 graphic novel by Keezy Young. It follows four teens searching for their missing friend and facing supernatural threats. It was nominated for both an Eisner Award and a Harvey Award.
Plot
After coming back from summer Bible camp, Noah discovers that his boyfriend Alex has disappeared. Along with Alex's twin brother Jamie and their friends Izzy and Skylar and dog Cass, the group attempt to find Alex, facing supernatural threats and coming to terms with Alex's developing schizoaffective disorder along the way.
Reception
The book was reviewed by the School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, and Comics Beat.[1][2][3][4] Kirkus Reviews noted how the author "carefully avoids using magic as a metaphor for psychosis, nor does psychosis become a source of cheap scares", while School Library Journal concluded it was a "compassionate look at schizoaffective disorder, and how love can help those living with it".
Sean Dillon of The Beat described it as a "comic about taking the seemingly flat archetypes we place onto people and finding the depths therein", and later included it on The Beat's Best Comics of 2025.[4][5]
Andy Oliver of Broken Frontier stated that a book was "intriguing mix of slice-of-life character study and claustrophobic horror story," and "Young’s use of lettering to express ideas of intrusive voices and psychosis is simply some of the finest and most effective I have ever seen in twenty years of reviewing at Broken Frontier."[6]
| Year | Award/Honor | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Eisner Award for Best Publication for Teens | Nominated | [7] |
| Harvey Award for Best Young Adult Book | TBA | [8] | |
| Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table - Outstanding Comics Award for Young Adults | Honor | [9] | |
| 2025 | Broken Frontier Awards - Best Artist | Won | [10] |
| New York Public Library Best Books for Teens | Included | [11] |
See also
- Taproot: A Story About a Gardener and a Ghost - graphic novel also by Young
References
- ↑ Keezy, Young. "Hello Sunshine". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
- ↑ HELLO SUNSHINE | Kirkus Reviews.
- ↑ "Hello Sunshine by Keezy Young". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2026-08-01.
- 1 2 Dillon, Sean (2025-08-07). "Graphic Novel Review: Keezy Young's HELLO SUNSHINE depicts the messy contradictions of life". The Beat. Retrieved 2026-08-01.
- ↑ Staff, Beat (2025-12-11). "Syndicated Comics". The Beat. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
- ↑ Oliver, Andy (2026-01-27). "Hello Sunshine - Keezy Young's Teen Drama Blends Queer Romance, Explorations of Schizoaffective Disorder, and Horror to Outstanding Effect". Broken Frontier. Retrieved 2026-08-02.
- ↑ Alverson, Brigid (2026-05-14). "Comic-Con Announces 2026 Eisner Awards Nominees". ICv2. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
- ↑ "Harvey Awards Unveil 2026 Nominees". www.harveyawards.com. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
- ↑ "2025 Outstanding Comics Award for Young Adults | Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table". www.ala.org. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
- ↑ Oliver, Andy (2026-01-19). "Broken Frontier Awards 2025: Announcing the Winners – Comics Centring on Gaza Win Nearly a Third of the Categories and London's Cartoon Museum and Conundrum Press Enter Our Hall of Fame". Broken Frontier. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
- ↑ "Best Books for Teens 2025". New York Public Library. Retrieved 2026-08-04.