msjamgochian'sinfinitebooklist

14-year-old June Elbus has only had one love in her life: her city-dwelling, sweet, super-smart rather famous artist Uncle Finn. When he dies from complications of HIV, June is left behind clutching the string of a deflated balloon full of unspoken love and admiration, and the only person who might feel her pain, Uncle Finn's partner Toby, is strictly off-limits (her mother blames him for Finn's death). Lucky for June, Toby takes the initiative and sends her an invitation tucked into the special teapot Finn used during June's visits. An at once tense and close friendship develops between the two heartsick survivors, allowing both of them to hold on yet let go of Finn. Although this is at root a coming-of-age story, it is also about AIDS in the early days, regret, art, and family secrets. Highly recommended. Click here for the author's website and here for a full review. Grade 8+

If you know me, you know I have been addicted to comics, graphic novels, visual stories, whatever you want to call them, since I was a kid. Most of the time I'm aware of what is wonderful out there in graphic land, but occasionally a surprise gem falls into my lap when I visit Terminal Entertainment, our local comic shop. Empire State was just such a find, and honestly, I don't know how I missed Jason Shiga all this time (he won an Eisner Award in 2003 for Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition). Jimmy is a nerd: he works at the library and his mom still gives him an allowance. His best friend Sara can't wait to get out of Oakland - she's moving to NYC and interning at a publishing house. After she leaves, Jimmy realizes he wants her for more than a friend, and sends her a letter asking her to meet him at the top of the Empire State building (a la Sleepless in Seattle and An Affair to Remember). Of course, Sara isn't there at the appointed time (she claims she hasn...