''Kiss Number 8'' is a 2019 graphic novel written by Colleen A. F. Venable, illustrated by Ellen T. Crenshaw, and published by

First Second Books First Second Books is an American publisher of graphic novels. An imprint of Roaring Brook Press, part of Holtzbrinck Publishers, First Second publishes fiction, biographies, personal memoirs, history, visual essays, and comics journalism. It als ...

. In 2019, the novel was longlisted for the

National Book Award for Young People's Literature The National Book Award for Young People's Literature is one of five annual National Book Awards, which are given by the National Book Foundation (NBF) to recognize outstanding literary work by US citizens. They are awards "by writers to writers".< ...

. The following year, it was a finalist for an

Eisner Award The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, are prizes given for creative achievement in American comic books, sometimes referred to as the comics industry's equivalent of the Academy Awards. They are named in ...

and Prism Award. The novel follows the protagonist's experiences through a series of horrible kisses and humorously explores her sexuality, family, and faith.

Reception

Reviews

''Kiss Number 8'' received starred reviews from ''

Kirkus Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' (or ''Kirkus Media'') is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus (1893–1980). The magazine is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fic ...

'' and '' Publishers Weekly'', who respectively called the novel a "rare blend of tender and revolutionary" and a "queer coming-of-age story that earns its powerful emotional impact." '' The New York Times'''s Jen Doll wrote, "Venable’s frequently heartbreaking recollection of the abuse and torment that people went through for being 'different' — and the fact that it still happens all too frequently — is a powerful reminder of how far we still have to go." '' School Library Journal'' called the book "though-provoking" and a "solid addition to YA shelves."

Awards and honors

In 2019, the

New York Public Library The New York Public Library (NYPL) is a public library system in New York City. With nearly 53 million items and 92 locations, the New York Public Library is the second largest public library in the United States (behind the Library of Congress ...

included ''Kiss Number 8'' on its list of the best books for teens published that year. The following year, the book was included on the Texas Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List and the TAYSHAS Reading List.

Controversy

In the summer of 2021, at a Leander Independent School District board meeting, a parent complained about ''

In the Dream House ''In the Dream House'' is a memoir by Carmen Maria Machado. It was published on November 5, 2019, by Graywolf Press. The book was awarded the 2021 Folio Prize and the 2020 Lambda Literary Award for LGBTQ Nonfiction. It was also longlisted for th ...

'', a memoir by

Carmen Maria Machado ''Carmen'' () is an opera in four acts by the French composer Georges Bizet. The libretto was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the Carmen (novella), novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée. The opera was first perfo ...

, which led to a review of all the books on the district's Language Arts Reading List. Eight books, including ''Kiss Number 8'', were ultimately removed. In August 2022, 62% of

Jamestown Charter Township Jamestown Charter Township is a charter township of Ottawa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of 2021, the township had an estimated population of 9,923 people. Communities * Forest Grove – near Jamestown * Gitchel – the area settled ...

residents voted to defund their public library system after librarians refused to remove three books from the library's shelves: '' Gender Queer'' by

Maia Kobabe Maia Kobabe (, born 1989) is an American cartoonist and author. Life and career Kobabe graduated with an MFA in Comics from California College of the Arts. Kobabe's work features themes of "identity, sexuality, anti-fascism, fairy tales and home ...

, ''Kiss Number 8'', and ''

Spinning Spin or spinning most often refers to: * Spinning (textiles), the creation of yarn or thread by twisting fibers together, traditionally by hand spinning * Spin, the rotation of an object around a central axis * Spin (propaganda), an intentionally b ...

'' by Tillie Walden. Community activists claimed that the presence of these books in the library's young adult and adult sections meant the library was trying to "groom" young children. According to Library Board President Larry Walton, without fund renewal, "the library will run out of money in 2023, jeopardizing its existence." Despite not wanting to close the library, Walton has stated that the board refuses to ban the books.

References

{{Reflist 2019 graphic novels 2019 children's books Censored books Censorship of LGBT issues First Second Books books