Hiromi Goto effortlessly blends wry, observational slice-of-life literary fiction with poetic magical realism in the tender and surprising graphic novel Shadow Life, with haunting art from debut artist Ann Xu.~ Macmillan
This wry genre-bending graphic novel from Goto…delves into aging, independence, lost love, and mortality with a whimsy that doesn’t undercut its literary heft.
The loose black-and-white line art by Xu, including interspersed wordless panels, perfectly captures the progression of Kumiko’s emotions from serenity to revelation to distress to determined defiance, as well as the narrative’s fantastical and surreal turns. Quiet sensitivity and humor shine throughout, lighting the bright triumph in one woman’s twilight.
~ Publishers Weekly starred review
...Goto’s latest is an empowering, emotional tribute to defiant, independent, kick-ass old women living their best lives.
~ Booklist starred review
Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. Kumiko is a seventy-six-year-old bisexual widow and up for anything—even a smack-down with Death.
Subtle, beautiful representations of age/ing, race, queer identities, and body image, Shadow Life is slated for release March 30, 2021. ~ Comic Crusaders
Recognition and Awards
- Winner of the 2022 Asian/Pacific American Literature Award for Adult Fiction
- Nominee for the 2022 GLAAD Media Awards- Graphic Novel category (celebrations in LA in April and New York in May)
- Nominee for LA Times Book Prize - Graphic Novel category (winner announced April 22, 2022)
- NYPL Best Books of 2021 Comics category