Life On Earth Trilogy
Published by Graphic Universe, an imprint of Lerner BooksIn the Life on Earth trilogy, Eisner-nominated cartoonist MariNaomi looks at life through the eyes of several suburban teenagers: early romance, fraying friendships, and the traces of a mysterious–maybe otherworldly–disappearance. Different chapters focus on different characters, each with a unique visual approach.
Losing the Girl
Claudia Jones is missing. Her classmates are thinking the worst…or at least the weirdest. It couldn’t be an alien abduction, right?
None of Claudia’s classmates at Blithedale High know why she vanished–and they’re dealing with their own issues. Emily’s trying to handle a life-changing surprise. Paula’s hoping to step out of Emily’s shadow. Nigel just wants to meet a girl who will laugh at his jokes. And Brett hardly lets himself get close to anybody.
Included in the Texas Library Association’s 2019 Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List
Library bound ISBN-13: 978-1-5124-4910-5
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Gravity’s Pull
When Claudia Jones returns to her high school after a mysterious disappearance, she exerts a strange effect on the classmates around her. Meanwhile, her fellow students also struggle with the challenges of regular young-adult life. How should they navigate problems with identity, illness, and consent? Bringing the full possibilities of the graphic novel medium to the page, the author-artist writes and draws every chapter from a different character’s point of view in a unique art style.
Named a “Noteworthy Graphic Novel Sequel: Spring 2019” by Publisher’s Weekly
ISBN: 154154269X
ISBN 13: 9781541542693
Named a “Noteworthy Graphic Novel Sequel: Spring 2019” by Publisher’s Weekly
Distant Stars
In the final volume of the Life on Earth trilogy, celebrated cartoonist MariNaomi concludes her tale of growing up, falling in and out of love, and possible alien interventions. Shy, self-deprecating Paula Navarro is coming into her own—and it’s making her new girlfriend, Johanna, a little nervous. Paula’s former friend Emily Baker is learning to look inward. Brett Hathaway, Emily and Paula’s mutual ex-hook-up, is torn about reconnecting with his estranged dad. And Nigel Jones is smitten with his tutor, Claudia—whose disappearance and reappearance remains a mystery to everyone around her. As Claudia and her guardians put the final plan in motion, they’ll reveal the truth that links everyone’s fate.
ISBN-10 : 1541587006
ISBN-13 : 978-1541587007
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Sample Pages from Book 1
From the perspective of Nigel Jones:
From the perspective of Emily Hiroko Baker:
From the perspective of Brett Hathaway:
From the perspective of Paula Navarro:
Praise for Losing the Girl
“Losing the Girl is a success from top to bottom. … There are many familiar elements of teen romance here, to be sure, but MariNaomi approaches with a level of sophistication and humanity that’s rare for any story of this kind.” ~ The Comics Journal
“…gripping, affecting graphic novel. … A moody, compassionate reflection of adolescence in turmoil.” ~ Kirkus Reviews
“(MariNaomi’s) creative artistic effects amplify the tension and awkward emotions, transforming a familiar story of young love into something memorable and new.” ~ Publisher’s Weekly
“MariNaomi skillfully weaves webs of intrigue, and fans of suspenseful graphic novels will be interested in how events play out.” ~ School Library Journal
“What makes the book stand out are the sensibilities MariNaomi brings into the work; giving it a subtle, grounded tone while still fully delving into the complex ways friendship and romance can intertwine amidst a small group of people. The book is smart and nuanced in a way that not only avoids the trap of patronizing its intended audience, but also provides older readers a way to reflect on the interconnectedness of their own lives.” ~ Robin Enrico, Broken Frontier
“The first title in MariNaomi’s Life on Earth graphic novel trilogy pushes past the expected elements of a setup and well into what promises to be an involving
drama… Readers will be waiting.” ~ The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
(R = recommended title)
“Losing the Girl is a sparkling and complex novel with its feet on the ground and its eyes on the stars. MariNaomi shows great empathy for her characters, even as she refuses to sugarcoat the complexity of being a teen. Highly recommended!” ~ Hope Larson, cartoonist, author of Compass South and Knife’s Edge
“MariNaomi authentically captures the angst, vulnerability, and longing of the teenage soul through not just one but four unique and distinct voices.” ~ Jen Wang, cartoonist, The Prince and the Dressmaker
Praise for Gravity’s Pull
“Immediately after I finished Losing the Girl, the first book of the Life on Earth trilogy, I deemed the follow-up to be one of my most anticipated sequels in a long time. It does not disappoint. Missing prodigy Claudia Jones may be back, but she’s brought with her more questions than answers and a seemingly magnetic pull on some of the players. The rest are still coping with the fallout from their actions in the first book and circumstances beyond
their control. There’s still definitely something strange looming in the background, confirmed beyond a doubt when Claudia’s perspective is added to the mix. There’s nothing else quite like this series out there, and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here.” ~ Left Bank Books, St. Louis, MO