For the teen grappling with the crushing weight of first heartbreak and the challenge of finding purpose after loss, this graphic novel explores navigating intense emotions.
A parent might reach for this book when their teen is navigating the all-consuming pain of a first heartbreak or a significant loss. This graphic novel powerfully visualizes the depression and emptiness that can follow when a formative relationship ends. It follows teenager Bella Swan as she spirals into a deep sadness after her boyfriend, Edward, abruptly leaves. The story explores themes of grief, loneliness, and the healing power of friendship as Bella slowly reconnects with the world through her friend Jacob. For teens who are struggling to articulate their feelings, this visual adaptation can normalize their emotional experience and provide a starting point for conversation about mental health and recovery.
Intense romantic angst, themes of codependency, and a focus on all-consuming love.
Sensitive Topics
The book's central theme is a direct, secular exploration of severe depression, self-harm ideation (via recklessness, not cutting), and emotional codependency. Bella's pain is depicted as a debilitating mental health crisis. The resolution in this volume is ambiguous, as it is only part one of the story. Bella has found a new source of comfort in Jacob, but her underlying grief and dangerous behavior patterns remain unresolved, setting up the conflict for the next volume.
Ideal Reader
A teen, 14-17, experiencing the overwhelming emotions of a first major breakup or the loss of a pivotal friendship. This reader feels isolated, misunderstood, and may believe their intense sadness is abnormal. The book serves as a validation for those huge, world-ending feelings, showing them they are not alone in their experience.
Parent Prep
Parents should preview the early chapters that visually depict Bella's depression, which includes blank pages representing the passage of time. They should also be aware of the scenes where Bella recklessly seeks out danger (riding a motorcycle with a stranger, preparing to cliff dive) specifically to hallucinate her ex-boyfriend. This is a critical point for discussion about healthy versus unhealthy coping mechanisms. The parent notices their teen is listless, withdrawn, constantly sad, and has lost interest in activities after a breakup. The teen might say things like "I'll never get over this" or "What's the point of anything?" The parent is worried about the depth of their child's despair and is looking for a way to connect.
Age Experience
A younger teen (13-14) will likely be more invested in the love triangle and the introduction of the werewolf mythology. They'll experience it as a high-stakes fantasy romance. An older teen (15-18) is more equipped to analyze the complex depiction of mental health, recognizing Bella's symptoms as clinical depression and questioning the codependency in her relationships. They may take away a more nuanced understanding of emotional resilience and the difficult path of healing.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many stories that treat breakups as a temporary setback, this graphic novel dedicates its entire focus to the anatomy of grief. Its unique strength is using the visual medium: stark color changes, panel layouts, and expressive character art make Bella's internal, subjective experience of depression tangible and immediate for the reader in a way that prose alone cannot.
Read plot summary
This graphic novel adapts the first part of Stephenie Meyer's "New Moon". After her vampire boyfriend Edward Cullen leaves to protect her, Bella Swan falls into a profound and lasting depression. Months pass in a haze of grief until she reconnects with her childhood friend, Jacob Black. Their friendship brings light back into her life, but Bella discovers that Jacob and his friends are hiding a supernatural secret of their own. Meanwhile, Bella realizes that putting herself in danger allows her to hear Edward's voice, leading her down a reckless path.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
The first few pages of Chapter 4 are blank except for the names of the months. What do you think the artist, Young Kim, was trying to show about Bella's feelings during that time?
2
Bella intentionally puts herself in danger to hear Edward's voice. Why do you think she does this? Do you see it as a way of coping, or as self-destructive behavior? What's the difference?
3
When Jacob gets angry, he transforms into a wolf. Do you think this is a good metaphor for how intense emotions can sometimes feel uncontrollable? How does Bella react to Jacob's secret versus Edward's?
4
Charlie, Bella's dad, is worried but doesn't know how to help her. If you were his friend, what advice would you give him for supporting Bella through her depression?
