Most Popular Books by Cecil Castellucci

A startling, wonderful novel about the true meaning of being an alien in an equally alien world."We are specks. Pieces of dust in this universe. Big nothings.""I know what I am."Mal lives on the fringes of high school. Angry. Misunderstood. Yet loving the world -- or, at least, an idea of the world. Then he meets Hooper. Who says he''s from another planet. And may be going home very soon.

Set in 1932, this is the story of two misfits with no place to call home, who build a relationship during a train hopping journey from the cold heartbreak of their eastern homes toward the sunny promise of California Pearl Plankette ran away from her abusive father, but has nowhere to go until she stumbles upon a disguise that gives her the key to a new identity. Reborn as a boy named Soupy, she hitches her star to Remy "Ramshackle" Renault, a hobo who takes her under his wing. Ramshackle''s kindness and protection go a long way to help Soupy heal from her difficult past. But Ramshackle has his own demons to wrestle with, and he''ll need Soupy just as much as she needs him. Now includes an Educator''s guide written by Meryl Jaffe, PhD.

In a not-so-distant future, a freak particle storm has landed botanist Dr. Maeve Lindholm on an idyllic yet strange parallel Earth, with no way back home. Here, two moons rule society, and nature outshines science. But just like her own climate ravaged planet, this verdant Earth has a sinister side. Children are rare. Humans must serve a purpose or pay an unthinkable price. Astronomer Zuzi battles this underlying darkness every day—just like Maeve did at home. Both women are fighters, and both face a choice: forge new paths, or save the worlds they''ve always known? Maeve will have to decide, and fast—because she''s fighting for more than just herself. “I happily burrowed into these worlds and their questions and how they mirror so many of our questions and worries these days, all of it brought to life so vividly and alluringly in story and image. A great combination of big issues and appealing tiny zesty detail."—Aimee Bender (The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, The Girl in the Flammable Skirt) “Shifting Earth is a necessary reminder that it''s not our future under discussion, but our futures. A very engaging and intelligent read.”—Mark Russell (Second Coming, Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles) “Escaping a dying planet could be the end of the story. But in this beautiful tale of hope and science powering through unimaginable loss, it''s only the beginning."—Jody Houser (Stranger Things, Doctor Who) "Shifting Earth is a gorgeous and moving adventure through the end of the world—through the end of worlds—powered by the hope that every endangered planet might still be saved. What will it take? Belief and science, love and beauty, luck and perseverance—all of which Shifting Earth has in unlimited supply."—Matt Bell (Appleseed, How They Were Found) “Shifting Earth takes seriously the call for science fiction to imagine different and better futures, while having the intellectual honesty to consider them critically. It asks not how we reach a future without sacrifice, but what sacrifices we are willing to make.”—Madeline Ashby (VN, iD, Company Town) "Shifting Earth made me think about sustainability and the future in a new way. You might just find yourself returning from this gorgeous journey with the seeds of new ideas and a new commitment to building a better world."—Charlie Jane Anders (All the Birds in the Sky, The City in the Middle of the Night)

Brother Blue. His name, even the color, filled me with a furious fire of pure hatred. Years ago, Tula Bane was beaten and left for dead on a remote space station far from Earth, her home planet. She started with nothing and had no one, but over time, she found a home, a family, and even love. When it''s discovered that the abandoned planet beneath the station is abundant with a rare and valuable resource, aliens from across the galaxy race over to strike it rich. With them comes trouble, like the man who nearly killed Tula years ago—the man she has dreamed of destroying ever since. In this sequel to Tin Star, Cecil Castellucci takes readers on an extraordinary adventure through space in a thrilling and thoughtful exploration of what it means to love, to hate, and to be human.

Every summer the trucks roll in, bringing the carnival and its infinite possibilities to town. This year Tessa and her younger sister Lulu are un-chaperoned and want to be first in line to experience the rides, the food . . . and the boys. Except this summer, jealousy will invade their relationship for the first time, setting in motion a course of events that can only end in tragedy, putting everyone''s love and friendship to the test. Alternating chapters of prose and comics are interwoven in this extraordinary novel that will break your heart and crack it wide open at the same time.

"Albert Camus meets Mariah Fredericks in this smart, edgy take on one adolescent’s search for identity and meaning in life." — Kirkus Reviews On the outside, Libby Brin is the most popular girl in school. But on the inside, Libby is dying -- of boredom. In a moment of desperation, Libby signs up for an internship at the Los Angeles Zoo, much to the dismay of her friends, who’d prefer she spend her time with them, shopping, partying, and making fun of everyone else. Oddly, Libby realizes that she actually enjoys her new job and that she may even like the two "nerds" she works with. Will the Queen of Cool be forced to give up her crown?

In this sequel to "The Plain Janes," the Janes are back. But when the Janes become entangled in matters of the heart, they discover that in art and in love, the rules don''t always apply. Young adult.

Critcal Role’s The Mighty Nein Origins is collected for the first time! This first of two volumes collects the whimsical, tragic, and sometimes haunting backstories of Jester Lavorre, Caleb Widogast, Yasha Nydoorin, and Nott the Brave. Delve deep into their pasts and witness what led them to the Mighty Nein. This hardcover collection features stories and art by fan-favorite Critter creators, in direct consultation with the cast of Critical Role! It’s a must for any fan’s library. Collects: Critical Role: Mighty Nein Origins: Jester Lavorre Critical Role: Mighty Nein Origins: Caleb Widogast Critical Role: Mighty Nein Origins: Yasha Nydoorin Critical Role: Mighty Nein Origins: Nott the Brave

A Time Magazine 100 Best Young Adult Books of All Time Selection "This novel''s funny first-person narrative will grab teens (and not just sci-fi fans) with its romance and the screwball special effects."– Booklist Meet Egg. Her real name is Victoria Jurgen, but she''s renamed herself after the kick-ass heroine of her favorite sci-fi movie, Terminal Earth. Like her namesake, Egg dresses all in white, colors her eyebrows, and shaves her head. She always knows the right answers, she''s always in control, and she''s far too busy — taking photos for the school paper, meeting with the Science Fiction and Fantasy Club, and hanging out at the "creature shop" with her dad, the special-effects makeup wizard — to be bothered with friends, much less members of the opposite sex. As far as Egg is concerned, she''s boy proof, and she likes it that way. But then Egg meets a boy named Max, a boy who''s smart and funny and creative and cool . . . and happens to like Egg. Could this be the end of the world — at least as Egg knows it?

"Castellucci mixes details of the L.A. punk scene with memorable characters and witty dialogue. . . . Consider this pure Nirvana." -- BOOKLIST Exiled from Canada to Los Angeles, Katy can''t believe she is spending the summer with her father--punk name: the Rat--a recovered addict and drummer for the band Suck. Even though Katy feels abandoned by her mom, even though the Rat''s place is a mess and he''s not like anything she''d call a father, Kathy won''t make a fuss. After all, she is a girl who is quiet and polite, a girl who smiles, a girl who is, well, beige. Or is she? From the author of BOY PROOF and THE QUEEN OF COOL comes an edgy L.A. novel full of humor, heart, and music.

Celebrated writer Cecil Castellucci joins artist William Kirkby, with Matthew Mercer and Ashley Johnson of Critical Role, to draw back the curtain on the tumultuous past of the Mighty Nein’s Yasha Nydoorin in this stand-alone graphic novel in the Critical Role series! For Yasha, there has always been a storm on the horizon. Maybe it formed with her adoption by the Dolorov people in the harsh lands of Xhorhas. Or perhaps when she fell for her first love, Zuala. Or still later, when grief and madness drove her from her village and out into—somewhere else. Maybe, on the other hand, Yasha IS the storm.

This sweetly snarky, romantic YA novel follows Edan as she tries to gather the strength to be the hero in her own real life even as she connects with her dream boy at a costume competition. When Edan Kupferman dresses up like her favorite character, Gargantua, she feels tall and powerful. That''s important right now, because her family is a mess, her best friend is gone for the summer, her crush is confusing, and Edan''s feeling small and not sure which end is up. When Edan''s cosplaying, she can be angry, loud, and not the good girl everyone thinks she is. And when she''s at conventions, she feels like she''s found her own Team Tomorrow. But when her personal life starts to spiral out of control, Edan has to figure out whether she needs a sidekick, or if she has the strength to be the hero of her own story.

Meet the Plain Janes--artist activists on a mission to wake up their sleepy suburban town. This cult classic graphic novel is perfect for fans of The LumberJanes and Awkward. When artsy misfit Jane Beckles is forced to leave her beloved city life behind for the boring suburb of Kent Waters, she thinks her life is over. But then she finds where she belongs: at the reject table in the cafeteria, along with fellow misfits Brain Jayne, Theater Jane, and sporty Polly Jane. United by only two things-a shared name and frustration with the adults around them--the girls form a secret club dedicated to fighting suburban apathy with guerrilla works of art scattered around their small town. But for Main Jane, the group is more than simple teenaged rebellion; it''s an act of survival. She''s determined not to let fear rule her life like it does her parents'' and neighbors'' lives. Armed with her sketchbook and a mission of resistance, the PLAIN Janes are out to prove that passion, bravery, and a group of great friends can save anyone from the hell that is high school. With each installment printed in its own distinct color, this volume includes the original two stories--The Plain Janes and Janes in Love--plus a never-before-seen third story, Janes Attack Back. The Janes are back, and better than ever.

Download the first five chapters of TIN STAR by Cecil Castellucci. On their way to start a new life, Tula and her family travel on the Prairie Rose, a colony ship headed to a planet in the outer reaches of the galaxy. All is going well until the ship makes a stop at a remote space station, the Yertina Feray, and the colonist''s leader, Brother Blue, beats Tula within an inch of her life. An alien, Heckleck, saves her and teaches her the ways of life on the space station. When three humans crash land onto the station, Tula''s desire for escape becomes irresistible, and her desire for companionship becomes unavoidable. But just as Tula begins to concoct a plan to get off the space station and kill Brother Blue, everything goes awry, and suddenly romance is the farthest thing from her mind.

In this stand-alone issue, Shade begins to ponder whatÕs next for her on Earth. As the winter dance approaches, she reminisces about high school on Meta, and starts to wonder why sheÕs putting herself through that kind of hell again. Will she find the perfect dress, or will the dance be a perfect disaster? Plus, an all-new episode of ÒLife with Honey.Ó

Partly based on the author''s own experiences at the famous Manhattan high school for the performing arts, this novel explores friendship, freedom, and the art of challenging convention.Set in New York in the 1980s, this story of two ballet dancers (one American, one Russian) recounts the unforgettable night they spend in the city, and celebrates the friendship they form despite their cultural and political differences.

Shade goes to Hollywood! Following her adventures in New Mexico, our girl heads to Tinseltown on her search to find the actress who played Honey in her favorite Earth TV show. What she finds is a woman who is older than the one she saw on the black-and-white broadcast, but also one whose years and experience will teach her more than Shade could ever expect. Now, if Shade can just apply those life lessons before her pursuers from Meta catch up with herÉ

Brand-new from DC''s Young Animal comes another wild and psychedelic ride in Shade, the Changing Woman--the latest chapter in the radical reimagining of one of comics'' craziest characters: Shade, the Changing Man. Shade has shed her alien identity. She''s stepped out of her original Earth body and into another one. Now, free of the burdens of any past life, and finally on her own, she sets out to see more of her new home. But how does she cope when the madness takes all the human emotions she was forced to confront in the Milk Wars and turns them into a bouillabaisse of memory and confusion? And to make it even more challenging, Shade must also face her namesake, the original Changing Man. From writer Cecil Castellucci and artists Marley Zarcone and Jamie Coe, Shade, the Changing Woman collects issues #1-6!

Shade hits the road! After her high school friends made it clear they didn’t want her around, Shade realized she doesn’t want to be there anyway. Map in hand, she decides to explore America. First stop: Gotham City. The city’s population may have seen its fair share of madness, but never like this. The only thing Shade didn’t factor in is that embracing her powers ends up signaling her home planet as to her whereabouts, and Meta police are going to come looking for her stolen coat.

Trying to settle into her new life as an Earth girl, Shade finds the body she has taken over doesnÕt have the same skills as it did when its previous inhabitant was in charge. ItÕs bad enough that her swim team hates her, but now she canÕt perform in the water at all. Can Shade find anyone she can trust to give her guidance before the madness takes over and exposes her as an alien to the entire school?

Part two of ShadeÕs visit to Gotham City, the first stop on her tour of America. What will happen when she uses madness to get reality to line up with her American dreams? And now that her enemies on Meta have tracked Shade and the madness coat to Earth, she no longer has to worry about how sheÕs going to get back to her home planetÑbecause ShadeÕs home planet is coming to her! All this and a new ÒLife With HoneyÓ tale illustrated by guest artist Brittney Williams (Goldie Vance).

Following her encounters in Gotham City, Shade decides to head out west and check out Los Alamos, New Mexico, the one-time location of nuclear test sites, and also the setting of her favorite TV show, ÒLife with Honey.Ó But itÕs been half a century since those bombs went offÑand since ÒHoneyÓ went off the air. So what kind of ghostly memories await Shade in the desert? Plus, a brand new ÒLife with HoneyÓ backup story.

The classic tale reawakens and expands through the first-person perspective of Snow herself in this comic retelling! The tale of Disney Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is told through the perspective of the princess herself! More than a damsel in distress, she possesses a heart and soul that yearns for knowledge, love, and acceptance. Made to work in her own castle by her wicked stepmother, the Queen, Snow''s world changes the day she meets her prince charming and her jealous stepmother tries to have her killed. Snow flees to the forest to hide and finds sanctuary with a family she never could have expected in the boisterous seven dwarfs. Can her heart still flourish with the shadow of the queen''s hate looming over her, and only the lingering hope of seeing her prince again? Written by award-winning author Cecil Castellucci (Soupy Leaves Home, Shade, The Changing Girl), this graphic novel revives the timeless classic of Snow White for audiences young and adult. Glimpse into the mind and heart of Snow White as she experiences love, betrayal, terror, hope, friendship, longing, and sadness, before her happily ever after. Collects Disney Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs #1-#3.

When Shade took over MeganÕs body, Megan had to go somewhereÑand that she did. The displaced Earthling flew across the galaxy and back, and now that sheÕs home, Megan is pissed! ItÕs alien invader versus teenage bully in the climactic conclusion of our first arc!

One thing young Cecil was sure of from the minute she saw Star Wars was that she was going to be some kind of artisté. Probably a filmmaker. Possibly Steven Spielberg. Then in 1980 the movie Fame came out. Cecil wasn’t allowed to see that movie. It was rated R and she was ten. But she did watch the television show and would pretend with her friends that she was going to that school. Of course they were playing. She was not. She was destined to be an art school kid. Chronicling the life of award-winning young adult novelist, and Eisner-nominated comics scribe Cecil Castellucci (Shade the Changing Girl, Star Wars: Moving Target), Girl On Film follows a passionate aspiring artist from the youngest age through adulthood to deeply examine the arduous pursuit of filmmaking, while exploring the act of memory and how it recalls and reshapes what we think we truly know about ourselves.

As Megan, the soul that Shade displaced, gets farther and farther away from Earth, Shade is starting to find things about her new planet and her new body that she really likes. For instance, thereÕs music. And also boys. Not to mention would-be friends and her new parents. This feeling of peace keeps the madness in check-but only temporarily. There is still the matter of that terrible night that put Megan in a coma to begin with.

Stop me if you''ve heard this one— Knock, knock... …Who’s there? Why, it’s none other than the Clown Prince of Crime himself, the Joker. As the Joker War wreaks havoc all over Gotham, the Joker almost has control of Wayne Enterprises, and Batgirl has something he needs…So the Joker makes a special visit to Barbara Gordon’s apartment to get it himself. Then, a mysterious murderer is running around Gotham killing redheaded women and dressing them up as Batgirl. Both Barbara’s father, Jim Gordon, and her estranged brother, James Gordon Jr., think she’s next, and they have to work together to find the killer before Barbara becomes a victim! Barbara has trouble trusting her brother, though, after the history he has with the rest of the Gordon family…But this time, she can’t help but notice there’s something different about him…almost like he’s someone else… Award-winning writer CECIL CASTELLUCCI (Female Furies) and artist CARMINE DI GIANDOMENICO (The Flash) and ROBBI RODRIGUEZ (Spider-Gwen, Goddess Mode) bring the Batgirl epic and heartbreaking Gordon family reunion to a conclusion in Batgirl: The Joker War. Collects Batgirl #45-50.

After her homeworld was destroyed, Shade became a refugee on Meta, where her family was deemed unfit to raise her. Then two decades later, she was taken by Madness to Earth, where she was placed in anotherÕs body and lived out the consequences of a life she never lived. In order to deal with these traumas, Shade buried her heart. Now new and old threats pursue her and her friends, but without a heart, can Shade even pretend to care about these outward horrors-let alone the ones she herself caused?

In an attempt to move on with her new life, Shade decides she must separate her head from her heart-literally. Meanwhile, River gets caught up in an anti-alien league, while a familiar force visits vengeance upon Valley VilleÕs residents.

Which is more powerful? These new human emotions or the madness that brought Shade to Earth? Balancing both is difficult, as the divide between where she is now and where she comes from grows deeper. ItÕs all about duality as the future and the past are racing to catch up with Shade. She sees strange visions of a possible tomorrow while Megan, the girl whose body she stole, is racing across galaxies to take her life back. Plus, an all-new backup feature: ShadeÕs favorite TV show, Life With Honey, comes to comics!

Shade has a new body thatÕs all her own, but does that mean she also requires a new life, one of her making, as well? River, Teacup and the rest of the Valley Ville crew have moved on, and so must she. But creating a life from scratch isnÕt as easy as getting a new body, especially when all you have is the memory of what you had.

Experience the tale of Disney''s The Little Mermaid through the voice of Ariel herself in this comic retelling. The inspiring story of love, hope, and sacrifice is told through the perspective of the mermaid Ariel herself! Ariel is a free spirit. She is curious and adventurous with the desire to learn about everything the world has to offer--especially the world above her ocean home. When she hears a celebration on the surface of the ocean, it is love at first sight when she sees human Prince Eric travelling homeward aboard his ship. When there is an accident and the sailors are forced to abandon their ship, Ariel rescues Eric from drowning. Saved, he awakens to Ariel''s beautiful voice and is immediately in love. But the possibility of romance seems hopeless as visiting the surface of the ocean and even being seen by humans is forbidden by her overprotective father. Ariel makes a risky deal with the sea witch Ursula for a chance at true love--she will become human! Faced with the manipulation of the evil sea witch, and the challenges of being human for the first time, will Ariel realize her love with Eric . . . and be human forever? Written by award-winning author Cecil Castellucci (Disney Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Shade, The Changing Girl, The Plain Janes, Soupy Leaves Home), this graphic novel invites you to be a part of Ariel''s world as she experiences the hardships of growing up, the power of love, and dreams of being . . . human.

It all comes to a head, as Shade faces every action and (non)decision she has made up to this point. Armed with the advice of mentors and the lessons she has learned from friends, Shade must decide once and for all: Can a person-be she human or avian-truly change?

Princess Leia returns for an all-new adventure in this thrilling upper middle grade novel. Set between Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi, the story follows the warrior princess as she leads a ragtag group of rebels on a dangerous mission against the evil Galactic Empire. Hidden in the story are also hints and clues about the upcoming film Star Wars: The Force Awakens, making this a must-read for fans old and new!

The Madness is rising all around the Earth and reaching into space, but without feelings to process everything thatÕs going on, ShadeÕs anhedonia could turn deadly for not only herself but the rest of the world. But how can she care when she doesnÕt have any emotions?

Only human arrogance would lead us to believe that we are alone in this vast universe. The real question is, who will find us first? Allies to help us grow and flourish as members of larger cosmic society? Or others who would use up the earth for its resources, enslave the human race, and destroy everything we know and love? Do we live in a limitless realm of possibilities, or a deep dark Cruel Universe? Cozy thoughts, aren’t they? While you ponder those questions, you’ll find no comfort in the pages of our latest cruel offering . . . featuring the astronomical talents of EC veterans Matt Kindt (BRZRKR, Mind MGMT) and Ben H. Winters (CBS’ Tracker), while welcoming newcomers Cecil Castellucci (Shade the Changing Girl) and Matt Bors (Toxic Avenger) to the void. . . . Their harsh words are brought to terrible fruition by artists Alison Sampson (Hit-Girl), Kano (Gotham Central), and more!

Brand-new from the DC imprint DC’s Young Animal, go along for a wild and psychedelic ride in SHADE, THE CHANGING GIRL VOL. 2: LITTLE RUNAWAY—the latest chapter in the radical reimagining of one of comics’ craziest characters: Shade, the Changing Man. There’s one lesson that Shade is taking to heart. Once she was known as Loma, a native of the planet Meta. Then, using the power of her stolen Madness Coat, she warped into the body of an all-American mean girl named Megan Boyer. Now, with the authorities of her homeworld in hot pursuit, she’s ditching the hellish halls of secondary education for the ultimate in freedom—a cross-country road trip. From the shadowy streets of Gotham City to the atom-blasted sands of Los Alamos to the star-studded hills of Hollywood, Shade’s on a quest to discover her own American dream—even if that means using the power of madness to make it a reality. And at the center of that vision is the galaxy’s favorite TV show, LIFE WITH HONEY—an Atomic Age comedy whose fading star is about to take on the role of several lifetimes! From writer Cecil Castellucci and artists Marley Zarcone, Ande Parks and Marguerite Sauvage, SHADE, THE CHANGING GIRL VOL. 2: LITTLE RUNAWAY collects issues #7-12.

The new Batman anthology series continues! In part two of Chip Zdarsky and Eddy Barrows’s epic Batman/Red Hood story, Jason Todd has taken a man’s life, and now his mission is to keep the dead man’s young son safe. But Batman plans to take down Jason before he can make another mistake. Then, in chapter two of Matthew Rosenberg and Ryan Benjamin’s senses-shattering tale, Cole Cash earns his pay as personal bodyguard to billionaire Lucius Fox, but what led him to Gotham in the first place? How does the mysterious HALO Corporation play into it all? And which Bat-Family character does he have an unfortunate meeting with in this chapter? And in part two of Brandon Thomas and Max Dunbar’s epic Outsiders story, see Katana’s perspective on what brought the Outsiders to Japan, who wants her dead, and what her ultimate punishment will be for no longer having her husband’s spirit in the Soultaker sword. Plus, Barbara Gordon has identified a citywide system hack from a foe she faced before as Batgirl…but this time around, Babs may have found a way to defeat her for good as Oracle!

"Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger."