Mall Goth

by Kate Leth, Diana Sousa (Colorist), Robin Crank (Letterer)

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me gets a Y2K twist in this coming-of-age young adult graphic novel from acclaimed comic artist Kate Leth about a 2000s goth teen whose favorite part of her new town is the mall.

Liv Holme is not exactly thrilled to be moving to a new town with her mother. After all, high school can be brutal, even more so when you’re a fifteen-year-old, bisexual goth. But Liv is determined to be who she is, bullies or not. Still, being the new kid and the only out student brings her a lot of unwelcome attention, and Liv flounders in her search for community. The only person who makes time for her is one of teachers, but Liv isn’t sure how to feel about the way he behaves toward her.

Thankfully, she’s found the perfect the mall. Under its fluorescent lights, Liv feels far away from her parents’ strained marriage and the peers who don’t understand her. Amid the bright storefronts, food court smell, and anonymous shoppers, Liv is safely one of the crowd and can enjoy the feeling of calling the shots in her own life for once.

With the help of her suburban refuge, Liv sets off on a journey of self-acceptance and learns to navigate the ups and downs of high school and to recognize true friendship.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Young Adult, Comics, LGBT, Queer, Fiction, Realistic Fiction

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 26, 2023

About the author

Kate Leth is a Canadian author and illustrator working in comics, animation, design, and feelings. A grown-up goth and pop culture devotee, Kate specializes in work for kids and teens. Their comics work includes Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat!; Girl Over Paris; Spell on Wheels; and Adventure Time, among others.

They live in Halifax, Nova Scotia with an absolutely ridiculous cat and several regrets. They are queer and genderfluid/non-binary, a fact that greatly influences their work. Kate uses they/them pronouns, but probably won’t correct you.

Reviews

[s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all] · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mall has long been a refuge for teens and Kate Leth brings the early 2000s mall culture back to life in the YA graphic novel, Mall Goth. After moving to a new town amidst her parent’s marital struggles, Liv is determined to not let anyone get close to her after being outed as bisexual ruined her social life at her former school. At least she has the mall to escape to, though her classmates she is reluctant to befriend are also always there to sweep her up in their angsty drama. ‘'Cause we were like the mall before the Internet, it was the one place to be,’ as Taylor Swift sings. But in all the drama and loneliness, Liv also discovers the attention of an authority figure might not be as special and sweet as she hopes. While a bit rushed, Mall Goth is a cute story about staying true to yourself while also still trying to find yourself and Leth does not shirk away from heavier topics making this a rather rewarding read. Though I also enjoyed as I could empathize with Liv’s mall job as working in a library often means dressing up in big animal costumes:

It’s me, hi, I’m the unicorn its me

This was a really heartfelt story that felt really authentic in the way it captured being caught up in teenage drama while also under the crushing weight of rather heavy adulthood problems. It has a pretty good ensemble cast that felt a bit underexplored in the ways it hits plot points in rather rapid succession, but they all felt like rather familiar characters. In a good way. I also quite enjoyed the early 2000s setting of mall goth fashion (this book screams Hot Topic) and that they all hang out at the mall arcade for some Dance Dance Revolution. I had a friend in high school that would make us all hang out at the arcade because he was determined to get the high score on DDR (I think he eventually did?) but I was more of a pinball person.


This book gets to some heavy issues, particularly with an English teacher who seems like a good listener and support person but starts to cross some lines when they begin an online chat friendship. Beware any older guy that encourages you to write a paper about Lolita! I think the book handles the topic very well while keeping it accessible and appropriate for the younger end of the teen audience spectrum that this seems aimed at.

Quick, quirky and cute, Mall Goth is a wonderful little graphic novel that brings the early 2000s back and handles emotional drama in a great way. A lovely read.

⅘

[alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a bisexual 90’s kid who loved Hot Topic and also had IBS (representation is SO important etc etc) this was still a bit of a miss for me. In all fairness though, it’s a young adult graphic novel, so I’m not gonna be a huge bitch about it. I’m sure there are teens out there who this will resonate with. Buy a copy for the weird, alt niece in your life!

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

The new Goth in town is tentative about finding her way into relationships at her new school, so the story takes its time unfolding, but its richness and nuance is very rewarding.

Good bisexual representation.

Bad toxic male inevitability. Can we just make it a rule? Never trust a guy who keeps a copy of Lolita close at hand and describes it as fun.

The ending feels a bit rushed and pat after the pacing of the preceding pages and moments of heaviness, but it is still satisfying and hopeful.

[Emma Griffioen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, but not my favourite graphic novel of all time. Full review to come!

[Maia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liv's parents are on the verge of divorce; they've just moved to a new town and Liv will be starting at a new high school. At her last school, Liv was bullied for being openly queer and an unapologetic mall goth, and she is understandably hesitant to accept friendship overtures at the new school. However, a supportive male English teacher and a fellow goth gamer boy start to make Liv feel welcome. The goth introduces her to an MMORPG and the English teacher praises her essays and gives her Lolita. Both of them start regularly DMing Liv late into the night, more than is appropriate for the relationships they have. This book is in large part about a teen navigating confusing advances and how and when to disclose things that make her uncomfortable but feel hard to speak about or define. I thought that aspect of the story was handled very well. Some of the pacing in the friendship plot lines surrounding it felt a bit rushed, a few sections underdeveloped, but ultimately I think this book tackled an important issue not often seen in YA comics. It is also steeped in early 2000s Hot Topic/emo music/pop culture references- if you were there, you'll know.

[Leni ♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐
Forest of Reading 2/5
Content Warnings: Adult/minor relationship, pedophilia

What I Liked
First and foremost, since this is a graphic novel… I LOVED the art. I liked the simplistic cartoon style that was used and I liked that the colour scheme was desaturated to convey a “nostalgic” and “gothic” 2000s vibe. Finally, I enjoyed the little details that the author added to each frame. For example, the screensaver on Liv’s computer and Liv’s pins.

Second, I liked that this book portrayed some important issues. I thought that the representation of bisexuality was thoughtful and important. Kate Leth presented bisexuality in a natural way while still writing about biphobia, because hey, it exists. Now, I can’t speak about how being bisexual in the 2000s was, but I can say that it’s important to have these representations, no matter the period. Another issue that was presented was that of inappropriate adult-minor relationships. Leth said at the beginning of their book that this was based on their experiences, so I appreciate them for speaking up about it. I think it’s an important issue to talk about and I liked how Leth portrayed Liv’s emotions towards it, never romanticizing it, but carefully depicting a warning story.

Finally, I liked Liv as a character. I liked how Liv was herself. I liked how she was passionate about things she was interested in and how she was friendly to her parents and her friends. I thought that the author did a good job representing the lifestyle of a teenager, the problems that she faced, as well as her interests considering that it was a short graphic novel.

What I Disliked
However, given that it was a short graphic novel, I thought some things weren’t as fleshed out. I personally felt like there was too much going on that might have worked better if this graphic novel was longer or if it was a full-length novel instead. There were times when a specific issue in Liv’s life was briefly brought up, and it didn’t have too much impact on the story, it was quickly resolved, and there was not much context. Just my opinion.

I also felt that because it was short, certain characters weren’t as fleshed out as I would’ve liked. Which makes sense since there were only so many page numbers. Although I liked the side characters, I wished there would’ve been a bit more focus on them or a bit more about their backstories. One of the ones I would’ve liked a bit more of was the “mall girl” or maybe Liv’s parents. Though, overall, I liked (most of) the characters….

Resources
RAINN (from the book): https://rainn.org/

[nush 𐔌՞ ܸ.ˬ.ܸ՞𐦯 · Rating 3 out of 5]

— 3.5 ⚝

let me start by saying the graphics were wonderful. i love this art style so much. i also loved the story that accompanied it. i think it delivers some very strong messages about grooming, self acceptance and learning who to surround yourself with. i enjoyed seeing liv gain the right friends. i enjoyed seeing her make mistakes and learn from them. it was very relatable and will resonate with a lot of teenagers imo. the teacher grooming her is an important way to spread awareness about the fact that these things exist and are harmful and are not shameful for the victim in any way. however, I hoped it would have been done in much more detail because it felt very brushed off. i would have also liked seeing that conclude fully, we're not rlly given a satisfying end to that part of the story.

[MJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book I'm not a goth but I want to be 😂

[Toya (thereadingchemist) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg, I loved this so much!

More to come.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a graphic novel that deals with issues or a historical time period and this one did both....if we can stretch and call the early 2000's (ish) a historical time period. From the cover I didn't expect this one to have deep substance but it did.

I was not a teen during this time but I had one who, in many of the non-issue-y ways, was a lot like Liv. So the story rang true. The illustrations were fantastic. The plot line timely enough to, hopefully, make a difference in the minds of the young people who read it.

[Kaylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute, surprisingly nuanced, and very much of an era.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. Cute, but heavier than I was expecting.

[Katherine (Kat) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5 Stars

This book had its ups and downs, I wanted to like it but it was overall pretty weird.
It could have gone a different direction and been so much better.

[Estibaliz · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this is another case of a YA graphic novel labeled as adult on my library. But hey, I can understand why, considering one of the main topics on this story (predatorial grooming), and the fact that I live in Utah... *yes, I'm rolling my eyes*.

Though it took me a little while to get into the visual aspect of this story (the art is a little bit juvenile and cartoonish, indeed), and all the teenager drama among the young kids was a bit boring and stereotypical, the author does a great job in representing some other serious and important issues, as well as in depicting what true friendship and peer support is.

I loved the way both mom and girl friends were supportive of the main character, and the fact that there was no blaming on their part when it came to her actions and attitudes.

So yes, this is fun and colorful, but also goes way beyond that, and it sure has an impact on the reader. Ideal for 14 years old and up?

[RaspberryRoses · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really, *really* loved this. Really good art and character design, some wonderfully powerful compositions, an authentic story with a lot of heart.

The blurb on the back of my library edition, though, was just... misleading and bad? The goodreads one is more okay, I guess. But it is baffling. In some cases, it is incorrect about the contents of the book, and in other cases it just spoils stuff that only comes way later in the book.

And I suppose like... one of the topics this book does tackle is grooming. And it does it in an extremely well done manner - I am going to be thinking about the compositons regarding it for a while, the way that the fear was conveyed without any words. But I guess I kind of understand wanting to warn for that on the back? But it doesn't even spell it out that explictly.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Late 90s / early 2000s vibes

A story about recognizing when you are in a bad relationship or an inappropriate non-relationship relationship and having the self-worth to want better

It's also a friendship is magic story, always my fave!

[Ariane Carrara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit on the heavy side to no fault of the author. I simply wanted more mall and more goth.

[Julia Pika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley & Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Fantastic graphic novel! Set in the early 2000s, this follows a bisexual gamer goth finding her place in the world and hoping new friends will accept her for who she is.

"Mall Goth" is a relatable graphic novel that handles dark themes very well. (TW: Child Grooming)

I appreciate how relationships and friendships evolved awkwardly in the book and Liv grew her own support network. My only complaint was how things moved very quickly and some resolutions were brushed over, but still, it was a very strong graphic novel.

Definitely grabbing this for our YA Graphic section! This would pair nicely with "Goth Girl, Queen of the Universe"--a similar YA chapter book that handles sexuality, awkwardness, and goth/nerd aesthetic well too!

[Raina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun trip down memory lane for those of us who were alive in the early 00s.

The main character's mom had an interesting job - how many people do you hear about working at a mall? And I found it an interesting thing that the kid still thought the mall was cool, even though her mom worked there.
She makes some new friends, has some interpersonal drama. Some people I've heard talk about this book said that the predatory teacher plotline was surprising, but I thought it was pretty obvious from the beginning. I like that the "mean girl" plotline took some unexpected turns.

I like Leth's illustration style - kinda blocky, and well complemented by Diana Sousa's vibrant color work. Good variety of panel layouts - some interesting overlapping panel work. Particularly enjoyed the concept behind the Advent Calendar montage of Winter Break passing.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/4.5

I read this in one sitting at the library and when I tell you I had the time of my life oh my wow did I have the time of my life. The story and the art style was perfect and it had an actually excellent story line and I wish it was longer or for it be a series, oh gosh how I hope this will be a series. There was a lot happening in this book but I think that’s realistic and shows how much Liv, the main character, had to go through. This book was also so funny! There were moments where I had to laugh but needed to make it subtle since I was at the library and around people. Massive recommend!

[Teo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute illustrations and, for the most part, story, but I wasn’t big on the teacher storyline. Kinda dragged the mood down a little. There were a bunch of different things happening here, though I wish romantic relationships weren't at the forefront of the story. But I guess this is the average teen experience?
I also found it interesting that even though Liv spent a lot of time at the mall, her going to/hanging out at a Hot Topic-like store wasn’t included in the story.

[Fanny · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5, if only bc the whole creepy teacher plotline felt like it moved too quickly! otherwise, an enjoyable and relatable goth coming of age. especially loved all the little easter eggs (the number of evanescence references alone…hell yeah)! been following kate for probably a decade now so it feels so cool to read this :)))

[lia · Rating 2 out of 5]

the plot of this was insane💀 the transition from friends just hanging out at the mall to creepy ass teacher who assigns LOLITA to his student gave me whiplash. Also so hard to read bc who even talks like that 😭😭 I have a bone to pick with the librarians who chose the battle of the books list this year

[Biff lovely broad · Rating 3 out of 5]

title made me think there would be more comical mall goth antics, but it just turned into a story about interpersonal conflict and other teenage woes

[elbow ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

this made me violently uncomfortable. also i was expecting the goth girl to get together with the mc and am sorely disappointed.

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure I'm the target audience for this one, but that doesn't mean I can't understand the message.

Kate Leth's MALL GOTH follows a fifteen year old's arrival in a new city as well as all the chaos that goes hand-in-hand with meeting new friends and finding your place in your new surroundings. Leth journeys into some heavy subject matter with this story, so it should be worth noting that those who pick it up should be prepared to deal with topics involving sexual assault and/or grooming.

I truly felt the panic that gripped Liv's mind as the world around her began to crumble both in her social and home life. I can completely understand her search for just one scrap of stability; something she can control. I felt my stomach tighten as a relationship between Liv and a mentor veered into uncomfortable territory (to say the least).

The author and I are close(ish) in age, so it was wild going back to that time period and seeing a lot of 2000s rock references (Linkin Park/Evanescence/etc), the MSN Messenger windows and the fashion of the times on full display.

Kate has said this story is inspired by true events, so it seems to be a very personal story (but I mean, aren't all authors weaving parts of themselves into their work?). I whole-heartedly recommend it, even if I was a bit uncomfortable at times.

[Ashy Kinsella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smashed this out in one session. It packs a punch in so few pages. Could not recommend more

[Merrell Whitten · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just loved this main character so much! I loved how secure she was in her sense of self and style. but once again, men of all ages just suck!!

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love a good YA graphic novel about moving to a new city and struggling to fit in! Nothing particularly groundbreaking about this but it was a fun quick read.

[Jessie Mannhaupt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makin me nostalgic for my childhood mall💔