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Low Orbit
An atmospheric and profound coming-of-age graphic novel about a Malaysian American teen carving out her own identity in the uneasy space between friends and family.
Fifteen-year-old Azar feels stuck. Her mom’s job forced them to move to Vermont, where Azar doesn't know anyone. Her only friends are the next-door neighbors: an aging sci-fi writer and his nonbinary teen, Tristan, fellow misfits in the small-town community. For a while, Azar can escape her troubles by disappearing into the pages of her kindly neighbor’s epic novel, The Exiles of Overworld. But when her queerness throws her life out of balance, Azar realizes some secrets can’t be escaped forever. Somewhere in the abandoned malls, lakes, and comic conventions that fill her new life, Azar fights to find herself. What else will she discover?
Fifteen-year-old Azar feels stuck. Her mom’s job forced them to move to Vermont, where Azar doesn't know anyone. Her only friends are the next-door neighbors: an aging sci-fi writer and his nonbinary teen, Tristan, fellow misfits in the small-town community. For a while, Azar can escape her troubles by disappearing into the pages of her kindly neighbor’s epic novel, The Exiles of Overworld. But when her queerness throws her life out of balance, Azar realizes some secrets can’t be escaped forever. Somewhere in the abandoned malls, lakes, and comic conventions that fill her new life, Azar fights to find herself. What else will she discover?
336 pages, Paperback
First published April 29, 2025
5 people are currently reading
230 people want to read
About the author
Kazimir Lee
7 books11 followersQueer cartoonist, some sort of vers mommy futch librarian. Freaky parent and esoteric enthusiast. One time I saw John Turturro at a restaurant and told him I loved him. Not really a liberal but will work with them, from time to time. Free Palestine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
April 3, 2025
the pacing was kinda off and the ending was not as gratifying as i would have liked it to be. however, the story as a whole offered an nuanced insight to diasporic queer youth which i appreciated.
April 27, 2025
I received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.
I absolutely cannot believe how many unbelievably awesome Queer and trans stories I have come across in less than a week of being on NetGalley, but Ollie In Between by Jess Callans, and this are two of the most humbly, exquisitely beautiful books I've ever had the privilege of reading.
Low Orbit follows fifteen-year-old Malaysian American Queer teen, Azar, as she navigates the complexities of life, family, prejudice, sexuality, gender, and good ole 'trashy' science fiction. It's a slice of life, but one that isn't too twee and idealised, though it is charming and affirming, and isn't all pain and buried gays, though it deals with some big and difficult issues with honest and unvarnished love, hate, heartbreak, alcoholism, secrets, complicated family dynamics and more without being preachy or maudlin.
My love and appreciation for this comic, it's portrayal of BIPOC, Queer, trans and non-binary, body positivity, disabilities, masks, and so much more without any one thing being the thrust of the narrative or the singular defining traits of a character. There's no afterschool special message or preaching, everything naturally exists and comes up when relavant or doesn't need to be directly addressed in this narrative--This isn't to say more explicit stuff is bad, but there's some truly special about seeing the various marginalisations we face only being single strands of the rich tapestry that makes up each individual character.
What I'm trying to say is that it's important to just see us surviving, thriving, overcoming adversity when it rears it's ugly, bigoted head and complicates out lives because of the small minds and prejudice of others, without it being out entire narrative identity.
I absolutely adore Azar as a character and her friends and family all feel so wonderfully realised and complex and real.
There's a fidelity; a realness that this extremely political and subjective piece of art (because all art is political and subjective) that goes far beyond the fetishisation of an ironically idolised apolitical truth and plastic authenticity that has consumed the once great Alex Garland, that he could never hope to capture without understanding photography and journalism as art forms and regardless of how much dirt an actor gets in their moustache.
This is fucking real and it's fucking beautiful!
The art has an expressive and aesthetically pleasing restrained character with absolutely gorgeous pastal tones. There's something that is at once so simple and 'comic', while being so effective in capturing the essence, character, and emotions of the people that populate its pages.
This is going to stay with me and I am completely here for anything Kazimir Lee creates in the future.
No art is perfect, but this is about as close as makes no difference as far as I'm concerned.
I absolutely cannot believe how many unbelievably awesome Queer and trans stories I have come across in less than a week of being on NetGalley, but Ollie In Between by Jess Callans, and this are two of the most humbly, exquisitely beautiful books I've ever had the privilege of reading.
Low Orbit follows fifteen-year-old Malaysian American Queer teen, Azar, as she navigates the complexities of life, family, prejudice, sexuality, gender, and good ole 'trashy' science fiction. It's a slice of life, but one that isn't too twee and idealised, though it is charming and affirming, and isn't all pain and buried gays, though it deals with some big and difficult issues with honest and unvarnished love, hate, heartbreak, alcoholism, secrets, complicated family dynamics and more without being preachy or maudlin.
My love and appreciation for this comic, it's portrayal of BIPOC, Queer, trans and non-binary, body positivity, disabilities, masks, and so much more without any one thing being the thrust of the narrative or the singular defining traits of a character. There's no afterschool special message or preaching, everything naturally exists and comes up when relavant or doesn't need to be directly addressed in this narrative--This isn't to say more explicit stuff is bad, but there's some truly special about seeing the various marginalisations we face only being single strands of the rich tapestry that makes up each individual character.
What I'm trying to say is that it's important to just see us surviving, thriving, overcoming adversity when it rears it's ugly, bigoted head and complicates out lives because of the small minds and prejudice of others, without it being out entire narrative identity.
I absolutely adore Azar as a character and her friends and family all feel so wonderfully realised and complex and real.
There's a fidelity; a realness that this extremely political and subjective piece of art (because all art is political and subjective) that goes far beyond the fetishisation of an ironically idolised apolitical truth and plastic authenticity that has consumed the once great Alex Garland, that he could never hope to capture without understanding photography and journalism as art forms and regardless of how much dirt an actor gets in their moustache.
This is fucking real and it's fucking beautiful!
The art has an expressive and aesthetically pleasing restrained character with absolutely gorgeous pastal tones. There's something that is at once so simple and 'comic', while being so effective in capturing the essence, character, and emotions of the people that populate its pages.
This is going to stay with me and I am completely here for anything Kazimir Lee creates in the future.
No art is perfect, but this is about as close as makes no difference as far as I'm concerned.
August 25, 2025
Been fighting a bug lately and when that happens I tend to watch lots of TV and read lots of comics. Liked the illustration style and the POC and queer rep, but the pacing of this YA graphic novel was uneven and I didn't find this a compelling story.
March 17, 2025
I didn’t really know what I was getting into or where the story is gonna lead. Especially after reading many fantasy books lately, after the sci-fi novel became part of Azar’s story, I was sure there was gonna be a twist in there somewhere, like she’s in a coma and then she’ll swim through the world of the novel, which will help her later on in real life...
None of that, haha.
A very non-fantasy slice of life story about Azar, a Malaysian-American lesbian in the closet from her parents, and Tristan, they/them pronouns, with a dad who's an author and shouldered with other non-queer-related problems for themselves.
These two basically live in the same house, after Azar and her mom moved to Vermont from New York, where her dad still is stuck, rearranging some things with the apartment. And she has a crush on Jodi, a butch. School is actually okay for her, there’s not really much going on in her life, just basic human stuff.
On a random day like any other, she finds a book under her bed, a sci-fi novel set on another planet tackling racism, written by Tristan’s dad. She finds herself immersed by the story pretty quickly, and let’s days pass while she reads and escapes reality for a bit.
The book may have not turned out to be anything paranormal, but it sure made things roll in her life. In a realistic way.
I found myself immersed into the story similar to how Azar was into the sci-fi novel, just more delicate. The pace, the writing style and the art is tender, never high in contrast, and quite relaxing to read.
It might’ve been confusing and unclear at the start, but that portrays life pretty well – heck, if I were to make a novel about my life, everyone would have a similar reading experience. And that’s not a bad thing. I’m a slice of life fan after all, especially when it’s rather slow-paced and focused on the most normal, ‘boring’ plot-points. I especially loved the panels with an excerpt of the sci-fi novel, where environments were shown, perfectly encompassing the passing of time, as if Azar has placed a camera outside the house, to not miss anything of the outside world, while she’s in another world.
I was surprised by a lot of characters, their developments and the relationship to each other. Tristan was that cool best friend at first, that helps their gay bff to get a gal, but carries actually a lot of weight on their back. Shannon is that chill uncle who feels more of a roommate, open to Queerness and, as an author, fluent in subtext. You can talk to anything about him. (Which was really nice, I loved the uncle-like relationship Azar had to him!) But he too has his baggage. Azar’s mom seemed at first pretty toxic with her subtle gaslighting, but got more development in the end than I expected. Her dad too had some unexpected secrets.
Just like the character designs. Kazimir Lee is not afraid to show edges, curves, fat and different/unusual proportions. While some background characters may have gotten the “simplistic” design treatment, making them look picture-perfect sometimes, most look very realistic, in a beautifully ugly way. (Human.)
For example, I may have not had a picture of Jodi first, but I expected her to rather look like the typical lesbian crush. But nah, she’s fat, loud and piercings. And so is our protagonist, except she’s rather neutral in gender-expression, but mostly comfortable fashion style, with wiggly socks and pretty small, sometimes looking squished. No fat-phobia, which is also a plus.
And disability rep with a wheelchair user.
Definitely recommended.
The ending turned a bit melancholic, in a tender, the-future-is-unknown way, which is also a plus, cause I’m a sucker for melancholy. Overall a cozy and happy read, humorous in-between and all in all light-hearted.
~
Thanks a lot to IDW publishing for an e-ARC.
-09.03.25
None of that, haha.
A very non-fantasy slice of life story about Azar, a Malaysian-American lesbian in the closet from her parents, and Tristan, they/them pronouns, with a dad who's an author and shouldered with other non-queer-related problems for themselves.
These two basically live in the same house, after Azar and her mom moved to Vermont from New York, where her dad still is stuck, rearranging some things with the apartment. And she has a crush on Jodi, a butch. School is actually okay for her, there’s not really much going on in her life, just basic human stuff.
On a random day like any other, she finds a book under her bed, a sci-fi novel set on another planet tackling racism, written by Tristan’s dad. She finds herself immersed by the story pretty quickly, and let’s days pass while she reads and escapes reality for a bit.
The book may have not turned out to be anything paranormal, but it sure made things roll in her life. In a realistic way.
I found myself immersed into the story similar to how Azar was into the sci-fi novel, just more delicate. The pace, the writing style and the art is tender, never high in contrast, and quite relaxing to read.
It might’ve been confusing and unclear at the start, but that portrays life pretty well – heck, if I were to make a novel about my life, everyone would have a similar reading experience. And that’s not a bad thing. I’m a slice of life fan after all, especially when it’s rather slow-paced and focused on the most normal, ‘boring’ plot-points. I especially loved the panels with an excerpt of the sci-fi novel, where environments were shown, perfectly encompassing the passing of time, as if Azar has placed a camera outside the house, to not miss anything of the outside world, while she’s in another world.
I was surprised by a lot of characters, their developments and the relationship to each other. Tristan was that cool best friend at first, that helps their gay bff to get a gal, but carries actually a lot of weight on their back. Shannon is that chill uncle who feels more of a roommate, open to Queerness and, as an author, fluent in subtext. You can talk to anything about him. (Which was really nice, I loved the uncle-like relationship Azar had to him!) But he too has his baggage. Azar’s mom seemed at first pretty toxic with her subtle gaslighting, but got more development in the end than I expected. Her dad too had some unexpected secrets.
Just like the character designs. Kazimir Lee is not afraid to show edges, curves, fat and different/unusual proportions. While some background characters may have gotten the “simplistic” design treatment, making them look picture-perfect sometimes, most look very realistic, in a beautifully ugly way. (Human.)
For example, I may have not had a picture of Jodi first, but I expected her to rather look like the typical lesbian crush. But nah, she’s fat, loud and piercings. And so is our protagonist, except she’s rather neutral in gender-expression, but mostly comfortable fashion style, with wiggly socks and pretty small, sometimes looking squished. No fat-phobia, which is also a plus.
And disability rep with a wheelchair user.
Definitely recommended.
The ending turned a bit melancholic, in a tender, the-future-is-unknown way, which is also a plus, cause I’m a sucker for melancholy. Overall a cozy and happy read, humorous in-between and all in all light-hearted.
~
Thanks a lot to IDW publishing for an e-ARC.
-09.03.25
July 2, 2025
Less speculative than the cover led me to believe.
Realistic story about a teen who recently moved out of NYC with her mom. Her dad is taking strangely long to join them. Meanwhile, Azar discovers that their neighbor/landlord is an author, and that she really loves his (high fantasy) book. She's also becoming tight with his kid.
Slice of life coming of age twists and turns, misunderstandings and finding identity.
Illustrations match the cover - muted color palette with a nice variety of layouts.
Main character wears a head covering outside the house, which doesn't come up much plot-wise, but is a nice bit of representation.
Realistic story about a teen who recently moved out of NYC with her mom. Her dad is taking strangely long to join them. Meanwhile, Azar discovers that their neighbor/landlord is an author, and that she really loves his (high fantasy) book. She's also becoming tight with his kid.
Slice of life coming of age twists and turns, misunderstandings and finding identity.
Illustrations match the cover - muted color palette with a nice variety of layouts.
Main character wears a head covering outside the house, which doesn't come up much plot-wise, but is a nice bit of representation.
May 12, 2025
Low Orbit is a graphic novel that leans heavily into the "slice-of-life" genre. Rather than following a tightly structured plot, it focuses on the daily experiences of Azar, a "Malaysian American teen carving out her own identity in the uneasy space between friends and family".
What struck me most is that while the book frames Azar as someone "carving out her identity", it often feels like she already knows who she is and what she stands for. Instead, it's the people around her, friends and family, who seem to be in flux, and Azar ends up playing the role of guide. She's a bold, headstrong character, and I found her easy to admire, even love.
That said, I felt let down by how certain issues were handled. Some serious interpersonal conflicts (cheating, or coercing someone into doing something against their will) were brushed aside or treated too lightly for my taste. These moments made me question the message being conveyed.
Despite that, there were aspects I truly appreciated. The diverse cast of characters felt fresh and reflective of real-world communities, and the "found family" dynamic was heartwarming. Still, the pacing was uneven, and a few plot developments left me puzzled rather than moved.
What struck me most is that while the book frames Azar as someone "carving out her identity", it often feels like she already knows who she is and what she stands for. Instead, it's the people around her, friends and family, who seem to be in flux, and Azar ends up playing the role of guide. She's a bold, headstrong character, and I found her easy to admire, even love.
That said, I felt let down by how certain issues were handled. Some serious interpersonal conflicts (cheating, or coercing someone into doing something against their will) were brushed aside or treated too lightly for my taste. These moments made me question the message being conveyed.
Despite that, there were aspects I truly appreciated. The diverse cast of characters felt fresh and reflective of real-world communities, and the "found family" dynamic was heartwarming. Still, the pacing was uneven, and a few plot developments left me puzzled rather than moved.
November 1, 2025
Easily a top book of the year.
April 15, 2025
Low Orbit is a quick read of a graphic novel in which Azar, a young Malaysian American girl who is hiding part of herself from her family after her mom's job moved them to a new state and split her family up (temporarily). She's made a friend, she found a book she likes, but life is just a lot.
Though there was sort of a story here, I just didn't feel like there was much going on. It was almost a coming-of-age, almost a romance, almost a story, but it just never really found its footing in anything. Azar is almost likeable and almost relatable, but she makes a lot of mistakes and doesn't own up to them or seem to learn from them. The different dilemmas that happen throughout don't really get a conclusion either. Like, Azar came upon some rough stuff, and it just kind of gets glossed over?
In conclusion, I thought this was OK. I didn't hate it, but I didn't enjoy it either.
Thanks to Netgalley and Top Shelf Productions for the e-ARC!
Though there was sort of a story here, I just didn't feel like there was much going on. It was almost a coming-of-age, almost a romance, almost a story, but it just never really found its footing in anything. Azar is almost likeable and almost relatable, but she makes a lot of mistakes and doesn't own up to them or seem to learn from them. The different dilemmas that happen throughout don't really get a conclusion either. Like, Azar came upon some rough stuff, and it just kind of gets glossed over?
In conclusion, I thought this was OK. I didn't hate it, but I didn't enjoy it either.
Thanks to Netgalley and Top Shelf Productions for the e-ARC!
March 23, 2025
Low Orbit is a intersectional queer coming of age graphic novel that represents the chaos of growing up pretty good.
I loved the color palette even if the line art wasn't always my favorite. The idea of a SF novel that is intermingled with the story of Azar is a nice thing because I came to like science fiction in the last years. The different font made it a little bit harder to read and I was sometimes confused if it had anything to do with the story of our protagonist but I liked how it was layed over the passage of time.
I often felt for Azar and liked her as a protagonist. So I was quite happy about the Epilogue. I would love to read more by Kazimir Lee!
I loved the color palette even if the line art wasn't always my favorite. The idea of a SF novel that is intermingled with the story of Azar is a nice thing because I came to like science fiction in the last years. The different font made it a little bit harder to read and I was sometimes confused if it had anything to do with the story of our protagonist but I liked how it was layed over the passage of time.
I often felt for Azar and liked her as a protagonist. So I was quite happy about the Epilogue. I would love to read more by Kazimir Lee!
December 16, 2024
4.5 stars! Low Orbit is a compelling graphic novel and a perfectly crafted Bildungsroman about a gay Malaysian girl, Azar, navigating her identity in a world where acceptance is often elusive. The story is set in a quintessentially charming Vermont home, converted into apartments, which serves as both a backdrop and a metaphor for the layers of its characters’ lives.
The narrative skillfully weaves Azar’s personal journey with that of the house’s owner—a once-successful sci-fi writer now grappling with the weight of a single big hit, mounting bills, and alcoholism. The juxtaposition of Azar’s quest for self-acceptance and the writer’s struggle with personal demons creates a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of resilience and human connection.
The art is exceptional, with a cinematic quality that draws you further into the story. At one point, around page 289 of 330, my Wi-Fi started sputtering, and I found myself panicking that I might not be able to finish it—that’s how much I was invested. Low Orbit is a powerful and beautifully illustrated work that stays with you long after you’ve closed the final page. So so good, especially for a debut.
The narrative skillfully weaves Azar’s personal journey with that of the house’s owner—a once-successful sci-fi writer now grappling with the weight of a single big hit, mounting bills, and alcoholism. The juxtaposition of Azar’s quest for self-acceptance and the writer’s struggle with personal demons creates a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of resilience and human connection.
The art is exceptional, with a cinematic quality that draws you further into the story. At one point, around page 289 of 330, my Wi-Fi started sputtering, and I found myself panicking that I might not be able to finish it—that’s how much I was invested. Low Orbit is a powerful and beautifully illustrated work that stays with you long after you’ve closed the final page. So so good, especially for a debut.
August 11, 2025
3.7 ⭐️ An emotive coming of age tale with sapphic and trans rep.
This story centres mostly around the expirience of coming out to a parent who struggles to hear such news. It’s fairly slow paced, too much so at times, but otherwise an enjoyable read of growth over time.
It follows one mc who is sapphic and her best friend who is trans, and I really enjoyed the support system they had between them. It’s a complex read that’s oddly cathartic, even with the struggles between.
Rep// Malaysian American Sapphic/Queer MC (15), Queer American Trans MC, BIPOC Wheelchair User SC, BIPOC Queer NonBinary SC, BIPOC Gay Man SC, White Queer Man SC.
TWs listed below, please skip if you don’t want vague spoilers.
TW// homophobia, racism, injury, hospital scene, vomiting, alcoholic parent, coming out, alcohol, vomiting, drug mentions.
This story centres mostly around the expirience of coming out to a parent who struggles to hear such news. It’s fairly slow paced, too much so at times, but otherwise an enjoyable read of growth over time.
It follows one mc who is sapphic and her best friend who is trans, and I really enjoyed the support system they had between them. It’s a complex read that’s oddly cathartic, even with the struggles between.
Rep// Malaysian American Sapphic/Queer MC (15), Queer American Trans MC, BIPOC Wheelchair User SC, BIPOC Queer NonBinary SC, BIPOC Gay Man SC, White Queer Man SC.
TWs listed below, please skip if you don’t want vague spoilers.
TW// homophobia, racism, injury, hospital scene, vomiting, alcoholic parent, coming out, alcohol, vomiting, drug mentions.
June 25, 2025
A coming of age graphic novel for teens. Azar is struggling to find her place in a small Vermont town. Her mom relocated them for work, and her dad has stayed behind in New York to wrap up. Sharing a duplex-like living situation with Tristan and their dad allows Azar to be open with someone. Each chapter is a new day and experience for Azar with the various challenges of a teenager's life.
The complex issues addressed in this story are handled in simple ways giving a more accepting vibe (this is just the way things are). While Azar and her family are Malaysian immigrants the cultural differences are mentioned, while the focus is on sexual orientation and identity. This book reflects how life is messy and there are no easy fixes.
The complex issues addressed in this story are handled in simple ways giving a more accepting vibe (this is just the way things are). While Azar and her family are Malaysian immigrants the cultural differences are mentioned, while the focus is on sexual orientation and identity. This book reflects how life is messy and there are no easy fixes.
September 23, 2025
The beats don't really land--like at the end it becomes obvious that the abandoned mall is supposed to have some sort of emotional resonance as a setting, but it isn't really represented well throughout the text. In general, the pacing is all over the place, though I liked the characters and the varied queer storylines.
April 5, 2025
Really enjoyed this debut graphic novel from Kazimir Lee! Stunning artwork, compelling story, and diverse and complex characters. Azar’s journey of self discovery, navigating her queerness in a new small town, and dealing with her dysfunctional family, were very well executed and overall a wild ride crammed full of chaos and emotion.
I thought that the sci-fi/ fantasy novel Azar became engrossed in ‘The Exiles of Overworld’ running alongside her own journey was a really intriguing idea. Though I can’t say I was always following its connection to the events unfolding (whether this is just something I missed I’m not sure) but it was an effective representation of the escape from reality and growing comfort Azar had found in the Wathe family. This ‘found family’ dynamic was also super heartwarming, though of course it came packed with its own twists, turns and dramas that aren’t as easy to escape as in the pages of a fantasy novel.
Overall, I think this story, and the artwork, really represented well how life, relationships and our inner selves can be so incredibly messy and complex, and in this case how difficult it is to navigate queer identity and our place in the world. A super funny, moving, and tender story, with beautiful art. I would love to see more of these characters in the future/ more from this author in general!
Thanks to NetGalley and IDW publishing for the early access in exchange for an honest review.
I thought that the sci-fi/ fantasy novel Azar became engrossed in ‘The Exiles of Overworld’ running alongside her own journey was a really intriguing idea. Though I can’t say I was always following its connection to the events unfolding (whether this is just something I missed I’m not sure) but it was an effective representation of the escape from reality and growing comfort Azar had found in the Wathe family. This ‘found family’ dynamic was also super heartwarming, though of course it came packed with its own twists, turns and dramas that aren’t as easy to escape as in the pages of a fantasy novel.
Overall, I think this story, and the artwork, really represented well how life, relationships and our inner selves can be so incredibly messy and complex, and in this case how difficult it is to navigate queer identity and our place in the world. A super funny, moving, and tender story, with beautiful art. I would love to see more of these characters in the future/ more from this author in general!
Thanks to NetGalley and IDW publishing for the early access in exchange for an honest review.
September 13, 2025
Loved it. I wanted the ending to be tidier and more happily-ever-after romance-y than it was, but it was so sweet nonetheless and not everything has to be Heartstopper.
March 13, 2025
Low Orbit is a beautiful and atmospheric graphic novel by Kazimir Lee. I immediately fell in love with Lee's incredible art that immerses you in its gentle pastel tones - blue and purples - while tackling very important themes, such as identity, dysfunctional relationships, alcoholism, fear and acceptance of oneself and others.
In the graphic novel, we meet fifteen-year-old Azar, who’s recently moved to Vermont with her mother, while her father is still living in New York. Her mom loves her, but she’s also quite traditional. The only thing she’d like is for her daughter to make new friends and do sports to better fit into her clothes. But Azar doesn’t have many friends, her mom doesn’t know that she likes girls, and the only people she seems to be able to open up to are the wacky yet welcoming next-door father-and-son duo: Tristan and Shannon Wathe.
The father and son have a dysfunctional yet deeply heart-warming family dynamic. Tristan, a nonbinary teen who spends a lot of time interacting with the queer and geek communities online, is seventeen. He’s definitely the adult in the family. Shannon, whom Tristan calls by name, once a successful author of sci-fi epic The Exiles of Overworld, now seems determined to never write nor participate in any sci-fi convention again. He mostly hides from his literary agent and, despite being kind and lovely, spends a lot of his time either drinking or engaged in heated interactions online.
But when Azar accidentally finds The Exiles of Overworld, she starts dipping into the fantastical world of Shannon’s imagination. And as things get worse between Azar and her mom, Azar ends up living with Tristan and Shannon, potentially forever altering their family dynamic, as well as her own life. Between trips to the lake, StarCon conventions, cosplays, and New York, the story, full of unexpected twists and surprises, is funny, tender, and emotional.
My only criticism to this graphic novel is that I didn't think the sci-fi novel element worked well in the narrative. The excerpts from The Exiles of Overworld were just too verbose and obscure, and I didn't really understand their connection to the story. The idea of escapism was there, but not well-executed in my opinion.
⭐ 4/5 – Despite a minor flow, I still think Low Orbit is worth reading. It is a gentle ode to finding one's identity while navigating love, affection, and imperfect family relationships. All this while never falling into the pitfall of trying to define. This, I believe, is an achievement worth applauding.
In the graphic novel, we meet fifteen-year-old Azar, who’s recently moved to Vermont with her mother, while her father is still living in New York. Her mom loves her, but she’s also quite traditional. The only thing she’d like is for her daughter to make new friends and do sports to better fit into her clothes. But Azar doesn’t have many friends, her mom doesn’t know that she likes girls, and the only people she seems to be able to open up to are the wacky yet welcoming next-door father-and-son duo: Tristan and Shannon Wathe.
The father and son have a dysfunctional yet deeply heart-warming family dynamic. Tristan, a nonbinary teen who spends a lot of time interacting with the queer and geek communities online, is seventeen. He’s definitely the adult in the family. Shannon, whom Tristan calls by name, once a successful author of sci-fi epic The Exiles of Overworld, now seems determined to never write nor participate in any sci-fi convention again. He mostly hides from his literary agent and, despite being kind and lovely, spends a lot of his time either drinking or engaged in heated interactions online.
But when Azar accidentally finds The Exiles of Overworld, she starts dipping into the fantastical world of Shannon’s imagination. And as things get worse between Azar and her mom, Azar ends up living with Tristan and Shannon, potentially forever altering their family dynamic, as well as her own life. Between trips to the lake, StarCon conventions, cosplays, and New York, the story, full of unexpected twists and surprises, is funny, tender, and emotional.
My only criticism to this graphic novel is that I didn't think the sci-fi novel element worked well in the narrative. The excerpts from The Exiles of Overworld were just too verbose and obscure, and I didn't really understand their connection to the story. The idea of escapism was there, but not well-executed in my opinion.
⭐ 4/5 – Despite a minor flow, I still think Low Orbit is worth reading. It is a gentle ode to finding one's identity while navigating love, affection, and imperfect family relationships. All this while never falling into the pitfall of trying to define. This, I believe, is an achievement worth applauding.
August 20, 2025
The summary says Azar disappears in the pages of her sci-fi book, so I looked at the cover and thought it meant literally. I spent like 70% wondering when the magic part would happen. MY BAD!!! (My psychiatrist was extremely right about a certain spectrum I fear…)
I liked how Azar faces the consequences of her actions through the strain in her relationships. Probably the hardest lesson that I’ve had to learn :(
It still didn’t hit as hard as I’d hoped, though. The setting didn’t feel all that established. I don’t know that I really connected with a single character because I spent so much time trying to understand the subtext.
I liked how Azar faces the consequences of her actions through the strain in her relationships. Probably the hardest lesson that I’ve had to learn :(
It still didn’t hit as hard as I’d hoped, though. The setting didn’t feel all that established. I don’t know that I really connected with a single character because I spent so much time trying to understand the subtext.
March 18, 2025
Atmospheric and full of uncomfortable moments, Low Orbit follows the story of young Azar, a Malaysian American teen who has just moved from New York to Virginia and her struggles between her loneliness and isolation, her separated parents, and her queer identity. Azar finds an escape with her next door neighbors and by diving deep into a Sci Fi novel which serves as her escape from reality.
While there are many parts of this that I enjoyed, such as Azar's identity and her separate relationships with her parents, as well as the Cosplay and fandom culture depicted here, I struggled with following the message and the narrative of this graphic novel. It's filled with interludes from the Sci Fi novel that Azar is reading which are dense and incomprehensible and add little to the story. Adding to this is the fact that the story is quite complex on its' own - it's full of a gray areas, incomplete narratives, and unsatisfying conclusions for many of the characters. I appreciated the complexity and unsettling feelings this tried to capture, but the combination of all these things made this graphic novel read like a dense and confusing journey, and at the end of it I'm still not sure what all I'm supposed to take from it.
While there are many parts of this that I enjoyed, such as Azar's identity and her separate relationships with her parents, as well as the Cosplay and fandom culture depicted here, I struggled with following the message and the narrative of this graphic novel. It's filled with interludes from the Sci Fi novel that Azar is reading which are dense and incomprehensible and add little to the story. Adding to this is the fact that the story is quite complex on its' own - it's full of a gray areas, incomplete narratives, and unsatisfying conclusions for many of the characters. I appreciated the complexity and unsettling feelings this tried to capture, but the combination of all these things made this graphic novel read like a dense and confusing journey, and at the end of it I'm still not sure what all I'm supposed to take from it.
December 27, 2025
I really loved the illustration style and the POC and queer representation but unfortunately I felt the plot felt flat at the end. It wasn’t as gratifying as I thought it would be and honestly left me a bit disappointed. Mr. Wathe was quite a supportive role model/parental figure to Azar, until he wasn’t. He promised to help her come out to her mum in a safe and supportive environment and then last minute decided he wouldn’t/forgot and only updated Azar when he was under the influence of a lot of alcohol and was pissed out of his mind.
I suppose both Azar and Tristan towards the end were shitty to each other and were both at fault. I felt like the ending was quite rushed to wrap up, like I’m not really sure why we needed the whole Jodi character just for them to wink at each other at the end when there’s no friendship or romantic relationship that was developed through the entire thing, similarly I’m not sure why Azar and Tristan kissed even though it was clear that Azar liked Jodi. It was shown that Azar and Tristan had a couple of little emotional moments they shared between them but then to kiss out of the blue and then have a fight and then not get together — it was just very confusing.
I was glad Azar and her mum resolved their relationship towards the end, but for most of the story, her mum was such an unlikeable character. Additionally, I feel like the shock of Azar’s dad being bi/queer could’ve been such a nice pivotal moment for Azar, only for it to be kept as a secret; though it was showed that Azar‘s mum was eavesdropping on one of their conversations, hiding out in the hallway and listening to Azar asking her dad yet again whether he would be honest with their mother.
There was just a whole lot of dishonesty and distrust throughout this graphic novel, which I know is probably rooted in reality, but is incredibly unsettling in a graphic novel where you’re hoping for positive queer affirmations and it’s just overall quite unsettling. It wasn’t really a fun read because of it. Everything a lot of the time felt quite distressing, sad and depressing.
I suppose both Azar and Tristan towards the end were shitty to each other and were both at fault. I felt like the ending was quite rushed to wrap up, like I’m not really sure why we needed the whole Jodi character just for them to wink at each other at the end when there’s no friendship or romantic relationship that was developed through the entire thing, similarly I’m not sure why Azar and Tristan kissed even though it was clear that Azar liked Jodi. It was shown that Azar and Tristan had a couple of little emotional moments they shared between them but then to kiss out of the blue and then have a fight and then not get together — it was just very confusing.
I was glad Azar and her mum resolved their relationship towards the end, but for most of the story, her mum was such an unlikeable character. Additionally, I feel like the shock of Azar’s dad being bi/queer could’ve been such a nice pivotal moment for Azar, only for it to be kept as a secret; though it was showed that Azar‘s mum was eavesdropping on one of their conversations, hiding out in the hallway and listening to Azar asking her dad yet again whether he would be honest with their mother.
There was just a whole lot of dishonesty and distrust throughout this graphic novel, which I know is probably rooted in reality, but is incredibly unsettling in a graphic novel where you’re hoping for positive queer affirmations and it’s just overall quite unsettling. It wasn’t really a fun read because of it. Everything a lot of the time felt quite distressing, sad and depressing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2025
Adjusting to life in a narrow-minded small town is tricky for Azar, especially since she's not out to her parents. But fortunately her new best friend Tristan lives next door, and as two of the only queer kids in the area, they find many ways to support each other. But Azar really appreciates Tristan's dad's epic fantasy novels, while Tristan is pretty sure those books are ruining their family's life. When Azar tries to come out to her mom, things get dicey, and if she can't count on Tristan, where else is there to go?
This graphic novel carefully captures the agony of keeping part of yourself from those you love. Azar's mom is overbearing and critical, and Azar's father seems willing to just put his head down and give up on his dreams. But Azar hopes for something more. This book has a lot of power to resonate with Hijabis who face microaggressions every day as well as anyone who has felt forced to hide a huge part of their identity. My only real complaint is that the excerpts of the Sci-Fi novel that are sprinkled throughout this book were hard to understand. It's strange to blend a graphic novel with snippets of high fantasy, and the format did not do the sci-fi justice and instead distracted from Azar's story. On the one hand, it's meant to feel like an escape from her life, but there just wasn't enough there for me to get into it and understand. I would have removed those excerpts or made them much shorter, but perhaps they'll speak to another reader more than they did to me. Other than that, this was a compelling read that touches on many important themes, including honesty versus secrets, being safe while coming out, friendship drama, high school crushes who don't respect you, and even how to be safe at conventions. I'd definitely read more books by Kazimir Lee.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
This graphic novel carefully captures the agony of keeping part of yourself from those you love. Azar's mom is overbearing and critical, and Azar's father seems willing to just put his head down and give up on his dreams. But Azar hopes for something more. This book has a lot of power to resonate with Hijabis who face microaggressions every day as well as anyone who has felt forced to hide a huge part of their identity. My only real complaint is that the excerpts of the Sci-Fi novel that are sprinkled throughout this book were hard to understand. It's strange to blend a graphic novel with snippets of high fantasy, and the format did not do the sci-fi justice and instead distracted from Azar's story. On the one hand, it's meant to feel like an escape from her life, but there just wasn't enough there for me to get into it and understand. I would have removed those excerpts or made them much shorter, but perhaps they'll speak to another reader more than they did to me. Other than that, this was a compelling read that touches on many important themes, including honesty versus secrets, being safe while coming out, friendship drama, high school crushes who don't respect you, and even how to be safe at conventions. I'd definitely read more books by Kazimir Lee.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
April 28, 2025
Low Orbit is a queer coming of age story about Azar, a teenager who is forced to move cross-country to Vermont when her mother’s transferred at her job. Not only does she leave behind her life in NYC, but even her father stays behind. Luckily, she befriends the neighbors, of which is Shannon, an aging Sci-Fi writer and his teenage child, Tristan, who uses they/them pronouns.
While this story seems to be about coming out to the ones you love and being yourself, it has so many levels of familial drama and trauma from everyone involved. Azar wants to come out to her Malaysian mother, but she’s afraid of how she’ll react. Her father has secrets of his own, but when they finally find peace in their family life, he doesn’t want to change that. Her mother doesn’t want to become her mother, but she pushes everyone away in the process, exactly like her own mother did. Shannon doesn’t believe in himself or the world he’s written into existence and he’ll drink himself into oblivion before he deals with the stress of life. Tristan lives with a whole other level of secrets that unfold before the ending of the book…
It has so many levels and it feels like it could be more than 1 book, but alas, it’s a standalone. I really enjoyed it.
4.5⭐️
While this story seems to be about coming out to the ones you love and being yourself, it has so many levels of familial drama and trauma from everyone involved. Azar wants to come out to her Malaysian mother, but she’s afraid of how she’ll react. Her father has secrets of his own, but when they finally find peace in their family life, he doesn’t want to change that. Her mother doesn’t want to become her mother, but she pushes everyone away in the process, exactly like her own mother did. Shannon doesn’t believe in himself or the world he’s written into existence and he’ll drink himself into oblivion before he deals with the stress of life. Tristan lives with a whole other level of secrets that unfold before the ending of the book…
It has so many levels and it feels like it could be more than 1 book, but alas, it’s a standalone. I really enjoyed it.
4.5⭐️
April 19, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
🌈 Rainbow Ratings:
Representation: 8
Atmosphere: 7
Intrigue: 7
Narrative: 6
Build-up: 7
Originality: 7
Wow Factor: 6
Set against the backdrop of quiet Vermont, this atmospheric and profound coming-of-age graphic novel follows fifteen-year-old Azar, a Malaysian American teen navigating the uneasy space between friends, family, and her own identity. After moving to a new town where she knows no one, Azar finds comfort in a pair of unconventional neighbors and the pages of a sci-fi novel—until her queerness disrupts the fragile balance she’s built.
This story had a lot of moving pieces that were a bit confusing at first, but once everything clicked, it really clicked. The plot was fun, and the romance—though unexpected—was a lovely surprise. I especially enjoyed watching Azar and Tristan grow into themselves, and seeing Azar realize she deserved more and finally demand it from her family was so satisfying. I also appreciated how the story explores the dysfunction that exists in all of our homes, reminding us that the grass isn't always greener.
Thanks to NetGalley and Top Shelf Productions for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
🌈 Rainbow Ratings:
Representation: 8
Atmosphere: 7
Intrigue: 7
Narrative: 6
Build-up: 7
Originality: 7
Wow Factor: 6
Set against the backdrop of quiet Vermont, this atmospheric and profound coming-of-age graphic novel follows fifteen-year-old Azar, a Malaysian American teen navigating the uneasy space between friends, family, and her own identity. After moving to a new town where she knows no one, Azar finds comfort in a pair of unconventional neighbors and the pages of a sci-fi novel—until her queerness disrupts the fragile balance she’s built.
This story had a lot of moving pieces that were a bit confusing at first, but once everything clicked, it really clicked. The plot was fun, and the romance—though unexpected—was a lovely surprise. I especially enjoyed watching Azar and Tristan grow into themselves, and seeing Azar realize she deserved more and finally demand it from her family was so satisfying. I also appreciated how the story explores the dysfunction that exists in all of our homes, reminding us that the grass isn't always greener.
Thanks to NetGalley and Top Shelf Productions for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
May 5, 2025
Azar, 15, a Malaysian American, recently moved to Vermont and has tried unsuccessfully to fit into her new community. She is struggling with her queer identity but bonds with nonbinary Tristan, a fellow teen who lives next door with their author father. Azar tries to forge a new path, but family and friend issues prove to be challenging, especially after an ill-fated trip to New York City. Debut author and illustrator Lee has crafted an earnest coming-of-age graphic novel. The purple-hued art hints at the depression and angst Azar feels about her parents’ separation, and the run-down building nearby that is earmarked for renovation is a clear metaphor for the upcoming changes in her life. Azar’s resilience can be a model for teens to recognize that the pain they are in now is not how they might feel in the future. Another note: readers might enjoy the story-within-a-story aspect of Tristan’s father’s sci-fi novel, while it might pull others out of the original narrative. This hopeful coming-of-age graphic novel is a solid purchase for YA collections.
I reviewed this graphic novel for the School Library Journal magazine: https://www.slj.com/review/low-orbit
I reviewed this graphic novel for the School Library Journal magazine: https://www.slj.com/review/low-orbit
December 24, 2024
Book #553
3 ⭐️
Thank you netgalley for this graphic novel the cover really caught my eye and i will say this novel had a nice story about finding ourselves and also having support from people really helps i loved the support and the friendship between the main character and tristan even at times when the friendship got rough and the support from their dad was nice too even tho he was going through things as well. This novel was a little adventure as well taking us to NYC for a con and they had cosplayers and everyone was having fun too also the main character sneaking off to try to find her dad and finding things out regarding him. I also enjoyed the art and the colors of the art as well. One of my favorite parts of this novel was the main character reading tristans fathers novel and we got too basically learn about that book as well and it was cool. Overall quick read and a nice graphic novel!
3 ⭐️
Thank you netgalley for this graphic novel the cover really caught my eye and i will say this novel had a nice story about finding ourselves and also having support from people really helps i loved the support and the friendship between the main character and tristan even at times when the friendship got rough and the support from their dad was nice too even tho he was going through things as well. This novel was a little adventure as well taking us to NYC for a con and they had cosplayers and everyone was having fun too also the main character sneaking off to try to find her dad and finding things out regarding him. I also enjoyed the art and the colors of the art as well. One of my favorite parts of this novel was the main character reading tristans fathers novel and we got too basically learn about that book as well and it was cool. Overall quick read and a nice graphic novel!
April 11, 2025
Growing up is hard, especially when you're a closeted queer Malaysian kid in North Carolina. I really liked the way this novel treated a coming-of-age story. Azar was a struggling teen, and she made a lot of flawed choices. She forcefully inserted herself into Shannon and Tristan's life, she refused to compromise with her mom, and she got obsessive about Shannon's life and career. She was messy, but so sweet. Her and Tristan's awkward and short almost-romance reminded me of growing up with all those crushes that never ended up going anywhere. I appreciated how Azar's mom tried really hard to support Azar, even if she couldn't get there at first. The artstyle was absolutley lovely, and the final reconnection at the epilogue was adorable. I think this is a great novel for anyone, but especially someone looking for a queer coming-of-age with messy teen protagonists.
June 9, 2025
Azar and her mother have moved to a small town in Vermont while her father finishes closing their apartment in New York. Being a hidden queer girl at a new school doesn't help Azar's awkwardness, but she finds comfort in her landlord's Sci-Fi novel that was hidden under her bed. While things seem to get worse and worse, broken arm, fighting parents, a mother that refuses to acknowledge anything about her that isn't perfect, Azar finds comfort in the pages if the story. This all culminates to a trip back to NY and a huge fight between her and her only friend. It doesn't end perfectly, but it does end with hope. A diverse cast of characters, and soft toned artwork makes these a pleasant read. I didn't really care for the story within the story, though I can understand why it was added. A worthwhile read.
July 4, 2025
This was a good read, with some really good rep both in Malaysian Azar and enby Tristian. I liked their dynamic, particularly in a friendship and relationship. There was a lot of real love there, but their dynamic was messy and complicated in a way I appreciated. I also liked how imperfect the parent-child relationships were in this book, and how none of them are completely resolved by the novel’s end, even if there is genuine love with the parents and kids. It felt very true to life. My only thing is that the weaving of the sci-fi story to the real life stuff felt a bit clunky at times, and I couldn’t follow the lore of the sci fi story at all so it sometimes felt a bit confusing. I still really liked the concept, and the real life parts of this story were really good. A good coming of age story overall.
January 20, 2025
Azar is struggling with her relationship with her parents and revealing her true identity. She feels closest to her nonbinary neighbor and their science fiction writer father. When Azar discovers her neighbor's first literary work and falls in love, she utilizes the story to help her in her own life.
I enjoyed Azar's storyline a lot, but I found the incorporation of the science fiction story (almost a story within a story) to be distracting. While I can acknowledge why it was included, it took away from the overall message for me. I also didn't find Azar's relationship with her parents to be believable, and the reconciliation of her parents left a major plot hole. I don't think this is one that I plan on purchasing.
I read an ARC from NetGalley.
I enjoyed Azar's storyline a lot, but I found the incorporation of the science fiction story (almost a story within a story) to be distracting. While I can acknowledge why it was included, it took away from the overall message for me. I also didn't find Azar's relationship with her parents to be believable, and the reconciliation of her parents left a major plot hole. I don't think this is one that I plan on purchasing.
I read an ARC from NetGalley.
March 29, 2025
This debut graphic novel is a complicated YA coming of age story about a queer Malaysian American teen girl dealing with living in a small Vermont town, her parent's separation and figuring out how to come out to her less than supportive mother.
When Azar finds an old sci-fi book, she finds solace in its pages and with its author and his nonbinary teenager, Tristan. I enjoyed the diverse characters and found family aspects of this story but I wasn't a huge fan of the art style or the way the very open-ended, unresolved ending.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. Recommended for fans of books like The deep dark by Molly Knox Ostertag. Content warning for depictions of alcohol abuse and addiction.
When Azar finds an old sci-fi book, she finds solace in its pages and with its author and his nonbinary teenager, Tristan. I enjoyed the diverse characters and found family aspects of this story but I wasn't a huge fan of the art style or the way the very open-ended, unresolved ending.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. Recommended for fans of books like The deep dark by Molly Knox Ostertag. Content warning for depictions of alcohol abuse and addiction.
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