Teen Titans: Raven

by Kami Garcia, Gabriel Picolo (Illustrator)

Overview

A New York Times bestseller!

USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestseller!

When a tragic accident takes the life of 17-year-old Raven Roth's foster mom—and Raven's memory—she moves to New Orleans to recover and finish her senior year of high school.

Starting over isn't easy. Raven remembers everyday stuff like how to solve math equations and make pasta, but she can't remember her favorite song or who she was before the accident. And when impossible things start happening, Raven begins to think it might even be better not to know who she was before.

But as she grows closer to her new friends, her foster sister, Max, and Tommy Torres, a guy who accepts her for who she is now, Raven has to decide if she's ready to face what's buried in the past...and the darkness building inside her.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia and first-time graphic novel artist Gabriel Picolo comes this riveting tale of finding the strength to face who you are and learning to trust others—and yourself.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781401286231
Publisher:	DC Comics
Publication date:	07/02/2019
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	14,494
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	GN520L (what's this?)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Kami Garcia is the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling coauthor of the Beautiful Creatures novels, which have been published in 50 countries and 38 languages. She is also the author of five solo novels, including two Bram Stoker Award nominees. Her forthcoming graphic novel Teen Titans: Raven, illustrated by artist Gabriel Piccolo, is the first title in her Teen Titans series for DC Ink. Find Kami online at kamigarcia.com.

Gabriel Picolo is Brazilian comic artist and illustrator based in São Paulo. His work has become known for its strong storytelling and atmospheric colors. Picolo has developed projects for clients such as Blizzard, BOOM! Studios, Harper Collins, and DeviantART.

Editorial Reviews

04/15/2019

After an accident kills her foster mother and leaves Raven with amnesia, she is sent to New Orleans to live with her foster mother’s sister. There, she quickly bonds with her new foster sister and finds school friends while finishing her senior year. She also starts to have nightmares, hears the thoughts of people around her, and can seemingly cause bad things to happen just by thinking about them. Recovering her memories might explain these strange phenomena, but Raven isn’t sure she wants to be the person she was before. Garcia (the Beautiful Creatures series) reframes Teen Titans comics character Raven as a young adult discovering her powers, focusing more on issues of identity and navigating teen social spaces than on superheroic battles (though this reboot has some of that, too). Picolo’s spare, effective use of color and slightly edgy art helps situate the story in a supernaturally tinged world of high-school drama. Readers without prior knowledge of the character may be confused by the jumpy plot and vaguely developed characters, but Garcia’s exploration of the connection between memory and identity offers a promising entrée to the Teen Titans series. Ages 13–up. (July)

Publishers Weekly

06/01/2019

Gr 7 Up–Seventeen-year-old Raven grieves the loss of her foster mother, but she can't remember her at all—the car wreck that took her mother's life took Raven's memories, too. Raven moves to New Orleans to live with her foster mother's sister, Natalia, and Natalia's daughter Max. At school, Raven is overwhelmed by the deafening anxieties of her classmates. Not only can she sense their emotions but when she wishes ill on the school mean girl, she discovers that her dark thoughts actually come true. Raven and Max must learn what's causing these strange abilities. Meanwhile, Natalia knows a sinister force is operating on Raven and seeks the counsel of the spirit world. Garcia's ambitious origin story of a Teen Titan is funny and unequivocally feminist. Her Raven is curious and kind, but the star of this tale is Max, whose fierce loyalty, unending patience, and strong moral compass make her the best friend we all wish we had. Raven's romance with the all-too-perfect Tommy Torres initially feels tacked on but ultimately finds a place in the increasingly complicated plot. In Natalia's appeals to the spirit world, Garcia presents an empowering representation of New Orleans African American spiritual life. Picolo's gorgeous illustrations are dynamic and nuanced. Particularly lovely is the New Orleans scenery; the ornate balconies and crumbling graveyards evoke the gritty beauty of the city. Raven's style (a chic, violet-tinged bob; dark hair and nails; combat boots) will appeal to budding punks. VERDICT Lovers of superheroes will appreciate this complex origin story.—Anna Murphy, Berkeley Carroll School, Brooklyn

School Library Journal

2019-04-07
Mother. Gone. Memory. Gone. Seventeen-year-old high school senior Raven rebuilds her life in New Orleans after a car accident takes away everything she knows.

Raven now lives with her late mother's sister, a voodoo priestess and "the Mother of Souls," and her daughter. Raven searches for clues to her past while navigating conventional teenage social problems: a mean girl and a cute boy. She also contends with other people's emotions invading her mind and the tricky tendency for her own mean thoughts to manifest into reality. While she cannot remember anything from before the accident, she suffers continual nightmares featuring a multieyed spirit. A compelling storyline pulls readers into Raven's turmoil, guiding them competently through the floating panels of expressive artwork. The muted palette pairs perfectly with the noir tone of Raven's search for her origins. The respectful but not extremely nuanced inclusion of matriarchal African heritage religions such as voodoo is more empowering than campy. In one notable scene, the spirits of dead "mothers, daughters, sisters, and grandmothers, voodoo queens and warrior women of O'rleans" are called forward to gather and vanquish evil alongside Raven. Picolo's (Icarus and the Sun, 2018, etc.) ghostly images of girls and women from different eras erupting from their graves to surround and support their earthbound sisters elicit good chills. The diverse cast is indicated through names and variations in skin tone.

Well-paced and thrilling; readers will fly high with Raven's tale. (Graphic fiction. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews

"Kami Garcia shows off her stellar storytelling skills in this fantastic first installment of Teen Titans. Once you start reading Teen Titans: Raven, you won’t want to stop.” —Stephanie Garber, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Caraval series

“As someone who spends half her life inside Rachel’s head…it was impressive to see her so effortlessly come to life on the page! If you love Raven, this is a must-read!”  —Teagan Croft, actress portraying Raven in the DC Universe series Titans
 
“Kami Garcia's Raven shows us that family bonds are made by more than blood, and that the ties of sisterhood are more powerful than the scariest demon. It's the heart of this awesome kickass “girl power" superhero book that keeps you reading and rereading and desperate for the next installment.”  —Ellen Oh, author of The Prophecy series, and Cofounder and President of We Need Diverse Books
 
“I continue to be inspired by Kami Garcia’s authenticity and keen ability to create raw and empowering stories full of strength, truth, and love.” — Jennifer Niven, New York Times bestselling author of All the Bright Places and Holding Up the Universe 
 
“With Teen Titans: Raven, writer Kami Garcia and artist Gabriel Picolo have created a new and different look for Raven, yet she still shares the DNA of the mystical heroine created in 1980 by me and artist co-creator, George Pérez. Explore and enjoy!” —Marv Wolfman, co-creator of Raven
 
"A fast-paced adventure that weaves mystery, romance, and girl power. Kami Garcia’s Raven is perfect for die-hard Teen Titans fans, but will definitely pick up new fans along the way.” —Zoraida Córdova, award-winning author of The Brooklyn Brujas series

"Garcia’s ambitious origin story of a Teen Titan is funny and unequivocally feminist. Picolo’s gorgeous illustrations are dynamic and nuanced. Lovers of superheroes will appreciate this complex origin story." —School Library Journal

"Well-paced and thrilling; readers will fly high with Raven's tale." —Kirkus Reviews

"Picolo’s spare, effective use of color and slightly edgy art helps situate the story in a supernaturally tinged world of high-school drama. …Garcia’s exploration of the connection between memory and identity offers a promising entrée to the Teen Titans series." —Publishers Weekly

"Kami Garcia has taken an iconic Teen Titans character and turned her into a beautiful warrior. Garcia has brought wonderful depth to this Teen Titans powerhouse." —Annie Carl, The Neverending Bookshop

From the Publisher