Unretouchable

Szamosi employs witty narration and stark b&w ink to deliver a sincere, offbeat cautionary graphic novel of social media’s pitfalls, including its effect on mental health and body image. Olive, a recent N.Y.C. high school grad, dreams of becoming a professional fine artist like her late grandfather. But her Hungarian American mother, who works for a golf magazine, urges her to be practical. Hoping to help her “understand how people in the arts really make a living,” Olive’s mom uses her industry connections to get Olive an internship retouching fashion photography for a magazine. She immediately notices the unrealistic beauty expectations perpetuated by digitally created images of people called virtual models. The more she learns at her internship, the less she wants to see, but the body positivity movement’s increasing prevalence, as well as heart-to-hearts with mentors—including her boss, who stays grounded by making paper collages, a form of “unretouchable” art—help Olive navigate an occasionally disheartening media landscape. Szamosi’s art sometimes leans into abstract renderings of the protagonist’s feelings (Olive often visualizes her own body morphing to fit her mood and circumstances). If the narrative moralizes a bit, it does so with candor and refreshing realism. Ages 14–up. [em](Sept.) [/em]