Bloom

Ari can't wait for school to be over so he can jettison his family responsibilities and get his band going. But Ari doesn't count on Hector showing up... that changes everything. This is a sweet coming-of-age story of two boys trying to find their way to each other, despite several road blocks. Ganucheau's gorgeous art beautifully illustrates Panetta's story about the way first love overwhelms us, and the way we try to navigate it. Recommended By Dianah H., Powells.com

All Ari wants to do is escape the family bakery and move to the city, where he can finally focus on his music — but will a cute new baker with a new perspective change his mind? This book has some of my favorite things: queerness, blushing, and bread. An absolute ray of sunshine. Recommended By Caroline M., Powells.com

Now that high school is over, Ari is dying to move to the big city with his ultra-hip band — if he can just persuade his dad to let him quit his job at their struggling family bakery. Though he loved working there as a kid, Ari cannot fathom a life wasting away over rising dough and hot ovens. But while interviewing candidates for his replacement, Ari meets Hector, an easygoing guy who loves baking as much as Ari wants to escape it. As they become closer over batches of bread, love is ready to bloom . . . that is, if Ari doesn't ruin everything.

Writer Kevin Panetta and artist Savanna Ganucheau concoct a delicious recipe of intricately illustrated baking scenes and blushing young love, in which the choices we make can have terrible consequences, but the people who love us can help us grow.

"A quiet, earnest romance with warmth and depth." Booklist

"[A] pleasantly diverse cast and realistically varied relationship dynamics from Panetta (Zodiac Starforce) offer a thoughtful look at how one grows into and out of relationships, with all the commensurate joy, awkwardness, and reconciliation that family and friends offer." Publishers Weekly

"Beautiful artwork depicts characters coping with life's increasing responsibilities and is especially sumptuous when focusing on the yummy desserts. This is both a delicious foray into the world of baking and young love and an endearing, realistic tale of two teens helping one another grow." School Library Journal (Starred Review) 

"This is the best kind of romantic tale: innocent and unfussy, yet overwhelming. Author Panetta's story is baked to perfection: a crush that turns to infatuation — and later love — in the confines of a professional kitchen bristling with hot stoves, stuffed shelves, and perfectly shaped spanakopita." Los Angeles Review of Books

Kevin Panetta is a comic book writer. He has worked on books for properties like Steven Universe, Regular Show, Bravest Warriors, and WWE. His creator-owned series, Zodiac Starforce, is now on it's second volume and his first graphic novel, Bloom, is published by First Second (2019). Kevin came to writing after years dedicated to comics as a reader, shop employee, and convention organizer. He lives in Washington, DC with his cool wife and two cool dogs.

Savanna Ganucheau is a comic artist from New Orleans, Louisiana with a BFA in Film from The University of New Orleans. She made her start in comics by self-publishing and selling her work in small comic book shops around New Orleans. Alongside creating the popular webcomic George and Johnny, Savanna's artwork has appeared in notable publications including Jem and the Holograms, Adventure Time Comics, and Lumberjanes. Her first graphic novel Bloom is published by First Second.