Review by GiGi Kang
Simon & Schuster, 2023
256 pages, paperback, $18.99 CAD, 978-1-5344-7694-3
Young Adult, Ages 12+
Graphic Novel, Fiction
Oh, mall. At least you’re always there for me.
Goth, bisexual, new to town, parents that don’t get along, and a lousy part-time job—there is a lot going on in fifteen-year-old Liv Holme’s life. Kate Leth’s Mall Goth takes us through the final four months of a year in the 2000s as Liv adjusts to a new school and the problems that come with it, including a boy she has a lot in common with, but who already has a girlfriend. As her worries pile up, Liv finds comfort in Harbour City Mall.
The mall is more than a place that Liv escapes to. It’s where her mother works, where Liv lands her first part-time job, and where she’s able to connect with people her age outside of school. In a way, the Harbour City Mall itself is a character in Mall Goth. It acts as a warm representation of safe spaces and reveals why they are so important for teenagers: they allow them to feel accepted.
In addition, it is amusing to see all the different stores in the mall through Leth’s charming illustrations and Liv’s interactions with them. The illustrations also highlight Liv’s bold and sarcastic personality through her facial expressions. Readers learn more about Liv’s interests through Leth’s illustrations of her bedroom posters, the pins on her backpack, and her signature style including fishnets, combat boots, stripes, and lots of black. Leth also incorporates different mediums into her art, including views of Liv’s online messaging and the Daemon’s Thirst video game that Liv’s new friends invite her to play. Overall, the illustrations work to amplify not only the setting, but the characters as well, allowing a deeper connection between readers and Liv.
At times, the plot itself feels rushed and there are a few common teenage tropes such as bad boyfriends and angsty relationships with parents. While these tropes can sometimes impact the originality of the story, they also contribute to the comfort factor of the novel. Liv is a witty character, and her perspectives tend to be humorous, but it should be noted that the novel also includes mature themes, including sexual experiences and an adult-minor relationship which can be difficult to read.
Readers who enjoy coming-of-age stories that represent both the joys and the awkward phases of growing up will appreciate Leth’s novel. Fans of the popular Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli and the Heartstopper series by Alice Oseman may find familiarity in Mall Goth. Notably, Leth’s novel includes themes of celebratory queer love and fulfilling friendship that Albertalli’s and Oseman’s works also emphasize.
GiGi Kang studied English Literature and Creative Writing at UBC. In addition to her creative writing, she is a music writer at LA-based magazine The Luna Collective where she interviews creatives and enjoys learning of their stories. You can read more of her work at gigikang.com.
YOUNG ADULTING 