Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Teen Titans: Beast Boy by Kami Garcia! If you love a YA graphic novel, the Teen Titans series is one to try. Keep reading to learn more about the book and find out who Kami’s favourite DC character is.
Author: Kami Garcia
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Illustrator: Gabriel Picolo
Publisher: DC Ink
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Garfield Logan has spent his entire life being overlooked. Even in a small town like Eden, Georgia, the 17-year-old with green streaks in his hair can’t find a way to stand out–and the clock is ticking. Senior year is almost over. If Gar doesn’t find a way to impress the Chosen Ones–the social elite at Bull Creek High School–he will never know what it’s like to matter. Gar’s best friends, Stella and Tank, don’t understand why he cares what other people think. They miss their funny, pizza-loving, video game-obsessed best friend.
Then Gar accepts a wild dare out of the blue. It impresses the Chosen Ones and his social status soars. But other things are changing, too. Gar grows six inches overnight. His voice drops and, suddenly, he’s stronger and faster. He’s finally getting everything he wanted, but his newfound popularity comes at a price. Gar has to work harder to impress his new friends. The dares keep getting bigger and the stakes keep getting higher.
When Gar realizes the extent of his physical changes, he has to dig deep and face the truth about himself–and the people who truly matter–before his life spirals out of control.
Q&A With Kami Garcia, Author of Teen Titans: Beast Boy
How has your experience as a teacher and reading specialist helped to shape your graphic novels?
Kami: I’ve spent most of my life working with children and teens. They don’t develop an interest in reading unless they relate to the characters and the story is engaging. So those are the elements I focus on when I’m writing graphic novels. I think the art is also a huge draw and it makes the stories more accessible.
Are there any DC characters that are your favourites? Ones that you relate to the most? Is the process of writing a graphic novel different than that of a YA novel for you?
Kami: I love so many DC characters, but my favorites are the Teen Titans and the members of Young Justice. I love younger characters who are still figuring out how to use their powers, like Raven and Beast Boy. I’m also a huge fan of Constantine, Wonder Woman, and Black Canary. I really relate to Raven because she’s struggling to find her inner strength and define herself in a world that wants to define her.
Has your writing process changed at all due to the pandemic? How do you stay motivated to write?
Kami: My process hasn’t changed much. I write at home because I need a quiet environment. Even if no one is home I wear huge noise cancelling headphones. I don’t write every day, but I try to do writing related work every day like brainstorming, outlining, or research. I’m not always motivated to write, so I map out how many words I need to write every day to hit my deadlines on a monthly calendar.
What would be on your playlist for Teen Titans: Beast Boy?
Kami: My Beast Boy playlist would be a mix of rap, hip hop, and alternative rock — the Beastie Boys, Drake, Nas, the White Stripes, Strokes, and the Killers.
Describe Teen Titans: Beast Boy in 5 words.
Kami: funny, brave, unexpected, authentic & thrill ride
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions, Kami!
About Kami Garcia
Kami Garcia is a #1 New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author. She is the coauthor of the BEAUTIFUL CREATURES series, which has been published in 51 countries and 37 languages, with over 10 million copies in print. In 2013, Beautiful Creatures released as a feature film from Warner Brothers. Kami is a cofounder of the YALLFEST kid lit book festival and the author of five solo novels, including her Bram Stoker Award-nominated novels Unbreakable and Unmarked (THE LEGION series) and The X-Files Origins: Agent of Chaos. Kami’s first graphic novel Teen Titans: Raven, with artist Gabriel Picolo, is the first book in her TEEN TITANS series for DC Comics and the adult series JOKER/HARLEY: CRIMINAL SANITY, from DC Black Label.
Make sure to check out the other stops along the blog tour!
About The Candid Cover
Olivia ❀ Canadian YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, & professional bibliophile.