Frankly Pearl & Eva
Dive into the whimsical world of Vunga, a mischievous island boy, brought to life by retired psychotherapist Frank Banfield and illustrated by talented teen artist Eva Parada, and discover Pearl Lee’s Zebra-girl, a captivating coming-of-age novel for young adults exploring themes of identity, friendship, and self-acceptance.
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Vunga
Tales of an Island Boy
Written by Frank Banfield, Illustrated by Eva Parada
Vunga, nicknamed for the mosquitos that make him ill year after year, lives on the Caribbean island of Grenada along with his many siblings. His penchant for mischief and the playground of nature around him get Vunga into all sorts of trouble, even when his favourite brother, Gabby, tries to tame some of his wilder impulses. Whether the boys are exploring sugar mills, trapping monstrous crabs, teaching parrots new words, or sneaking out to the movie house, the one constant is their unfailing friendship.
In vivid vignettes rich with detail about life in twentieth-century Grenada, FRANK BANFIELD paints a picture of youthful escapades that did not come to pass. In this collection of stories inspired by his own memories, Banfield allows the fictional counterparts of his younger self and his late brother to live out these childhood adventures together at last.
Zebra-girl
Written by Pearl Lee
Seventeen-year-old Nessa Harding’s world —previously filled with light and colour—has faded to black and white. Her father, a frustrated poet, has left home. Her mother, a talented seascape painter, is in the midst of a nervous breakdown. Nessa’s one solace, her dog Cocoa, is shipped off to the countryside when she and her mother are forced to move into a pet-free building. To make matters worse, it’s Nessa’s graduating year, she has no idea what she wants to do after high school, and Bryce Sinclair, star of the basketball team, only has eyes for Myla Dornwood. With her three besties—Rosie, Steph, and Tony-carrying on endlessly about prom, Nessa feels more depressed than ever.
Set against the backdrop of modern-day Montreal, Zebra-Girl is a powerful and personal story that digs deep into the turmoil of the teen experience, exploring mental health, unrequited love, the opposing desires for independence and aid, and what it means to love someone-really love someone-for exactly who they are.
