FULL SHIFT

A werewolf struggles with her senses of self and belonging.

Tessa was born a werewolf, but her abilities lag behind those of others in her extended family; she still can’t fully shift, and honestly, she doesn’t even want to. Her dad was the only one who made her feel comfortable about her wolf, but he passed away. It’s hard enough that white-presenting Tessa has a longstanding secret crush on her friend Maddie (who’s cued Indian American), let alone adding her supernatural status into the mix. When rumors swirl about hunters in the area seeking to “cure” werewolves by turning them human, Tessa sees a chance to make her life easier, but she soon discovers that their intentions are far more sinister. A miscommunication leads to Maddie’s learning the truth about Tessa’s werewolf identity—and, as a result, Maddie unwittingly becomes a target of the hunters. To save her family and her crush, Tessa must embrace her full self. The easy-to-follow panels (even in chaotic action scenes) combined with inviting art make it a breeze to zip through this entertaining, straightforward tale. While Dugan doesn’t delve too deeply into the themes, she includes just enough substance to make the work gratifying. The balance between action and humor is held together by Tessa as an appealing lead. The queer teen is prickly, sometimes awkward, and often relatable as she tries to figure out who she is and her place in the world, all while dealing with grief.

A satisfying supernatural story.