Checked Out by Katie Fricas. Drawn & Quarterly, 2025. 9781770467811. 356pp.
Louise is an aspiring cartoonist trying to draw a graphic novel about pigeons in World War I while working at a shoe store. She’s also romantically entangled with a co-worker there who is not treating her well. But Lou soon leaves that all behind for a job in a private library as a page. (The library has a great section of books on WWI, and Lou gleefully reads in the stacks and overrides the system’s checkout limits for herself.) (Though Fricas works in a private library, too, I’m sure this is entirely fictional.)
There are odd patron interactions (I love Mr. Hassan!), awkward dating moments (see also: Marzipan, Burlesque Dance), and more than a little creative angst as Lou sinks deeper and deeper into working on her book, which amps up as the centennial of WWI approaches.
I loved this book so much! I know Katie a little in the real world and Checked Out is infused with her friendly personality in a way that makes me want to hang out with her right now. (Katie did a few signings and talks during ALA in Philadelphia last week, and I hope you got to meet her.)
