Chernobyl, Life, and Other Disasters HC (2026 Neal Porter Books) A Graphic Memoir comic books
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Published Apr 2026 by Neal Porter Books.$17.95
1st printing. Story and art by Yevgenia Nayberg. Strong-willed Genya sets her mind to attending art school in 1980s Ukraine, amidst the turmoil of Soviet control, the Cold War, and the unfolding Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Genya—the nickname of the books author and story's protagonist, Yevgenia—knows from age five that she wants to be an artist. When she turns eleven, she'll apply to the same prestigious art school that her mother attended. But making the cut won't be easy, especially with the schools open-secret rule that no more than 1% of the student body can be Jewish. The years before Genya's eleventh birthday bring plenty to distract her. Nothing in Soviet Ukraine is quite as it seems; adults mock the government, but only in private; and her classmates are terrified of American bomb strikes. And that's all before April 26, 1986, when Genya's police officer neighbor gets called to an emergency in a town she's never heard of: Chernobyl. A graphic memoir account of creator Yevgenia Nayberg's childhood, Chernobyl, Life, and Other Disasters is both deeply personal and a glimpse into broader Soviet intelligentsia experiences. Young readers curious about life elsewhere, particularly in the face of disaster, will find ample details to devour, while those dreaming of a creative life will take inspiration from Genya's perseverance. Salient and yet often slyly funny, this is a must-read for any graphic memoir fan. Hardcover, 200 pages, full color. Age 10 and up Cover price $24.99.
