Middlewest: The Complete Tale

Young, Skottie. Illustrated by Jorge Corona, Jean-François Beaulieu, and Nate Piekos. Middlewest: The Complete Tale. 2021. 560p. ISBN 9781534324534.

Abel is a young boy who is grappling with anger issues. His mother left them when he was younger, and he finds it increasingly harder to experience his father's angry outbursts and his continual putdowns. Despite having a steady job, Abel's physically and emotionally abusive father, Dave, never seems to be pleased or happy with his son. When he gets caught for shoplifting, Abel faces the furious wrath of his father, who literally unleashes a storm.

Forced to flee his now destroyed home and neighborhood, Abel and his companion, a literal Fox, head into Middlewest, looking for his mother. Abel soon realizes he's infected with the same storm that has destroyed his father. Finding a cure becomes of immediate importance. Assisted by an old man, Abel makes his way to a traveling fair, where the man's sister, Maggie, possesses some of the ancient magical skills that may be able to help him. 

At the fair, Abel meets Bobby, a mechanic his age, and her robot Wrench. Welcomed into the fold, Abel learns new skills, but when Maggie finally attempts to discover the source of Abel's anger, she accidentally releases the storm inside him, and the fair is wrecked. With people hurt, Maggie banishes Abel from the fair. Ignoring Maggie's pleas, Bobby also departs the fair, hoping to find Abel before it's too late.

Caught by a network of criminals who brings kidnapped children to a farm where they handle exploding fruits, Abel is reunited with Bobby. At the fair, meanwhile, Maggie marshals her friends to launch an assault against the farm. And in the background, ever getting closer, is the storm that is Dave, hoping to find Abel and present his excuses. 

Throughout this journey, Abel experiences a perilous landscape, where he must confront his inner demons and the legacy of his father's violence. He learns about his family history and struggles to define his own identity, ultimately seeking to break free from the cycle of abuse that has plagued his family for generations.

Middlewest tackles important themes and may resonate with readers who have experienced similar struggles. Readers who like graphic novel will find the illustrations intriguing and will enjoy this action-packed story.