Hot Comb

Written by: Ebony Flowers

First line: I remember the first time I got a relaxer.

Why you should read this book: A collection of short, quiet graphic stories loosely tied together around the theme of black women's hair, although, of course, it's not really about hair. I'd call this a feminist work in the sense that the primary thrust of each story arc isn't about conflict as much as it as about relationships: girls' relationships with their mothers, with their hair, with their families, with their friends. The innocence of childhood and the joy of loving relationships is juxtaposed with the painful truths of reality, including sibling rivalry, micro (and macro) aggression, peer rejection, and identity formation.

Why you shouldn't read this book: Your head is on fire because of the relaxer.