I’m a Wild Seed by Sharon Lee De La Cruz
Street Noise Books
Publication Date: April 6, 2021
ISBN: 9781951491055
In this autobiographical comic book, De La Cruz talks about how she discovers her sexuality and what it means to be a woman of color. She also reflects on the racial and sexual oppression that she and others face in American society. Through this book, we learn how she decides to reject social norms and standards to define herself the way she wants.
This insightful autobiography takes the reader on a personal journey of the complexities of identity and societal dogmas. De La Cruz navigates between her struggle with her gender, sexuality, and ethnic identities as it contradicts community and social norms. As she becomes more self-aware of herself and society, she learns to not only fight for others but also herself. De La Cruz’s drawings are childish and playful, conveying the whole range of human emotions beautifully.
Recommend this to fans of comics like Be Gay, Do Comics by The Nib and I Am Not Okay With This by Charlies Forsman (also adapted into a Netflix series) or films like The Half of It and Alex Strangelove.
—Shaira Rock
Other Nominated Titles
- Asadora!, vol. 1 by Naoki Urasawa (January 19, 2021)
- Slaughterhouse-Five, or the Children’s Crusade: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Kurt Vonnegut, Ryan North, and Albert Monteys (September 15, 2020)
The Selected Lists teams read throughout the year in search of the best titles published in their respective categories. Once a book is suggested (either internally or through the title suggestion form), it must pass through a review process to be designated an official nomination.
Each week, the teams will feature a review of one of the officially nominated titles. Additional titles to receive this designation will be listed as well. At year’s end, the team will use that list of nominated titles to select a final list and Top Ten. The previous years’ lists are also made available on The Hub.
