KYO MACLEAR was born in London and grew up in Toronto as the only child of a foreign correspondent. Her father reported on some significant world events, including recording the first interviews with American POWs in North Vietnam. While Stray Love is entirely a work of fiction, it is informed by her experiences living with her father. Her first novel, The Letter Opener (2007), was awarded the K.M. Hunter Artists Award and shortlisted for the Amazon/Books in Canada First Novel Award. Maclear is also an award-winning visual arts writer and the author of two children’s books: Spork (2010) and Virginia Wolf (2012). Visit her online at www.kyomaclear.ca.

Kyo Maclear's profile page

Byron Eggenschwiler is an award-winning illustrator whose recent books include The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt by Riel Nason, Operatic by Kyo Maclear (starred reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal and Quill & Quire), Coyote Tales by Thomas King and Beastly Puzzles by Rachel Poliquin (starred review from School Library Journal). Byron’s work has also appeared in the New Yorker, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Walrus, GQ and O, The Oprah Magazine. He lives in Calgary, Alberta.

Byron Eggenschwiler's profile page

• Nominated, Black-Eyed Susan Book Award — Graphic Novels, Grades 6-9
• Commended, The List, Toronto Public Library
• Short-listed, Joe Shuster Award — The Dragon Award
• Short-listed, Red Maple Award
• Commended, Quill & Quire Books of the Year
• Short-listed, Cybils Award for Elementary/ Middle Grade Graphic Novels

Brimming with raw emotion, music references, and gorgeous art, this memorable and relatable graphic novel will linger with readers.

School Library Journal

Packed with music references and evocative illustrations, Operatic is a graphic novel that students will easily relate to and identify with.

Vancouver Writers Fest

Opera is an unusual but pitch-perfect match for that swell of overwhelming feeling, and Maclear.

Booklist

Operatic offers a deft look at adolescence, rich but subtle, accessible but beautifully complex. . . . Maclear has created a setting and a cast of characters that feel extraordinarily fresh, alive, and, above all, very real. . . . Eggenschwiler’s visual metaphors create their own network of social, emotional, and sensory connections. . . . This book will delight not only young people and graphic-novel aficionados but anyone who believes that art — especially opera — is a powerful force in the world.

Quill & Quire

Maclear and Eggenschwiler cleverly weave together story, visual art, and music. . . . Clever and contemplative, with music history readers might find unexpectedly fun.

Kirkus Reviews