Losing the Girl

Life on Earth

Book 1

Claudia Jones is missing. Her classmates are thinking the worst . . . or at least the weirdest. It couldn’t be an alien abduction, right?

None of Claudia’s classmates at Blithedale High know why she vanished―and they’re dealing with their own issues. Emily’s trying to handle a life-changing surprise. Paula’s hoping to step out of Emily’s shadow. Nigel just wants to meet a girl who will laugh at his jokes. And Brett hardly lets himself get close to anybody.

In Losing the Girl, the first book in the Life on Earth trilogy, Eisner-nominated cartoonist MariNaomi looks at life through the eyes of four suburban teenagers: early romance, fraying friendships, and the traces of a mysterious―maybe otherworldly―disappearance. Different chapters focus on different characters, each with a unique visual approach.

“Creative artistic effects amplify the tension and awkward emotions, transforming a familiar story of young love into something memorable and new.” Publishers Weekly

“MariNaomi authentically captures the angst, vulnerability, and longing of the teenage soul through not just one but four unique and distinct voices.”  Jen Wang, author of The Prince and the Dressmaker

“A sparkling and complex novel with its feet on the ground and its eyes on the stars. MariNaomi shows great empathy for her characters, even as she refuses to sugarcoat the complexity of being a teen. Highly recommended!” – Hope Larson, author of All Summer Long