{{Short description|Graphic novel by Colleen A. F. Venable}} {{Infobox book| | genre = Young adult fiction, Romance | preceded_by = | oclc = | congress = | dewey = | isbn_note = | isbn = 9781596437098 | pages = | media_type = | english_release_date = | release_date = | publisher = First Second | subject = | name = Kiss Number 8 | series = | language = English | country = | cover_artist = | illustrator = Ellen T. Crenshaw | author = Colleen AF Venable | caption = Cover of ''Kiss Number 8'' | image = Kiss Number 8.jpeg | translator = | title_orig = | followed_by = | illustrators = | pub_date = March 12, 2019 }}

'''''Kiss Number 8''''' is a 2019 graphic novel written by Colleen A. F. Venable, illustrated by Ellen T. Crenshaw, and published by First Second Books. In 2019, the novel was longlisted for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Kiss Number 8 |url=https://www.nationalbook.org/books/kiss-number-8/ |access-date=2022-08-10 |website=National Book Foundation |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Ishizuka |first=Kathy |date=2019-09-16 |title=Longlist Announced: 2019 National Book Award for Young People |url=https://www.slj.com/story/longlist-announced-2019-national-book-award-for-young-peoples-literature |access-date=2022-08-10 |website=School Library Journal}}</ref> The following year, it was a finalist for an Eisner Award<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2020-06-02 |title=2020 Eisner Awards Nominations |url=https://www.comic-con.org/awards/2020-eisner-awards-nominations |access-date=2022-08-10 |website=Comic-Con International: San Diego |language=en |archive-date=2022-01-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122212122/https://comic-con.org/awards/2020-eisner-awards-nominations |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2020-06-05 |title=The 2020 Eisner Award Nominations, Reviewed |url=https://www.slj.com/story/the-2020-eisner-award-nominations-reviewed |access-date=2022-08-10 |website=School Library Journal}}</ref> and Prism Award.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=The Fourth Annual Prism Awards Will Be Presented Online – Oct 17-18, 2020 |url=https://www.prismcomics.org/the-fourth-annual-prism-awards-will-be-presented-online-oct-17-18-2020/ |access-date=2022-08-10 |website=Prism Comics |language=en-US}}</ref>

The novel follows the protagonist's experiences through a series of horrible kisses and humorously explores her sexuality, family, and faith.

== Reception ==

=== Reviews === ''Kiss Number 8'' received starred reviews from ''Kirkus Reviews'' and ''Publishers Weekly'', who respectively called the novel a "rare blend of tender and revolutionary"<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-12-09 |title=Kiss Number 8 |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/colleen-af-venable/kiss-number-8/ |access-date=2022-08-09 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}</ref> and a "queer coming-of-age story that earns its powerful emotional impact."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-12-24 |title=Kiss Number 8 by Colleen AF Venable |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781596437098 |access-date=2022-08-10 |website=Publishers Weekly}}</ref>

''The New York Times''<nowiki/>'s Jen Doll wrote, "Venable's frequently heartbreaking recollection of the abuse and torment that people went through for being 'different' — and the fact that it still happens all too frequently — is a powerful reminder of how far we still have to go."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Doll |first=Jen |date=2019-05-29 |title=First Love and Other Investigations |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/29/books/review/ya-romance-for-teenagers.html |access-date=2022-08-10 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

''School Library Journal'' called the book "thought-provoking" and a "solid addition to YA shelves."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Riember |first=Carla |date=2019-02-01 |title=Kiss Number 8 |url=https://www.slj.com/review/kiss-number-8 |access-date=2022-08-10 |website=School Library Journal}}</ref>

=== Awards and honors === In 2019, the New York Public Library included ''Kiss Number 8'' on its list of the best books for teens published that year. The following year, the book was included on the Texas Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 Texas Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List |url=https://austin.bibliocommons.com/list/share/140083691/1545469169?page=3 |access-date=2022-08-10 |website=Austin Public Library |language=en-US}}</ref> and the TAYSHAS Reading List.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 TAYSHAS Reading List |url=https://austin.bibliocommons.com/list/share/140083691/1549214149?page=3 |access-date=2022-08-10 |website=Austin Public Library |language=en-US}}</ref> {| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible" !Year !Award !Result !Ref. |- |2019 |National Book Award for Young People's Literature |Longlist |<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> |- |2020 |Eisner Award for Best Publication for Teens |Finalist |<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> |- |2020 |Great Graphic Novels for Teens |Top 10 |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lam |first=Anna |date=2020-01-02 |title=YALSA names 2020 Great Graphic Novels for Teens |url=https://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2020/01/yalsa-names-2020-great-graphic-novels-teens |access-date=2022-08-10 |website=American Library Association |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=NGILBERT |date=2020-01-02 |title=2020 Great Graphic Novels for Teens Top Ten |url=https://www.ala.org/yalsa/2020-great-graphic-novels-teens-top-ten |access-date=2022-08-10 |website=Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) |language=en}}</ref> |- |2020 |Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers |Top 10 |<ref>{{Cite web |last=NGILBERT |date=2020-01-07 |title=2020 Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers |url=https://www.ala.org/yalsa/2020-top-ten-quick-picks-reluctant-young-adult-readers |access-date=2022-08-10 |website=Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lam |first=Anna |date=2020-01-08 |title=YALSA announces 2020 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers |url=https://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2020/01/yalsa-announces-2020-quick-picks-reluctant-young-adult-readers |access-date=2022-08-10 |website=American Library Association |language=en}}</ref> |- |2020 |Prism Award for Mainstream Publisher |Finalist |<ref name=":4" /> |}

=== Controversy === In the summer of 2021, at a Leander Independent School District board meeting, a parent complained about ''In the Dream House'', a memoir by Carmen Maria Machado, which led to a review of all the books on the district's Language Arts Reading List. Eight books, including ''Kiss Number 8'', were ultimately removed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 2021 |title=Intellectual Freedom Updates |url=https://www.ala.org/membership/sites/ala.org.membership/files/content/Summer%202021%20-%20Intellectual%20Freedom%20Updates.pdf |access-date=2022-08-09 |website=American Library Association}}</ref>

In August 2022, 62% of Jamestown Charter Township residents voted to defund their public library system after librarians refused to remove three books from the library's shelves: ''Gender Queer'' by Maia Kobabe, ''Kiss Number 8'', and ''Spinning'' by Tillie Walden.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Schaub |first=Michael |date=2022-08-05 |title=Michigan Library Is Defunded Over LGBTQ+ Books |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/michigan-library-is-defunded-over-lgbtq-books/ |access-date=2022-08-10 |website=Kirkus Reviews |language=en}}</ref> Community activists claimed that the presence of these books in the library's young adult and adult sections meant the library was trying to "groom" young children.<ref name=":03">{{Cite web |last=French |first=Ron |date=2022-08-03 |title=Upset over LGBTQ books, a Michigan town defunds its library in tax vote {{!}} Bridge Michigan |url=https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/upset-over-lgbtq-books-michigan-town-defunds-its-library-tax-vote |access-date=2022-08-04 |website=Bridge Michigan |language=en}}</ref> According to Library Board President Larry Walton, without fund renewal, "the library will run out of money in 2023, jeopardizing its existence."<ref name=":7" /> Despite not wanting to close the library, Walton has stated that the board refuses to ban the books.<ref name=":7" />

== References == {{Reflist}}

Category:2019 graphic novels Category:2019 children's books Category:Censored books Category:Censorship of LGBTQ issues Category:First Second Books books Category:Children's books with LGBTQ themes Category:LGBTQ-related graphic novels Category:2019 LGBTQ-related literary works