A stylish horror comic that finds its most terrifying antagonist in the place we least expect it.
It’s Jenny’s sister’s big moment, an induction ceremony for Phi Beta Kappa’s own Susie Kim, but their mother insists on accounting for every moment of Jenny’s day. And as an overachieving ER physician, Mom knows a lot about keeping a schedule and running a tight ship. But what if Jenny doesn’t want to follow her mom’s every wish and command? What if being a lawyer, a doctor, or other credentialed professional isn’t what Jenny wants for her future? What if she just wants to make her own way in the world? Not in this house, with this so-called Tiger Mom! But Jenny has a dark side, too. Years of pressure and expectations have become part of her DNA, even if her family thinks she’s taking things easy or wasting her time. Is it any surprise when she lashes out against the mother who instilled those values and the sister who flawlessly embodies them? A familiar argument, a hunt for misplaced keys, and a power outage are fertile ground for young Jenny’s inner monster to rear its ugly head. But with a monster this well-fed, there might be no hope of turning back.
A poignant graphic novel with sobering consequences, Asian American Horror Story: Vol. 1 – There’s a Monster in the House inspires fear through imagination, long-standing traditions, and the best of intentions. Even the strongest dam seems invincible until a fracture appears, and for Asian teen Jenny, expectations and impossible standards are that deluge that might turn the crack into a rupture. While this sharply illustrated novel depicts fierce pressures, the grayscale manga-style book is balanced, offering the concerned viewpoint of a mother and sister who truly love Jenny, though not in a way that sees her clearly. A bit of levity comes with Jenny’s convoluted exchanges with Alexa. While they are ultimately sad, the comical glitches in communicating with a digital assistant lighten moments of dark emotional turmoil. Every reader can relate to Jenny’s feelings of being discounted or forced into an uncomfortable mold. She rages, “Then society just needs to stop. Stop telling us what we should be. Stop telling us what we need to be. Stop telling us what we have to be… and just let us be.” Equal parts complex family drama and chilling study of inherited fear, There’s a Monster in the House is a stylish horror comic that finds its most terrifying antagonist in the place we least expect it.
