Nowhere: A Graphic Novel by Jon Claytor
A scary but—delightful surprise!—also humorous portrayal of adolescence
Shadowy zombies, red eyes gleaming hungrily. Shadowy wolves, leaving red footprints in their wake. A mysterious giant cube that recalls the 2001: A Space Odyssey monolith, with its hopeful suggestion of friendly aliens—but scratch any idea of friendly. The cube has pools of blood seeping from underneath.
Welcome to Beauséjour, the setting of Jon Claytor’s noir-ish graphic young-adult novel Nowhere. The zombies, wolves, and cube are just some of the ominous sights greeting protagonist Joel and his family when they move into town.
Enjoyably scary as a horror story, Nowhere also serves as Claytor’s clever metaphor for adolescence. After all, when you’re a teen, unsure and unconfident, reality can be as frightening as the aforementioned wolves et al.
Joel certainly finds that, to put it mildly, “sometimes the wildlife was a little close to home.” And, “There did seem to be more creepy-crawlies than ever before.”
To my delight, Claytor also lets some humour creepy-crawl in. For one, the irony of the town’s name: Beauséjour means “pleasant place.”
For another, the wisecracks, e.g., when an unhappy character named Calvin seeks a therapist’s help for his vampire-like tendencies. Through sprouting fangs, Calvin confides that he, his family, and friends are all monsters. “What about your brother?” the therapist asks gently. “He’s not a monster.”
Calvin’s response: “WORSE! He works in HUMAN RESOURCES!” For this reader, a survivor of hit-and-miss HR office policies and procedures, that moment is pure LOL.
Here’s another chuckler. Joel’s mom, Molly, gets a call from a friend, whose advice re Beauséjour’s wandering zombies is “best turn off your lights and close your curtains.” However, here’s what the friend is far more interested in: “The big news is Sue and Dave hooked up. I mean, ew!”
Claytor deftly adds poignancy into the horror-humour mix. Wise Molly counsels her jittery son, “Vampires can’t come in unless you invite them.” Good advice for all readers, all ages.
Even more effective at keeping vamps at bay? The life-changing realization that dawns on budding artist Joel: “The best way to avoid monsters of all sorts is to stay home and draw.”
Creativity. Imagination. Both far more powerful weapons for adolescents, for anyone, than trying to counter bullies with threats. Bothered by vampires? Forget ’em. Put down that stake. Instead, pick up a sketchbook and pencil.
Shortlisted, Amazon Canada First Novel Award
About the Author
About the Author and Illustrator
Jon Claytor is a graphic novelist, painter, and writer living in Sackville, New Brunswick. Jon’s work ranges from oil painting and watercolour to comics. He has had solo exhibitions at galleries in Montreal, Toronto, Los Angeles, and throughout the Maritimes. As well as writing and illustrating stories for CBC Radio, the Frye Festival, and ruralharmreduction.com, Jon was nominated for a Juno Award for the cover of Gord Downie’s Battle of the Nudes in 2004. His graphic memoir, Take the Long Way Home, was published by Conundrum in 2022. Nowhere is his first graphic novel.
About the Reviewer
Melanie Jackson is a Vancouver writer/editor. She’s also the award-winning author of middle-grade/YA suspensers, including Orca Books’ Dinah Galloway Mystery Series, and several chillers set in amusement parks. Visit Melanie at The Writers’ Union of Canada.
Book Details
Publisher: Goose Lane, March 17, 2026
Language: English
Paperback: 448 pages
ISBN: 9781773104584