Cecil Castellucci Books in Order

Recommended Reading Pathways: Where Should You Start?

Because Cecil Castellucci writes across multiple mediums—including prose novels, graphic novels, and serialized comic books—the best place to start depends entirely on your preferred format. There are three primary entry points recommended for new readers:

• For Prose YA Fiction Fans: Start with Boy Proof (2005). As Castellucci's debut novel, it perfectly introduces her signature themes of teenage alienation, geek culture, and characters who hide behind tough exteriors before learning to embrace their true identity.
• For Graphic Novel Enthusiasts: Start with The Plain Janes (2007). This landmark graphic novel showcases her ability to blend artistic rebellion, high school drama, and resilient female friendships.
• For Comic Book Readers: Start with Shade, the Changing Girl, Volume 1: Earth Girl Made Easy (2017). It is a vibrant, psychedelic story that serves as an excellent introduction to her work with DC Comics' Young Animal imprint.

The Janes Series Reading Order

One of Castellucci's most beloved creations is the Janes series, which originally helped launch DC Comics' short-lived Minx imprint. Illustrated by Jim Rugg, the story follows a teen named Jane who moves to the suburbs after surviving a terrorist attack in Metro City. She forms an all-girl guerrilla art collective called P.L.A.I.N. (People Loving Art In Neighborhoods) to challenge her school's social cliques and bring beauty to their town. The series should be read in order of publication:

1. The Plain Janes (2007)
2. Janes in Love (2008)

Reader Note: While originally published as two separate graphic novels, DC Comics and subsequent publishers (like Christy Ottaviano Books) have released collected editions containing both volumes, sometimes including bonus material under the unified title The Plain Janes.

The Tin Star Science Fiction Series

Castellucci's foray into space opera is the Tin Star series, which follows Tula Bane, a human teenager beaten and left for dead on a remote alien space station called Yertina Feray. The series blends elements of survival, colonial politics, and romance. The series consists of two main novels and a prequel novella:

• The Sound of Useless Wings (2015) – A prequel novella originally published on Tor.com. It focuses on the backstory of Heckleck, a Hort alien who later becomes a key ally to Tula.
• Tin Star (2014) – The first full-length novel.
• Stone in the Sky (2015) – The second full-length novel and conclusion to Tula's arc.

Reading Advice: While The Sound of Useless Wings takes place chronologically before the events of the first book, it is best read after Tin Star. Reading the main novel first allows you to understand the station's layout and species dynamics, which makes Heckleck’s backstory in the novella far more satisfying.

Shade, the Changing Girl & Changing Woman (DC Comics)

Under DC's Young Animal imprint, curated by Gerard Way, Castellucci wrote a modern reimagining of the classic character Shade, the Changing Man. In this version, Loma, an alien from the planet Meta, steals the infamous madness coat and body-swaps with a comatose human teenager named Megan Boyer. The reading order is serialized but straightforward when following the collected trade paperbacks:

1. Shade, the Changing Girl, Volume 1: Earth Girl Made Easy (2017) – Collects issues #1–6.
2. Shade, the Changing Girl, Volume 2: Little Runaway (2018) – Collects issues #7–12.
3. DC/Young Animal: Milk Wars Crossover (2018) – A crossover event where Loma interacts with the wider DC universe. Castellucci co-wrote the Shade, the Changing Girl/Wonder Woman Special #1 and contributed to the larger storyline.
4. Shade, the Changing Woman (2018) – The series transitioned to this title after the crossover, serving as a direct sequel and collecting issues #1–6 of the renamed run.

Star Wars and Franchise Tie-Ins

Castellucci has lent her storytelling skills to major sci-fi and fantasy franchises. Her contributions include prose novels, comic books, and graphic novels:

• Moving Target: A Princess Leia Adventure (2015) – Co-authored with Jason Fry, this middle-grade prose novel was part of the "Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens" multimedia campaign. Set between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, it features Leia leading a decoy mission to distract the Empire.
• Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories (2022–2023) – A 12-issue comic anthology series published by Dark Horse Comics. Castellucci was a key writer for the run, scripting Issue #2 (featuring Luke Skywalker), Issue #3 (featuring Finn and Poe Dameron), and the concluding Issue #12.
• Disney Graphic Novel Adaptations – Castellucci has written comic adaptations of classic Disney films, including Disney Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (2019), Disney Frozen (2020), Disney the Little Mermaid (2020), and Disney Frozen 2 (2021). These are excellent stand-alone reads for younger audiences.

DC Comics Miniseries: Female Furies

In 2019, Castellucci wrote Female Furies, a six-issue miniseries illustrated by Adriana Melo. This series reexamines Jack Kirby's Fourth World characters—focusing on Big Barda, Lashina, Mad Harriet, and others—exploring the systemic abuse and patriarchal structures they endure under Darkseid and Granny Goodness on Apokolips. The story takes place prior to Barda's defection and escape to Earth, making it a dark and thematic prequel to the characters' classic DC appearances.

Standalone Prose and Graphic Novels

If you prefer standalone stories that do not require any prior knowledge or commitment to a series, Castellucci has a diverse list of novels and graphic novels:

Standalone Novels (Prose)

• Boy Proof (2005) – A story about a teenage cinephile named Egg who isolates herself from her peers.
• The Queen of Cool (2006) – Explores the empty life of a popular teenager who finds unexpected purpose during an internship at a zoo.
• Beige (2007) – Follows a quiet girl from Los Angeles who is sent to spend the summer with her estranged, legendary punk-rock father in Canada.
• Rose Sees Red (2010) – Set during the Cold War in New York City, telling the story of two young dancers—one American, one Soviet—who share a single night of rebellion.
• First Day on Earth (2011) – A sci-fi-infused drama about a teenager who feels like an alien in his own life and encounters a man claiming to be from another planet.
• Don't Cosplay with My Heart (2018) – A novel focusing on a teenage girl who uses cosplay to navigate family stress and personal identity.

Standalone Graphic Novels

• The Year of the Beasts (2012) – A hybrid graphic/prose novel illustrated by Nate Powell, exploring sisterhood, jealousy, and tragedy.
• Soupy Leaves Home (2017) – Illustrated by Jose Pimienta, this historical graphic novel follows a young girl who disguises herself as a boy to ride the rails as a hobo during the Great Depression.
• Girl on Film (2019) – A memoir-style graphic novel illustrated by various artists, looking back at Castellucci's own creative journey through the indie music and film scenes of Montreal and New York.

What to Know Before You Start

Castellucci's writing is heavily influenced by her eclectic background. Before becoming a full-time author, she was a singer in the Montreal indie rock band Bite and performed under the stage name Cecil Seaskull. This musical background infuses her prose with an authentic understanding of underground subcultures, art collectives, and adolescent rebellion. Readers should expect empathetic, character-focused stories that often feature outsiders, artists, and dreamers striving to find their community.