A brother and sister navigate the fractured landscape of childhood abuse in Memories of Giselle, a new graphic novel from rising cartoonist Katia Vecchio hitting shelves this summer from Image Comics.

The story follows Giselle as she’s haunted by her late grandmother’s memory and a recurring image of an empty boat, a symbol of the truth she’s buried for years. As she moves through adolescence, dealing with desire and trust, the pieces of her repressed past finally start coming together, revealing how deeply it’s shaped both her and her brother’s lives.

Vecchio, known for Silver Vessels and Painted, is making her Image debut with this deeply personal work inspired by true events. It’s drawn comparisons to Zoe Thorogood’s It’s Lonely at the Centre of the Earth and Kate Beaton’s Ducks for its raw, compassionate approach to difficult subject matter.

Foreword Reviews called it “a standout graphic novel” in a starred review, praising its tenderness and nuanced portrait of trauma’s lasting impact.

The book drops at comic shops June 17 and bookstores everywhere July 14. For indie creators tackling tough stories about survival and memory, Vecchio’s approach proves you don’t need to sensationalize trauma to make it hit hard.