Occasionally something comes along that is a perfect intersection of a person’s interests. In my case, that’s new graphic novel Turtle Bread, which combines baking (and Bake Off!), mental health themes, representational diversity, a sprinkling of cats and, of course, comics.
Turtle Bread is the debut graphic novel from cookbook writer and Great British Bake Off 2018 finalist (plus 2022 New Year special winner) Kim-Joy, and features art by stylistically diverse Alti Firmansyah out of Indonesia. The 132-page, black and white book is available now, digitally, as part of the Comixology Originals line – which means if you have an Amazon Prime, Kindle Unlimited, or Comixology Unlimited membership, you can read it at no additional cost.
Turtle Bread centres on Yan, a young woman in London who suffers from crippling social anxiety, rock bottom self-esteem, and growing despondency as she struggles to find a job. One thing that does inject happiness and passion into Yan’s life, though, is baking. So when she stumbles across a Baking Club, where a group of very different individuals come together under the guidance of bubbly, maternal Bea, Yan forces herself to participate. It’s a continual battle with doubt, as the other bakers seem so confident and cheerful, but soon Yan realises they all have their own secret mental health struggles. However, by coming together to bake cakes and pastries – an activity that mirrors real life with its unpredictability, setbacks and frequent need to try again – they’ve created a supportive environment that helps its members to overcome their problems.
Turtle Bread actually reminded me a lot of Needle & Thread, a graphic novel from Mad Cave/Maverick that tells a coming-of-age tale through the lens of cosplay – where its teenage protagonists, struggling with parental disapproval, find encouragement from a small band of fellow crafting enthusiasts. While Needle & Thread is a YA book, though, Turtle Bread offers a more mature narrative.
Turtle Bread isn’t R-rated in terms of visuals or language, it must be clarified, so it’s perfectly suitable for adolescent readers. However, tonally it feels more realistic; more credibly a mix of light and dark. Life with mental illness is just that: living every day with internal strain. There’s no quick fix, no overcoming something and being done for good. With mental disorders, people can suffer from flare-ups. They can relapse. Turtle Bread acknowledges this, along with the fact that progress to healing is often made in small, incremental steps. Much like a tortoise.
Kim-Joy and Alti Firmansyah’s graphic novel is a hopeful story but it hits hard at key moments too. It may feature cute and energetic manga-inspired visuals but Yan’s darkest moments, when the ultra-critical voices in her head surface, will ring true for anyone who has ever experienced them. The same goes for the imagined worst-case scenarios that Yan plays repeatedly in her mind In fact, Firmansyah’s ultra-expressive style amplifies the emotional impact at these times.
Still, Turtle Bread is far from gloomy. I personally would have liked to see more of one club member’s home life, as well as Yan’s personal trajectory before the final pages, but Turtle Bread offers readers a touching slice-of-life tale where people uplift each other, and sometimes find inner strength all on their own. Plus, it comes with the bonus inclusion of actual recipes that you can follow, including the titular turtle bread. And like turtle bread, the graphic novel makes for a welcome pick-me-up when you’re feeling down.
Having released on 2 May, Turtle Bread is available right now in digital format through Comixology. The book will arrive in print form through Dark Horse Books on 3 October.