DC) “Mysterious and romantic.

I want to live in this spooky house with Ivy,

but I'm never going to the basement.” —Maureen Johnson,
New York Times bestselling author of 13 Little Blue Envelopes

ee(60
New York Times bestselling h
authorofThe DUFF 0 dyheplinger ee ei

ilusirated by \ara hipin

 Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2023 with funding from
Kahle/Austin Foundation

https://archive.org/details/poisonivythornsO00Okep!
——RODYHEPLINGER
| hastrated by |
SARA HIPIN
JEREMY LAWSON
letters by
STEVE WANDS
 Sara Miller Editor
Diego Lopez Associate Editor
Steve Cook Design Director - Books
Amie Brockway-Metcalf Publication Design

Marie Javins Editor-in-Chief, DC Comics

Daniel Cherry III Senior VP - General Manager

Jim Lee Publisher & Chief Creative Officer
Joen Choe VP - Global Brand & Creative Services
Don Falletti VP - Manufacturing Operations & Workflow Management
Lawrence Ganem VP - Talent Services
Alison Gill Senior VP — Manufacturing & Operations
Nick J. Napolitano VP — Manufacturing Administration & Design
Nancy Spears VP — Revenue

POISON IVY: THORNS

CONTENT NOTES: The following story includes depictions of sexual
harassment and parental abuse. To anyone impacted by these issues,
you are not alone. We encourage you to use our list of resources at
the end of the book for support.
PublishedbyDC Comics. Copyright © 2021 DC Comics. All Rights
Reserved. All characters, their distinctive likenesses, and related
elements featured in this publication are trademarks of DC Comics.
The stories, characters, and incidents featured in this publication
are entirely fictional. DC Comics does not read or accept unsolicited
submissions of ideas, stories, or artwork.
DC - a WarnerMedia Company.
DC Comics, 2900 West Alameda Ave., Burbank, CA 91505
Printed by LSC Communications, Crawfordsville, IN, USA. 4/23/21.
First Printing:
ISBN: 978-1-4012-9842-5

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

~ Names: Keplinger, Kody, writer. | Kipin, Sara, illustrator. | Lawson,

Jeremy (Cartoonist), colourist. | Wands, Steve, letterer.
Title: Poison Ivy : thorns / written by Kody Keplinger ; illustrated by
Sara Kipin ;colors by Jeremy Lawson ; letters by Steve Wands.
Description: Burbank, CA : DC Comics, [2021] | Audience: Ages 13-17 |
Audience: Grades 10-12 | Summary: Even though Pamela Isley spends most
of her time caring for a few small plants and does not trust other
people, when cute goth girl Alice Oh comes into her life she starts to
open up, but the dark secrets from home could destroy the one person who
ever cared about Pamela, or as her mom called her, Ivy.
Identifiers: LCCN 2021001514 | ISBN 9781401298425 (trade paperback)
Subjects: LCSH: Graphic novels. | CYAC: Graphic novels. | Family
secrets-Fiction. | Self-realization-Fiction. | Love-Fiction.
Classification: LCC PZ7.7.K455 Po 2021 | DDC 741.5/973-dc23
PEFCI20.51-937
~ LC record available at https://Iccn.loc.gov/202 1001514
 For Wendy,whois ss”
always aninspiration

i
For my family and friends
- who've supported me over the years.
: Sari, : ;
 ABLE o« CONTENTS.
_ PART ONE
POG. ek ts on eas ee ee 9

PART TWO
a ROO «622 e e ee eee ee 45

PART THREE
Bloc ee Sa ee 85 _

PART FOUR .
Ue cs Ce
ea cal cD ees eels 131
 T tried, but the
petitions and protests didn’t
work. There’s nothing else
I can do.

I've
failed you
all.

can't stop
them...
 I can at
least make
them suffer
first.
O The deforestation Two construction workers have
: of Bailey Park been hospitalized atter contact
Gon QSUMGIIG) 4as been delayed with the unidentitied toxic gas.
atter strange The cause i$ unkHown.
gases appeared
/h the area.

Authorities
suspect ah act of
ecorerrorism and
have evacuated
hearby homes.

Good
morning, Dad.
I was just...
on my way to
school.
 SS
I noticed some
things in my lab
had been tampered
with...

Don't lie to
me, Pamela. I
know this was
Your doing.

I..,L’m Sorry. I know you care about

I just wanted to the park, Pamela. But
slow them down. z it’s not a priority. And
The park— you heed to be
: ( careful.

Remember...
 “We have
family secrets
"
to protect

penszt
 Hi,
Pamela!

Did you Hey, wasn’t

have fun at The real fun that your
homecoming, was after, if homecoming
Brett? you know what

|
I mean.

Huh. She God, she’s

must be ina hot. But kinda
hurry to get weird,
somewhere. y'know?

15
 SONA,
SE.
ES
>

=|

fe) s »
s
fe}

bebigger
by now.
 You're not
getting enough
sunlight. I’m
$0 Sorry.
 rea s | LOOXe SOX

mod WW
SOM ey Oh. Good 4 Cx A} EOS OOS
morning, ee

aT Wd had

You know, You're doing your

Pamela, I’m so best. It’s tough
impressed by [= ; when the other
your dedication f= S: Students aren't as
to this green- se committed. But
house. ae you're doing
: your mother

I should
( be doing more.
| Some of the plants
aren't thriving the
way they should he By the way, is
be. | ee your mother back
ar ANY Mae & from her research
; i trip yet?

Well, when she

gets back, let her know
I'd like to thank her in
-\ person for donating the
\ greennouse.
 Goona
date with me.
Hey, Pammy. We haven't hung
I’ve been out since
looking for homecoming, and
there's that new
steakhouse—

You
should.
Meat is
delicious.
Give ita

Well, you
found me.
What do you
want, Brett?

T've told Come on. I’m a

you to stop nice guy. Do you think
asking me you're too good for me
out. ; or Something?
 Brett, if you
have to tell a girl
how “nice” you are,
you probably aren't
that nice. Leave
Pamela alone.
none
of your — freak to butt
business, True. But out of it,
Alice. : now I’ve Pammu.
\ made it my
business.

I don't have
time for this.
God, you're so i T'll talk
annoying. to you later,

T hate that
he calls me

It’s not
the cleverest
nickname,
no.
 li Biss
Sorry. Maybe Oh? I know
I shouldn't have <= you two went
butted in? I know to homecoming |
you and Brett together last |
are— week.

We're
nothing.

I’m glad you showed

up. But now T’d rather
just pretend he
doesn't exist.

I've been meaning

to ask—where do
you get your
lipstick?

Sorry to
hear that. And I
retract my apology

I make it, |
actually.
 eR ES
ANF ' nies
Seriously?
Ss you learn to
Pei aa make it?
It’s the only way to
guarantee cosmetics are At
made ethically. Cruelty | if
free, sustainable, —_ Liternet.
eco-friendly... :

I happen to be NEL \
in need of anew black ¥ ee / Uh...maybe.
lipstick. Maybe I could ae: ON eee ee! §6T don't at
come over sometime Q aay aay have people
and you could show ee i over often.

Ugh. Sorry. I’m So tired. Oh. That...

s 2 We had to evacuate early
Ahi ISAM SAAC this morning because of
the accident at the park.
Didn’t get all my
beauty Sleep.

Yeah. It's
kinda Scary,
too. I hope no
one else gets
sick from it.
 Sorry, Alice.
Can't be late
for class. Got
to go.

time. Take
a Seat.
25
 T finished
grading the
tests from last k
week. Once again,
a perfect Score.
Congratulations.

Are you still Wants you

planning to do to follow in his
pre-med when I don’t think footsteps, I
you Start college my father would
next fall? have it any other You could
Say that.

Well, regardless
of what field of the
Sciences you go into,
TI know you're going to
change the world
somehow.
 “Just promise me
you'll use that brain of
Friday
5
evening.
yours for good...” Asle y d att
=:

Good I hope that’s a

evening, college application
Pamela. you're working on
and not just wasting Uh, yeah.
time on the Definitely an
computer.
application.

Good. Get the one for One of the best ©

Willingham University sent me mys Pa pre-med programs in
off Soon. It’s the only one Si a foe ic the country and close
that matters. yf i Ba Hy) by. You'd be able to
i : i live at home.

How, um..,how
were things at the
hospital today?

Exhausting.
AS usual.
 The day’s work
isn’t done yet. I was
Struck by inspiration
this afternoon.

T'll need
your assistance
downstairs.

Sorry, Dad. I'm

busy. I...have this
application. And
homework.

It's Friday Pamela,

night, Pamela. you know how
You have all important my
weekend to research is.
finish.
 Oh my
god, Dad.
Just text
‘eee anemia ear
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Statement
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era itne ah Rename
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Hey, Pammy.
Thinking about you.
When are you going
to stop playing hard
to get? Everyone
knows we'd make
a great couple.

Why are all The plants

the curtains needed some
open? sun.

Then use
one of the
sun lamps.

I’ve told youa

dozen times to
keep these
closed.

i I don’t want
{ anyone looking in.
I want to keep our
family matters
private.
 adventure the
other night in
Bailey Park.

And thanks to
you, we're going
to have to work
harder to keep
our Secrets.

One of my colleagues,
Dr. Oh, lives in the evacuation
zone. I believe you know
her daughter.

Her family is staying

in a hotel near the hospital. But
she’s worried about Alice’s long
commute to school.

Dr. Oh has asked if Alice can

Stay with us for the time being.

Saying no would Z : = What does Alice Nothing! I

have raised : know about our — gwear.
Suspicion. situation,
 Pamela?

You have to
Stop doing
this.

We don’t
have time for
excuses.

Get dressed.
Alice’s parents
will be dropping
her off Soon.
We're going °
to have to be
careful while
she’s here.

I know
you two are
friendly, but
remember,
Pamela...

You
can't trust
anyone but
family.
 “Wow—your
house is So
weird.

= | + !

You guys I’m

have an aesthetic serious—
that I can this is my
appreciate. dream
house.

I should
finish showing
you around.
Dad already
put your stuff
in the guest
room.

You're right.
Sorry. Let the Yeah...T'll
tour continue. just...show
you your
 Sorry. That
Startled me.

Tt’s fine. |
Let me
just put it
back.

She's the one who

donated the school’s
greenhouse, right?

her name
iS Lillian.

T figured that
was why you
spend so much
time there.
 She's not
here.

I apologize.
I didn’t mean
to Startle you
two.

She's on a research trip in

I believe ‘ the rain forest, studying
LT interrupted. rare plant life.
You asked about
my wife?

Yeah.
I was just
wondering
where she
is.

Wow, that’s
awesome.
 Again,
my apologies for
interrupting. Pamela,
help Alice get settled in.
Alice, the guest room is
the second door on the
left. Your Suitcase is
already there.

Great.
Thanks,
Dr. Isley.

Pamela?
You You girls
coming? have fun.
2»
Aue

Pamela?
You okay?

Can I I Said I'm

come in? fine. You can
go back to
 Why are you we
even awake? f= —
Tt’s late.

Woke upa
while ago when
a door slammed.
I heard you go
into your room,
then run in here
and get sick.

I was
worried.

I’m sorry. I -
didn’t mean to T hate to ask
wake you up. bee

Tt’S okay.
I just want
to make Sure
you're all
Positive. You got anA Oh...You're
in biology—you know a virgin?
how reproduction
works. Yes. Not
that it Should matter.
Why is your first
assumption that I’m
pregnant?

Well, I haven't
done the thing
that’s required for
that process to
Start.

I overheard Brett
telling one of his friends
you two slept together. On
homecoming night. I
just...put two and two
together...

Bratt is a liar.
I thought he was
cute at first, but
after homecoming
he pushed for
more than I was
comfortable with
and got pissed
when T turned

What an
asshole.
 T'll have to kick
his ass later. For
now, let’s make sure I—I'm
you're okay. fine. Really.

Don’t think
So. Feels like
a fever.

T'll get
you a cold
compress.

mw
Don't po
be Silly.

I can do it.
You don't
have to—

I’m not used xe

to anyone taking B
care of me. Not 4 me about
since Mom...left , i! —" your mom.
onhertrip. | : : What's she
_— ag - like?
 “I know it sounds
cheesy, but she’s ane f-
fé
y
t
: }
a
i
‘ rae
a
C
ute
by)
, my best friend. @ te eae pe Sane a
~~, <¢ “AN

= } eee.
“She taught me everything I know about
plants. When she’s home, she loves
Spending time in the back garden.

x
ey

“And she’s So funny.

She’s the only person
| I've ever known who
1) could make Dad laugh.

j poate ee
rleweab aye SearpaeERE IIIS

SLR
SER
RNC
PU
RETA
i cerrantcoCRCS
eRe
er

“She loves her job.

mei) She loves everything
ei about plants—and
taught me to love
them, too.
; ‘ “She even wanted
a. = Se _ | to name me Ivy, but
5 Dad vetoed it. He
thought ‘Ivy Isley’
sounded silly. Not
distinguished
 She sounds
wonderful. How long
has she been on this
research trip?

A few
months.

Your eyes. They

Huh... That's look... different.
Strange. Green. Like...
really green.
 It sounds
like it’s coming
from down
the hall.

It’s nothing.
Really.

We just
need some
Sleep.
§:00 a.m. TTonday morning. You sure you're

Huxley ‘High School. tonot,beI’mhere?totally

Because
down
if
to Skip first-period
calculus...

Sorry.
I know. I
worry too
About me
or your calc
midterm?

Sap IS
T told you, Alice.
I'm fine. I'm feeling
much better. You'll have
to find another excuse
to Skip class.
 What's the matter? A Stay out of this, Alice.
Is the ice queen j / am You're just jealous no guy
feeling frigid? Si } wants to touch you.
Sy

She didn't A / Dp
give you
permission to
touch her, idiot. I
asshole. prefer it
that way.

ey
Whatever. So, Yeah, Pammy. I
Pammy, what's the | fag ay You didn’t mind al didn't think you'd still
problem? I promise i >) him touching you be such a prude after
I don’t bite— i on homecoming > the night we had.
night!

You're ~ Wedidn't \
disgusting. sleep together,
a Ws

That's not
what everyone
else heard.

57
 See you later,
Pammy. Next
time, maybe we
can melt some
of that ice.

Sp Shiba
isa
ey

[ene
No it’s not. Lids ai !
And you know i
it’s not. Tf it were
anyone else—if it
were me—what T...umm.
would you Say? I guess you're
right.
T'll talk
to the
principal.

Good.
Stand up for
yourself.
And T'll
be there to
Support you, if
you want.
 Okay...
Thank you,
Alice.
 Brett
Connors?

You went to
homecoming
together,
correct?

Yes.
He’s...been
harassing
me since
then.

“Harass” is a
Strong word,
Miss Isley.

Tt’s the eS I don’t care.

correct ; I want him to
word. Tt just sounds leave me
like Mr. Connors alone.
has a crush.

And T'll Speak to him.

But I’m sure he means no
ill will. Mr. Connors i$ a good
kid from a good family. One
that does a lot for our
community.

A lot for our

community? You mean
by building a business
center at the expense
of the city’s only
park?
 They're good But if you
people, and Brett's don’t want attention
been an exemplary from the boys, Miss
Student. T'll talk to Pee : Isley, perhaps there
him about your are adjustments you
accusations, of could make.
course, clear
things up.
IW,

Adjustments?

I know you
technically obey
the dress code, for
example, but the
way you look
does...draw
attention.
 Pamela?
What
happened?

I shouldn't
have
bothered.

Dad was
right—I can't
_. trust anyone
 A
|

;
|
w BE 0 28
se
A

;
k
Qy,
h
PME S

‘
{
S

> rt '

Se
=

L uD A
 wx 2S:
Fi

=
J Ss =3 Q Ss - -—S) rNat
5 Let's take Interesting result.
care of T'll have to mak
that. note of that
—

CZ A.

Clearly attempt
number eighteen
was a failure, but
T think we're
getting closer. /
 Don't be
50 dramatic,

being dramatic.
I think we need

Have you
forgotten why
we're doing

Of course
not. But—

Let me
remthd
You why
we do this,
Pamela.
 Daa!
Please!

Quiet,
Pamela. You'll
wake Alice.
 Oa SS SS SS!
—_— SSee

mother to die,
Pamela?
 No! Of
course
not!

Now go to
bed, Pamela.
We won't have
this argument
again.

daughter. And
you'll do what I say.
Next time you want
to argue, think of
your mother.
 uh,
yeah. You
can come
in, Alice.
awake?
 Hey. I woke up T figured.
and thought I I couldn't find
heard you moving you when I got
around. I haven't here after my
Seen you since Literature Club
you left Principal meeting.
Carlson's
office.

Yeah. TI left
school early
and just came
home.

Dad needed
my help with
something
after work.

Pamela...what
happened with
Principal
Carlson?

He Said I 4
Should dress re
differently if
I don’t want
attention.

He Said Brett just

had acrushand L__*
he comes froma
good family.
 “Good people’ who
destroy our town’s only
park for financial gain.”

I don’t : y io .
see what his ip Gey, You'd have to
parents have : acd : ask Principal
to do with him ‘ se $ ao) i Carlson.
harassing # : :
you.

So what
are you
going to
do?

I’m
taking your
advice.
Start Standing up for
myself. I can’t trust
anyone. So if I want
things to change,
I have to do it
myself.
Tess
don't think
that’s quite
what I said.
 Do %00ou4uadagh
nt...
Oh...
the pipes
Tt’s getting CME
late, Alice.
We should
probably
sleep.

You guys should

really get a plumber to
check that out.

TI don’t think
they could do
anything
about it.

Do you mind
if I Stay in here?
It’s embarrassing,
considering my whole
vibe, but this place...
kinda creeps me
out at night.
 You? Alice
Oh, goth girl
Supreme...creeped
out by an old
house?

I admit it! I'ma

Don’t roast basic mall goth. I love the
me like this : aesthetic, but I’m spooked fF
rg. . by Strange noises in §
if old, dark houses!

I’m Sorry you have to

Okay. You : be here. I'm sure you
can stay with Slept better at your
me tonight. own house.

Why are you

apologizing? It’s not ¥
your fault we had to
evacuate.
 At least...if I have
to be away from home, \
I’m glad you and IT can Definitely.
Spend more time
together.

I know we've
known each
other for a
while but...

T feel like
there’s still so
much TI don’t
know about
you.
 Like this.
I knew you had =
a vintage vibe, >
but Ni your You don’t think
pajamas are the nightdress makes
on point. me look like an old

I'm kidding. But

I do love the
whole aesthetic.
What's your
inspiration?

Honestly, it \
Started as just
wanting to be
Sustainable.

I love your I hope I get to .

commitment to the meet her when she
environment. gets back.

Maybe we can
go thrift shopping
sometime. My mom That
could come, too. You would be
two can show us nice.
your ways.
 Pamela...L
know you don’t
think you can trust
anyone but...I
hope you trust
me.

Good night,
Pamela.
Ooouuuuaaaghhhh..
 I'm
SO Sorry,
Mom.

I know you need Dad i$ So

me. I wantto help |e different without I want you
you. T just... This you. He's... to get better. But
i$ too hard. terrifying. I’m $0 Scared,
O0004aaaghhh...

Pamela?
 R
9 SS) 9 x N S Sy
 Get out!
‘\ Getout
What's
going on?

Pamela, was
that your mom?
Why is she—?

Forget
what you
Saw! Tf he
finds out
he'll...
7
le | i

NeVEIT
 mms gas,
SE S555 6!

“aneiy)
Don't worry—
you won't be
struggling much

... Pamela?
 Good
morning! I got home
late, then I
Hi...You... had to get
yOu Were gone here early.
when I woke

7Z

You shouldn't
We Should have followed
probably
talk...

But I
did. That was
your mother,
wasn't it?

on, Pamela? Why

is She there? Why
are you Scared of Please...Please
your dad? talkktome. £
 You can trust
me, Pamela. I
promise. I just
want to help.

“She got home from

her trip this summer.
Everything seemed
fine at first. Dad and
I were just happy to
have her back.”

“Then the symptoms started a few days “Dad thinks she'd

later. She got worse fast. Too fast.” been poisoned by
<p one
she
of the plants
was working
with on her trip.”
“Dad's convinced he’s the only
One who can find a cure. He
doesn’t trust anyone else to
take the risks he’s willing to.”

There’s no =aa
known antidote
for this. The hospital en
eee
won't be willing to
experiment.

You'll have
to help me. e
We're the
only ones
we can trust
with this.

“And it’s on me to help

him. I’m the one he tests
things on. TI have to be.
There’s no one else.”

1/7 He's desperate

! to save her. And...
and I want to save
her, too. If I don’t
help...it'llbe my fF
fault she dies.

He's...
changed. And
T...you can’t
tell anyone,
Alice.
 ; Sa he \
What he’s doing to = ER Ln Nee There’s
you i$ wrong, Pamela. I won't
tell but...I’m gonna find a way bf
i oN
|
. nothing
anyone can |
to help you. / \ do to help.

[ps lisp
I feel So helpless.
All I can do is try to keep
up with the things she'd
care about—like this
greenhouse.

At least with
this, I might
not be helpless
anymore.
 Alice, I think I
made something—
something
amazing.

The stuff in this

vial will make the
plants grow—grow
big and fast! The That's great,
plants will be so but how do
much Stronger. you know?
I can save
them!

Wait...
the park? A
toxin? It...you
did that? The
poisonous
gas?

T used it in
the park. I made the
toxin and TI released it
in the park—and when
I went back last night,
the plants, Alice,
they were huge!
 Yeah, it was me—T
was trying to slow the
construction—but that
doesn’t matter!

Pamela...
people got
really sick. I
haven't been
allowed
home in
days.
I didn’t mean
for that to happen,
but that’s not important
right now! The plants at
the park have changed,
Alice. And I can
replicate that.

TI can't
believe you
did this.

Alice, please!
Listen to me.

Listen to
yourself!
 Good morning,
Miss Tsley.
Miss Oh! T didn't
expect to see
you here.

I was actually
just leaving.

That was Vo
Strange. Is |
everything | <

Upstaes

Everything's *
fine.
 a few minutes
and I could
get you in the
Not in mood.
the mood,
Brett.

I heard you Don’t worry.

talked to the I’m not mad. Just
principal glad to know you
about me. were thinking
of me.

Just admit
you're into me.
It’s not like you
could do any
better.
 Lied about
getting laid,
huh?

You'll pay
for that,
bitch.

You're pathetic,
Brett. A loser who has
to lie about getting laid
just to feel good about
yourself. Anyone could
do better than you.
 Oh, sorry!
I didn’t mean
to Startle you. I
just wanted to
check in. You've
seemed a little
off today.
don't know
what you
mean.

I know you
Said things were
fine, but I could tell
something was wrong
in the greenhouse this
morning. And you F
\ were distracted in at HU
\ class today... home?

Of course.
Why wouldn't

I know you
and your mother
are close. I’m Sure
her being away for
work is hard. That's
all I meant.

Everything's
fine. Mom will
be horne soon.
But I should

All right...
But, Miss
TSley, if
something is
wrong—
J Nothing
is! Thanks,
though, Mr. f
Crowley.

101
 =
ul Cae= i
yj
J
SS

oo al
: Wal
eae,

I need
to talk to
you

The
janitor’s
closet?

I come in
here sometimes
to get extra
supplies for the
greenhouse.
 Did you tell
Mr. Crowley
what you
saw?

I’m
Serious, Alice.
He was asking
questions—

You were
really upset
when you left the
greenhouse. T
thought...

I didn’t say
anything. I told you-T
know you don’t trust people,
but you can trust me. I've
never given you a reason not
to, and I’m not Starting now.

Oh, I’m Still upset. \

What you did...Pamela,
it's really messed up.
You Aurt people. 4s

And
believe me,
we're going to
talk about that
again. But right
now...I’m
Scared for
 _ 2) SORES GR
I'm I'm...pretty sure
Scared for
TI won't tell
she’s going to
die. I don’t think
but...we have to
do something. For Dad's anywhere
close to an
both you and your
mother’s Sake. antidote.

I want to
Save her. But if
I keep letting him
experiment on me...
I think it'll kill me.

I’m not going

to let that happen.
I promise. We'll
figure this out.
 Aaaaughh/

They're
screaming. L
can hear them
Screaming.

Who? Who's
screaming?

Pamela!
What's going
on?!
107
They were
screaming
for me.
 We should
go get the
principal.

No, wait—not
after how he treated you
the other day. Maybe...
maybe we can get
Mr. Crowley?

I’m going
to get him. T'll be
back, okay?

Don't go
anywhere.
T'll be right
back!
i|l
CT

if

—
awd
Aa
 Tt’s really
bad—they
destroyed 0
much.

Pamela? Jags

Someone wrote
this about
Miss Isley? |

I’m sure
it was Brett...
Pamela was
supposed to be
waiting here
for us.

T'll look into it and get

this place cleaned up.
I hope Miss Isley
iS Okay.
Dr
oS
ren
lab oral =
>
°30 p

113
 Should be gone by ©
TS i . now. And|want fo
Ihave.Meetme f\/ — <> bealone with you.
in the park? i, ~ =

114
 There you are.
I looked for you at
school. I thought
you were waiting
for me to get
Mr. Crowley.
 3
cS
Aor
so
=Ss
pe)
So
ere
fe) s
I I I
ne

What
the hell
happened
here?

Coming...
this place
has gotten
creepy...

I’m
waiting for
you, Brett.
 There
you are. What
Took you $o
long?

Sorry. Had
to get away
from the
guys.

Li It’s cute when

you're shy. You
I’m glad you
picked a weird
came alone. I
place to meet
would have been
too nervous with
people here. You don’t
like it?

Not really.
Tt'll be better
am T not
when my family [ .
surprised? ] 4 if
gets this eyesore } [ T like it
destroyed. / \ here.

Maybe because
I actually care about
the carbon footprint of
our town? Because these
plants are alive, and
this park is the last
safe place for
them?
 Yeah, yeah.
Enough plant talk.
That's not why you
brought me here,
is it?

No...no, of
course not.

I wanted to see
YOU because you
were right. I’ve been
denying how T feel
about you.

You changed —
your mind today?

——_ t a Be : But I started

Isawthe \ | f oat as thinking about why
greenhouse. | ip it happened—why
en fem ey dane cole you'd do it.
upset me. : ab ei

And TI
realized that
my denial was
hurting you. I'm
Sorry for that. I
should've been
honest Sooner.

But now that

we're alone—away
from prying eyes—
T can finally show
you just how
T feel.

120
x SNS N x) N S “.
 nigry
ei

Ly
hati iat ‘Migr
Li i

Pamela.
Wh-What did
you do to the
plants?

They grew—
they trapped me in,
blocking the doors
and windows! What
did you do to
them?!

I don’t
know what
you're talking

where did you

go? What did
you do?
 Pamela!
Please don't 3 j & ;
walk away. } There's
Talktome. {> a nothing to talk

There’s A LOT
to talk about! You said
the plants were screaming
earlier! The greenhouse was
destroyed! And then your
houseplants trapped
me here!

And I want . '

to know where _ .. I don’t have
the hell gu Saye: DEE f answers for you
just went! i j . ; about the plants,
(| ig ; okay?

125
 And besides—
why do you care
about the rest
of it?

Why do
you Care,
Alice?

I keep telling But why?/

you—TI want you You keep insisting
to trust me. To T trust you, but why
Stop shutting do you care?
me out!

Are you
kidding
me?

You'd be
better off to
just leave me
alone!

I care
because LT
love you!
V4 4 a
Alice, I'm YI P-Pamela?
$0 Sorry. }| 7 fae Wh-what...?
 ee

a)
Miran Sa
 Fgsi?
ots
58
a ss
ms)

hold on.
 Twelve—I used
attempt number
twelve. What was
the antidote for
twelve?

I've
almost got
it—please,
— please just
\ hold on

132
eT =
sf
> Aggy Ix Ni i \
M7
ote
Ni es

133
 lipstick...
ake it was
poisoned.
=
iSS oS 3 < S
= Ss a2a29s = s Bs)wa

him in the
park.

135
 This was
never meant
for you, Alice.
I’m S0...50
Sorry.

Oh my god.
You...you
killed nim?

You...
you almost
killed...
me?

Pamela.

136
 What
have you
done?

Bee
ree
 What have
you done to
my lab? And
why is she
here?

Dad, please.
I can explain. |

Exactly what
would you like
to explain?

Your actions are

going to hurt your mother.
And now Alice cannot leave
this house with what she’s
seen. All because of your
selfishness.

138
 Maybe I am
selfish! What do
you expect? You
taught me not to
trust anyone! And
now TI can’t even
trust myself.

I’m calling an
ambulance—I'm
telling them to
come get Mom.

They won't be
able to Save
her. Only I
can.

You'll do
no such can't, Dad! You
thing. haven't. And I’m
not helping you
anymore. Now
let me go.
 You're my
daughter—my
flesh and
blood—and
you'll do what
I Say.

Not anymore.
I'm tired of people
thinking they have
aright to my
body.

I’m done,
Dad.

Neither you
nor Alice is
leaving this
house.

not letting
; i f| you leave. I’m
NM \/ | not letting you
} ruin everything
we've worked
toward.

140
 Or T'll make
you Stop.

Oh, don’t worry,

Pamela...I’d never
kill my own child.
Your mother would
never forgive me
if I did.

I’m just going to

make Sure you can’t
ruin my experiments
anymore. She'll
understand, once
I Save her.
 ee eee
ene anaes thea aatheaaibtien
dt iiahia aces bce

143
Auuugh!

&

Alice,
r-run! Just—
grah—
 Pamela,
come on!

P-Pamela...
please...
 You
were right,
Dad...

shouldn't
trust
anyone.

149
Certain| g
everything
you've done
to me.

150
 What just
happened?
T think...
the plants
were trying to
help you.

The...the
plants upstairs
tried to get to
you, too.
 Do...you
wanna say
anything
before
We...?

Nothing
that would do
anyone any
good at this
point. Let’s just
get this over
with.
 I need you
to know...I never
meant for you to get
involved in any
of this.

T...I thought
about running Y ee j
for help. When = Why didn’t
I got out of the ; you?
basement.

Because TI didn’t want him to be

saved. Not after everything he put
you through. I wanted to come
back for you, but...I didn’t want
Aim to get any help.

I'm Scared,
Alice. About what
him dying means
for my mom.

But from
what you've told
me about her, your
mom would’ve never
wanted him to do
what he did to you,
even if it meant
saving her.
 Alice, if it
wasn’t for
T always wPeleteoc
am. You should
know this by
now.

I don’t know that I ever would

have stood up for myself. Your
Support—and the way you've
pushed me-—it’s...meant
everything to me.

T...£ admit,
when I Said you
Should stand up
for yourself, I
didn't mean, um,
murder.

No. I know you

didn’t. But...I’m done.
I’m done letting men
think they have any right
to my body. Dad thought
he did. Brett thought he
did. No one else
ever will.
 I want that for
you, but there are
better ways to
go about this,
Pamela.

You
mean ways
that wouldn't
have led to
me hurting
you.

I know
you are.

Tt’s time to
take care of
my mother.
 x S S Ss Ss Ss SI z SYy N Ny&

D id you call an
ambulance?

Yeah. They'll
be here soon
to get her.

156
Mercer Memorial) Hospital, 2 q.m.

You can
See her now, We're still
How...
Pamela. running tests.
how is she?

She's unconscious for now.

We're keeping her comfortable.
But without knowing what plant
toxin she encountered or what
your father may have done
since...Right now, the
prognosis isn’t good.
I’m Sorry.
aT:
understand.

I promise, Pamela,
we'll do everything
we can for your
mother.

157
 So, Peter— I can't
Dr. Isley—he believe...I
just...left? Yeah. When worked with
we found him for
Pamela's mom
in the attic, he
took off.

I’m just glad

you're Safe. I
love you,
Alice.

158
 I’m
$0 Sorry,
Mom.

I’m Sorry I
didn't do something
Sooner. I thought...
I hoped Dad could
save you. And
I’m...I’m just
S0 Sorry.
Mom? Mom,
can you hear
me? Are you
awake?
 I’m sorry
to interrupt. But
the doctors want
to run more
tests.

Goodbye,
Mom.
SSeS
 My dad He and
just left. I Mom will
convinced be back in
him to let the morning
me Stay to talk about
here for the what we They're
should obviously not
night.
do from going to just let
here. you Stay here
alone after
everything that’s
happened.

But what
about your
 We should be able to move
back in soon. They Said noi
to worry about school until
then—we can Stay at the
hotel while everything
gets Sorted out.

Tf they
knew what I don’t think
I’ve done, Probably I should stay
they‘d not, but I’m with your family,
never want not telling Alice.
them, $0...

But...but I
don’t want to ‘
leave you You
alone. me should. After
what I did
to you.
 I can’t just
turn my feelings What you did—
off like that. it Scares me. But
T...I want to help
you. I care about
you, Pamela.

Alice,
you've...you've
been So wonderful
to me. You worked
50 hard to get me
to trust you,
but...

T realize
now that you
can’t trust
me.
 You can't keep
protecting me,
and...I think it’s
my turn to
protect you.

I’ve been in
love with you for so
long, Pamela. When we
had to evacuate, T felt
$0 guilty because I was
just happy I'd get to be
near you. And even
after everything...

I don’t
have any
regrets.

C= 4 I’m sorry I
didn’t end up
a being the kind
} of girl you
\ deserve.

if a
\
Please.
Don't Say
things like |

bu
that.

166
 So...what
comes next,

mes figure that

out
tomorrow? fe

I’m not
ready to Say
goodbye
yet.

167
 ee
SORESeen BEER
170
 Goodbye.

171
| Sas}
 Where
you headed,
Sweetheart?

Bus Station.
And don't call me
sweetheart.

apologies.
What's your
“name,
then?
 BYKARJAKA
AT
PHOTO
ALEKSANDR
KARUAKASTUDIOS
shody heplinger is the usa Today and New
York Times bestselling author of many books for |
young adult and middle grade readers, including
_ The DUFF, which was adapted into a major
motion picture in 2015, and That's NOT What
_ Happened. She teaches writing classes at the
Gotham Writers Workshop in New York City. _
When she isn’t writing, Kody can usually be
found playing$ Dungeons & Dragons, cuddling
with her two black cats, or taking long walks with
her German shepherd. You can find her online at
kodykeplinger.com or @Kody_KeplingeronTwitter.
 _ based out of Burbank, California. She graduated
from the Maryland Institute College of Art in
2016 and has been working in the animation
| industry ever since. |
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From New York Times bestselling author Mariko Tamaki
(Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me, Harley Quinn:
Breaking Glass) and artist Yoshi Yoshitani (Zatanna
and the House of Secrets) comes a story about Mandy,
the daughter of super-famous superhero Starfire.

New York Times Bestselfing Author

Mariko Tamaki
S

awYoshi Yoshitant
In stores 7/27/2021!
Keep reading for an exclusive preview.
It's not fun, it’s
Hamlet. 2

No one is home. So
we can work in the
living room.

A
- a
Other people’s houses
smell so weird to me.
Maybe because my mom
douses ours in scent.
be en i er
So. Is your mom,
like, working?

2) Yeah.
‘4 Why? GC -_. a
ie 7 Oh, T just
ETERS, meant, we could
X order pizza for fm
N dinner if you
’
 T mean. PRONE .
Tacit
What if instead of, pity Ss Bige« AO ee ;

eo loguey
BF Yeah, like,

eee
like, “mental illness,” ae

messed-up way of 2 t
putting it, we just do Bee was written
Ophelia? Like, write yY a woman.
about her. Like a new
interpretation.

That could be the

assignment, right? If
we, like, just rewrite
her scenes with
Hamlet?

Yeah! So :
she’s all like, —
“Hamlet, you're ¥ me,
a whining ass- ¢ se
hole and I’m
foo good for
you.” Sa

And Hamlets all, "But

my life is so hard,
you need to give me
all your emotional
resources.”
 Oh, pizza!
Awesome.

Okay, this is not

terrible. Yet.

You mind
if I turn on
the T.V.?

that’s cool. A (fi

: ~_ I’m
‘4 such a weirdo.
It’s like the only
way I can think
f 4 ag sometimes.
tit, ‘&) LOOT NG vl
So do you A serge
know where you're ee ie: Love JA
applying next year
yd
for college?
 Yeah. I’m not.
Applying.
Whoa. You’re
not going?
Is your mom
pissed?

Nope.

So.

T mean.
Ts that why
you walked
out of your
S.A?
Two Days Ago. —
You have
one hour to Do not look
work until your at anyone else's
first break. paper. Raise your
hand if you have
a question or need
a new pencil.
 Mandy é
Anders! Sit
down!

Mandy
Anders!

“Yeah, I mean, like,

those tests are basically
meaningless, right?”
 Wow.
So screw
college?

T mean, whats
the point?

My mom
would
kill me.

T mean—
Oh!T get your
mom's different!
I’m just saying—
 Hey, so
BS Derek and Deb are
ly coming over. We can
keep working or—

No, it’S cool.

T gotta get going
anyway.

Thanks
for the _
pizza.
 Ok so that weirdly
wasn't a total disaster.
i!

Devon ditched me
so clrly I’m doing this
whole thing myslf.

WHAT A
SHOCKER.
that was
creepy

To be continued in

I Am Not Starfire!
July 27, 2021.
BALTIMORE COUNTY
PUBLIC LIBRARY
 New York Tin ill | , JULY 2021
NE «3: 118 3 204 32 969 9
COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY DC
BALTIMORE
a $othic-horror twist.

There's something
unusual about Pamela
- Isley—the girl who hides
behind her bright red hair.
The girl who won't let anyone inside —
to see what's lurking behind the curtains.
The girl who goes to extreme lengths to care
for a few small plants. Pamela Isley doesn’t : f/
trust other people, especially men. They always :
want something from her that she’s not willing to $ive.
When cute goth girl Alice Oh comes into Pamela’s life after an accident at the local
park, she makes Pamela feel like pulling back the curtains and letting the sunshine
\ V3 in. But there are dark secrets deep within the Isley home. Secrets Pamela's father
has warned must remain hidden. Secrets that could turn deadly and destroy the one
person who ever cared about Pamela, or as her mom preferred to call her...Ivy.
Will Pamela open herself up to the possibilities of love, or will she forever be
transformed by the thorny vines of revenge?

| HR

19 °781401 298425