Yesterday, Nate Powell's Swallow Me Whole became the first graphic novel to be nominated for an L.A. Times Book Prize since Art Spiegelman's Maus. Inventive and heartfelt, Swallow Me Whole is the story of two teenage step-siblings struggling not only with adolescence but with the voices in their heads. It's a brave and beautifully told story, evocatively drawn and full of surprises; though it's nominated in Young Adult Literature, it's a book that will appeal to intelligent readers of all ages.

Here's hoping the prize nomination brings new attention to Powell's astonishing book, first published late last year. Because we completely missed it the first time around, we're happy to do our part by presenting an exclusive twelve-page excerpt from Nate Powell's Swallow Me Whole, out now from Top Shelf Productions.