Walk It Down

From Michael L. Printz honoree Ashley Hope Pérez comes a novel in verse about grief, masculinity, intergenerational trauma, and the hope of redemption. A companion to the critically acclaimed novel Out of Darkness.

Adam, his brother Abel, and their friends Jonathan and Wyatt are working in a grain silo when a minor fall leads to three of them being “engulfed” in the corn—a common, terrifying, and frequently lethal agricultural accident. Abel and Jonathan both die, and Adam barely survives.

Adam may have escaped the silo, but grief is crushing him. As he struggles to move on from the tragedy, he is forced to confront old wounds from the death of his baby sister years ago.

Paralleling Adam’s narrative is that of his father, a long-haul truck driver who is grappling with the weight of his own lineage and the stifling demands of Christian masculinity. As their threads wind closer together, father and son must fight to break a generations-long cycle of trauma and denial if they have any hope of learning to breathe again.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs