Food School

“To me, Food School is perfect. The right amount of detail, the perfect amount of clutter. Flexible enough to hit a range of moods, loose enough that varying the detail plays to the strength of the story instead of acting as a gimmick. It’s got planned punch without losing a drop of natural notebook cartoonery. I just love to see someone who knows how to do it knock one the heck out of the park.” — Arpad Okay, Comics Beat

A twenty-something college dropout enrolls in a full-time outpatient program for eating disorder recovery. As they change their relationship with food, their relationships with people change, too.

Olive’s post-secondary education isn’t what they’d planned. Instead of college, they spend five days a week, eight hours a day at what Olive calls “Food School”: a full-time outpatient program for eating disorder recovery where they learn, talk, and cry about eating disorders as part of a survivor support group.

Intensely committed to recovery, Olive confronts the secretive, self-destructive, and sometimes tragically comedic nature of their illness, while struggling with the complexities of modern mental health care. With support and perspective from their roommate, a fellow patient, and their partner, Olive learns to open up about their abusive relationship with food and exercise–and finds ways to cope with the reality of living in a society that actively encourages disordered eating.

In this fictional slice of life comic, Jade Armstrong (Scout Is Not a Band Kid) explores the ways our relationships with food impact our connections with the people we love.

“The energetic and emotional drawings in Food School depict Olive’s complex journey of healing from an eating disorder in a delightful but also devastating way. Food School is an excellent example of how comics can be used to both educate and entertain. It’s a book I want to give to everyone to read.” — Saicoink, author of Open Spaces, Closed Places

“Funny and informative, Jade effortlessly hits the sweet spot between silly and sincere to deliver a delightful treat despite its heavy topic. Grab a snack, a drink and definitely grab Food School!” – Hana Chatani, author of Give Her Back To Me

About the Author

Jade Armstrong is a non-binary Canadian graphic novelist and member of the comics collective Hello Boyfriend. They like to write slice of life, humour, and YA comics. Candied ginger is their favourite snack.

Publication Details

ISBN 9781772620962
6.8 x 4.8 inches, 80 pages
blue ink, trade paperback
April 2024