Zines at SAPL

"Grunge Tejana" is a beautifully crafted zine by Bonnie Cisneros that dives into memories from her "grunge years," shared with her close friend Ana—who later disappeared. Through stories, ticket stubs, and more, Bonnie revisits those times, piecing together moments in hopes of finding clues about Ana’s disappearance. It’s heartfelt, nostalgic, and leaves you thinking long after you’ve finished reading.

Reviewed by: Valerie S. 

June 16th, 2025

The Feast of St. Columba
By Esther Lui & Priscilla Boatwright

What can all happen in one festival that has kite racing, magic, and a saintly procession? Quite a lot. The Feast of St. Columba divides the story into vignettes. Within each vignette, the characters are part of different situations that tie up with the overall plot of The St. Columba Festival. The character dialogue is pleasantly grounded and fun.

Beyond the plot and dialogue, a whimsical feeling arises from the illustration style, which uses complementary colors of blue and yellow, giving an airy sensation (matching the kit racing and the saint's gift). A quick read, but easily great for a reread for those in-between moments, if not for its characterization, then for the terrific illustrations. Of all the vignettes, the second one, "The Pageant", was my favorite.

If you want a comic-style storytelling, then this would be the zine for you.

Reviewed by: Jordan T. 

August 5th, 2025