Archival Quality by Ivy Noelle Weir, art by Christina “Steenz” Stewart

Oni Press, 2018

ISBN-13: 9781620104705

Available:  Paperback

After losing her job at the library due to her failing mental health, Celeste “Cel” Walden lands an archivist job at the Logan Museum, previously a sanitarium. The position, she finds out quickly, is a bit odd. She is required to live on site, keep strange hours, and work with a secretive supervisor, among other things. There are also mysterious noises that can be heard through the vast halls at night, making the environment creepier than it is during daylight hours. Cel also experiences losing time, strange and unsettling dreams, and fainting. She can’t afford to lose this job: how is she going to cope with the strange goings-on that are occurring around her? Who is the mysterious girl, Celine, haunting Cel’s dreams, and eventually, her waking hours?

Cel’s fear and apprehension of mental health treatment, and the stigma that is attached therein, resonated with me. Between losing her beloved library position as a result of her failing mental health and what she “sees” of Celine’s experiences in the sanitarium, Cel’s experiences provide a lens for viewing the history of mental health care, particularly for young women. I had my own negative experience with the mental health care system, so I understand fully Cel’s apprehension. I think Weir has captured that fear well in this book. While there is much good that mental health care can do for those who need it,  it’s difficult to trust it when you have had a potentially harmful experience. Compound that with the stigma placed on those who cope with mental health issues, and it is perfectly understandable why Cel’s reaction is appropriate to the character. Even as her boyfriend Kyle and others try to reassure her, she still struggles, sometimes to the point of falling into cyclical logic that tells her she is broken. For me, Cel was extremely relatable.

While Archival Quality isn’t strictly horror, it has the elements of a fantastic ghost story. It would be a great book for YA and adults alike. Since it is set in an archive, I think archivists and fellow librarians would be interested in this book just for the setting. Steenz provides fantastic artwork to Weir’s story. It’s simplistic and colorful, while not being overpowering. I particularly love the depiction of Cel’s supervisor Holly and her style. Steenz and Weir make a wonderful creative team, and I look forward to seeing what they do in the future. Recommended.

Stay tuned for an interview with the creators of Archival Quality!

Contains: references to mental health and outdated, harmful practices/”cures” previously used in mental health treatment.

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker