A FOX IN MY BRAIN

A young woman chronicles her experience with cyclothymia in this translated title from France.

This graphic memoir opens with Lou, 16, having just begun to experience symptoms of depression. As she goes on to attend art school and video game school, move in with her boyfriend, and create a video game, her significant mood swings cause her distress, at times leading to suicidal ideation. She’s told by psychiatrists that she’s too young and pretty to be anxious or depressed. Eventually, Lou finds a therapist specializing in cognitive behavioral therapy who helps her realize she has cyclothymia, a mood disorder, and she begins to feel stable thanks to a combination of lifestyle changes and medication. Lou’s story is relatable, particularly in depicting medical gaslighting. The narrative is punctuated with lists and infographics that educate readers about mental health. The illustrations are predominantly executed in black and gray, with orange serving as an accent color, a strategic choice due to the depiction of cyclothymia as an orange fox. Early in the book, depression is described as the “little black thing” and shown as a messy black spot or a menacing black fox. The art is expressive, with varied and creative panels. Lou is from Réunion and is portrayed with curly black hair and paper-white freckled skin.

An instructive story of surmounting many obstacles while grappling with mental health.