Sure to strike readers like a hammer.
Pistouvi the fox explores life with his human friend, Jeanne.
Pistouvi and Jeanne are best friends in a strange world with strange rules. The only adult presences come from the friendly Wind (shown as an ethereal, beautiful White woman) and abrasive Tractor (a light-skinned, bald man with an abundant black beard). Despite this, Pistouvi and Jeanne, who is a small, blond-haired White girl, make do with their treehouse home and have many goofy adventures together. Danger is never far off, however, as Pistouvi has a unique predicament: If he ever understands what the birds are saying, he will be forever changed. The birds are ever present, as the target of Pistouvi and Jeanne’s pranks or as bigger, more menacing figures. They add an ominous air to an otherwise lighthearted narrative, serving as a reminder that one day Pistouvi and Jeanne may grow apart. The prologue and each of the 10 subsequent chapters serve as their own separate but connected interludes, making this volume more accessible to casual readers. Merwan and Gatignol have crafted a whimsical—and sometimes dark—narrative similar in tone to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The art is gorgeous, the style reminiscent of a black-and-white manga with gray tones. Details such as hair and fur are particularly well executed. The ending is both inevitable and saddening, surprisingly bleak in contrast to the overall more carefree tone.
Sure to strike readers like a hammer. (Graphic fiction. 12-16)Pub Date: Nov. 10, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-942367-95-6
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Magnetic Press
Review Posted Online: Aug. 27, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2020
PERSPECTIVES
A few rough bits but inventive and visually stunning.
A young witch whose magic has been burned away undertakes healing journeys both physical and metaphorical in this graphic novel that was first serialized on Instagram.
Mingling riveting illustrations that incorporate fades, flashbacks, and other cinematic effects with a typographically venturesome narrative, Dhaliwal tells a tale of heroic exploits in which allegorical elements are never far beneath the surface. Burned at the stake but rescued by a pair of helpful (if often annoying) witches on a quest of their own, dark-skinned young “Singe” goes in search of her real name and the rest of her burned-away memories, as well as her lost magic, while her body slowly recovers. Along the way to a climax on the shores of Perish Lake, she meets other witches—notably Smoke Witch, a collective gathering of burnt but still aware ashes that rides the night wind—and engages in desperate struggles with three powerful, vividly portrayed demons: Disgust, Doubt, and Despair. The author’s imagination and graphic skills outpace her literary chops, but there’s plenty of entertaining friction and bonding in the colorfully wrought cast, and more than enough action in the plot to make it easy to overlook awkward phrasings and inappropriate word choices. Said plot does take some arbitrary turns, perhaps so that the ending can be left conveniently open. Still, it’s a grand adventure in a richly articulated setting, featuring a racially diverse cast and clever twists aplenty.
A few rough bits but inventive and visually stunning. (Graphic fantasy. 12-16)Pub Date: May 28, 2024
ISBN: 9781770466999
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Drawn & Quarterly
Review Posted Online: March 23, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2024
A charming adaptation.
A miscommunication leaves Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert responsible for a plucky, effusive orphan girl instead of the boy they’d expected to help maintain their farm.
Retold in traditional manga format, with right-to-left panel orientation and detailed black-and-white linework, this adaptation is delightfully faithful to the source text. Larger panels establish the idyllic country landscape while subtle text boxes identify the setting—Prince Edward Island, Canada, in the 1870s. The book follows redheaded Anne Shirley from her arrival at Green Gables at 11 to her achievement of a college scholarship. In the intervening years, Anne finds stability, friendship, personal growth, and ambition in Avonlea and in the strict but well-intentioned Cuthbert siblings’ household. The familiar story is enhanced by the exciting new format and lush illustrations. A variety of panel layouts provides visual freshness, maintaining reader interest. Backmatter includes the floor plan of the Green Gables house, as well as interior and exterior views, and notes about research on the actual location. A description of the process of adapting the novel to this visual format indicates the care that was taken to highlight particular elements of the story as well as to remain faithful to the smallest details. Readers who find the original text challenging will welcome this as an aid to comprehension and Anne’s existing fans will savor a fresh perspective on their beloved story. All characters appear to be White.
A charming adaptation. (Graphic fiction. 12-14)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-947808-18-8
Page Count: 308
Publisher: Manga Classics
Review Posted Online: Aug. 18, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
PERSPECTIVES
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
