1950s

Age 16 / Rosena Fung

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
Age 16
By: Rosena Fung
Genre: Graphic Novel
Number of Pages: 312
Published: July 2, 2024
Publisher: Annick Press
Dates Read: July 23, 2024
Format: ARC / eBook

Trigger Warning: Fatphobia, fat shaming, eating disorders, toxic parenting, generational trauma

Told in alternative perspectives, Age 16, shifts between three generations of mothers and daughters as they rebel against stands of gender, race, beauty, and size from Guangdong in 1954 to Hong Kong in 1972, and Toronto in 2000.

Sixteen-year-old Roz is just trying to navigate through normal teenage stuff: high school friendships, college possibilities, body size, and of course, finding the perfect dress for prom. When her estranged Por Por unexpectedly arrives for what seems like an indefinite visit, the already strained relationship between Roz and her mom is tightened some more. With everyone now under one roof, conflicts arise and long, suppressed family secrets bubble to the surface.

One of the things I did enjoy about this novel is being able to see each female member of this family as they struggle with the pressures put on them in their teenage years – rather that’s from society or their mother. Though it didn’t excuse toxic behaviors, it explained them a little more.

I really enjoyed the art style within this graphic novel – it was simple (kind of reminded me a little of Scott Pilgrim). Rosena Fung also used different color pallets for each character, so it helped knowing which narrative was being told.

Overall, I really enjoyed this coming of age, generational graphic novel. Those who are interested in family history, immigration, and/or generational trauma will enjoy this book.

*Thank you Annick Press and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

My Brilliant Friend: The Graphic Novel

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
My Brilliant Friend: The Graphic Novel
By: Chiara Lagani (Author), Mara Cerri (Illustrator), Ann Goldstein (Translator), Elena Ferrante (Original author)
Genre: Graphic Novel
Number of Pages: 256
Published: October 10, 2023
Publisher: Europa Editions
Dates Read: November 3, 2023
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

This graphic novel is a coming-of-age story about two girls, Lila and Lenù and their complex, mostly toxic, friendship.

So, I haven’t read the original book or series, I grabbed this graphic novel to read to hopefully get a faster reading of the story to understand it better for my book groups I help manage. That being said, I felt like this was super condensed and I was missing pieces of the story – or rather, not getting the full intensity of it.

The art of this is intense and beautiful. I really enjoyed how dramatic it was – even if I wasn’t fully understanding what was happening, I could still get the intensity of it all.

Overall, I think this would be a good companion piece to the actual novel itself. Which means I still need to get my hands on that and read it and then possibly come back to this graphic novel.

*Thank you Europa Editions and Edelweiss+ for an advance digital copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review

The Librarianist / Patrick deWitt

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
The Librarianist
By: Patrick deWittt
Genre: Fiction
Number of Pages: 352
Published: July 4, 2023
Publisher: Ecco Press
Dates Read: June 25, 2023 - July 6, 2023
Format: eBook / ARC

Bob Comet is a retired librarian who spends his days surrounded by books and the little things – such as walks around the neighborhood in Portland, Oregon. One day while on his walk, he encounters a stone still elderly lady with a lanyard that gives information about a senior center down the street. After returning the lady to her center, Bob begins volunteering, hoping to fill the empty void he’s had since retiring. 

While there, it brings up Bob’s complicated life’s history; his adventures as a unhappy child, who, at 11-years-old runs away during the last days of WWII, of the love of his life being won and then stolen away, the story of his once best friend, and the pride and fulfillment he felt being a librarian. Though his life seems simple, it’s still filled with love, humor, and lovable people.

This is such a wonderful, contemporary read. While following Bob’s life, it is a pretty simple life of a librarian, but it’s filled with so many moments that make a person’s life special, and therefore, makes this novel special. It leaves you feeling like you know Bob and his story.

A few parts of this novel were a little slower for me, but none of that deterred me continuing my read. It’s a book about life and it was sweet.

Overall, I can see a lot of Book Clubs reading this book in the future as there are plenty of things to discuss, but I can also see those who want to see the story of the life of an retire librarian whose life didn’t actually always revolve around books.

“Maria understood that part of aging, at least for many of us, was to see how misshapen and imperfect our stories had to be. The passage of time bends us, it folds us up, and eventually, it tucks us right into the ground”

*Thank you Ecco Press and Edelweiss+ for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review