A powerful tool for education, comfort and, one hopes, healing.
A graphic novel tackles the difficult subject of a young girl witnessing domestic violence.
In stark, direct prose, readers are immediately made aware of Julia’s situation: “All my life my parents fought. I thought fighting was normal.” Julia wants desperately to tell someone (“ ‘My dad hits my mom.’ Wow! What if I said that out loud?”) but is afraid of losing one or both of her parents. Luckily, she and her mom get help. They move first to a shelter and eventually to safe housing to start their new life. Morgan, a counselor at a Canadian service for victims of domestic abuse, dips into many of the emotions that swirl around this topic. Sadness, fear, guilt; in one instance Julia and her mom say good night to each other in their new home, and in a much smaller thought bubble, as if she is ashamed, Julia quietly thinks “Good night, Dad.” Can it be OK to miss someone who has caused so much harm? In the end, Julia is allowed to visit her dad on weekends, but she cannot tell him where she lives. In its loose, graphic-novel presentation, the art, while uneven at times, serves as a strong vehicle for such emotions. Julia’s complete journey is portrayed in a mere 32 pages, which could seem rushed, but to a child who sees him- or herself in any part of this story, it could be a lifeline to hold on to.
A powerful tool for education, comfort and, one hopes, healing. (Graphic novel. 7-9)Pub Date: April 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4595-0283-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Formac
Review Posted Online: Feb. 25, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2014
A foodie’s delight, with a sweet message between the layers.
It’s all about the yum in this tale from Tosi, founder of Milk Bar, a chain of bakeries.
Now that his mom and dad are living apart, young Phil finds that his delectable double chocolate cake isn’t the same when he prepares it with just one parent at a time. Nor does making brownies with one and s’mores with the other quite butter the biscuit. His peanut butter cookie–making partner, Sammi, tells him that “every cake has a story. And sometimes stories change.” That sends him to the grocery store for inspiration and leads to a mouthwatering epiphany: “A Chocolate Brownie PB S’mores layer cake!” "New could be exciting and special,” enthuses the author before closing with a challenging but feasible recipe (with the suggestion to torch the top properly left for grown-up sous-chefs). Reinforcing the upbeat tone and positive outlook in this tale of family changes, Balsley’s cartoon illustrations depict a young patissier presenting the very picture of culinary self-confidence as he bustles about two kitchens while his parents look on affectionately and lend an occasional willing ear or hand. This one is best when dished up with sweets and a napkin, like all the better pastry-centered picture books. Phil and his father are tan-skinned, Mom is brown-skinned, and Sammi is light-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A foodie’s delight, with a sweet message between the layers. (Picture book. 7-9)Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9780593110713
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Rocky Pond Books/Penguin
Review Posted Online: March 13, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
An enjoyable, endearing collection.
A young girl learns that she doesn’t have to be big to make a difference.
Tola lives in Lagos, Nigeria, with her siblings—sister Moji and brother Dapo, who call her “Too Small Tola” because she is the smallest—under the care of their grandmother. Each of the three short chapters tells of Tola’s adventures while immersing readers in Lagos daily life. In Tola’s first adventure, Grandmommy chooses Tola to take shopping, causing Tola to panic as she worries she won’t be able to carry their purchases. After collecting everything from Grandmommy’s seemingly never-ending list, they make their way home, taking plenty of breaks that leave Tola’s siblings jealous. For her second adventure, she must collect water from the well near their building and then make it to school on time, but she must conquer a mean, older kid first. Tola’s final adventure occurs during a time of celebrations when Eid falls at the same time as Easter. Readers follow along as Tola takes on the challenge of measuring clients for Mr. Abdul—a tailor who lives in Tola’s building—after he breaks his leg. This collection of stories is perfect for transitioning readers, with its manageable chapters, clear, plain language, simple sentence structures, wry sense of humor, and realistic illustrations of the diverse Nigerian cast. While some elements may be unfamiliar to readers outside Tola’s culture, readers will find anchors in Tola’s relationships.
An enjoyable, endearing collection. (Fiction. 7-9)Pub Date: March 2, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5362-1127-6
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Jan. 12, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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