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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
I wasn’t the biggest fan of the art style, but I did enjoy the personal and cultural insights this comic collection provided.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
fast-paced
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
A unique collection of stories about Black women and hair. It’ll go in our middle school library, and it will be just the thing for some readers. I wasn’t crazy about the art but the intense cross-hatching and deep scenes grew on me.
This is the first graphic collection of short stories I have read for a long time.
I really liked the 1 page parody ads in between the stories. Very clever and the highlight for me.
It’s not really a format that I am naturally drawn to so I have to consciously slow down, look at the pictures properly and generally change the way I read. But that is kind of the point of buying this book, plus I had heard great things about it.
I enjoyed most of the stories - the title story, Hot Comb relates the struggles of childhood and navigating the schoolyard by trying to change her appearance to fit in - we’ve all been there one way or another and this was beautifully articulated to show the particular relationship one can have with hair.
The final story about a group of friends really shows how fantastic it is when you can just hang out with your favourite women and how truly great female friendships - or “girl gangs”, a term made popular in Australia by Clementine Ford - can keep you sane.
Lots of shrewd observation in the text. The drawing style is bold and loose, sometimes hard to read and the subject matter explores everything from mental illness to gender and racial bias.
I really liked the 1 page parody ads in between the stories. Very clever and the highlight for me.
It’s not really a format that I am naturally drawn to so I have to consciously slow down, look at the pictures properly and generally change the way I read. But that is kind of the point of buying this book, plus I had heard great things about it.
I enjoyed most of the stories - the title story, Hot Comb relates the struggles of childhood and navigating the schoolyard by trying to change her appearance to fit in - we’ve all been there one way or another and this was beautifully articulated to show the particular relationship one can have with hair.
The final story about a group of friends really shows how fantastic it is when you can just hang out with your favourite women and how truly great female friendships - or “girl gangs”, a term made popular in Australia by Clementine Ford - can keep you sane.
Lots of shrewd observation in the text. The drawing style is bold and loose, sometimes hard to read and the subject matter explores everything from mental illness to gender and racial bias.
I loved this graphic novel in that it offers a glimpse into black women’s lives in regards to their hair. These short stories deal with race, identity, class and perfect imperfections. The artwork wasn’t my favorite, which is why I ended up giving 4 stars.
Hair is such a curious thing. Everyone does different things with this dead stuff that comes out of the top of our heads. I am a low maintenance person when it comes to my own hair. No dyes, no perms, nothing but a good cut now and again. (I am writing this during the pandemic and so no haircuts right now.) I never asked another person if I could touch his/her hair. Why would I do that?
I won’t lie and say I was never curious about the difference between my hair and the hair of my African American friends. However, I never really acted on my curiosity until now. Hot Comb helped to answer some of my questions. I was saddened by the story of her sister who continually pulls out her own hair. White supremacy has a lot to answer for.
I am very glad that I read this book. The stories were fascinating, the art and the wording was interesting, and I learned a great deal. Learning is one of the main reasons I read, and Flowers gave me a lot to mull over. I think the fact that this is a graphic novel increased its power. Pictures are definitely worth a lot of words.
I won’t lie and say I was never curious about the difference between my hair and the hair of my African American friends. However, I never really acted on my curiosity until now. Hot Comb helped to answer some of my questions. I was saddened by the story of her sister who continually pulls out her own hair. White supremacy has a lot to answer for.
I am very glad that I read this book. The stories were fascinating, the art and the wording was interesting, and I learned a great deal. Learning is one of the main reasons I read, and Flowers gave me a lot to mull over. I think the fact that this is a graphic novel increased its power. Pictures are definitely worth a lot of words.
I felt like this graphic novel gave you a very true glimpse into cultural norms many just don't get to experience unless you are a part of that world. Simple things, such as a first perm or getting your hair braided by a cousin or friend...told with details, both written and drawn, that are warm and revealing. The book is emotional, but not in a way that makes you angry or especially sad, just emotionally connected to what is happening. Kudos to author/illustrator Ebony Flowers.
My only thought while reading was...will children be able to read the cursive print? I know they don't teach it in the district where I teach...and that made me sad.
My only thought while reading was...will children be able to read the cursive print? I know they don't teach it in the district where I teach...and that made me sad.