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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
It was weird seeing the experience of a lot of little black girls, their hair and their experiences but also it made me feel so much in the sense that I had lived so many of them. Black hair is something that is so hated sometimes whether it is by us or just society in general. It just was beautiful. I plan to add it to my ever growing book collection. I borrowed from the library!
A striking novel, very intense story and such strong emotions the author is able to convey through her art. A great memoir, I would recommend for older middle schoolers and high school
I really like the story. I just struggle with the print/script used to write this story. To me, it’s not always easy for me to read, but then I try to imagine someone with a visual issue.
4/5stars
I think this would be a FANTASTIC book to share with younger readers to open up a conversation about race and micro-aggressions. A really wonderfully told series of stories that really hit on a lot of important topics.
I think this would be a FANTASTIC book to share with younger readers to open up a conversation about race and micro-aggressions. A really wonderfully told series of stories that really hit on a lot of important topics.
Great vignettes highlighting the black female experiencing, either clearly about hair, or using black women's relationship with hair as an element of the story. When the author used cursive it was a little hard to read so I couldn't enter into those stories as well.
Short stories in graphic novel format! They all center around Black women and their relationship with their hair, featuring some truly great coming-of-age stories. I mostly just wish I could have gotten to know some of the characters better; I would easily read 200 pages about the road trip in Luanda.
I really liked this quick and poignant debut collection. Flowers' art reminds me of Lynda Barry's Ernie Pook's Comeek--something willfully unrestrained, and more focused on the idea of things than the perfect depiction. (Which makes sense, because she studied under Barry at University of Wisconsin). The simple and effective art paired perfectly with stories that grew increasingly complicated. Each chapter involves black women's hair--sometimes as the main focus, and sometimes as a jumping-off point. The theme stays beautifully consistent through the book. One of my favorite pages was full of panels of single stransa of hair being ripped from a scalp: Long, inked curls snapping across the page. I really, really enjoyed this one.
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A collection of short stories by Ebony Flowers packed with daily intricate microaggressions and traumatic fallout interwoven around Black women's hair. My favorite was "Last Angolan Saturday" discussing corrupt politicians and capitalism -- "When a white person comes to Africa, they're saving us and contributing to the development of the nation. But if a Black African moves to Europe, they're using up resources and in no way can be doing something good." ...dialogue immediately followed by three friends peeing on some colonizer's old home.
I randomly grabbed this off the shelves at the library when I was trying to find more graphic novels written by authors of color. My luck! What an unexpected delight!
It took me a little bit of time to understand the premise (short stories that don't follow the same person in a linear progression). But it was beautiful and sweet, with a more honest and loving expression of Black culture and women's day to day lives than most novels or memoirs are able to convey with words.
The illustrative style also took me a little time to get used to, as they are unusual and both hyper and not at all realistic, depending on the panel. But over time I realized the art was a beautiful depiction of perspective and mood - it just took me a little time to appreciate it!
Highly recommend Hot Comb for anyone seeking to expose themselves to more Black stories in new voices.
It took me a little bit of time to understand the premise (short stories that don't follow the same person in a linear progression). But it was beautiful and sweet, with a more honest and loving expression of Black culture and women's day to day lives than most novels or memoirs are able to convey with words.
The illustrative style also took me a little time to get used to, as they are unusual and both hyper and not at all realistic, depending on the panel. But over time I realized the art was a beautiful depiction of perspective and mood - it just took me a little time to appreciate it!
Highly recommend Hot Comb for anyone seeking to expose themselves to more Black stories in new voices.