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maweets's review
3.0
I really want to like this more but I felt like it was missing some substance in it's storytelling. The part of this book that I really did love was Raphael's unflinching love for Jerome and how simply it was stated. I just wanted a bit more.
stenaros's review
2.0
This books wins on two fronts. I don't often come across depictions of love between two elementary-aged boys. As someone who did recess duty for nine years, I've seen boys become infatuated with each other and the best of friends. I also enjoyed the color scheme (muddy ocher?) and the illustrations which reminded me of Madeline, but in a blurry way.
What didn't work for me was the lack of context, which set the whole book on the defensive and made it seem like the love the boys felt was wrong. Since the book was going for the opposite message, I would say this was not a successful book.
What didn't work for me was the lack of context, which set the whole book on the defensive and made it seem like the love the boys felt was wrong. Since the book was going for the opposite message, I would say this was not a successful book.
alaspooriorek's review
2.0
Something about this kids book seems a bit creepy and obsessive to me instead of being a cute story of a childhood crush. If you're looking for a good LGBTQ children's book, pick up [b:Prince & Knight|34204247|Prince & Knight|Daniel Haack|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1508286286s/34204247.jpg|55250949] instead.
katlogbrenn's review
4.0
Real love can exist in childhood. Real love can exist between two boys. Even when if it makes parents uncomfortable, the character in this book is true to his heart. This book shows us that there's no reason to be ashamed of sharing joy with someone special.
laurendel's review
3.0
Conflicted on this one. I think a lot of meaning and intention was watered down through translation. Some of the expressions are odd and would be difficult for children to grasp meaning from. Raphael’s affection for Jerome is sweet and pure and offers a great message for the audience regardless of whether the relationship is a male friendship without societal standards or the start of young feelings of romantic love, but at times it becomes a bit consuming or escapist—again, perhaps a result of the translation. The artwork style was interesting but ultimately did not add much to the meaning of the story for me.
allyoop's review
2.0
I read this after watching the 2019 ALA Awards. This was an honor book for the Mildred L. Bathchelder award (outstanding children's book originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States). I don't think I understood the book. Is it a lost in translation kind of thing? For a second I wondered if Jerome might be an imaginary friend -why else would his dad get angry that he has a close best friend? And was it hinting at gay relationship? They're too young for hormones, and the innocent crushes of small children doesn't have the intense vibes that this book did. I didn't get it. It struck me more as weird than cute or charming. Every day is for Jerome, he dreams of Jerome, he forgets his parents. It's a little much for a kid. It'd be a little much for an adult. Shrug.
katieckb's review
3.0
This is a children’s picture book about two little boys named Raphael and Jerome. Eventually Raphael realizes that he is in love with Jerome and he gains the confidence to admit it out loud to himself.