3.88 AVERAGE


This is the most interesting graphic novel I've read that also was the most stressful. Set in Brazil and focused on a mother dealing with a daughter making frightening choices and seeking to solve the problems for her family. 

Wow! This is a fairly grim, at times, story; but also incredibly human. I love the realistic body types, the complicated relationships, and the imperfect ending. Very good, although it did result in my google search history now containing "symptoms of gonorrhea in women" which I wish I could take back.
adventurous challenging dark emotional tense
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Wow... this book was...wow. They say books cam be like windows into another life. And this was. A working mom's struggle to save her daughter from a life of crime. It's all translated - and you can tell, some of the turns of phrase are unfamiliar - but it's done really well. I love that the main characters are fat; fat and depicted realistically and beautifully. I've never seen so many fat main and side characters. Like this artist just understands what real people look like. Her dedication to her daughter.... it's something I can't imagine. There were points where I thought "Surely she'll give up on her now...surely she'll cut ties..." but she never did. Although the book tried to end on a positive note I doubt her daughter is completely done with her trouble making yet... I love the size of the book and how the title barely fits the cover - it's one of the things that drew me to it. The color palette is super striking, and so is the art style. This honestly should have won / should win more awards. It's really good. 
challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

characters - ⭐️
illustrations - ⭐️
effective storytelling - 
engaging to read - 
would recommend - 

the high stress scenarios in this just didn’t work for me. in my opinion, there wasn’t enough character background to pull off the dynamics that the author was going for.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A
emotional inspiring fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
emotional tense medium-paced

there's some real tenderness in here but also clear-eyed about brutality and how people emotionally hurt each other.
dark emotional funny fast-paced
dark emotional hopeful medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Lots of beautiful, bright art that complemented a good story and well-written characters. Márcia in particular is shown in many facets, with her tough competency as a nurse balanced against her struggles to be effective in reaching her daughter. This didn't feel to me like a stereotypical story of a person living in a neighborhood struggling with poverty and gang violence; rather, the characters had moments of agency, community, and presence even amidst the powerful and corrupt systems they had to navigate. It's hard to explain the way I want, but I thought this was well-executed. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
emotional inspiring