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betharoo's review
2.0
Was excited to find this book set in Kentucky and written by a Louisville native, but it was disappointing. The artwork is great, but the story, the characters especially, lacked development in such a way where, as a whole, it didn't feel genuine. Would be curious to see what else this author has done though.
emmyref415's review
3.0
Unique. A bit slow, but I like the way the story was presented. I need to get my hands on the next one, if only to see a bit more character development.
mxsunny's review
2.0
pretty but not very well fleshed out. la migra as pigs. coyotes as men with coyote heads. the firefighter character isn't developed enough for the reader to get a sense of why she behaves the way she does. rafi is a bit more developed but all in all the story just doesn't deliver.
calistareads's review
3.0
We follow our female firefighter in this story. She is fighting a fire at the beginning. She is bad-ass. A barn burns. An immigrant is living in the barn and now needs a place to stay. I'm not really sure what the book was trying to say. Is it about immigration? Is it about a firefighter? I felt confused by the book most of the way through. The whole time storms are raging all around and tornados are touching down in this Kentucky setting. Is the storm a metaphor for immigration? I have no clue.
The watercolors were beautiful in this book. It uses many mute and gray tones to set the tone as a storm. I was still intrigued by the book and I got into it toward the end. I would have liked to know more about our main character. This is a story that gives little and leaves it open to the reader to figure out what it says.
At least First Second takes risks and comes up with interesting and unusual topics. They are always unique stories told, good or bad.
The watercolors were beautiful in this book. It uses many mute and gray tones to set the tone as a storm. I was still intrigued by the book and I got into it toward the end. I would have liked to know more about our main character. This is a story that gives little and leaves it open to the reader to figure out what it says.
At least First Second takes risks and comes up with interesting and unusual topics. They are always unique stories told, good or bad.
tangleroot_eli's review
A deceptively simple book that's wrestling with a lot of big issues (sexism, racism, xenophobia, isolation and connection) under the surface. Novgorodoff excels at saying a lot in a few or no words. I didn't always like the characters' actions or believe the way consequences did or didn't follow from them, but the story and characters are so engrossing that I was still enjoying myself even while I wanted to shake some sense into pretty much everyone.
sarahbowman101's review
4.0
The pen and watercolor illustrations of this are amazingly beautiful. The color tones and the imagery of the storms work so well to support the lyrical storyline. The tone is in part dreamy and lyrical and in part frenzied and panicked. Even in an unfamiliar frame, the human themes of kindness and growth make the story accessible and moving. The characters felt a bit slippery, but overall I am glad I discovered this author.
claudiaswisher's review
3.0
Wow -- So many mixed feelings about this book. The artwork, especially the landscapes with the tornado wall clouds, is impressive. I didn't like her portraits of the characters as much. They seemed as sketchy as their back stories. WHY do Ursa and Grim seem to hate each other? Why do they choose to work together? Why did Ursa go to college and not Grim? What's up with their mother? WHy does their boss allow the kind of sexual harrassment that Ursa suffers? Rafi's past is better spelled out for us: a complete contrast to Ursa's relationship with her brother. He, as the illegal immigrant, actually has a better support system than she does.
The ending concerned me. What's going to happen? Does Grim really think Rafi trapped him in the barn? Will Ursa admit what she did? Has anyone learned anything that will make him or her a stronger, more confident, character?
The NWP graphic novel group will discuss this book later. I'm eager to see what others feel. Ultimately, I was dissatisfied, but glad I read it.
The ending concerned me. What's going to happen? Does Grim really think Rafi trapped him in the barn? Will Ursa admit what she did? Has anyone learned anything that will make him or her a stronger, more confident, character?
The NWP graphic novel group will discuss this book later. I'm eager to see what others feel. Ultimately, I was dissatisfied, but glad I read it.
dsaint's review
3.0
The water colors are remarkable. I'd really like to see more books colored this way. The colors shift slowly or suddenly in a way that you certainly don't see in digitally colored work. The colors also accentuate the tooth of the paper in a way I don't remember seeing in other books. The story could be told just by the tonal shifts in color.
I wish the writing behind the story and characters had the same depth and nuance as the colors. While I found myself caught up in the emotions of any one moment, I struggled to understand why the character was there or reacting the way they did. The art keeps you engaged with the characters, but the writing struggles to fill in the details outside the panel.
I wish the writing behind the story and characters had the same depth and nuance as the colors. While I found myself caught up in the emotions of any one moment, I struggled to understand why the character was there or reacting the way they did. The art keeps you engaged with the characters, but the writing struggles to fill in the details outside the panel.