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mitskacir's review against another edition
3.0
Picked this up because of the art - it was really cute, expressive, and had such a warm and fizzy color pallet. I think this is a great book for middle age readers - it had a lot of important things to say about self-acceptance, internalized racism, friendship, family, and being true to yourself.
There was one thing that I was curious about, as someone who has not had the same experiences with hair as Marlene: There are a lot of racially diverse characters in this book, even at Marlene's school. Many people are drawn with curly hair, including some of her teachers and celebrities on posters. Would a girl like Marlene really be bullied for her hair in a place like this? Would she really have no friends with similar hair to her? I think the book did a great job of explaining why her mother forced Marlene to the salon every week, but the reasons behind her peer's bullying wasn't as clear. I am genuinely interested in learning more about perceptions of hair even in racially diverse communities and about the experiences of kids with curly hair.
There was one thing that I was curious about, as someone who has not had the same experiences with hair as Marlene: There are a lot of racially diverse characters in this book, even at Marlene's school. Many people are drawn with curly hair, including some of her teachers and celebrities on posters. Would a girl like Marlene really be bullied for her hair in a place like this? Would she really have no friends with similar hair to her? I think the book did a great job of explaining why her mother forced Marlene to the salon every week, but the reasons behind her peer's bullying wasn't as clear. I am genuinely interested in learning more about perceptions of hair even in racially diverse communities and about the experiences of kids with curly hair.
inkbunnie's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A girl is tired of getting her hair straightened and having to conform to European standards of beauty and anti-blackness in this graphic novel.
She leans to lover herself, her hair and her blackness. It was great, but made my heart hurt.
She leans to lover herself, her hair and her blackness. It was great, but made my heart hurt.
sarahdkdc's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Everything Claribel A. Ortega writes, I desperately wish I could have read as a child. A beautiful little graphic novel about hair, self-acceptance, and loss. I only wish it was longer!
thefantasticalworldofsara's review against another edition
5.0
I nearly cried on the bus reading this; such an amazing story about how beauty standards are very white centered and how to come to terms with that and find beauty in yourself if you don't fit those standards.
The conversation Marlene has with her mom near the end is the part that almost got me because it was so honest and full of understanding
The conversation Marlene has with her mom near the end is the part that almost got me because it was so honest and full of understanding
kaththereader228's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
gracepickering's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
laura320's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
bookph1le's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book so hard. It made me cry, and I just kept wanting to hug it to me.
I'll preface this by saying that, though I am a white woman, I have hair that is very naturally curly. I've never faced the curl discrimination that people of color have faced, but I have always felt the weirdness of the anti-curl vibe. I know so, so many women who straighten their hair, but on the few occasions when I've straightened mine, I did not feel like myself, so I could really relate to Marlene on that score. I love my curls, always have, and it's always bothered me that curly hair is somehow seen as less-than. It's only as an adult, as I've learned and grown, that I've come to understand the anti-blackness that's behind this idea that straight hair is "good" and curly hair is "bad". Hopefully it goes without saying that this is just straight-up bullshit, and that hating on people because of their hair is gross and based in the kind of nasty racism I hope no one really wants to perpetuate.
I also loved what this book had to say about the confusing messages adults send kids all. the. damn. time. I'm guilty of having done this myself. Adults encourage kids to be themselves, but then do everything they can to try to chide kids into conforming. We tells kids they're beautiful as they are, then suggest that maybe they might want to put on another shirt, do their hair differently, apply a bit of makeup... I've been thinking a LOT about beauty standards over the years, and I am overjoyed to see books for a younger audience addressing this. I would love to see those standards exploded and to live in a time when people can just express themselves how they wish while being respected for the full and complex human beings they are. The book doesn't get into this, but beauty standards are such entrenched misogyny, particularly with regard to women of color, so it's past time those standards were seen for what they are and torn down accordingly.
Both the narrative and art in this book are so strong. The beautiful message is reinforced by the gorgeous drawings. I especially loved the care with which curly hair is depicted because I certainly did not see many depictions of curly-haired heroines when I was growing up. Many attempts I did see were perfunctory at best, so I very much appreciated the loving and detailed depiction of curly hair in all its glorious and varied textures.
This book is such a gift.
I'll preface this by saying that, though I am a white woman, I have hair that is very naturally curly. I've never faced the curl discrimination that people of color have faced, but I have always felt the weirdness of the anti-curl vibe. I know so, so many women who straighten their hair, but on the few occasions when I've straightened mine, I did not feel like myself, so I could really relate to Marlene on that score. I love my curls, always have, and it's always bothered me that curly hair is somehow seen as less-than. It's only as an adult, as I've learned and grown, that I've come to understand the anti-blackness that's behind this idea that straight hair is "good" and curly hair is "bad". Hopefully it goes without saying that this is just straight-up bullshit, and that hating on people because of their hair is gross and based in the kind of nasty racism I hope no one really wants to perpetuate.
I also loved what this book had to say about the confusing messages adults send kids all. the. damn. time. I'm guilty of having done this myself. Adults encourage kids to be themselves, but then do everything they can to try to chide kids into conforming. We tells kids they're beautiful as they are, then suggest that maybe they might want to put on another shirt, do their hair differently, apply a bit of makeup... I've been thinking a LOT about beauty standards over the years, and I am overjoyed to see books for a younger audience addressing this. I would love to see those standards exploded and to live in a time when people can just express themselves how they wish while being respected for the full and complex human beings they are. The book doesn't get into this, but beauty standards are such entrenched misogyny, particularly with regard to women of color, so it's past time those standards were seen for what they are and torn down accordingly.
Both the narrative and art in this book are so strong. The beautiful message is reinforced by the gorgeous drawings. I especially loved the care with which curly hair is depicted because I certainly did not see many depictions of curly-haired heroines when I was growing up. Many attempts I did see were perfunctory at best, so I very much appreciated the loving and detailed depiction of curly hair in all its glorious and varied textures.
This book is such a gift.