A review by maedae4
Cross My Heart and Never Lie by Nora Dåsnes

funny reflective 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

I'm very happy this was translated into English so I could enjoy it. Reading this helped me remember aspects of being a girl in middle school that I had largely forgotten... what it feels like to question, cling to, and reject the "childish" things that make you happy; feeling awkward as you try to adhere to more "mature" feminine expectations; feeling torn between the vulnerability of your desire for love and the comfort that comes with totally (and loudly) rejecting that vulnerability in favor of a cootie-free life. That last bit, in particular, is brought to life in this book as Tuva and her friends struggle with change and with various ideas and "rules" about how to be the right kind of girl.

Ultimately, and poignantly, Tuva can only feel free of those rules when she breaks out of them entirely and speaks her own mind, rather than reflecting back what others tell her. It happens for her more quickly than it happens for most women, but the book is still a meaningful look at a time in life when messages about womanhood really start to yield complicated external results.

Aside from being nuanced and sensitive, this book is beautiful to look at! Every page is thoughtfully designed and broken up nicely between image and text. Tuva's verbal and visual commentary are sweet, truthful, and funny.