A review by bleuennreads_
Les indésirables by Kiku Hughes

emotional informative medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I am very happy to have found this graphic novel because I was able to really learn more about a period of history that I didn't know much about.

In this story, the author stages herself, following in the footsteps of her grandmother to learn more about her past and that of her community. She therefore finds herself in the 1940s (this present/past transfer brings a little bit of science fiction to the story which is quite pleasant), sent to a detention camp alongside other Japanese-American citizens (including her grandmother). Kiku will live there for more than a year, which allows us to get a vague idea of ​​the daily life of these people who were unjustly and forcibly detained. The only small negative point that is that I would have liked to know more, but the book is still very interesting and quite light while dealing with an important subject. An ever topical subject : the story takes on the backdrop of Trump's anti-Muslim speeches, allowing this trip to the past to echo the present and alarm about the potential risk of a return to the past (by registering immigrants).

To end on a lighter note, the designs are really beautiful although quite minimalistic. There is also a bit of lesbian romance and even if it's absolutely not the main subject of the book, it's always nice to see representation !

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