Secret Passages Review – Joyously Surreal!
The loved the illustrations in this graphic novel so much, I just cannot not give it a full five stars! “Secret Passages” is a surreal non-linear memoir by Axelle Lenoir, where she directly appears as an adult artist through the pages to address readers as she takes us through what life was like for her as a six-year-old girl. We then meet the three siblings, little rebellious Axelle, her older brother David and the youngest Tonio who as an imaginary monster friend.
In “Secret Passages,” much of the story unfolds during 1985/86, with little Axelle serving as the adorable protagonist with an over-active imagination. For instance, she entertains the idea of her parents being aliens who have abducted her and her brothers, which is humorously depicted through their alien-like appearance—different skin color and bug-like black eyes throughout the book. It also serves as a subtle metaphor for how the world of adults seems absolutely unintelligible to kids. Things only get more confusing for Axelle, when she is enrolled into school despite her protests and is forced to sit through hours of boring classes.
Axelle’s interactions with her brothers are the cutest. The trio have a love-hate relationship, they eat, play, watch television together and obviously fight like monsters over the silliest of things. Their lively banter reminded me of a conversation I had with an aunt over a decade ago. She was pregnant with her second child at the time and expressed her hope for twins. Having grown up with two siblings herself, she fondly recalled the joy and excitement of growing up with them. The Lenoir siblings are hilarious, slightly troublesome, sure, but their parents often giggle and laugh over their antics and fights. So, even though life as a six-year-old was oftentimes fun for Axelle, a lot of her adult anxieties stem from some of her childhood experiences and fears.
Towards the end of the novel, the creator addresses the fact that some readers expressed a desire for “Secret Passages” to be in color. Interestingly, this is a complaint that I, too, have had about certain works. However, while reading “Secret Passages,” I never once felt the absence of color. Axelle Lenoir’s illustrations and art style are so animated and full of life that they don’t need to rely on colors to bring excitement to the panels. It was only upon finishing the book that I realized I had previously read another work by Axelle titled “What If We Were…”, which was a vibrant burst of colors. In that story, two friends engage in a game where they suggest hypothetical scenarios and explore what they would do in each situation.
It’s a 5 on 5 from me for “Secret Passages”. The book is also on Kindle Unlimited.
