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Adrian and the Tree of Secrets
Adrian isn't very happy these days. He lives in a small town and goes to a Catholic high school. He wears glasses, secretly reads philosophy books, and wishes he had more muscles. He's dogged by a strict mother, bullied by fellow players on the soccer field, and chastised by the school principal, who considers gay rumors about Adrian as a sign that he is "ill." But Jeremy, the coolest kid at school, thinks otherwise; he takes Adrian on scooter trips, where they end up in Jeremy's secret treehouse stealing kisses. Adrian finds himself falling in love, until Jeremy's girlfriend rats them out, sending Jeremy into a tailspin of embarrassment for being different than the rest. What will become of him?
Adrian and the Tree of Secrets is a poignant, beautifully illustrated graphic novel about first love, growing up, and having the courage to be true to yourself.
Hubert studied at the School of Fine Arts in Angers, where he first set his career sights on comics. He has written a number of graphic novels and comic series in French, including one that has been translated into English: Miss Don't Touch Me, Vols. 1 and 2, a graphic novel series set in Paris in the 1930s.
Marie Caillou studied fine arts in Strasbourg, France, and then in 1995 went to Brussels to study animation. She has directed short animated films, including a series entitled Peur(s) du Noir (Fear of the Dark). This is her first book to appear in English.
Adrian and the Tree of Secrets is a poignant, beautifully illustrated graphic novel about first love, growing up, and having the courage to be true to yourself.
Hubert studied at the School of Fine Arts in Angers, where he first set his career sights on comics. He has written a number of graphic novels and comic series in French, including one that has been translated into English: Miss Don't Touch Me, Vols. 1 and 2, a graphic novel series set in Paris in the 1930s.
Marie Caillou studied fine arts in Strasbourg, France, and then in 1995 went to Brussels to study animation. She has directed short animated films, including a series entitled Peur(s) du Noir (Fear of the Dark). This is her first book to appear in English.
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
3 people are currently reading
354 people want to read
About the author
Hubert
129 books143 followersHubert Boulard de son vrai nom ; il naît à Saint Renan, Finistère, en 1971. À l’origine, il ne se destine pas à la Bande dessinée, mais aux Arts plastiques. Il entre aux Beaux-Arts, d’abord à Quimper, puis à Angers. C’est là qu’a lieu une rencontre déterminante : Yoann (Toto l’Ornithorynque, La Voleuse du Père Fauteuil...), qui se destine déjà à être auteur et est publié en Angleterre. C’est lui qui fait (re)découvrir la bande dessinée à Hubert et ce qui s’y passe alors, tant aux États-Unis (Miller, Sankievitz, Mac Kean, Mignola ...) qu’en France (Barbier, David B., Trondheim...). En 1994, Hubert passe son diplôme de fin d’étude avec des installations tendance conceptuelle. Une fois sorti, il se pose l’inévitable question : « Et maintenant ?» d’autant plus qu’il se sent de moins en moins attiré par le milieu de l’Art Contemporain et de plus en plus par l’écriture. Après un bref passage dans le graphisme, il commence à travailler comme coloriste (Ninie Rezergoude avec Yoann et Omond, éditions Delcourt en 1999). De nombreuses collaborations suivront (notamment avec Paul Gillon, Jason, David B, Tronchet, Philippe Berthet, Vink…). Il est actuellement le coloriste de la série Spirou, avec Yoann et Fabien Vehlmann. Parallèlement, en 2000, il signe ses premiers projets en tant que scénariste : Le Legs de l’Alchimiste avec Hervé Tanquerelle, paru chez Glénat (qui passe le relais à Benjamin Bachelier au tome 4) et Les Yeux verts avec Zanzim au dessin, aux éditions Carabas. En 2006, Hubert ait son entrée chez chez Poisson Pilote avec La Sirène des Pompiers, dessinée par Zanzim et Miss Pas Touche, réalisé avec les Kerascoët. Suivront en 2010 Bestioles, avec Ohm chez Dargaud, La Chair de l’araignée avec Marie Caillou chez Glénat et en 2011 Beauté avec les Kerascoët chez Dupuis. Hubert vit et travaille à Paris.
Texte et photo © Dargaud
Texte et photo © Dargaud
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
September 5, 2016
This book is getting such mixed reviews and I can see why. I'm back and forth between a one-star, two-star, three-star, and four-star rating. There's a compelling beauty to it, and a unique complexity to the brave, but un-heroic protagonist. But the book is bleak, short and all miserable loose ends. Several GR reviewers accuse it of having a cop-out ending and I don't entirely dis-agree. The book is very short and perhaps it does dodge layers of engagement all the way through, which makes the ending feel abrupt and unsatisfying. And it offers a despairing bleakness to an audience for whom this kind of bleakness is the last thing needed.
The book begins when Adrian is woken up by his alarm on a school morning. We wake with him into a rigidly claustrophobic home with a controlling mother and a daily routine that includes doing everything neatly and politely. We soon learn that if he has a hair out of place, he risks getting severely cut down by his mother. The mother/son relationship is excruciating and Adrian leaves it daily for a claustrophobic, unforgiving Catholic school where he is bullied by kids for perhaps the same reasons his mother is willing to offer him approval and love. Because he's quiet, careful, closed-off, perfectionistic. It's no wonder Adrian is unhappy and guarded. And, in fact, there is only one adult in this book with an attitude that might allow Adrian to thrive, or at least live. His aunt has left this small town and returned, more worldly, less judgmental, and, thankfully, provides much-needed support for Adrian. But even she is only willing to go so far in understanding and naming the behavior of Adrian's mother. And why in the world did she move back to this town? It keeps the feeling of claustrophobia in tact though she's brought some of the outside world with her. Any minute this town will collapse in on itself.
Tim on GR says in his review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... "This is a cautionary tale for adults hidden in a book only young people (other than book reviewers and educators) will pick up. And so I feel it fails." Beautifully put, and I do agree. This is is a book that shows the dangers that come from the apparently well-meaning but deeply misguided strictures of a controlling parent and a controlling religious community. It's too subtle perhaps for a teenage crowd to take in that this book is seeking to represent a kind of justice, or at least small acts of fantastic defiance, and so, a reader might just be left with a feeling of claustrophobic hopelessness. To a demographic for whom suicide is such a high risk, maybe this is a dangerous, un-called for book.
But when I page through it after reading I see that at the beginning of the book everything is controlled, neat, routined, and by the end there is a lot of risk and messiness and letting go. It is not a happy ending, nor even a hopeful one, but it is an ending in which a character finds some core part of himself and refuses to hide it or give it away.
GR reviewers say Adrian isn't a likable character, that there are no likable characters, and also what the ___ is this tree of secrets? Well, yes. I can't say I particularly like this book nor does it do much that is new. And yet, I do respect Adrian. He goes from clinging to books for any semblance of connection to something outside of this painful world he is trapped in, to discovering a strength in connection with others and with himself. So there is change and there is the possibility of escape. Perhaps. Some day.
The book begins when Adrian is woken up by his alarm on a school morning. We wake with him into a rigidly claustrophobic home with a controlling mother and a daily routine that includes doing everything neatly and politely. We soon learn that if he has a hair out of place, he risks getting severely cut down by his mother. The mother/son relationship is excruciating and Adrian leaves it daily for a claustrophobic, unforgiving Catholic school where he is bullied by kids for perhaps the same reasons his mother is willing to offer him approval and love. Because he's quiet, careful, closed-off, perfectionistic. It's no wonder Adrian is unhappy and guarded. And, in fact, there is only one adult in this book with an attitude that might allow Adrian to thrive, or at least live. His aunt has left this small town and returned, more worldly, less judgmental, and, thankfully, provides much-needed support for Adrian. But even she is only willing to go so far in understanding and naming the behavior of Adrian's mother. And why in the world did she move back to this town? It keeps the feeling of claustrophobia in tact though she's brought some of the outside world with her. Any minute this town will collapse in on itself.
Tim on GR says in his review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... "This is a cautionary tale for adults hidden in a book only young people (other than book reviewers and educators) will pick up. And so I feel it fails." Beautifully put, and I do agree. This is is a book that shows the dangers that come from the apparently well-meaning but deeply misguided strictures of a controlling parent and a controlling religious community. It's too subtle perhaps for a teenage crowd to take in that this book is seeking to represent a kind of justice, or at least small acts of fantastic defiance, and so, a reader might just be left with a feeling of claustrophobic hopelessness. To a demographic for whom suicide is such a high risk, maybe this is a dangerous, un-called for book.
But when I page through it after reading I see that at the beginning of the book everything is controlled, neat, routined, and by the end there is a lot of risk and messiness and letting go. It is not a happy ending, nor even a hopeful one, but it is an ending in which a character finds some core part of himself and refuses to hide it or give it away.
GR reviewers say Adrian isn't a likable character, that there are no likable characters, and also what the ___ is this tree of secrets? Well, yes. I can't say I particularly like this book nor does it do much that is new. And yet, I do respect Adrian. He goes from clinging to books for any semblance of connection to something outside of this painful world he is trapped in, to discovering a strength in connection with others and with himself. So there is change and there is the possibility of escape. Perhaps. Some day.
November 26, 2019
No comprendo que esta historia tan preciosa y tan bien contada no llegue al 3 en la nota de goodreads. Si bien es una historia coming-of-age que se ha contado muchas veces (primer amor, descubrimiento de la sexualidad, miedo al rechazo, homofobia interiorizada...) creo que esta novelita gráfica lo hace de manera encantadora, sorprendentemente cruda y con un dibujo muy original. A mí me ha gustado muchísimo.
December 6, 2014
I love the art work. The characters are realistic. The story, I have problems with.
I don't know where the English title comes from. It doesn't have a connection to the story in my mind. The French title: La Ligne Droit is "The right line" or maybe "The Straight Line." Reading the text of the work as a whole, I wondered if the text was translated as poorly as the title. I haven't read the original French, but I'd like to.
**spoilers below**
I do agree that the ending panels feel like a cop out. What is the point of the story? As an adult, I don't need a happy ending on every story. I also don't think we should shield children (and this is a children's book, not a teen book--the boys are tweenagers & young adults 14 and up will have no use for this story--they've so much else better) from unhappy endings--but pointless endings. Yes.
This is a cautionary tale for adults hidden in a book only young people (other than book reviewers and educators) will pick up. And so I feel it fails.
I don't know where the English title comes from. It doesn't have a connection to the story in my mind. The French title: La Ligne Droit is "The right line" or maybe "The Straight Line." Reading the text of the work as a whole, I wondered if the text was translated as poorly as the title. I haven't read the original French, but I'd like to.
**spoilers below**
I do agree that the ending panels feel like a cop out. What is the point of the story? As an adult, I don't need a happy ending on every story. I also don't think we should shield children (and this is a children's book, not a teen book--the boys are tweenagers & young adults 14 and up will have no use for this story--they've so much else better) from unhappy endings--but pointless endings. Yes.
This is a cautionary tale for adults hidden in a book only young people (other than book reviewers and educators) will pick up. And so I feel it fails.
July 14, 2015
I liked Hubert's historical fiction series, Miss Don't Touch Me, so saw this and picked it up. It features pastel colored illustrations by Marie Caillou which are digital, sort of pretty but a little cardboardish except the color. The story is a first love story between two boys in a Catholic school, one, Adrian, who is a loner nerd, and one who has a girlfriend. They kiss, they get caught, the priest suggests Adrian get help, cured. His mother freaks out. The other boy freaks out. Adrian is not very likeable or sympathetic, he's arrogant, and he hates where he lives. Will he escape from the provincial Catholic jail of a school? I didn't really care much, frankly. A very conventional story, in many ways, with no surprises. It's all right.
September 15, 2016
Eh I loved it until I go to the end. I just feel as though there was no resolution and it should have been developed more. The artwork was amazing like completely amazing, but the story just didn't do it for me.
July 24, 2014
That was the biggest, fattest, cop-out ending I have run across in a long time, which is so unfortunate because this story was awesome up until the last page.
October 8, 2020
Very French, very sad, very true
May 9, 2022
Damn ok that was sad
July 11, 2021
2.5 Stars!
This is one of those YA coming of age stories that is also easily relatable to an older crowd too. Ignorance, prejudice and good old religion conspire to create misery, fear and oppression in this rather bleak story set in small town France. I am not sure the translation does many favours for the dialogue, though the artwork is a bit of a treat with its seductive sweetie wrapper colouring, making this an intriguing little tale with a mysteriously ambiguous and somewhat disappointing ending?...
March 7, 2015
Artwork was all right but it didn't really seem to differentiate between characters that much. And, at times, Adrian's face shape seemed to change from panel to panel. The figures themselves were never drawn dynamically and instead seemed to look like dolls placed and positioned on a page with "action lines" about them rather than figures that are two-dimensional yet moving and breathing. I also wasn't that much a fan of the coloring scheme, as the way it added highlights to the top of the boys' hair made them look like they had hairbands on or a slight balding spot. But it was illustrated in a very different manner that I'm used to.
Artwork aside. The plot was sweet and I felt for Adrian, I really did, despite not feeling connected to him or any of the other characters. The setting was a tad too vague I couldn't tell if this took place in modern day in a small town that lacked technology or if it was in the past. I suppose a secluded town in this time period might be basically the same for an older town, in regard to acceptance, especially if there is strong religious sentiment there. The relationship between Adrian, his mother, his aunt, and his friend I wish had been expanded upon, especially with his aunt and friend, as they seemed supportive and kindly compared to his teachers and his mother. I can't even recall his love interest's name, but the manner that they met would be a great story to tell, if not for.. .
One star for the different art format. Ugh for the rest.
Artwork aside. The plot was sweet and I felt for Adrian, I really did, despite not feeling connected to him or any of the other characters. The setting was a tad too vague I couldn't tell if this took place in modern day in a small town that lacked technology or if it was in the past. I suppose a secluded town in this time period might be basically the same for an older town, in regard to acceptance, especially if there is strong religious sentiment there. The relationship between Adrian, his mother, his aunt, and his friend I wish had been expanded upon, especially with his aunt and friend, as they seemed supportive and kindly compared to his teachers and his mother. I can't even recall his love interest's name, but the manner that they met would be a great story to tell, if not for.. .
One star for the different art format. Ugh for the rest.
April 19, 2018
It's not a new story. Kid is closeted, has a secret romance, romantic assumptions make trouble.
The unique thing here is the look. It's illustrated by Marie Caillou, using gorgeous landscapes and settings. The characters look almost like mannequins and feel posed within this beautifully colorful world. Each spread has a distinct palette, and it's striking to flip through, even without taking the time to read the story.
Pretty great combination of themes/topic and form.
The unique thing here is the look. It's illustrated by Marie Caillou, using gorgeous landscapes and settings. The characters look almost like mannequins and feel posed within this beautifully colorful world. Each spread has a distinct palette, and it's striking to flip through, even without taking the time to read the story.
Pretty great combination of themes/topic and form.
May 31, 2017
The story of a teenage Catholic boy finding his first 'love.' The ending is fairly ambiguous, and I am not sure whether it's meant to be happy. I've definitely been thinking about it for a while since putting it down. The art is lovely, though - somewhere between Chris Ware and Seth.
January 31, 2020
This story came across as flat, brash, and a little choppy. I finished it feeling like there was no movement, nothing gained from reading it. I'll admit that the illustration style and color combinations were well done, but I found the unpolished dialogue boxes to be really distracting. I don't think teens will find this particular graphic novel to be very engaging, and I wouldn't recommend it to them.
February 4, 2019
This book definitely has some narrative issues, but I loved the illustrations, and the handling of the subject matter was pretty good.
June 21, 2019
Such a French ending (i.e. no ending - just looking out at the distance). Seems like an homage to "Les Quatre Cents Coups" https://youtu.be/bO8XIm6bbgA
(Yes, I went to film school and this is all I have to show for it)
(Yes, I went to film school and this is all I have to show for it)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2021
Histoire courte et réaliste, scénario pas des plus original. Le dessin est pas trop mal mais j’ai moins aimé les couleurs.
April 10, 2020
Spoilers. On the one hand, I wasn't pleased with the ending. It was realistic, but so very depressing. On the other, even though this story took place in a very Roman Catholic French village, anyone who grew up in a conservative religious household can relate to the misery of Adrian. Even if one's upbringing wasn't as awful. But this kid can't catch a break. I feel like this book is less for LGBT+ readers and more a warning to parents, communities, religious institution, and schools not to be so terrible, cruel, sanctimonious, ignorant and prejudiced. Even Adrian's nice aunt was problematic and more concerned with pacifying her sister than supporting her nephew. Still though, I'd have liked to read an ending where the LGBT+ protagonist didn't die again. As an American, I felt that, between the art and the conclusion of the story, the village itself, this graphic novel felt dated. But then someone mentioned YouTube, and I was completely flummoxed that this story was contemporary. That made the ending even more depressing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2014
What a superbly haunting visual feast for the eyes. If you come out of a strict religious background, I could definitely connect wholeheartedly with Adrian. The first connection to the story was through the fantastic drawings! The art deserves a definite shining merit of just how contrasting the story is to the emotions Adrian is going through. It’s so bright and cheery while the story is sad and weepy, lol! Here are some great shots:
Feast your eyes on these beautiful panels! The art is supremely gorgeous and I loved not only the color scheme, but the color block. I discovered Caillou filled with her books and illustrations portfolio.
Hubert has taken a delicate subject: glbtq and religion and has done a great job in unpackaging it. Growing up in a strict household (of any religion) isn’t easy, and especially when you are ‘someone’ outside of the ‘righteous’ norm. Adrain struggles with coming to terms with his feelings for Jeremy (who seems to prefer to just have it a secret) while Adrain fights for acceptance and tolerance with his differing view. The only complaint I have is the misleading title. I felt they were only in the tree ONE TIME, and while I guess we can assume during their brief together period, they might have met there more than one time...the tree didn’t really have THAT much tree time. I counted two actual scenes that the tree was there (Adrain & Jeremy making out | Adrain smoking) and I had previously assumed all types of things were happening under this tree. ;)
I loved visiting Jeremy & Adrain’s world. While the end was a mainly unresolved, you were able to get a glimpse into two bittersweet lives that for a brief moment flickered and connected. It lead to Adrain's an amazing discovery about himself albeit it came with a side of feelings such as resentment, pain, and rejection.
Thanks for the ARC Edelweiss
Feast your eyes on these beautiful panels! The art is supremely gorgeous and I loved not only the color scheme, but the color block. I discovered Caillou filled with her books and illustrations portfolio.
Hubert has taken a delicate subject: glbtq and religion and has done a great job in unpackaging it. Growing up in a strict household (of any religion) isn’t easy, and especially when you are ‘someone’ outside of the ‘righteous’ norm. Adrain struggles with coming to terms with his feelings for Jeremy (who seems to prefer to just have it a secret) while Adrain fights for acceptance and tolerance with his differing view. The only complaint I have is the misleading title. I felt they were only in the tree ONE TIME, and while I guess we can assume during their brief together period, they might have met there more than one time...the tree didn’t really have THAT much tree time. I counted two actual scenes that the tree was there (Adrain & Jeremy making out | Adrain smoking) and I had previously assumed all types of things were happening under this tree. ;)
I loved visiting Jeremy & Adrain’s world. While the end was a mainly unresolved, you were able to get a glimpse into two bittersweet lives that for a brief moment flickered and connected. It lead to Adrain's an amazing discovery about himself albeit it came with a side of feelings such as resentment, pain, and rejection.
Thanks for the ARC Edelweiss
September 1, 2014
"Adrian and the Tree of Secrets" is a graphic novel out of France that offers a glimpse into the lonely life of Adrian, a boy who retreats into books to escape the stifling world around him. Adrian lives with his strict and hostile mother and attends a severe Catholic school. Nerdy and withdrawn Adrian finds himself daydreaming about Jeremy, one of the cool boys at school. But after an encounter with Jeremy becomes known around school, Jeremy can no longer blend into the background. Though "Adrian and the Tree of Secrets" is not telling a new tale, its familiarity is a reminder that despite pride parades, and Gay / Straight alliances, there are still plenty of Adrian's out there, and plenty of Jeremy's. Until LGBT youth can expect support from their peers parents and religions, stories like Adrian's will resonate for an awful lot of teens.
December 4, 2021
Two stars for this dreary horrible book with no progression that I picked up in the library in Juvenile Fiction. This is a really bad read for someone in a fragile mental state revolving around their sexuality. It’s worse that the books description calls it everything opposite of what it is. This book is not a poignant read about “first love, growing up, and having the courage to be true to yourself”.
The two stars are honestly because I can appreciate the juxtaposition between the fresh art style by Marie Caillou in relation to the bleak and dark subject manner. It felt very intentional and would work better if the story went at least 10 pages longer and left even a tiny semblance of hope.
The two stars are honestly because I can appreciate the juxtaposition between the fresh art style by Marie Caillou in relation to the bleak and dark subject manner. It felt very intentional and would work better if the story went at least 10 pages longer and left even a tiny semblance of hope.
September 26, 2019
So… I saw a lot of not awesome reviews for this book… What’s up with that? I thought this
book was beautiful in terms of art and the colors were what I’d call perfect. In terms of story, yeah, it’s a cliche, but it’s a well-done cliche. There’s also a translation aspect, which I feel is also part of why people are saying it’s poorly written or whatever. I’m too tired to write a really solid, witty review, but let’s just say I loved this foray into Adrian’s life.
book was beautiful in terms of art and the colors were what I’d call perfect. In terms of story, yeah, it’s a cliche, but it’s a well-done cliche. There’s also a translation aspect, which I feel is also part of why people are saying it’s poorly written or whatever. I’m too tired to write a really solid, witty review, but let’s just say I loved this foray into Adrian’s life.
July 11, 2016
I can't quite decide how I feel about this. Unresolved, I suppose, much like the story itself. Things start off okay for Adrian, then get significantly worse and worse and worse, and then the story just ends. The reader isn't left with much reason to suspect anything but the worst fate for Adrian, making the story seem kind of like a pointless bummer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2019
I really liked this touching and at times sad graphic novel.
January 6, 2023
This was an odd book. I expected a poignant story about a boy who escaped the torment of his life up a tree (sitting, like on the cover, or in a long-forgotten tree house) only to find another boy, just as lost and lonely, who helped heal his heart.
That was NOT what I got.
This is NOT a YA story, and although the MC is a young teenager, I refuse to list this as YA. Why? Because the MC, Adrian, walks into the sea to commit suicide at the end.
And, no. That's not a spoiler. That's an important TRIGGER WARNING. Because no one should pick this book up expecting a fluffy YA story and find that out by surprise. While this definitely isn't appropriate for kids, it's also not appropriate for anyone with mental health struggles or who is looking for a strong, supportive coming out story.
-
So, why the 3* rating?
The artwork was great, and not only showed a lot of skill but portrayed the mood perfectly.
As a realistic story of non-acceptance, I'm sure a lot of adults will relate to this book. Being bullied and tormented for being gay, while ignorant idiots make gay jokes and grope each other in the locker room. The heavy religious themes will probably resonate with some, too. Being told being gay is a sin and being forced/coerced into therapy, or conversion therapy, to "cure" their illness.
Making this a book for kids or YA was a mistake, but that doesn't diminish the reality of the situations in the book.
Adrian is smothered at home, bullied by classmates, physically beaten by teachers, and treated like - so behaves like - an outcast. It's no surprise when he latches onto the sudden attention from a popular boy. Or that his existing friend gets jealous of being abandoned. Or that the popular boy chooses self-preservation, even if it means standing by as Adrian is beaten up.
While the story shows what can happen when a person is pushed too far, I feel the ending should have covered the consequences of Adrian's decision, as well. People searching for him. His friend upset he's missing. His mother regretting how she mistreated him.
There was scope for an ambiguous ending. One where, instead of simply sinking into the sea, Adrian could have ridden his bike out of town and disappeared. Runaway, rather than choosing death.
There were ways this could have ended differently. If his Aunt - who was more accepting and open minded - had taken him away, to start fresh somewhere else. If his one friend hadn't been jealous and walked away. If Adrian hadn't been so desperate for someone to understand him that he trusted the wrong boy.
I get that the point of the story is that his choices, and the consequences, snowballed, and that the story is more realistic this way...but, as a story to read, even as an adult, never mind as an unsuspecting teen, this was depressing and disheartening.
I'd worry for any child or teen who picked this up, already in Adrian's situation, who thought his solution was the only possible choice.
That was NOT what I got.
This is NOT a YA story, and although the MC is a young teenager, I refuse to list this as YA. Why? Because the MC, Adrian, walks into the sea to commit suicide at the end.
And, no. That's not a spoiler. That's an important TRIGGER WARNING. Because no one should pick this book up expecting a fluffy YA story and find that out by surprise. While this definitely isn't appropriate for kids, it's also not appropriate for anyone with mental health struggles or who is looking for a strong, supportive coming out story.
-
So, why the 3* rating?
The artwork was great, and not only showed a lot of skill but portrayed the mood perfectly.
As a realistic story of non-acceptance, I'm sure a lot of adults will relate to this book. Being bullied and tormented for being gay, while ignorant idiots make gay jokes and grope each other in the locker room. The heavy religious themes will probably resonate with some, too. Being told being gay is a sin and being forced/coerced into therapy, or conversion therapy, to "cure" their illness.
Making this a book for kids or YA was a mistake, but that doesn't diminish the reality of the situations in the book.
Adrian is smothered at home, bullied by classmates, physically beaten by teachers, and treated like - so behaves like - an outcast. It's no surprise when he latches onto the sudden attention from a popular boy. Or that his existing friend gets jealous of being abandoned. Or that the popular boy chooses self-preservation, even if it means standing by as Adrian is beaten up.
While the story shows what can happen when a person is pushed too far, I feel the ending should have covered the consequences of Adrian's decision, as well. People searching for him. His friend upset he's missing. His mother regretting how she mistreated him.
There was scope for an ambiguous ending. One where, instead of simply sinking into the sea, Adrian could have ridden his bike out of town and disappeared. Runaway, rather than choosing death.
There were ways this could have ended differently. If his Aunt - who was more accepting and open minded - had taken him away, to start fresh somewhere else. If his one friend hadn't been jealous and walked away. If Adrian hadn't been so desperate for someone to understand him that he trusted the wrong boy.
I get that the point of the story is that his choices, and the consequences, snowballed, and that the story is more realistic this way...but, as a story to read, even as an adult, never mind as an unsuspecting teen, this was depressing and disheartening.
I'd worry for any child or teen who picked this up, already in Adrian's situation, who thought his solution was the only possible choice.
July 22, 2020
The rating is especially difficult with this one. As many other I aswell loved Marie Caillou's artwork and in particular her work with coloring. The color scheme is fresh and comes out as "something else". In this way the book reminds me of Nick Drnasos Beverly and Sabrina (in Adrian the colours are a lot more vivid and on the nose).
When it comes to the story it's a tale as old as time. The Boy (Adrian) lives in a closed religious community with a single mom (at least there is no father to be heard of). He suppresses his sexuality and escapes the day to day catholic school life to books. Until he meets Jeremy and things proceed to a more livable life. The problem for me is that this is a narrative that is so often told when discussing homosexuality (or rather anything else than heteronormality). It always ends bad. In this story Adrian ends up heart broken and shattered when everybody around him turns against him. The world seems grim and impossible for him. I'm sure this is world where many of us have grown up and still have to stay in. But it showcases such misery and even worst: that there is no other outcome for "otherness" than to escape it all indefinitely.
When it comes to the story it's a tale as old as time. The Boy (Adrian) lives in a closed religious community with a single mom (at least there is no father to be heard of). He suppresses his sexuality and escapes the day to day catholic school life to books. Until he meets Jeremy and things proceed to a more livable life. The problem for me is that this is a narrative that is so often told when discussing homosexuality (or rather anything else than heteronormality). It always ends bad. In this story Adrian ends up heart broken and shattered when everybody around him turns against him. The world seems grim and impossible for him. I'm sure this is world where many of us have grown up and still have to stay in. But it showcases such misery and even worst: that there is no other outcome for "otherness" than to escape it all indefinitely.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2020
I picked this book up at the library because of the art work....and decided to make it the last book I read for 2019. A graphic novel with stunning artwork--- the perfect book for an evening curled up with Fox in my hammock.
This is the story of a sheltered teen living in a small town, attending a Catholic school and living with an overbearing mother. Of course he is bullied...and of course he is gay. The perfect start to a tragedy. In the bullying he finds a friend...and it able to daydream for a short time.
What I didn't realize until I started reading this book is that it is translated from French. I would have preferred to have read it in French....but for a graphic novel I easily got over it. This book ends like any French story-- a-non-ending. I would prefer everything wrapped up in a bow, but as a francophone, I am used to it...and I appreciate the author's decision to allow the reader to decide the last part of the story.
Read if you are looking for a book on bullying. Or if you are in need of some amazing art work.
This is the story of a sheltered teen living in a small town, attending a Catholic school and living with an overbearing mother. Of course he is bullied...and of course he is gay. The perfect start to a tragedy. In the bullying he finds a friend...and it able to daydream for a short time.
What I didn't realize until I started reading this book is that it is translated from French. I would have preferred to have read it in French....but for a graphic novel I easily got over it. This book ends like any French story-- a-non-ending. I would prefer everything wrapped up in a bow, but as a francophone, I am used to it...and I appreciate the author's decision to allow the reader to decide the last part of the story.
Read if you are looking for a book on bullying. Or if you are in need of some amazing art work.
October 15, 2020
I think I would have enjoyed this story more if it had an ending*. As it is, Adrian and the Tree of Secrets is very ambiguous in how it completes a story that is too familiar. Adrian is an angry, closeted young man trapped in a home with a controlling mother and a Catholic school that is...well, a Catholic school. He and classmate have a budding romance that is defined by their time together in an secluded tree house. When they are caught kissing at school by the classmate's girlfriend, the consequences are what you'd expect them to be.
The brief romance is all too brief. Adrian is a relatable character - sarcastic, angry, confused. He isn't likable (which I don't think a character needs to be to make a book appealing) and his story doesn't do anything to make me want to care about him - he's very one-note. I wish this story could have had more depth. It's one of the few books I believe should have been longer.
The art is really well done, and the use of color coding throughout is genius.
*I'm really bias in that I typically hate ambiguous endings.
The brief romance is all too brief. Adrian is a relatable character - sarcastic, angry, confused. He isn't likable (which I don't think a character needs to be to make a book appealing) and his story doesn't do anything to make me want to care about him - he's very one-note. I wish this story could have had more depth. It's one of the few books I believe should have been longer.
The art is really well done, and the use of color coding throughout is genius.
*I'm really bias in that I typically hate ambiguous endings.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2021
Very challenging to be able to read. It had a lot of elements within it I was able to relate to. I grew up in a very religious environment myself and the majority of the time It became harder and harder as time went on to hide that I was bisexual. So the fact that Adrian had to hide that he was gay and his mother was constantly never trying to understand him and control him it felt really nostalgic. Controlsive parents in my eyes will forever be the worst. Sometimes all you have to do is try to understand your child even when it seems like you never will gain a full perspective into it. Just trying signifies progression. Being apart of the LGBTQ+ community to me is something I will never regret being apart of. The saddest part that struck me the most about this book was the fact that Adrian never got a happy ending only a solemn one. But it brings you back to reality because sometimes being accepted for who you are doesn't go according to plan. I only hope those in Adrian's situation reach out for support because I'm here for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2019
I'm back and forth on this rating. When I first read this, I really disliked the main character. After I finished the story and let it sit for a bit, though, it really stuck with me and left me feeling profoundly sad. The main character is a young, possibly pretentious kid (understandable given his circumstances). Of course I'm not going to like him, but I really felt bad for him by the end of the story. Dude needs a hug.
I don't know if I'd recommend this book to anyone else, but I do know that the story is going to stick with me for a little bit.
The text boxes/font used in the book kind of threw me off. I'm not sure if it was the digital edition I was reading, or if it was how they were put in there, but if they fixed that up I'd be a lot more confident in my 3 star rating (I'm rounding up, now, as is).
I don't know if I'd recommend this book to anyone else, but I do know that the story is going to stick with me for a little bit.
The text boxes/font used in the book kind of threw me off. I'm not sure if it was the digital edition I was reading, or if it was how they were put in there, but if they fixed that up I'd be a lot more confident in my 3 star rating (I'm rounding up, now, as is).
September 22, 2023
Well what a horrible ending that was. The back of the book says it's a story about "first love, growing up, and having the courage to be true to yourself". I honestly don't think committing a suicide because you are gay counts as "having courage to be true to yourself". Every story about homosexuality doesn't need a happy ending (although there are probably more unhappy endings than happy ones) but this is quite extreme. So many loose ends and having the protagonist not even try to deal with the situation after coming out is awful.
This whole "being true to yourself" really irks me cause it paints this out as if suicide is actually an ok decision here as he is at least not lying about who he is. Ugh the message this book sends is such a horrible one that I'm gonna change my two stars to one star.
The art style is very beautiful though. Such a shame the story is such a bad one.
This whole "being true to yourself" really irks me cause it paints this out as if suicide is actually an ok decision here as he is at least not lying about who he is. Ugh the message this book sends is such a horrible one that I'm gonna change my two stars to one star.
The art style is very beautiful though. Such a shame the story is such a bad one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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