Uma irmã

by Bastien Vivès

Ao ter suas férias pacatas transformadas por Hélène, o jovem Antoine passa a viver os dias mais intensos de sua vida, repletos de emoção e receios. De forma sutil, ainda que forte, ele vai descobrindo um universo feminino tão gracioso quanto perturbador. E o que poderia ser apenas mais uma história de verão, se transforma, pelas mãos de Vivès, em uma narrativa apaixonante. Um conto delicado e sensual sobre o despertar de um adolescente que provoca um turbilhão de sentimentos.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Bande Dessinée, Comics, Coming Of Age, France, Contemporary, Graphic Novels Comics

216 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 3, 2017

About the author

Bastien Vivès is a Parisian who has drawn or collaborated on more than a dozen graphic novels since his published debut in 2006, including most recently The Butchery (Fantagraphics, 2021). The Angouleme Comics Festival granted Vivès the “Revelation” Award in 2009 and the prize for best series in 2015.

Reviews

[Ilse · Rating 1 out of 5]

As I loved Bastien Vivès's Polina, I was intrigued to read his newest graphic novel. In A Sister Vivès focusses on the development of the ambiguous relationship between the thirteen-year-old Antoine and the sixteen-year-old Hélène, the daughter of a friend of his mother staying with Antoine’s family in their holiday home during a summer holiday. At first tender strokes set the tone as both youngsters are drawn to each other when they unexpectedly find some common ground despite their obvious dissimilarities. Things change however when Hélène goes on a mission to initiate Antoine in drinking and sex. The pairing of childish innocence and pleasure in drawing and making jigsaws together with Antoine’s little brother, the growth of a sibling bond and the (graphically little subtle) sexual exploration might capture the ambiguity of the pubescent mind and sexuality pretty well, but Vivès’s approach left me quite disturbed. The narrative seems to dither, limping it was on two legs. Although there are moments of authenticity and tenderness, precocious demigoddess Hélène’s sexual interest in the still quite childish Antoine is not just puzzling and thought-provoking but rather improbable from the story – it comes across mostly as a purely boyish erotic fantasy, as wishful thinking. Antoine and Hélène do not seem to enter this as equals. The title renders it even more equivocal, tempting the reader to perceive their bond as an incestuous one between a big sister and her little brother. Just like in his graphic novel Le chemisier, having another buxom young woman as a protagonist, I was bemused by Vivès’s unmistakeable fondness of drawing disproportionately large genitals (as seems to have become part of his signature style).

In an interview on the graphic novel, asked about the verisimilitude of the story, Vivès asserts that he likes to provoke discomfort with the reader (as nothing is worse than books that leave one indifferent); neither can he be bothered about the possible deficiency of realism in the story, as it is exactly the element of fantasy that enthrals him in a story. I can only conclude that Vivès’s peculiar realm of pedo-incestuous fantasy isn’t one which appeals much to me; as quite a few readers consider this graphic novel a gem, I guess this reader simply does not belong to its target audience (review of an ARC kindly provided by NetGalley).

[Alexander Peterhans · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mix of a fretfull adolescence story with a coming of age story. Antoine, a 13-year-old boy is on vacation with his younger brother. Friends of his parents come to stay, and along comes their daughter, Hélène, a 16-year-old who turns Antoine's life upside down.



I liked the story a lot. There's a lot of yearning, there's some graphic depiction of adolescent sex (though never lascivious). It revels in the dumb sweetness of young boys, without falling in the trap of depicting young girls as intrepid seductresses. Things happen between Antoine and Hélène in a natural, bumbling way.



I needed a second to adapt to the art, which is fantastic. Sometimes Bastien Vivès omits characters' eyes, and I'm still not entirely sure why. It does fit.



(Picked up a review copy through Edelweiss)

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring illustrations, problematic plot involving manipulation and inappropriate behaviour towards underage kids.

Nudity and substance abuse. Well, the parents and the other adults are just there doing nothing. And it's so damn boring.

[Chloë · Rating 1 out of 5]

A Sister by Bastien Vivès is a coming-of-age graphic novel about 13-year-old Antoine who's visiting the french seaside with his brother and his parents. Then, unexpectedly, his mom's friend joins their trip together with her 16-year-old daughter Hélène.

The description says this story conveys the stumbling awakenings of adolescent desire. I don't think that "awakening" was handled well at all. Not only does Hélène get Antoine to drink and to smoke, but they also have a sexual relationship. It's explicitly drawn. I believe a sexual relationship between a 16-year-old and a 13-year-old shouldn't be acceptable in the first place, and there surely shouldn't be a grown man drawing that and selling it to other adults.

I also thought the character of Hélène was a perfect example of the male gaze. Her body is constantly in the frame, almost always only half covered. She takes her shirt off more often than you would think possible in such a short book. We're constantly seeing a 16-year-old girl as a sexual object. Her character can be summed up as 'rebellious teenage girl here to give the innocent boy some new experiences', in a way that felt very predatory to me, as Antoine was even more of a child than Hélène was.

I do have to say the art style was nice and perfect for a graphic novel. The dialogue was incredibly realistic and there were a lot of relatable moments I recognised from my own family holidays (the ones where Antoine fought with his brother, not the other stuff luckily). I would've liked this a lot more if the characters would've been both 17 or something similar.

Thank you Diamond Book Distributors for providing this copy via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Fátima Linhares · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esta novela gráfica lê-se num instante, o que me deixa sempre na dúvida se a apreciei devidamente e se captei todas as nuances e subtilezas da mesma. Há sempre coisas que nos escapam num livro ou a que não damos tanta atenção, por isso, passemos essa "angústia" à frente. A história é um bocadinho gráfica, no pun itended, mas acho que de certa forma relata a descoberta do sexo e do corpo na adolescência. Tenho a certeza de que o Antoine nunca irá esquecer a Hélène e aquele verão!

[George Ilsley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A coming of age story that is rated "Mature."

I didn't notice the rating until I looked for it, after reading the book. The main story is about children, young teenagers, and is a sweet story about stumbling towards sexuality, but the content was a little too "graphic" for me, considering the age of the characters.

The story could have been better handled in a more sensitive manner in prose. Sometimes the "graphic" nature of graphic novels is just too much for this delicate reader.

That being said, most of the book was very well done, and is bound to provoke discussions about French attitudes towards sex.

Trying to straddle the line with my rating. There are creepy elements, and the story is somewhat unlikely but not totally implausible (I interpreted it as 16 year old Helen enjoying feeling more in control with the younger boy than she does with the 17 year olds). The author apparently likes to make readers uncomfortable, and in that way the book is a success.

[LW · Rating 2 out of 5]

ASSORÉTA

Un blurb diceva di Bastien Vivès "un autentico genio del fumetto francese "
Ullallà!
ho abboccato e ho preso* questo suo ultimo libro

Ok, le vacanze al mare ,il caldo , la figlia sedicenne di una amica di famiglia in casa,
ok ,gli ormoni a palla dell'adolescenza
PERÒ
come si fa a passare in poche paginette da una tavola (il tratto poi è approssimato ,bah ,non mi è piaciuto)
con un timido tredicenne bravo a disegnare Pokemon (con un primo piano dell'adorabile Pikachu)
ad una scena alla deep throat tra lui e la sedicenne ?!
eddai, Bastien!
2 stelle ,per Titi ,il simpatico (e credibile) fratellino

* poi riposizionato su scaffale dopo 25 minuti netti :)

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprei este livro e sentei na praça de alimentação. Dez páginas depois, os gritos dos garçons, os choros das crianças, o blablabla dos comensais e transeuntes foram levemente se apagando. Meu cenário não era mais uma praça de alimentação de shopping. Era uma praia francesa onde um menino de treze anos conhecia as primeiras experiências do amor. Existem leituras que tem esse poder. Nos deslocar do nosso lugar, nos submergir dentro de um outro universo, tal o seu poder. Há cinco anos atrás eu me deparava com O Gosto do Cloro, primeira narrativa de Vivés, um cara que tem a minha idade (suspiro). O poder era o mesmo, só que dessa vez, com mais páginas e uma narrativa mais madura, menos lacunar. Uma irmã daria um belíssimo filme indie. A, digamos, direção de Vivés na escolha dos enquadramentos, da montagem do ritmo, é perfeita. Também consigo ver que o desenho de Vivés evoluiu bastante, por vezes até lembrando o mangá. Vale destacar também que é uma narrativa bem atual, em que os personagens usam whatsapp, facebook e as crianças desenham Pokémons. É muito legal a maneira como o autor constrói a relação entre os três personagens principais: Antoine e seu irmão, Titi, e a hóspede Hélene. Não é uma história cativante, nem tocante, nem de disparar a adrenalina. É uma história de cotidiano, que poderia acontecer com qualquer um de nós. E é aí que se encontra a sua força: uma cotidianidade explosiva, potente e que faz o mundo ao redor de nos entrar em um fade out. Nisso, li três quartos de Uma Irmã enquanto estava na praça de alimentação do shopping.

[Geoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this graphic novel made me feel very American, digesting something that is both a work of art but also feels at times wrongly pornographic. I remember what it was like to be 13 with the overwhelming feelings and hormones and confusion about adult concerns but simultaneously not wanting to be or (worse) be seen as a child. But it felt icky to see that played out in the relationship between a 16 year old girl and a 13 year old boy in occasionally graphic ways. Maybe this being a graphic novel rather than a novel made it difficult to intellectualize and not let the sex overshadow the art? Maybe I'm more middle American than I like to think? Maybe it's because I'm a parent now and not ready to think of my kids going through that stage? Maybe this was just too much?.

There is a sweet coming of age story at the core here, the art is both expressionistic and dreamy yet detailed, the plotting is tight, and the characters (especially the supporting characters) are shown in a way to make them three dimensional (the little brother is a joy). In many ways this is a great graphic novel. But that is somehow overshadowed (especially in the second half) by ickyiness from the sexual scenes.

**Thanks the the artist, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Mélanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Une jolie écriture, un dessin toujours aussi subtile et délicat.
Contrairement à ce que j'ai pu lire je ne trouve pas l'histoire si dérangeante tant elle casse en douceur des codes imposés : celui de la jeune fille forte et leadeuse et du garçon peu sur de lui; de l'adolescente plus âgée qui s'éprend tendrement d'un plus jeune.
C'est par ces petites choses que cette histoire est belle et touchante et nous amène dans une parenthèse d'un été enchantée .

[Koen Claeys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zeer goede strip die gezien de onschuldige titel minder onschuldig is dan ik had verwacht. Een kameraad van me bestempelt het als een stripklassieker en het is goed mogelijk dat de toekomst hem gelijk zal geven.

[Donatella Principi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recensione su Chibiistheway
Una storia di formazione e prime volte molto sincera e semplice, anche nel tratto. Una boccata d'aria fresca

[Romain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bastien Vivès nous livre une chronique des vacances d’été une sorte D’Hôtel de la plage moderne car oui le téléphone portable à fait son apparition. Même s’il n’a pas – encore – pris le dessus sur les indétrônables de la période que sont les cuites et l’amour. C’est alors pour un jeune garçon un peu introverti préférant le dessin aux activités sportives l’épreuve de la confrontation aux autres. Ce ne sont ni les premiers ni les derniers abrutis qu’il croisera. Il faut faire des choix, tenir tête ou entrer dans le jeu. Un frêle équilibre qui consiste à ne pas trop se travestir sans perdre la face. Et ce n’est que la première manche de l’épreuve de virilité. La deuxième est au moins aussi compliquée, les filles.

De nombreux garçons ont ces souvenirs de vacances. Les premiers émois. Lorsqu’à l’occasion d’une douche ou d’une sieste on entrevoit quelque chose qui va tout changer. Rien ne sera plus jamais pareil, les priorités viennent de basculer, les pôles de s’inverser. Elle peut être une jeune inconnue que l’on rencontre, une cousine ou une amie de la famille. Enfin cette ambiance des vacances d’été. Cette coupure de deux mois qui peut sembler oisive, mais dont l’on revient inévitablement changé. À 13 ans c’est encore plus que ça. C’est une frontière. Le passage des douceurs et de la naïveté de l’enfance aux perturbations de l’adolescence. On abandonne son cocon pour vivre des aventures plus palpitantes, mais aussi plus dangereuses.

C’est tout cela que nous fait revivre avec beaucoup de grâce Bastien Vivès. Son talent est évident sur le plan du dessin. À l’époque Polina était déjà bluffant, mais en le revoyant après Une soeur, on s’aperçoit tout de suite qu’il a beaucoup progressé – si, si c’est possible. Et c’est autant le cas sur le plan technique que sur celui des émotions. Cette façon de saisir les sentiments et les ambiances avec un trait qui le distingue, c’est du grand art. Ce talent transparaît notamment dans les regards ou dans leur absence.

> C’est moi ? Oui. Pourquoi t’as pas fait le visage ? T’avais la tête penchée.

Il s’exprime aussi dans sa façon sensible d’amener les choses, de faire avancer son histoire par petites touches avec force et subtilité.

Tous les personnages sont là. Certains pourraient dire qu’ils sont stéréotypés, je les trouve très réussis.

- Les parents qui font leur vie agrémentée d´apéros et de grillades sans trop se préoccuper des enfants.
- Le petit frère ancré dans le monde de l’enfance et dont la préoccupation majeure est la pêche aux crabes.
- Le protagoniste principal, un doux garçon aimant le dessin – et plutôt doué – qui s’apprête à faire son entrée dans le monde de l’adolescence. Il a comme un petit air de ressemblance avec l’auteur, mais je dois me tromper.
- La fille, une jeune adolescente de 16 ans blonde et jolie dont les formes se sont affirmées. De plus, elle est dotée d’un tempérament audacieux qui ne gâte rien. Elle a quitté le monde de l’enfance, mais on peut observer des résurgences lorsqu’elle s’adonne à des jeux sur la plage ou à la résolution d’un puzzle.

Bastien Vivès immortalise avec Une soeur une tranche de vie sans voyeurisme ni puritanisme. Il y parvient avec une acuité impressionnante. Il distille de l’émotion à l’état pur déclenchée par une alchimie parfaite entre cette histoire et son dessin.

https://www.aubonroman.com/2017/08/un...

[Suni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Antoine ha tredici anni e come ogni estate va con la famiglia nella casa che hanno sull'Île-aux-Moines, in Bretagna.
Lo attendono pigre giornate di mare, a disegnare o cercare granchi col fratellino rompiscatole – ma che in fondo ama e verso cui è protettivo –, quando all'improvviso arriva Helene, sedici anni, loro ospite per una settimana assieme alla madre, e tutto cambia velocità.
Una sorella è la storia di un incontro tra due ragazzini molto diversi che però stabiliscono subito una connessione forte e quasi esclusiva, si piacciono, si attraggono e si arricchiscono a vicenda (lei lo fa crescere, lui la calma e la addolcisce), anche se per un tempo tanto breve.
Niente di nuovo e per giunta ad alto rischio di scivoloni nei territori del volgare e del morboso, ma Vivès è capace di una delicatezza che lo tiene bene a distanza da ciò, perfino nelle vignette più esplicite.
Mi è piaciuto anche il finale.
Quindi consigliatissimo (se non vi scandalizzate).

PS: la stellina in meno è perché un tarlo nella testa mi dice che è un po' strano che una sedicenne degni di attenzione un tredicenne, ma lasciatemi perdere.

[Vittorio Rainone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bastien Vives è costantemente un esempio di come fare fumetti.
Perché il suo approccio visivo è riassuntivo anche in maniera estrema (la mancanza degli occhi per molte inquadrature anche ravvicinate dei volti), ma sa essere al contempo sempre suggestivo ed efficace. E qui l’assenza di colore coniugata con un’ambientazione semplice e scarna, dimostra la potenza misurata del suo modo di intendere le tavole.
Ma soprattutto: Vives rende le emozioni, e in particolare l’amore, in un modo personale ed efficacissimo, tale da creare una decisa compartecipazione nel lettore.
Una sorella si legge di un fiato. E ci sono scene che ti tengono avvinto: quelle dinamiche di approccio fra Helene e Antoine, la scoperta della sessualità da parte del ragazzo, ma anche della gelosia e di tutta una serie di sentimenti nuovi, si comunicano con forza al lettore senza bisogno di didascalie, senza bisogno di stratificare i discorsi.
E quell’ultima immagine di Helene che va via è una conclusione che mi ha emozionato.

[Mec · Rating 3 out of 5]

L'estate al mare, i primi turbamenti, la scoperta del sesso, forse l'amore. Nessun dettaglio di questa storia è particolarmente originale, eppure mi è piaciuta. I disegni semplici, nei toni di un grigio leggero conferiscono alle tavole un'aria di rievocazione, di malinconico ricordo.
I due ragazzi protagonisti mi fanno tenerezza, ognuno con le proprie fragilità esposte e le incertezze dell'adolescenza. Il continuo senso di inadeguatezza trova una pausa in un rapporto esclusivo, che li lega e li rinforza e che, nel contempo, esclude e rigetta come un corpo estraneo tutto ciò che gli sta intorno. La brevità del tempo a loro disposizione probabilmente funge da accelerante al sentimento.
La narrazione dal tono agrodolce, lo sguardo dell'autore privo di morbosità e, anzi, attento nel cogliere con delicatezza i dettagli di sentimenti adolescenziali così totalizzanti e spiazzanti, rendono questa graphic novel una bella lettura dal retrogusto leggermente amaro.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very French coming of age story about a 13 year old boy on holiday with his family who develops a crush on a 16 year old girl staying with the family.

I'm really curious about the reviews for this one because it there are some uncomfortable moments involving sexuality that some readers will want to shy away from, particularly when you take into consideration the age gap between the two characters when it comes to the more adult themes of sex, drinking and drugs.

But again, it's French and they have a very different perspective on coming of age stories. The actions of the characters aren't judged, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's being endorsed.

I really liked the strange artwork, but this also may turn readers off.

It's not for everyone, but I suspect after reading a few reviews you'll get an idea if it sounds like it's for you or not.

[Ije the Devourer of Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first when I started reading this I wasn't too sure that I would like it. This is a coming of age story about Antoine who is a 13 year old boy, tiptoeing into his young adult years. Every summer he and his parents and younger brother spend the summer in their seaside holiday home. This year is different. Antoine wakes up one morning to find that they have guests. Hélène is 16 years old and her mother has just had a miscarriage. Her mother is a friend to Antoine's parents and so they have joined Antoine's family at their holiday home.

Antoine is entranced by Helene and stumbles along following her into drink, partying and sexual petting. Helene encourages him and finds comfort in him as their friendship and desire for each other increases. They are both innocent but reaching for more as some young people do. I didnt like Helene because I felt as if she was older and should have known better, but should she? In the end we see the two teenagers trying to manage their sexual desire, friendship, loneliness and fraternal care. In the end their friendship and care actually protect Antoine and the story ends on a hopeful note.

I liked the artwork. The black, whites and greys are a great way to tell this story of emerging love, friendship and desire. It is a many layered story because there are different aspects of the story occuring at the same time. The parents are blind to the children and their activities, so underage drinking, partying and fondling happen beneath their noses. They are focussed on their own things leaving Antoine to supervise and entertain his little brother. Helene is older than her years and quite lonely. Antoine provides her with companionship and hope, best of all is the way their care of each other actually keeps them safe.

All of the intricacies of this story are gently conveyed through the artwork. It would be well worth reading a physical copy. It surprised me how much I actually liked it in the end. Although I do think the parents should have had greater supervision of their children!

Copy provided by Diamond Comics via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Rafaela Oliveira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Je pense que c'est le type d'histoire où tout a un pourquoi et qu'il y a quelque chose de caché qu'il faut comprendre sans l'avoir lu. Très misterieux...

[Eve · Rating 1 out of 5]

Je tenais pas particulièrement à voir l’éveil sexuel d’un garçon de 13 ans...?

[Luca Masera · Rating 3 out of 5]

Storia di un'innocenza (perduta), dei primi turbamenti dell'animo (ma soprattutto ormonali) e della scoperta di una (non) sorella. Una stella in più perché tutti abbiamo vissuto un'estate come quella dei due protagonisti di 'Una sorella', e ancora ce la ricordiamo con quel misto agrodolce di nostalgia e struggimento.

[Cristina | Books, less beer & a baby Gaspar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uma história maravilhosa sobre descobertas. Descoberta da amizade, do amor, da sexualidade. Aliado a um traço simples mas genial.

[Tiash . · Rating 3 out of 5]

A SISTER is a story of blooming of emotional and sexual desires of a 13 years old boy ANTONIE! And It's just it! Not more not less! But realistic and relatable? Well it depends!

First and foremost, HOLY COW! It's been adapted into UN FRERE (!) It was shocking for me! I loved that movie, I truly did! But here my problem with the manga is,

a. Age of our MC! Antonie is fucking 13 years old! And IDK man, maybe It's Because I myself was a late bloomer, so reading about such strong sexual desires of someone at this young age (13, Man he's just a kid) was hella uncomfortable for me. See in movie they made the mc tad a bit mature like 16/17 (I guess) which completely justfy their action! But here in this comic, its an exclamation mark! 

b. In movie adaptation, our mc was both guy and their confusing sexuality made the plot more fluid and interesting. And as I watched the film first and was subconsciously attached to the characters, so unfortunately this comic could not provide me much engagement. 

Anyway, both the previous points are completely on me, it has nothing to do with the artist or the story! Truth be spoken, I really enjoy many aspect of the comic. Firstly it got right the relationship of siblings. From the first scene, the way they fought, snarled and also shared a deep affection for each other is reasonably sweet and practical! Then family influences and character development everything was on point! Helen's sexual tension towards other boys (including Antoine) was age appropriate for her! Her character perfectly captured the teenage stupidity and madness. 


So all in all, everything rounded to 3 star! It's a good story but I enjoyed the movie adaptation better! 


[Thanks NetGalley for providing me this ARC copy. I really appreciate that]

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[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ah the French and sex. Perhaps to the French is perfectly natural to have a 16 year old girl seduce a 13 year old boy. Some have called this a coming of age story, but to me it feels more like she is a sexual preditor, forcing herself on him.

The story is about a young boy and his brother, who are spending the summer at the beach, when their mother invites a friend and her daughter to spend some time there. The daughter, being older, wants to hang out with the older kids, which is a bit too much for Antoine. She gets him drunk, gets him to smoke, gets him to do things he is not really comfortable doing, including having him fondle her, as well as she give him blow jobs.

But, perhaps there are people out there who find this perfectly normal and I am an old prude.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[LuinGor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Une histoire sensible qui m'a bien plu. La relation des deux frères, les vacances en Bretagne entre l'ennui, les après-midi interminables à faire des puzzles et l'envie de grandir, le parfum d'interdit de la première cuite, tout ça est décrit avec subtilité.

Les personnages m'ont paru très réels et leurs sentiments aussi. La fin est simple, originale et émouvante comme le reste du livre.

On peut évidemment être choqué par l'initiation à la sexualité d'un adolescent de 13 ans mais j'ai trouvé que le sujet est vraisemblable et traité avec subtilité.

Le fait de ne pas être être choqué par ce genre de choses est peut-être un point de vue masculin, il est possible que les lectrices soient plus réservées et moins indulgentes sur ce point.

En tout cas, j'ai aimé cette BD

[Verba Non Res · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una característica historia de iniciación, en la que sobre todo se destaca el trabajo de Vivès con el punto de vista. Sus ilustraciones se preocupan especialmente por los espacios (simbólicos también, pero sobre todo físicos) que se van construyendo entre los personajes. El personaje principal habla bastante poco, pero siempre sabemos a dónde se dirige su mirada, y casi siempre, también, qué es lo que está pensando. Desde su perspectiva, como la delinea Vivès, se puede sentir la proximidad tensa de los cuerpos, lo improvisado y lo enredoso y lo más o menos clandestino de esos primeros encuentros íntimos.

[Federico · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 13 yo boy which is in that land of nowhere between childhood and adulthood and a 16yo confused and a bit troublesome girl spending their summer together, in a coming of age graphic novel that explores the many shades of becoming adults.

WARNINGS: nudity, sexual acts (minors)

STYLING: ⭐⭐⭐
ORIGINALITY: ⭐⭐⭐
CHARACTER DEV.: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
PLOT DEV.: ⭐⭐⭐
IMPORTANCE: ⭐⭐

[Radwa · Rating 1 out of 5]

English Review Below.

قصة مصورة عن عائلة فرنسية تقضي الصيف في منزلها على الشاطئ، القصة تتمحور حول الابنين: أنطوان وعمره 13 سنة ويحب الرسم، وتيتي الصغير الذي يحب البوكيمون. وفي صيف أحد الأعوام، يأتي للمكوث معهم صديقة للعائلة وابنتها هيلين التي تبلغ 16 عاما، ووجودها يغير حياة أنطوان.

تساهم هيلين في صحوة أنطوان "الجنسية"، ولكن سنه الصغيرة والتلميح لكونها أقرب إلى الأخت، جعل هذه القصة مقززة في نظري ولم أستطع اعتبارها قصة لطيفة عن نضج فتى وأنها تغيرت إلى الأفضل. لم يعجبني أسلوب الرسم حتى، رغم أنني قد أعترف أن الكاتب يمكنه رسم وكابة قصص مؤثرة عن الحياة اليومية فهذه القصة لم تعجبني على الإطلاق.

This is a coming of age story, but it's not tender. At first, I didn't like the art style, but thought the story might grow on me. But I was never comfortable with how young Antoine was. This felt manipulative and wrong.

It's a story of a french family who spend their summers in their beach house, the sons: Antoine (13 years old) who loves drawing and Titi who loves Pokemon, and one summer they're joined by a relative and her daughter Helene (16 years old) who changes Antoine's life. She in some way causes his sexual awakening, but him being so young, and the innuendos to her being like "a sister", made this reading experience feel so wrong on so many levels.

I can see that the author manages to draw emotional slice-of-life stories, but this just wasn't for me.

I thank Netgalley for the digital ARC.

[Tiago Germano · Rating 3 out of 5]

O trânsito de Antoine pelo mundo infantil e adulto é feito de modo sensível e delicado, se alternando entre o universo de Titi, o irmão com quem desenha Pokémons nas toalhas de papel dos restaurantes, e o de Hélène, a garota mais velha e sexualmente mais madura (embora essa maturidade logo venha a se revelar postiça, ocultando todos os dramas e hesitações da adolescência). De forma sub-repitícia, Vivès consegue fazer de sua narrativa não apenas uma história sobre Antoine, mas sobre a própria Hélène: a impossibilidade do personagem desenhá-la, aqui, é também a impossibilidade de alcançar a sua experiência, de dar sentido a episódios que só mais tarde vão fazer sentido, tornando o encontro dos dois algo mais que um "amor de verão". Abdicando de oferecer um quadro completo desta fase (o que seria possível situando a narração no futuro, por exemplo, como uma lembrança do protagonista, já adulto), o artista nos oferece um testemunho repleto de atrevimento e inocência, com a beleza transformadora dos instantes únicos, irrecuperáveis pela memória.

[Agus · Rating 4 out of 5]

No iba a escribir una reseña sobre este libro, pero después me puse a leer algunas de gente dándole 1 o 2 estrellas por ser "creepy" y me puse de mal humor 😂

Básicamente el cómic explora la relación (sobre todo sexual) entre una chica de 16 años y un chico de 13 que pasan un verano juntos. Y sí, es súper gráfico. Y sí, puede resultar incómodo, pero también es plausible. ¿Desde cuándo las historias tienen que ser moralmente "correctas" para ser buenas?

En fin, a mí me gustó bastante. El estilo del dibujo me intrigó; los diálogos están traducidos a un castellano híper coloquial, lo cual me parece que suma en este caso porque son adolescentes; y el título me pareció bien elegido (digo porque leí varias personas que no entienden por qué se llama así).

Conclusión: no lean este cómic si buscan una historia ~tierna~ del despertar sexual entre adolescentes, o si esperan grandes revelaciones; léanlo si están dispuestos/as a aceptar lo que la historia ofrece y a permitirse experimentar distintas sensaciones, entre ellas, la incomodidad.