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Synopsis (from Goodreads):
When a tragic accident takes the life of 17-year-old Raven Roth's foster mom—and Raven's memory—she moves to New Orleans to recover and finish her senior year of high school.
Starting over isn't easy. Raven remembers everyday stuff like how to solve math equations and make pasta, but she can't remember her favorite song or who she was before the accident. And when impossible things start happening, Raven begins to think it might even be better not to know who she was before.
But as she grows closer to her new friends, her foster sister, Max, and Tommy Torres, a guy who accepts her for who she is now, Raven has to decide if she's ready to face what's buried in the past... and the darkness building inside her.
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia and first-time graphic novel artist Gabriel Picolo comes this riveting tale of finding the strength to face who you are and learning to trust others—and yourself.
Review:
I have long enjoyed Kami Garcia's Beautiful Creatures books. She created such a moody atmosphere in that Southern Gothic genre. Now, along with illustrator Gabriel Picolo, she has taken a stab at graphic novels. What a wonderful start to what I hope will be a series (please, please, please).
via GIPHY
What I Liked:
Illustrations:Sticking to a color palette of blacks and purples, illustrator Gabriel Picolo creates an angsty atmosphere. His use of giant raven shadows was eerie and created a sense of foreboding. He was also able to play with ways to show thoughts and inner dialogue that was fresh and original.
Setting:
The story is set in New Orleans. Even though some of the scenes take place at a voodoo shop and a cemetery, it doesn't feel clichéd. Much of the action happens either at Raven's high school. Given how diverse New Orleans is, I like how lots of different kinds of teens are shown, including students with disabilities.
Story:
Raven is a person going through a terrible trauma. Her foster mother was killed in a car accident right in front of her, leaving her with amnesia. Even though she can't really feel sad for a person she can't remember, she does harbor feelings of intense guilt for surviving the crash. Is the evil voice she hears in her head hinting that she was a terrible person before the accident? Or is something trying to lead her astray? People can have a variety of thoughts, both good and bad. This is what make people complicated. Realizing this is a step towards adulthood. What a subtle, sophisticated subtext!
I also liked the use of headphones to help Raven deal with noise. Lots of people are really sensitive about noise in public spaces. Aside from having better sound quality for music, perhaps people are using them more for shutting out all the noise around them.
Overall:
This was a great start to a graphic novel series. The mood, setting, and story set the stage for us to get to know Raven, her aunt, and her cousin. I really hope this book does well, so we will get more of this series in the future.Rating:
Release Date: July 2nd, 2019
Author: Kami Garcia
Illustrator: Gabriel. Picolo
Publisher: DC Ink
Genre: YA Fantasy Graphic Novel
Page Length: 192 Pages
Source: NetGalley
Format: E-Book (PDF)
Recommendation: Read it! A great introduction to a complicated character.
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