ZardoZi by Debasmita Dasgupta is a gentle, deceptively simple book. In just a few words, accompanied by powerful pictures, it tells a rich story--one that, as the subtitle says, is stitched with love.ZardoZi begins with a dream. Zi feels like he has found a treasure, but he doesn't know what it is. When he talks about his dream, though, it seems as if everyone already has something figured out for him, the interpretation of the dream included. As the story moves on, we see that having things figured out irrespective of what Zi wants seems to be the norm. Even words like Let him be what he wants to be are little more than lip service.Subtly, gently, the story shows us how expectations are foisted upon children. Zi feels like he is losing his voice, his identity. Everyone has ideas of what he ought to do. How will he make himself heard?I love the gentle exploration of … [Read more...]
Terminal 3
When I learned that Debasmita Dasgupta had another graphic novel out, I knew I had to read it. Nadya, which I read several months ago, was a stunning read that effortlessly brought together pithy text and bold illustrations. Visually, Terminal 3 was just as compelling. The colour palettes were gorgeous, and I love that the author-illustrator takes us through her choices at the end of the book. I feasted my eyes on page after page.However, Terminal 3 is far more text-heavy than Nadya. While the shifting timelines worked for me, I wanted to know Noor and Yusuf better. I wanted to feel more deeply the relationships we see fleetingly in Khwab's past. The illustrations worked beautifully, but with so much text, I longed for more exploration of friendship and love.Having said that, Terminal 3 was still a lovely read. Airports are places of possibility, where time stands still … [Read more...]
Nadya
Nadya's family is perfect, or so it seems. It's full of laughter and fun, and she knows that no matter where she is, her father will find her.But one day, things don't seem so perfect anymore. Eventually, Nadya's father tells her that he's going away. He promises he'll be back soon, but that's a lie.With minimal text and powerful, bold illustration, Nadya tells the story of family, and relationships that need to change and grow. Emotions run high, and pictures, rather than text, propel the story, bringing a sense of urgency into the story and highlighting the conflict and tension in the family.And I loved it. I loved how much was expressed in so little. Graphic novels work best for me when they are like this - with expressive pictures doing most of the talking. Especially for middle-grade readers who struggle with dense text, Nadya is the perfect read!TitleNadyaAuthor … [Read more...]