ARC Review | Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera, Celia Moscote
Updated: Dec 7, 2020
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ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: Juliet Takes a Breath
Author: Gabby Rivera, Celia Moscote (Illustrator)
Publisher: BOOM! Box
Published: December 1, 2020
Genre: Graphic Novel, Young Adult, Contemporary
Find it on: Amazon, Goodreads, Book Depository, B&N
Summary:
A NEW GRAPHIC NOVEL ADAPTATION OF THE BESTSELLING BOOK!
Juliet Milagros Palante is leaving the Bronx and headed to Portland, Oregon. She just came out to her family and isn’t sure if her mom will ever speak to her again. But don’t worry, Juliet has something kinda resembling a plan that’ll help her figure out what it means to be Puerto Rican, lesbian and out. See, she’s going to intern with Harlowe Brisbane - her favorite feminist author, someone’s who’s the last work on feminism, self-love and lots of of ther things that will help Juliet find her ever elusive epiphany. There’s just one problem - Harlowe’s white, not from the Bronx and doesn’t have the answers. Okay, maybe that’s more than one problem but Juliet never said it was a perfect plan... Critically-acclaimed writer Gabby Rivera adapts her bestselling novel alongside artist Celia Moscote in an unforgettable queer coming-of-age story exploring race, idenrity and what it means to be true to your amazing self. even when the rest of the world doesn’t understand.
I received an Advance Readers' Copy of Juliet Takes a Breath from BOOM! Studios for review
THE REVIEW— overall thoughts: 3.5 —
tw// homophobia, fatphobia, cultural appropriation, white apologist
“I love you like the seas love the moon. Whatever you are, whoever you love. I’m here.”
I thoroughly adored this ❤︎ there were issues that were pointed out in such a short story that is relevant until today even though the original novel was published some 4 years ago.
THE ILLUSTRATIONS ARE SO GORGEOUS; it did a lot to convery Juliet’s emotions, the pallette is used well and so my style, while translating the comic relief quite well.
To point out some of points that were tackled so bravely:
✧ it talks about the conflicts that could arise after coming out to your family and does it well
✧ pointing out the actual realities of issues like homophobia in families like Juliets
✧ cultural appropriation in a white dominated society
✧ “it’s just a phase”
At the heart, it is a coming of age story that showed the realities of how hard it can be for families to accept but also that not perhaps not everyone will be like that and there will be some people who will love you no matter what. Together with all the insecurities come at that age.
“They didn’t even know me and it was like they loved me.”
I loved the character dynamics and being able to see plainly see the cultural appropriation in certain parts irked me, but that was the point. But Harlowe… oh boy. But that also goes to show just how entitled some white folks can be with topics like racism and the fact that it was pointed out so blatantly has me applauding.
I’m really glad they came out with this graphic novel because I might not have been able to get around to reading the novel, and it might be the same with other people. This, I feel, makes it more accessible to a lot more people which is important for such an important story.
There really is no excuse to be ignorant at this point with all the stories just like Juliet Takes a Breath that are being published.
This was a well done story on every level. It did feel like everything was moving too fast, I guess that comes with the graphic novel format.
↣ This was a nice breather and a surely important story to thousands of people. I wish this was more hyped but maybe I just missed said hype. ↢
“If you don’t have a hum, just a breathe.”
Thank you so much for reading! Are you excited to read this book? Have you read the original novel?
What's a diverse book you have loved recently?
stay safe and wear your masks,
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