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minowe's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Racism
Moderate: Medical content and Injury/Injury detail
kenopsiae's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
gracie_wirzba's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
tayface43's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
One of the best graphic novels I've read all year! The Characters were so lovable, the art style was adorable, and the storyline was very touching. I especially loved the speech bubbles that said "Spanish sounding stuff," when Almudena couldn't understand what was being said around her. I feel like it added some quirk and also felt authentic to the experience of hearing a language that you can recognize but do not understand. 10/10 would recommend.
mixtercharlie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lavendermarch's review
5.0
This was a lovely coming of age story. The graphic novel format worked really well for it, with vibrant, stunning art showcasing the protagonist, Almudena, and her relationship with her father and the community he lives in. I finished this in a day. 4.5 stars.
spenkevich's review against another edition
4.0
Fixing up a house is not the same as fixing up a home, but for 14 year old Almudena the three months she spends fixing up an old Brownstone with her father might be the opportunity to make both happen. An adorable coming-of-age graphic novel centered on family and identity, Brownstone from Samuel Teer and artist Mar Julia is a heartwarming hit. When her mother has to leave for a dance tour for the summer, Almudena is sent to stay with her father for three months, the catch is that she has never before met him. Suddenly immersed in a Guatemalan culture she was previously unaware of and unable to speak Spanish, Almudena navigates the frictions of her new community in this excellent story with plenty of space to breathe and let the nuance shine through explorations of community, gentrification and family.
A big shout out to Hope and their review for inspiring me to read this as they are always correct when recommending a book. This was an adorable graphic novel and I was pleased to see how much space it gave to exploring the topics within while keeping the pace comfortably forward moving. Mar Julia’s artwork is wonderful with excellent depictions of city life and characters that are able to display a wide range of emotions quite effectively. In a story where the main character is outside the culture and language and must rely on visual cues and translation, the book using a strong sense of visual literacy to tell the story was nice. Suddenly dropped into a culture she had no idea was her own is a lot to Almudena, struggling to not feel like a fraud while her neighbors teasingly call her “off-brand” and trying to make sense of her new identity. It is empathetically presented with a good use of humor, particularly around her finding the food too spicy and being told she needs to check the “white people aisle” of the grocery store.
There is an excellent cast of characters here that allows the story to wind through a lot of other examinations of identity, such two characters coming to terms with their queer identities in a community that isn’t always the most accepting or supportive. There is also the issue of gentrification closing stores and whitewashing the predominantly Guatemalan area as well as her father’s backstory of coming to the United States. It makes for a very well-rounded story that gives a lot of room for character development and understanding that I quite enjoyed. It does occasionally feel like issues or disputes are resolved rather quickly, though with a cast of teenagers it is easy to dismiss, especially as it is the collective cast coming together and interacting that makes this such a charming story.
Brownstone is a gorgeous tale of family and identity and quite a heartwarming read. Almudena spends much of the story trying to fix not only the house with her father, but also everyones problems and relationships and has to learn she can’t do everything herself. But her efforts and the changes she can make mean a whole lot A cute read that will charm readers of any age.
4/5
A big shout out to Hope and their review for inspiring me to read this as they are always correct when recommending a book. This was an adorable graphic novel and I was pleased to see how much space it gave to exploring the topics within while keeping the pace comfortably forward moving. Mar Julia’s artwork is wonderful with excellent depictions of city life and characters that are able to display a wide range of emotions quite effectively. In a story where the main character is outside the culture and language and must rely on visual cues and translation, the book using a strong sense of visual literacy to tell the story was nice. Suddenly dropped into a culture she had no idea was her own is a lot to Almudena, struggling to not feel like a fraud while her neighbors teasingly call her “off-brand” and trying to make sense of her new identity. It is empathetically presented with a good use of humor, particularly around her finding the food too spicy and being told she needs to check the “white people aisle” of the grocery store.
There is an excellent cast of characters here that allows the story to wind through a lot of other examinations of identity, such two characters coming to terms with their queer identities in a community that isn’t always the most accepting or supportive. There is also the issue of gentrification closing stores and whitewashing the predominantly Guatemalan area as well as her father’s backstory of coming to the United States. It makes for a very well-rounded story that gives a lot of room for character development and understanding that I quite enjoyed. It does occasionally feel like issues or disputes are resolved rather quickly, though with a cast of teenagers it is easy to dismiss, especially as it is the collective cast coming together and interacting that makes this such a charming story.
Brownstone is a gorgeous tale of family and identity and quite a heartwarming read. Almudena spends much of the story trying to fix not only the house with her father, but also everyones problems and relationships and has to learn she can’t do everything herself. But her efforts and the changes she can make mean a whole lot A cute read that will charm readers of any age.
4/5
caitbooks_27's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
whittie03's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0