bookishrealm's review
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This was an interesting graphic novel. I wasn't necessarily sure what to expect in terms of plot except that it probably focused on dancing to some degree. Emma and Violette is about two sisters who are both ballerinas; however, one is more "naturally" gifted at dancing than the other. Their mother pushes both of them to get into a prestigious ballet school so they can become principle dancers. There were a few things about this that I enjoyed. Hamon included some great conversations related to parenting and how difficult it can be to draw the line at your aspirations and what your child wants to do. Emma and Violette's mother was so caught up in her deferred dreams that she was unknowingly projecting onto her daughters. It causes a lot of discourse in their household. Hamon also touched a little bit on what it's like to be teen that is attempting to find their voice. It can be hard to stand up for what you want as a teenager especially when you want nothing more than to make your parents happy.
While I enjoyed the art (it does feel a little stiff in some sections), I had some trouble following the story in some areas. There were characters that weren't fleshed out so readers don't know who they are or what role they play in the story as a whole. There also appeared to be some awkward moments in the dialogue. I'm not sure if this had anything to do with the translation as this was originally written in French. There were great moments with the supportive father in the book, but part of me feels like I was missing out on something because the entire story wasn't necessarily there. Overall, it was a decent read. I'm definitely willing to try out the rest of the series to see what happens to both girls.
While I enjoyed the art (it does feel a little stiff in some sections), I had some trouble following the story in some areas. There were characters that weren't fleshed out so readers don't know who they are or what role they play in the story as a whole. There also appeared to be some awkward moments in the dialogue. I'm not sure if this had anything to do with the translation as this was originally written in French. There were great moments with the supportive father in the book, but part of me feels like I was missing out on something because the entire story wasn't necessarily there. Overall, it was a decent read. I'm definitely willing to try out the rest of the series to see what happens to both girls.
balancinghistorybooks's review
2.0
I did not find this overly engaging, and the artwork was a little too computerised for my personal tastes. Had illustrations been used without being too enhanced, I probably would have enjoyed it a lot more.
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