A review by pharden87
Liberty by Raives, Warnauts

challenging emotional fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This is a quick graphic novel about a mother and daughter told over about a 40 year span. It tells of the mother, Tshilanda’s, journey to America and creating a new life for herself here, and her relationship with her daughter, Liberty. The story shifts points of view between Tshilanda, Liberty,
Tshilanda’s husband
Mike, and Édouard. 

The art is a beautiful style reminiscent of some vintage comics. It goes back and forth between beautifully colored spreads and very nicely done grey scale layouts and sketches at the start of the chapters.

The story is so close to being so much more. It touches on highlights of their life, almost as if it is a recap of a previous season at the start of a new one on a show. What we get of each part is beautiful, nuanced, and real. But it just feels like there could be so much more. Each part just left me wanting to know more about what was going on. 

I feel like overall if it had been fleshed out more this could easily have been a 4.5/5 star read for me.
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