My review of Are You Listening? by Tillie Walden

Are You Listening? by Tillie Walden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This graphic novel had a lot of unexpected turns. It was surprisingly moving, as it touched on important emotions.

Two young women unexpectedly come together as they seek to escape their lives and problems back home. Through beautiful graphics and dialogue, Walden portrays their emotional fragility as they travel through Texas, but through strange terrain and sometimes spooky moments. They also come across a lost cat, which turns out to have unexpected powers, and attempt to take it back to its home. There were times when I was a little lost about what the story was trying to tell me, such as by unexplained panels, or dialogue that wasn't fully fleshed out. But in a way I think Walden wants us to be a little lost, like the characters, so it worked. Be aware that there are a couple moments of "tough" content related to sexual identity and sexual assault. Though it isn't in any way graphic and is presented in a meaningful and thoughtful way, just be aware that this book may not be for the youngest readers or those who are easily triggered by such content. In the end, I think both characters come out of the experience a bit wiser about themselves and each other, though you are left with a bit of longing and worry for them.

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Cheers and happy reading!