I think this one got a lot of good press and with good reason. A delicate, lovely illustrated book with a personal-feeling take on how it feels to not fit in in middle school and how hard it is to just shake it off and be who you are, but not with too much wallowing or self-pity. Literary allusions, french-y stuff, and an erstwhile fox. And a bit of a happy ending. Who could ask for anything more? Not I, not I. The cover illustration will very likely appeal to just the right reader for this book. It isn't going to be everyone! I believe there are a few years, or perhaps months, of many good readers' young lives that are just like Helene's story here. Reading it as an adult, it put me right back into that mental state; the confusion of yet lacking a strong enough self-image to counteract the petty cruelty of peers, the inability to come up with a counter-argument to their taunts, the loneliness of not happening to find a kindred spirit...even the sluggishness in recognizing any of one's own specialness. The subtle, smudgy black pencil drawings evoke Helene's state of mind perfectly. The final pages are a palpable relief, both for those who outgrew this period (like Jane Eyre, and the main character) and those who are still in the middle of it.
What do You think about Jane, La Volpe & Io (2014)?
I liked this one, I guess. It makes me want to read Jane Eyre more than anything else.
—Books52365
So beautiful. A story about loneliness, hope, and friendship. Cried.
—Lindsey
