(3) YA Translated by Susan Ouriou. Illustrated by Daniel Sylvestre. Struggling with rejection at school and with her single mother's addiction, Ophelia is inspired when a visiting author gives her a blank notebook. Ophelia, a graffiti artist, claims an abandoned building for her art, which leads to friendship with fellow outsider Ulysses. Abstract collages and line drawings are effectively layered into a poetic text (translated from the French), creating a vivid representation of Ophelia's artistic journey.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(1) 4-6 Translated by Susan Ouriou. Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault. The collaborators behind Jane, the Fox & Me have crafted another poignant picture book–size graphic novel. Louis and his little brother live with their always-worried mom, occasionally visiting their untreated-alcoholic dad. Louis's insightful observations about realistic familial struggles are heart-rending; dramatic pencil and ink illustrations employ powerfully moving wordless panels and splashes of yellow and greenish-blue to depict his somber world.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2017

(3) K-3 Translated by Susan Ouriou. "Some have already left. / The neighbor's cat, Aunt Margarita, the fish in yesterday's soup. / Others will arrive." On its own, Valdivia's text might seem daunting. But paired with her beautifully composed, collage-like mixed-media illustrations--showing loving interactions among animals and various-aged people--it's clear that this wholly unique approach to a kids' grief book doubles as a celebration of life.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Translated by Susan Ouriou. The Big Bad Wolf has the same sunny-day routine: he pursues various small animals, and they outwit him every time. While the sly text focuses on characters' actions/reactions, the spare illustrations show rainy-day scenes of the forest devoid of animals: the wolf sleeps in, therefore nothing happens. Readers who are up for a brain-teasing challenge will dig this shaggy-dog story.

Reviewer: Sian Gaetano

(3) PS Translated by Susan Ouriou. Illustrated by Isol. An absurdist zero-to-ten counting book plays with the shapes of numerals some of the time ("4 for a chair hanging by its legs"); other entries are more obscure ("6 for musketeers alongside their reflection"). Isol's scratchy, gestural pen lines and blocks of solid color work well in this intriguing addition to the growing list of concept books with an arty flair.

Reviewer: Lolly Robinson

(1) 4-6 Translated by Susan Ouriou. Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault. In this powerful picture book–size graphic novel, Hélène, ostracized by her former friends, escapes into reading, specifically Jane Eyre; in Jane, Hélène discovers an outcast kindred spirit. Arsenault uses varied page layouts and a mix of illustrative techniques to pace the story and express emotion. Britt's poetic prose captures Hélène's heartbreaking isolation in this brutally beautiful story.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2014

(3) 4-6 Translated by Susan Ouriou. Illustrated by Pablo Serrano. Reviewing the complicated reputation of La Malinche, the Nahuatl woman who provided Cortés with advice, translation, and eventually a child as he conquered the Aztecs, Serrano makes no judgments. He clearly lays out the facts (where known) of her life and the effects of her actions. Pen-and-gouache illustrations mimic the style of Aztec codices. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton

(3) YA Translated by Susan Ouriou. Fourteen-year-old Mirabelle lives cloistered with her mentally ill mother in a small apartment. Mira is lonely and friendless until vivacious Catherine joins her art class and the two become inseparable. Cath teaches Mira about living life to the fullest, including spending time with boys. After tragedy strikes, Mira learns self-confidence and independence. The heavy, dark story, translated from the French, is lyrically told.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz