Graphic Novel Review: A Boy Named Rose

Published by: Fairsquare Comics

Written by: Gaelle Greniller

Illustrated by: Gaelle Greniller

ISBN: 9798985927863

Ages: 15+

At a cabaret in Paris, in the heyday of the 1920’s, a dancer takes the stage for the first time. Shining brightly with raw talent and flawless elegance, the dancer enchants the audience, loud applause guaranteeing them future performances, and starting them down the path to nightclub dancer glory. This dancer is Rose, the son of Club Le Jardin’s owner Jasmin. Raised in the atmosphere of it all, Rose fits perfectly into the rest of the dancing ladies of Paris, despite being male.

Soon, a young man known as Monsieur Aimé, is showing up every night Rose performs, sitting front row, applauding the loudest and trying to meet them backstage. Eventually approaching like a suitor, Aimé asks Rose out to a jazz club for the evening. This is the first time Rose goes out in public in a dress, even using feminine pronouns.

You can guess where this is going, at least to an extent. What you might not expect is the refreshing way their relationship is handled. Yes, we are dealing with a LGBT relationship, as well as a lead character that defines themselves as both male and female presenting, but… it is given a reprieve from the typical suffering and chaos that many stories seem to have when featuring these types of relationships. Rose and Aimé have something very wholesome and pure, blossoming romance being more so implied than seen. There is no plot element that plays negatively towards them, which given that it takes place in the early 20th century, was kind of surprising to me, but quite wonderful.

Gaëlle Geniller absolutely holds your full attention with both the master crafting of the story and the phenomenal art style here. Vibrant colors contribute an element to the story that would completely change the mood of it if expressed differently. Could easily be turned into an animated short, and would do well. A Boy Named Rose deserves your attention. This will be on my recommended list to friends and coworkers.

Ages 15+.

ADAM FISHER, Reference Associate

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Adam Fisher

Adam Fisher has worked for more than a decade at Lane Libraries in Fairfield, Ohio, where he is a Reference Associate. He creates and leads programming for all ages, manages the graphic novel, sci-fi/fantasy, and magazine collections at his branch, and has recently seen great success with his self-created Escape Room programs. He writes reviews for everything he reads and can be found on Goodreads @FisherAd80 and on Twitter @adamreadscomics.

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