To say this summer has been hard is an understatement.
But, life goes on. And, it goes on better when we have things to help with all the tears we shed and the frustrations we experience each day. With that in mind, I am writing today on a great book by Eric Orchard, published by FirstSecond.
This is a great piece of fantasy, written with wit and kindness. The illustrations appear to be fine pen with wash of watercolor over the panels. Most of the books has a dark orange, almost brown cast to the color scheme. Orchard’s gothic style just hinges on the edge of actually scary but he pulls back just enough to make the creepiness feel cute (but in a good way).
Reading Bera reminded me of a halloween story I have never read or heard of but feel as if it is just out-of-reach familiar. I have re-read it many times now, and each time I am charmed by the story, the illustrations, and Bera.
We enter the book as Bera, a troll, is finishing up the pumpkin harvest. She is the royal pumpkin grower and lives on a small island with Winslow (and owl) and her many-greats-dead-aunt Dota for company. Berta is happy and satisfied with her hard work and quiet life. But, then a human baby shows up on her shores and her adventure begins.
The thing I appreciate most about Bera isn’t her outlandish deeds of bravery or her victories in the face of unrelenting opposition. Nope. Bera is no Lara Croft. in fact, most of the time she has no solid plan other than to find a hero and hand over the kid and get back to her island.
I appreciate that.
She is brave in the face of things that scare her, including Cloote who is the witch who stole the baby in the first place and runs around in a amphibious boat thing with long legs and tiny feet, is armed with shields that look like skulls. Along the way Bera evades Cloote, makes friends with wizarding hedgehogs, rats, and even rescues a goblin! All the while, she is trying to FIND a hero, she is being a hero.
This graphic novel passes Bechdel test. But, just as importantly, it shows a female character learning, growing and changing in interesting ways.
Booktoss 
FirstSecond is such an incredible publisher, they’re really just releasing awesome graphic novel after awesome graphic novel, I always look forward to each new release.
They are hit and miss in my experience. But, I’m looking at the books from a different lens – representation is my focus. I’ll say this – they are consistently beautiful books !
While I am not a huge graphic novel fan, I now can’t wait to read Bera the One-Headed Troll. Reading your review I was reminded of Bog by Karen Krossing, a book I read last winter. Bog is a cave troll who ends up having to return a child to her abusive father.
Wow – I’m checking Bog out!