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Clara
There are some things that a child should never have to endure, but life can be cruel sometimes. Clara is only seven years old when she loses her mother to cancer. Before she passes away, Clara’s mother gives her a doll from the days of her own childhood. Clara doesn’t particularly like the doll at first, but it’ll prove to be a precious ally, accompanying little Clara along the rough road of grief and mourning, through all its stages.
56 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 24, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
July 8, 2018
Clara
is a heart-rending story about a little girl who lost her mother because of illness. Before her mother passed away, she gave her daughter,
Clara,
the doll she used to own when she was still a kid. Death is not an easy topic to discuss with children like
Clara,
but because of her dad and grandma's patience to explain to her what happened, she was able to understand about her mother's death.
Kids in Clara's age has a vivid imagination, so maybe it is her wild imagination that the doll talks or it is really true that it has the ability to talk. Nevertheless, that doll, that was also named Clara by her mother, helped her cope up with on her mourning.
Clara is a great graphic novel that could be used by parents or teachers to educate children about the concept of death and how to deal with it.
Kids in Clara's age has a vivid imagination, so maybe it is her wild imagination that the doll talks or it is really true that it has the ability to talk. Nevertheless, that doll, that was also named Clara by her mother, helped her cope up with on her mourning.
Clara is a great graphic novel that could be used by parents or teachers to educate children about the concept of death and how to deal with it.
December 18, 2019
The story of the death of a parent told through the eyes of a small child. Clara is beautifully and heart-wrenchingly illustrated. Seeing the story through Clara's eyes as she begins to understand what has happened will leave you in tears. It's a short read that could be given to a child experiencing the loss of a loved one.
February 3, 2018
'Clara' by Christophe Lemoine with art by Cécile is the story of a little girl and her mother and a doll. It's sad and moving.
Clara loves her mother and their routine. She is picked up from school, she gets candy and she and her mother play games. One day, that changes when Clara is forgotten. It's her birthday and her parents forget. They especially forget the special gift she was hoping for. They are preoccupied with some news about Clara's mother. Clara's mother gives her a doll she had when she was a little girl, but Clara doesn't really like the doll. In the days ahead when Clara's mother goes to the hospital, then doesn't come home, the doll takes on a different meaning for Clara.
The story is sweet and sad and mostly told from Clara's perspective. The stages of grief are experienced by the character in a natural way. This might not be appropriate for a child who hasn't gone through the loss of a parent, but it might be just what a grieving child might need to help process their feelings.
The art is perfect for the tone of the book. The subject is deep, but there are moments of beauty and a little magic along the way. I really liked this one.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
Clara loves her mother and their routine. She is picked up from school, she gets candy and she and her mother play games. One day, that changes when Clara is forgotten. It's her birthday and her parents forget. They especially forget the special gift she was hoping for. They are preoccupied with some news about Clara's mother. Clara's mother gives her a doll she had when she was a little girl, but Clara doesn't really like the doll. In the days ahead when Clara's mother goes to the hospital, then doesn't come home, the doll takes on a different meaning for Clara.
The story is sweet and sad and mostly told from Clara's perspective. The stages of grief are experienced by the character in a natural way. This might not be appropriate for a child who hasn't gone through the loss of a parent, but it might be just what a grieving child might need to help process their feelings.
The art is perfect for the tone of the book. The subject is deep, but there are moments of beauty and a little magic along the way. I really liked this one.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
June 3, 2019
Clara is a short but powerful story, like the eponymous main character. The pastel/watercolors provide a warm backdrop, and the drawings are incredibly detailed. If the blurb here on goodreads interests you, I would suggest reading the book.
January 10, 2018
Sometimes death is just sad.
This is a tear jerker of a story about a little girl that loves her mother, and then, one day, she gets sick, and dies in the hospital. It is told from the little girl's point of view, and she is confused as to why her mother would leave her like that.
And I know we have read this story a million times, but this was so well done, even when I figured out what was going to happen, I still cried over it. Nothing lost in the translation here.
Cute, sad, magical story of a little girl, with a magical doll, that takes her on a journey to help her understand her mother's death.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
This is a tear jerker of a story about a little girl that loves her mother, and then, one day, she gets sick, and dies in the hospital. It is told from the little girl's point of view, and she is confused as to why her mother would leave her like that.
And I know we have read this story a million times, but this was so well done, even when I figured out what was going to happen, I still cried over it. Nothing lost in the translation here.
Cute, sad, magical story of a little girl, with a magical doll, that takes her on a journey to help her understand her mother's death.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
January 29, 2018
A very short, but powerful graphic novel about a young girl coming to terms with a death of a family member.
Beautiful, touching and heartbreaking are a few words that come to mind when thinking of this story.
This was hard to read. I was crying at the halfway point and really sobbing at the end. I could put myself in the little girl's shoes. Death is a thing I never can quite wrap my head around and it really terrified me as a kid and even as an adult.
I loved the art style. I loved that the little girl used her imagination to help her deal with her loss.
This story would be good for any young person going through something similar. It could help them understand death and that their loved one did not abandon them.
*Provided by Netgally*
Beautiful, touching and heartbreaking are a few words that come to mind when thinking of this story.
This was hard to read. I was crying at the halfway point and really sobbing at the end. I could put myself in the little girl's shoes. Death is a thing I never can quite wrap my head around and it really terrified me as a kid and even as an adult.
I loved the art style. I loved that the little girl used her imagination to help her deal with her loss.
This story would be good for any young person going through something similar. It could help them understand death and that their loved one did not abandon them.
*Provided by Netgally*
January 8, 2018
This is a very sad story of a little girl who loose her mother. The illustrations have a classical look, nothing extraordinary, but they look fine. But, it's really is the story, which is very sensitive and profound for a kid comic book, and I think this could be very helpful to talk about the death of a relative with young, and not so young, children. Very well done!!
August 6, 2022
Una novela corta pero intensa. Cuenta la historia de Clara, una niña que, tras perder a su madre, se encuentra confusa porque no comprende dónde ha ido y por qué ya no puede volver a verla.
Es interesante la perspectiva que se aborda respecto a ser sinceros con los niños y mostrar la muerte como lo que realmente es, en lugar de adornarla para que resulte menos cruda, pero más incomprensible para ellos. De niña sentía este tema como un tabú, algo de lo que la gente evitaba hablar; por ese motivo, me suscitaba mucha curiosidad y confusión al mismo tiempo. Siempre he pensado que deberíamos apostar por darle naturalidad al tema, tratarlo como una etapa más de la vida y preparar a peques y no tan peques para que sean capaces de afrontarlo con las herramientas adecuadas cuando el momento llegue, inevitablemente.
Pienso que podría ser una lectura adecuada para niños que estén pasando por un duelo, complementándola con las debidas explicaciones de sus tutores, terapia, y todo lo que sea necesario.
Es interesante la perspectiva que se aborda respecto a ser sinceros con los niños y mostrar la muerte como lo que realmente es, en lugar de adornarla para que resulte menos cruda, pero más incomprensible para ellos. De niña sentía este tema como un tabú, algo de lo que la gente evitaba hablar; por ese motivo, me suscitaba mucha curiosidad y confusión al mismo tiempo. Siempre he pensado que deberíamos apostar por darle naturalidad al tema, tratarlo como una etapa más de la vida y preparar a peques y no tan peques para que sean capaces de afrontarlo con las herramientas adecuadas cuando el momento llegue, inevitablemente.
Pienso que podría ser una lectura adecuada para niños que estén pasando por un duelo, complementándola con las debidas explicaciones de sus tutores, terapia, y todo lo que sea necesario.
August 2, 2020
'Clara' by Cecile and Lemoine is a surprising beautiful discovery for me. It is a comic / graphic novel.
Clara's favourite time of the day is when her mother comes to her schoo in the evening to take her back home. They walk the streets, feed the ducks in the park, play in the swing, go to the bakery and try some treats, go home and play the guitar and take a bath together. This is a time Clara looks forward to everyday. One day her mother doesn't come on time. Clara stays for sometime at the daycare centre at school. When her mother finally arrives, she doesn't speak much. She looks worried, distracted. That day, they don't indulge in their usual adventures. That evening Clara's father comes home early and he and her mother have a long, quiet conversation which Clara is not able to hear. We, the readers, of course, feel a dark premonition.
Well, I can't tell you more. You have to read the book to find out what happens next.
'Clara' is a beautiful, heartbreaking story about love, loss and grief, seen through the eyes of a young girl. It puts into pictures the nightmare that every child has, and it also shows how one particular child handles it.
Cecile's artwork is beautiful and charming and tries to lessen the weight of the grief for us. I read that Cecile never attended art school and is a self taught artist, which was fascinating to know.
I loved 'Clara'. I can't wait to read more of Cecile's work.
Have you read 'Clara'? What do you think about it?
Clara's favourite time of the day is when her mother comes to her schoo in the evening to take her back home. They walk the streets, feed the ducks in the park, play in the swing, go to the bakery and try some treats, go home and play the guitar and take a bath together. This is a time Clara looks forward to everyday. One day her mother doesn't come on time. Clara stays for sometime at the daycare centre at school. When her mother finally arrives, she doesn't speak much. She looks worried, distracted. That day, they don't indulge in their usual adventures. That evening Clara's father comes home early and he and her mother have a long, quiet conversation which Clara is not able to hear. We, the readers, of course, feel a dark premonition.
Well, I can't tell you more. You have to read the book to find out what happens next.
'Clara' is a beautiful, heartbreaking story about love, loss and grief, seen through the eyes of a young girl. It puts into pictures the nightmare that every child has, and it also shows how one particular child handles it.
Cecile's artwork is beautiful and charming and tries to lessen the weight of the grief for us. I read that Cecile never attended art school and is a self taught artist, which was fascinating to know.
I loved 'Clara'. I can't wait to read more of Cecile's work.
Have you read 'Clara'? What do you think about it?
January 12, 2018
The illustration of this book is just beautiful. The story starts off with a normal little girl Clara and her daily life but things change when her mom gets sick. It takes you a little bit to figure out what's happening since it's told from Clara's point of view but it's pretty sad. I think it was well done, not over the top or cheesy at all.
August 30, 2017
Oh my God. This was so sad :(
A beautiful and touching story about a young child accepting loss.
Originally in French, I was fortunate enough to find an English translation.
The water color painting style isn't something you often find in graphic novels these days.
A beautiful and touching story about a young child accepting loss.
Originally in French, I was fortunate enough to find an English translation.
The water color painting style isn't something you often find in graphic novels these days.
June 17, 2018
A real masterpiece, reminding in thematology "I Kill Giants", but in a bright and colorful, like a child's book manner.
September 28, 2015
Que de couleurs gaies quand on débute la lecture de cette bande dessinée. C'est un régal et puis, on l'aime d'emblée la petite Clara. Ses parents aussi d'ailleurs.
Tout va bien jusqu'à ce que...
La maladie, la mort, c'est tellement loin de l'univers d'une enfant de 7 ans. Les adultes protègent Clara du mieux qu'ils peuvent, mais c'est si compliqué.
Cette histoire n'est pas gaie, pas comme les couleurs de la vie qui continue malgré la disparition des êtres qui nous sont si chers.
J'avoue que j'ai pleuré en lisant cet album. C'était beau et touchant. Un peu de magie, de fantaisie dans ce récit m'ont permis d'accomplir le parcours dans les pas, l'esprit de Clara. Mais tout de même, j'étais triste. Sans doute n'ai-je plus tout à fait la même foi en la vie qu'à 7 ans.
Un album très beau malgré une thématique plus difficile.
Tout va bien jusqu'à ce que...
La maladie, la mort, c'est tellement loin de l'univers d'une enfant de 7 ans. Les adultes protègent Clara du mieux qu'ils peuvent, mais c'est si compliqué.
Cette histoire n'est pas gaie, pas comme les couleurs de la vie qui continue malgré la disparition des êtres qui nous sont si chers.
J'avoue que j'ai pleuré en lisant cet album. C'était beau et touchant. Un peu de magie, de fantaisie dans ce récit m'ont permis d'accomplir le parcours dans les pas, l'esprit de Clara. Mais tout de même, j'étais triste. Sans doute n'ai-je plus tout à fait la même foi en la vie qu'à 7 ans.
Un album très beau malgré une thématique plus difficile.
July 29, 2019
I'm not sure how I feel about this book. On the one hand, it has pretty illustrations and the story has some merit to it, but at the same time it feels too primitive.
Ok, the illustrations are pretty, but the main character, Clara, has a weirdly shaped head and she's the only character with such a head, including other kids. A strangely distracting artistic choice.
Now the story is about a 7-year-old girl, who is a bit annoying (no, not all 7 year olds are like that) and who has to come to terms with her mother dying from cancer.
The story isn't very deep and not much happens in it, too (it's only 50 pages long), which is why I think it was aimed primarily at kids. There are some heartwarming moments, but I cared about the parents' perspective more than about hers. I guess I'm not the audience.
Ok, the illustrations are pretty, but the main character, Clara, has a weirdly shaped head and she's the only character with such a head, including other kids. A strangely distracting artistic choice.
Now the story is about a 7-year-old girl, who is a bit annoying (no, not all 7 year olds are like that) and who has to come to terms with her mother dying from cancer.
The story isn't very deep and not much happens in it, too (it's only 50 pages long), which is why I think it was aimed primarily at kids. There are some heartwarming moments, but I cared about the parents' perspective more than about hers. I guess I'm not the audience.
February 11, 2016
Une Ptite bd qui parle d'une petite fille qui perd sa maman et à qui il faut l'expliquer. Une jolie be avec de beaux dessins mais une histoire plutôt triste
January 20, 2018
*review copy courtesy of NetGalley* This is a very sad graphic novel for kids. Clara and her mother do so many things together. Then one day Clara’s mother comes home and isn’t herself. Her parents are whispering in another room and seem quite sad. Clara asks what is wrong because they have forgotten her birthday. Her mother gives her one of her old dolls until they can properly celebrate Clara’s birthday. Clara doesn’t like the doll and stuffs it into her dresser.
Things get really heavy when Clara’s mother starts to pack to go to the hospital. Clara sees her there says goodbye and that’s the last time she sees her mother alive. When Clara’s grandmother comes I thought she was coming to stay while Clara’s mother was in the hospital. I struggled when we realize it’s because Clara’s mother has died. Clara finds out the doll is there to take care of her and they go to a strange land. For some reason this doesn’t seem odd in the story.
I was so touched by the ending and Clara’s decision to bury her mother’s doll with her.
My one issue with the book is the age of Clara. She and the language she uses are much younger than the intended audience of this book. I’m glad there is a graphic novel about grief but I wish Clara was a little older and didn’t refer to her mother as Mommy, which makes her appear to be a preschooler.
Things get really heavy when Clara’s mother starts to pack to go to the hospital. Clara sees her there says goodbye and that’s the last time she sees her mother alive. When Clara’s grandmother comes I thought she was coming to stay while Clara’s mother was in the hospital. I struggled when we realize it’s because Clara’s mother has died. Clara finds out the doll is there to take care of her and they go to a strange land. For some reason this doesn’t seem odd in the story.
I was so touched by the ending and Clara’s decision to bury her mother’s doll with her.
My one issue with the book is the age of Clara. She and the language she uses are much younger than the intended audience of this book. I’m glad there is a graphic novel about grief but I wish Clara was a little older and didn’t refer to her mother as Mommy, which makes her appear to be a preschooler.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2018
Clara is a gorgeous young girl in a gorgeous pastel world - until, that is, it proves otherwise. The first clue she has is that her parents seem to totally forget her birthday, and she dislikes the stopgap present of a hand-me-down doll. But her response to that is not the only thing that will change in this soul-searing narrative.
In portraying the death of a parent and the grief that follows so well, this creative team have made one of the more easily memorable graphic novels I've seen in years. It's not just the artwork that is spot on, for the relationships are clearly defined, the doubt in the girl's inner monologue narration is perfect, and even the slightly heavy metaphorical journey is actually done very well. Read this to see what a great book looks like, then memorise its details - buying this for any young girl unfortunate enough to be in a similar situation could very well be most beneficial.
In portraying the death of a parent and the grief that follows so well, this creative team have made one of the more easily memorable graphic novels I've seen in years. It's not just the artwork that is spot on, for the relationships are clearly defined, the doubt in the girl's inner monologue narration is perfect, and even the slightly heavy metaphorical journey is actually done very well. Read this to see what a great book looks like, then memorise its details - buying this for any young girl unfortunate enough to be in a similar situation could very well be most beneficial.
January 28, 2018
*thank you to Netgalley and Europe Comics for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
4.5 stars.
Books can make me very sad. They can be so well written that I can get quite emotional. This book though pushed me to my very limit and I very nearly broke down sobbing. It is beautifully written and the illustrations are so wonderful. Death and grief are probably the hardest things we have to experience in our lives. With this book we are able to go through the story, through the eyes of a little girl as she finds out some very sad news. I liked how the author wrote and described the process of the grief stage. It was easy to follow and defiantly written so little children could connect with it. Such a sad emotional read. If books can make you cry, then I strongly suggest you grab a box of tissues because this is like a punch in the stomach. Highly recommend!
4.5 stars.
Books can make me very sad. They can be so well written that I can get quite emotional. This book though pushed me to my very limit and I very nearly broke down sobbing. It is beautifully written and the illustrations are so wonderful. Death and grief are probably the hardest things we have to experience in our lives. With this book we are able to go through the story, through the eyes of a little girl as she finds out some very sad news. I liked how the author wrote and described the process of the grief stage. It was easy to follow and defiantly written so little children could connect with it. Such a sad emotional read. If books can make you cry, then I strongly suggest you grab a box of tissues because this is like a punch in the stomach. Highly recommend!
January 17, 2018
This little book is a heartbreaking story told in kids language about how to deal with grief. The illustrations are beautiful and simple, makes for a calm soft read.
Heartbreaking.. A bit strange that the little girl got the whole truth and explanations about her mother's death more from the doll than her dad.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this arc.
Heartbreaking.. A bit strange that the little girl got the whole truth and explanations about her mother's death more from the doll than her dad.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this arc.
January 28, 2018
I read this book as an ARC from #NetGalley and what a beautiful book it is. The illustrations are clean, simple and gorgeous and the story line touches on issues that effect us all, children and adults alike. This would be a wonderful book to broach the subjects of loss, grief and death with children. It offers no spiritual explanation making it accessible by people of any or no faith. A truly lovely book about a very difficult subject.
December 13, 2018
Me encanta la forma como el escritor maneja la mezcla entre la fantasía y la triste realidad del personaje principal y la manera en como el arte de la dibujante se complementa la historia, haciéndola una historia con muchos contrastes, tan tierna como triste. Al mismo tiempo, se podría usar para explicarle a los niños la muerte de un familiar sino fuera porque se queda corta en este mensaje.
April 7, 2021
A very cute, but very sad, story about the death of a parent as told through the eyes of her daughter. Death can be a scary thing to comes to term with, especially when you're a child, and the titular character of Clara has a lot to learn about things much bigger than her. But it's warm, and loving, and I am eternally angry for some cute little kids book for making me tear up. How dare you??
January 9, 2024
Pocos libros para niños tratan el tema de la muerte y lo hacen tan bien como Clara. Una historia muy linda de una niña que aprende a lidiar con la pérdida de su madre gracias a una muñeca y la comprensión y apoyo de su papá y abuela.
El libro tiene ilustraciones muy lindas con una paleta de colores cálida que no hacen más que abrigarte mientras te sumerges en la historia. Muy conmovedor todo.
El libro tiene ilustraciones muy lindas con una paleta de colores cálida que no hacen más que abrigarte mientras te sumerges en la historia. Muy conmovedor todo.
July 5, 2020
Such a short heart warming story
Losing a person is hard and when children are put into that position it's terrible to even think how their mind would process it
This book tries to venture into it and see from the eyes of Clara when she loses her mother.
❤️
Losing a person is hard and when children are put into that position it's terrible to even think how their mind would process it
This book tries to venture into it and see from the eyes of Clara when she loses her mother.
❤️
August 24, 2020
It is the story of a little girl. I am not going to talk about the story here but the impact it made on me. It sees the world and the event through the little eyes of a girl. It really moved me. In a way, it made me think how mature the children are when comparing to the grownups.
January 3, 2026
una corta historia pero triste se las recomiendo bastante todo es felicidad y derrepente pum debo admitir que derrame unas lágrimas supieron hacer una historia en sus cortas páginas y con ilustraciones hermosas y además rápido lo acabas perfecto para después de una saga o serie
January 19, 2018
A sweet book told from the point of view of a child who loses her mother to cancer. Lovely drawings and told in a style that would be quite easy for any child going through this to understand.
December 14, 2018
Très jolie bd pour aborder le thème du deuil avec un enfant...
June 22, 2020
Sensível, tocante e [dependendo da sensibilidade do(a) leitor(a)] profundo.
July 23, 2020
It's a heart-wrenching stiory about a little girl whose mother is terribly ill and how her mother's doll helps her to overcome the grief and understand what it's happening
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews