Forever Truffle

by Fanny Britt, Isabelle Arsenault (Illustrator), Susan Ouriou (Translator)

Fanny Britt and Isabelle Arsenault are back with a new graphic novel, this time featuring Truffle, younger brother, best friend, aspiring rockstar ...

Meet Truffle in three linked stories:

In "Truffle the Rockstar," Truffle wants to form a band with his best friends Flo and Riad. They can already picture themselves on stage, wowing the crowd with epic songs. They still have to learn how to play instruments ... but that's just a minor detail!

Ever since Truffle asked Nina to be his girlfriend, they have been shy around each other. In "Truffle Loves Nina," Truffle asks his parents, his friend Riad, his big brother, Louis, and the man who works at the library, for advice on how to let his heart do the talking.

In "Truffle Tackles Existence," Truffle attends his great-grandmother's funeral, which gets him thinking about the world around him. Are grandparents young once, too? Does Rocket, the dog that his family had to give up, still think about him sometimes? Do people stop loving each other if they don't see each other anymore?

Fans of Louis Undercover will be delighted that Truffle -- Louis's funny, music-loving little brother -- now has his own book!

Genres: Graphic Novels, Picture Books, Childrens, Comics, Fiction, Coming Of Age

114 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2021

About the author

Fanny Britt is a Quebec playwright, author and translator. She has written a dozen plays (among them Honey Pie, Hôtel Pacifique and Bienveillance) and translated more than fifteen. She has also written and translated several other works of literature. Jane, the Fox and Me is her first graphic novel.

Reviews

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third collaborative effort by the "rock star" duo of Fanny Britt and Isabelle Arsenault. The first two--Jane, the Fox, & Me, and Louis Undercover--came out in 2012, and so this is ten years later, three short comics stories for kids about Truffle, a goofy kid. In the first ruffle wanst to start a rock band; in the second he falls in love and wants to know how to talk to the girl, an in the third he deals with death--of pets, of his great-grandmother.

Quirky stories, and fun. I am a huge fan of Arsenault's illustration work-- delicate, expressive, minimal/restrained, light. As always I love her use of color. The positive sensibilities of Britt and Arsenault seem perfect for each other. Don't make us wait another ten years for another book!

[Alexander Peterhans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truffle is a little redhaired kid, who looks up to his cool older brother. This little graphic novel gives us three short stories featuring Truffle. Truffle starts a band, Truffle's grandma dies and Truffle falls in love. Adorable. Also adorably illustrated.

(Thanks to Groundwood Books for providing me with a review copy through Edelweiss)

[Barbra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three short stories about Truffle, introduce readers to a little boy with big plans. He loves music and dreams of playing in a band. Of course his two best friends will be a part of it, but really only get as far as creating a name, "The Man-Eating Plants." Next he struggles with how to talk to his girlfriend Nina and get a lot of help from his dad, the library and his brother. He then creates his first song. Lastly he struggles with understanding the death of his grandmother and sadness. With softly colored illustrations we get a peek into Truffles very ordinary and extraordinary life.

[Kay S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm of two minds about this title. It's one of the best stories about death and coming to terms with it as a child I've seen. It has great, believable characters, teaches about emotional growth and speaking about emotions, has one of the wisest teenagers I've ever seen in print… and yet I'm not sold on it. Perhaps because the format is a little odd. But that does make it stand out. Perhaps it's the art style - it's cartoony but in a high art, mixed medium style. Either way, a great set of stories for kiddos.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A companion story to Louis Undercover. Very fun and playful. This encompasses three short stories about Truffle: starting a band, being in love, and going to a funeral for his great grandma. Quirky and loveable characters. Arsenault continues to be a favorite illustrator - especially with a limited palette.

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think anything will ever surpass how much I liked the first collab between Britt and Arsenault, but this was still very cute. Definitely geared toward a slightly younger reader, but it introduces some really realistic and deftly handled Big Ideas. It works because it's really focused on Truffle and you get a lovely small-scale portrait of a goofy kid.

[Cara Byrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classified as a graphic novel, this short series of three stories explores young Truffle's love, passions, and losses. Truffle reminds me of Ramona Quimby. The books are charming and difficult to classify.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Ash · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like stories of kids trying to understand big concepts, all the while vibing with their kidness.

[Adriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would I recommend this to kids? maybe not? But grown-ups will love it.