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L'adoption #1-2
A Adoção
Quando Qinaya, uma pequena órfã peruana de 4 anos, é adotada por uma família francesa, a vida de todos é bastante modificada. Para Gabriel, no entanto, isso será ainda mais complicado: ele deverá aprender como ser um avô – ele que jamais teve tempo de ser pai. Dos primeiros contatos um pouco distantes a inesquecíveis momentos compartilhados, Gabriel e Qinaya vão, pouco a pouco, criar laços que o velho turrão sequer poderia imaginar.
Depois de uma reviravolta, Gabriel precisa de respostas. Será que ele tenta levar seu amor mais longe do que deveria? Ele partirá em uma viagem ao desconhecido Peru, em busca de uma solução. O que ele pode encontrar em uma terra tão distante?
Depois de uma reviravolta, Gabriel precisa de respostas. Será que ele tenta levar seu amor mais longe do que deveria? Ele partirá em uma viagem ao desconhecido Peru, em busca de uma solução. O que ele pode encontrar em uma terra tão distante?
136 pages, Paperback
First published December 29, 2020
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532 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews
July 4, 2022
“Sometimes I wonder … What happens to the love we don’t give? I mean… Has nobody ever thought to set up a recycling program? You know? Like for batteries or cardboard…”This was simply wonderful. Sweet, lovely, and so beautifully sad but yet strangely hopeful. That’s Zidrou in a nutshell, it seems. And I loved it so much, even if it still makes me a bit sad thinking about it. Zidrou just knows how to hit you right in the emotions, but not manipulatively so, somehow keeping it real and fresh and sweet while never venturing anywhere near sentimentality territory.
This story starts sweet and warm with an adoption of a small Peruvian girl by a family in France, and little Qinaya quickly wins over everyone, even the grumpy grandfather Gabriel whose grumpiness hides a beautiful heart full of love he needs to share.
And then the second part of the story comes along, going into the direction I would have never predicted from the start, and there is pain and heartbreak and a journey to find meaning in life and love. And it was just so brilliant and lovely and heartwarming and devastating at the same time, pulling the rug from under me at the halfway point and building to something very different and bittersweet from there.
“You speak Aymaran?”
“No… just two words: “Qinaya” and “Achachi”. Sometimes, two words are all you need to tell a whole story.”
And look at that artwork by Arno Monin! It’s beautiful and is so perfect for this story.
5 stars. Simply wonderful.
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Buddy read with Dennis (his review) and Cathy (her review) .
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Also posted on my blog.
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Recommended by: Dennis
May 1, 2022
Qinaya is a 4-year-old Peruvian girl that, after her hometown was devastated by an earthquake, gets adopted into a French family.
She’s such a sweet little girl and Arno Monin’s artwork makes it hard not to immediately fall in love with her. Grandpa Gabriel, though, hasn’t asked for a granddaughter at this point in his life and his grumpy old self needs some time to adjust to the new situation.
With that set-up I expected something akin to Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove and it does indeed strike that same wonderful balance between sweet, funny moments and the underlying sadness of the whole situation. And then around the halfway mark it surprised and devastated me in ways I did not see coming and won’t spoil here.
It ended up being a heartbreaking story that had just the right amount of hopefulness to not leave me completely numb in the end. But it surely wasn’t what I was expecting.
After quite some deliberation I decided to settle on four stars for this book. I didn’t like how some of the character-arcs developed throughout the story. But it’s not because they were badly written (they are not), I was just disappointed in some of the character’s choices. But that’s life, no? People make mistakes and people will disappoint you. You just have to figure out for yourself how to deal with it.
A deeply affecting book. Not always in the ways I wanted it to be. But that’s how it goes.
Buddy read with Cathy and Nataliya.
Note: I read this in two separate volumes but decided to rate the story as a whole. The first book ends on one of the meanest cliffhangers I have ever seen. So, consider yourself warned.
She’s such a sweet little girl and Arno Monin’s artwork makes it hard not to immediately fall in love with her. Grandpa Gabriel, though, hasn’t asked for a granddaughter at this point in his life and his grumpy old self needs some time to adjust to the new situation.
With that set-up I expected something akin to Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove and it does indeed strike that same wonderful balance between sweet, funny moments and the underlying sadness of the whole situation. And then around the halfway mark it surprised and devastated me in ways I did not see coming and won’t spoil here.
It ended up being a heartbreaking story that had just the right amount of hopefulness to not leave me completely numb in the end. But it surely wasn’t what I was expecting.
After quite some deliberation I decided to settle on four stars for this book. I didn’t like how some of the character-arcs developed throughout the story. But it’s not because they were badly written (they are not), I was just disappointed in some of the character’s choices. But that’s life, no? People make mistakes and people will disappoint you. You just have to figure out for yourself how to deal with it.
A deeply affecting book. Not always in the ways I wanted it to be. But that’s how it goes.
Buddy read with Cathy and Nataliya.
Note: I read this in two separate volumes but decided to rate the story as a whole. The first book ends on one of the meanest cliffhangers I have ever seen. So, consider yourself warned.
July 9, 2025
-Fala a língua aimará?
-Não… Duas palavras apenas: “Qinaya” e “Achachi”. Duas palavras, por vezes, bastam para contar uma história.
E eis que um livro que julguei que iria ser uma lamechice me faz realmente abrir a torneira das lágrimas. Até meio, “A Adopção” apresenta o costumeiro enredo do avô reformado que teve pouco tempo para passar com os filhos pequenos por exigências profissionais, mas que depois se afeiçoa e se dedica inteiramente a uma neta adoptada, após a esperada resistência inicial. É quando tudo está a ficar cor-de-rosa que os autores nos puxam o tapete debaixo dos pés e nos põem perante uma família que se desagrega e de um homem que tem de ir à outra ponta do mundo para perceber que os filhos, por mais crescidos que sejam, não deixam de precisar dos pais. Lindo!
Sabe, Marco, eles podem afastar-se, eles podem envelhecer, é como se estivessem sempre aqui, a correr entre as nossas pernas, como quando eram pequenos.
-Não… Duas palavras apenas: “Qinaya” e “Achachi”. Duas palavras, por vezes, bastam para contar uma história.
E eis que um livro que julguei que iria ser uma lamechice me faz realmente abrir a torneira das lágrimas. Até meio, “A Adopção” apresenta o costumeiro enredo do avô reformado que teve pouco tempo para passar com os filhos pequenos por exigências profissionais, mas que depois se afeiçoa e se dedica inteiramente a uma neta adoptada, após a esperada resistência inicial. É quando tudo está a ficar cor-de-rosa que os autores nos puxam o tapete debaixo dos pés e nos põem perante uma família que se desagrega e de um homem que tem de ir à outra ponta do mundo para perceber que os filhos, por mais crescidos que sejam, não deixam de precisar dos pais. Lindo!
Sabe, Marco, eles podem afastar-se, eles podem envelhecer, é como se estivessem sempre aqui, a correr entre as nossas pernas, como quando eram pequenos.
April 25, 2023
A middle-aged French couple decide to adopt a 4-year-old Peruvian girl, Qinaya, after she loses her parents in an earthquake disaster that hits her village. The book focuses on grandfather Gabriel, who at first isn't sure if his son isn't too old to have a small child, and who doesn't recognise himself in the granddad role.
At this point you expect the book to be a heartwarming exploration of the growing relationship between Gabriel and Qinaya. And you'd be right, up to about half of the book (this book contains the first two volumes of the series as it appeared originally), when there are a couple of devestating twists, that bend the book much more toward drama. And it is brilliant. It is heartbreaking, and still funny, and it works. I don't say "aww" out loud while reading books. I kept doing it reading this book.
The art is just as brilliant. Very European, very beautiful and detailed. Qinaya's cuteness jumps off the page, and when things become complicated, the illustrations have a brittle softness to them.
Good lord, I hope there are more volumes to come.
(Received an ARC through Edelweiss)
At this point you expect the book to be a heartwarming exploration of the growing relationship between Gabriel and Qinaya. And you'd be right, up to about half of the book (this book contains the first two volumes of the series as it appeared originally), when there are a couple of devestating twists, that bend the book much more toward drama. And it is brilliant. It is heartbreaking, and still funny, and it works. I don't say "aww" out loud while reading books. I kept doing it reading this book.
The art is just as brilliant. Very European, very beautiful and detailed. Qinaya's cuteness jumps off the page, and when things become complicated, the illustrations have a brittle softness to them.
Good lord, I hope there are more volumes to come.
(Received an ARC through Edelweiss)
October 12, 2024
I'm glad I happened to read the first two volumes of this series together, as the first ended in devastating fashion. The second, in fairness, wasn't much cheerier, but at least there was something remotely positive to take from it.
Beautifully illustrated, by the way. But truly, truly dark.
Beautifully illustrated, by the way. But truly, truly dark.
January 2, 2021
A middle-aged French couple adopt a Peruvian girl who survived an earthquake. But the story is about the grandfather who wasn't home much for his own children and how he learns to love being a grandfather. It's an adorable heartwarming story.
And then it just punches you in the gut. God, it's heart wrenching. But it does still maintain that warm love of family. I'll leave the rest to you.
And then it just punches you in the gut. God, it's heart wrenching. But it does still maintain that warm love of family. I'll leave the rest to you.
April 8, 2024
Maravilhoso!
May 1, 2021
Zidrou writes the story and Monin beautifully illustrates the somewhat sentimental story of a middle-aged French couple that adopts Qinaya, a Peruvian child survivor of a earthquake. The book focuses on grandfather Gabriel, a grumpy guy in his seventies who never was very good at parenting and has no interest in grand-parenting. Somewhat predictably, but nevertheless powerfully, Gabriel gets transformed by Qinaya, which in turn helps him resee his (failed) relationship to his son. Lovely!
I just read Zidrou's The Client, focused on an older man falling in love with a (sex-trafficked) prostitute, which is more complicated (and less convincing, and certainly less sweet), but this is in part better because this edition features both volumes (so far?) of the story, you get a better picture of Gabriel's family and friends.
I just read Zidrou's The Client, focused on an older man falling in love with a (sex-trafficked) prostitute, which is more complicated (and less convincing, and certainly less sweet), but this is in part better because this edition features both volumes (so far?) of the story, you get a better picture of Gabriel's family and friends.
November 30, 2020
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
The Adoption is an amazing graphic novel/comic book that has so many emotions attached to it.
The story is of a married couple who adopt a little girl from another country who's mother died in an earthquake. The story focuses on the new grandfather of the little girl who isn't very child orientated and has worked his whole life, missing out on valuable time with his own son. It shows how the child and the grandfather bond and get closer and then a huge twist occurs.
The story becomes much more serious and heavy after this twist.
This book brought tears to my eyes and really touched my heart. The illustrations are amazing and I highly recommend giving this book a try.
The Adoption is an amazing graphic novel/comic book that has so many emotions attached to it.
The story is of a married couple who adopt a little girl from another country who's mother died in an earthquake. The story focuses on the new grandfather of the little girl who isn't very child orientated and has worked his whole life, missing out on valuable time with his own son. It shows how the child and the grandfather bond and get closer and then a huge twist occurs.
The story becomes much more serious and heavy after this twist.
This book brought tears to my eyes and really touched my heart. The illustrations are amazing and I highly recommend giving this book a try.
March 21, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
“Quem inventará uma escala para medir a amplitude das emoções no coração de uma menina de 4 anos?”
A minha predileção foi para a primeira parte, adorei!
“Quem inventará uma escala para medir a amplitude das emoções no coração de uma menina de 4 anos?”
A minha predileção foi para a primeira parte, adorei!
November 18, 2020
Gabriel is a 75 year old man stuck in his habits. His life turns upside down when his son and daughter-in-law adopt a child from earthquake-affected Peru. Slowly, the little girl works her way into Gabriel's heart and he is just beginning to enjoy the privilege of being a grandfather when suddenly, an unexpected twist changes the circumstances for everyone involved.
Up until the twist, I absolutely adored the story. The humour is so nicely balanced with emotional moments that many times, I had happy tears in my eyes. After the twist however, the story becomes a lot more serious. Thw twist itself is unforeseeable so you are as confused as Gabriel by all that ensues. The story is bittersweet and will leave you with many thoughts.
The translation seems to be spot on and the illustrations are really fabulous. They add wonderfully to the charm of the story. Overall, it is a very sentimental read, absolutely not like I had expected. But still, it is a book worth reading.
My rating: 4.5
I received an advance review copy of the book from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
Up until the twist, I absolutely adored the story. The humour is so nicely balanced with emotional moments that many times, I had happy tears in my eyes. After the twist however, the story becomes a lot more serious. Thw twist itself is unforeseeable so you are as confused as Gabriel by all that ensues. The story is bittersweet and will leave you with many thoughts.
The translation seems to be spot on and the illustrations are really fabulous. They add wonderfully to the charm of the story. Overall, it is a very sentimental read, absolutely not like I had expected. But still, it is a book worth reading.
My rating: 4.5
I received an advance review copy of the book from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
*************************************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
December 30, 2020
Review to come. I'm too shook up and emotional from this book to accurately review it right now. One of the best I've read this year.
Edit 12/30/2020: This book was a beautiful gut punch. In addition to the great slightly cartoonish art and the well drawn cast of main and supporting characters (all of whom felt like they had rich lives outside of the spotlight of the narrative), the plot was a rollercoaster ride of emotions. The first half was close to what I expected, a story of a crotchety older man learning to love his adopted granddaughter and a nice mediation on family. And while I was also expecting a plot twist (since it is teased in the summary), I was not all all expecting the one we got
Edit 12/30/2020: This book was a beautiful gut punch. In addition to the great slightly cartoonish art and the well drawn cast of main and supporting characters (all of whom felt like they had rich lives outside of the spotlight of the narrative), the plot was a rollercoaster ride of emotions. The first half was close to what I expected, a story of a crotchety older man learning to love his adopted granddaughter and a nice mediation on family. And while I was also expecting a plot twist (since it is teased in the summary), I was not all all expecting the one we got
November 16, 2021
Sweet yet sad story. The illustrations were beautiful and the cover immediately drew me in.
July 9, 2024
Fantastic.
Omnibus edition (in european portuguese, a really good edition, paper and translation and all) of two separate album books, a family story in two separate stories. From the point of view of the cranky retired French grandad whose son and daughter in life adopt a peruvian orphan girl. It's subtle, it's surprising, it's in a way a love song to modern France in a way that reminded me a lot of My Brother's Husband, Volume 1 - in fact all of it reminded me a lot of MBH, they are both perfect products of their respective graphic novels style focusing on family and feelings and both a kind of love song to a country and a culture they portray wonderfully. Made me cry, made me smile, made me feel all round.
This is a two volume in one edition set, and I am glad I got the chance to read both in one go. The first volume (Qinaya) is by far the most impactful but somehow the storyteller managed to give it a good sequel, to add to it without cheapening it. (I am not sure if the further sequels will manage to be as relevant, but I am going to check out for myself).
Omnibus edition (in european portuguese, a really good edition, paper and translation and all) of two separate album books, a family story in two separate stories. From the point of view of the cranky retired French grandad whose son and daughter in life adopt a peruvian orphan girl. It's subtle, it's surprising, it's in a way a love song to modern France in a way that reminded me a lot of My Brother's Husband, Volume 1 - in fact all of it reminded me a lot of MBH, they are both perfect products of their respective graphic novels style focusing on family and feelings and both a kind of love song to a country and a culture they portray wonderfully. Made me cry, made me smile, made me feel all round.
This is a two volume in one edition set, and I am glad I got the chance to read both in one go. The first volume (Qinaya) is by far the most impactful but somehow the storyteller managed to give it a good sequel, to add to it without cheapening it. (I am not sure if the further sequels will manage to be as relevant, but I am going to check out for myself).
November 13, 2020
Is anyone gonna invent a richter scale to measure the magnitude of emotions in a young girl's heart?
This story follows Gabriel a new grandfather after his son and daughter in law adopt a girl from Peru who's parents died after an earthquake hit. It's all about how this man falls in love with this child and it's the sweetest thing ever.
Gabriel soon finds out he loves being a grandfather to this little girl, Qinaya, is the best thing that ever happened to him.
I mean look at that!!! This was such a sweet story about life and how adoption brings so much happiness.
The second half of the story was not as sweet. I still enjoyed it very much but it was a shock. I didn't see it coming because the story follows Gabriel not his son Alain.
The second part of this story was bitter and sad. But it was still beautiful because it followed this man and his love for his son. I really enjoyed this story, even though it was so bitterly sweet at the end. It was still about love and life and how this little girl changed their lives.
This story follows Gabriel a new grandfather after his son and daughter in law adopt a girl from Peru who's parents died after an earthquake hit. It's all about how this man falls in love with this child and it's the sweetest thing ever.
Gabriel soon finds out he loves being a grandfather to this little girl, Qinaya, is the best thing that ever happened to him.
I mean look at that!!! This was such a sweet story about life and how adoption brings so much happiness.
The second half of the story was not as sweet. I still enjoyed it very much but it was a shock. I didn't see it coming because the story follows Gabriel not his son Alain.
The second part of this story was bitter and sad. But it was still beautiful because it followed this man and his love for his son. I really enjoyed this story, even though it was so bitterly sweet at the end. It was still about love and life and how this little girl changed their lives.
December 22, 2020
My thanks to NetGalley and Diamond Book Distributors/Magnetic Press for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
I thought this was going to be a sweet and heartwarming story of a grumpy old man opening his heart to welcome his new adopted granddaughter into his life and heart.
Not so much.
SPOILERS AFTER THIS POINT, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
The only way I can describe this book is it's very "French", in the way that life is doom and gloom and the silver lining of the cloud is really the lightning bolt about to strike you.
1) I sincerely hope this is not based off of a true story, but it is so depressing, I really don't want to research it to find out.
2) There is a plot hole in it you can either steer the Titanic through, or the hole by which the ocean entered the Titanic, take your pick. Though with how depressing this ends up being, it's the hole in the Titanic. (said hole, there was an ENTIRE CITY made into rubble, they couldn't have adopted a child that was truly an orphan? They HAD to pick the ONE child that still had living relatives? SERIOUSLY?!?)
3) Do we REALLY need to see an almost 75 year old man in full frontal nudity, even for a panel? Was that really what the artist had a BURNING need to draw and show?
4) The wife of the son, who was in on it, was a HUGE B-WORD. SERIOUSLY?!? The dude takes FULL responsibility and your only response is to run back home to your parents and initiate a divorce?!?
5) Apparently kidnapping in France only gets you like five years in the pokey. Good to know?
All that aside, I did appreciate that the POV was from said almost 75 year old man (his son was arrested during his 75th birthday celebration, how French!). Despite the old man full frontal, I did enjoy seeing life from an older perspective, as usually stories are not told from that age range. And the artwork (other than the said nudity), was done very well, quite beautiful and light. I enjoyed it. And that little girl was CUTE AS A BUTTON!! My goodness, I do understand why they all fell in love with her, she was just so adorable!
His friendships with the G's, his relationship with his wife and adult children, his slowly growing relationship with his granddaughter, it was all slice of life and very heartwarming.
The "twist" ruined it IMHO, but that is my opinion and I am sure there are many others who would appreciate it. Considering when I read this, during a very serious and deadly pandemic, I did not need to read negative anything right now. I read to escape reality, not to wallow in it. For that, I just turn on the news.
Maybe if I had read this when I was younger and in the "everything sucks" phase of my life, or maybe if I read this during a less negative time period, I might not have reacted as strongly in a negative way to it. Possibly right book at completely the wrong time for me.
NOT the book's fault, please don't let that dissuade you from giving it a try. 1, I'm really sorry but I can't give it more than this, stars.
I thought this was going to be a sweet and heartwarming story of a grumpy old man opening his heart to welcome his new adopted granddaughter into his life and heart.
Not so much.
SPOILERS AFTER THIS POINT, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
The only way I can describe this book is it's very "French", in the way that life is doom and gloom and the silver lining of the cloud is really the lightning bolt about to strike you.
1) I sincerely hope this is not based off of a true story, but it is so depressing, I really don't want to research it to find out.
2) There is a plot hole in it you can either steer the Titanic through, or the hole by which the ocean entered the Titanic, take your pick. Though with how depressing this ends up being, it's the hole in the Titanic. (said hole, there was an ENTIRE CITY made into rubble, they couldn't have adopted a child that was truly an orphan? They HAD to pick the ONE child that still had living relatives? SERIOUSLY?!?)
3) Do we REALLY need to see an almost 75 year old man in full frontal nudity, even for a panel? Was that really what the artist had a BURNING need to draw and show?
4) The wife of the son, who was in on it, was a HUGE B-WORD. SERIOUSLY?!? The dude takes FULL responsibility and your only response is to run back home to your parents and initiate a divorce?!?
5) Apparently kidnapping in France only gets you like five years in the pokey. Good to know?
All that aside, I did appreciate that the POV was from said almost 75 year old man (his son was arrested during his 75th birthday celebration, how French!). Despite the old man full frontal, I did enjoy seeing life from an older perspective, as usually stories are not told from that age range. And the artwork (other than the said nudity), was done very well, quite beautiful and light. I enjoyed it. And that little girl was CUTE AS A BUTTON!! My goodness, I do understand why they all fell in love with her, she was just so adorable!
His friendships with the G's, his relationship with his wife and adult children, his slowly growing relationship with his granddaughter, it was all slice of life and very heartwarming.
The "twist" ruined it IMHO, but that is my opinion and I am sure there are many others who would appreciate it. Considering when I read this, during a very serious and deadly pandemic, I did not need to read negative anything right now. I read to escape reality, not to wallow in it. For that, I just turn on the news.
Maybe if I had read this when I was younger and in the "everything sucks" phase of my life, or maybe if I read this during a less negative time period, I might not have reacted as strongly in a negative way to it. Possibly right book at completely the wrong time for me.
NOT the book's fault, please don't let that dissuade you from giving it a try. 1, I'm really sorry but I can't give it more than this, stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2022
This is alternatively funny and sad. Grandpa is grumpy and gnarly. And Qinaya is too cute for words.
She is a little girl from Peru, that has been adopted into a French family. Mostly this first issue is about the developing relationship between her and her new grandfather. Nice artwork, good story, well-done character development. Very surprising ending of Issue #1. It threw me for a very unexpected loop.
So I went into Issue #2 with some apprehension… The story was a little scattered and rambly. Very situational and reflective. I didn‘t like it as much as Issue #1. It didn‘t really shed much light on the cliffhanger of Issue #1 for a long time either and only had a light connection to it. However, the art was still very good.
And the ending made me happy. A feel-good finale.
She is a little girl from Peru, that has been adopted into a French family. Mostly this first issue is about the developing relationship between her and her new grandfather. Nice artwork, good story, well-done character development. Very surprising ending of Issue #1. It threw me for a very unexpected loop.
So I went into Issue #2 with some apprehension… The story was a little scattered and rambly. Very situational and reflective. I didn‘t like it as much as Issue #1. It didn‘t really shed much light on the cliffhanger of Issue #1 for a long time either and only had a light connection to it. However, the art was still very good.
And the ending made me happy. A feel-good finale.
February 26, 2023
9 de 10*
Opinião:
https://abibliotecadajoao.blogspot.co...
Opinião:
https://abibliotecadajoao.blogspot.co...
December 29, 2020
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
So, I read this book in Dutch last year (absolutely loved it btw), sadly, the library I got this one from (and the only one of my libraries who had it) only had the first part. So I was beyond excited when I spotted this book on Netgalley and it was the WHOLE book. I just had to have it despite half the story still being quite fresh on my mind. It does help that this one is in English, while the one I read was in Dutch. Plus, there is like half of the book that is just NEW and from what I remember there will be quite some things happening given the ending of the first part and I am eager to see how things will get solved there.
This book is about an old man whose son and his wife adopt a tiny little girl from Peru after a devastating earthquake that took the lives of hundred-thousands of people. The old man is now a grandfather… but he isn’t too happy with it. But I know that he will love her eventually. It just takes a while and some cuteness from Qinaya to win her new grandfather’s heart. That is the first part, the second part is about the old man going to Peru. Why, you will have to read the book.
Next to the grandfather making peace with the fact he is now a grandfather and Qinaya winning his heart, we also see other parts in the life of this family. Like his fitness buddies or well, just his buddies given that they feast after a bit of exercising. 😛 I love that they kept the name GeeGees, I was worried that may have changed, but no! I loved their friendship and their bond. But we also see the old man’s relationship with his own children, in particular his son. Back in the days when they were small our old man worked so hard he didn’t have a lot of time for them. You can imagine that he now does have the time and with a new grandchild to help out with… that his children (especially his son) may feel jealous. But I am pretty sure that they are also happy to see this other side to their father. There are so many facets and they make this book just absolutely wonderful.
Of course, we also see how Qinaya is adapting to her new surroundings, her new family, and a brand-new language (oh boy, does our old man have some explaining to do given her first word is hooker, yes, don’t ask). She is, as our old man’s wife said earlier in the book, cute as a button. I loved her enthusiasm. I loved how happy she was.
I do hope that my hubby and I are as happy and in love as our older couple in this one. Yes, they had their arguments and yes ups and downs, but in overall you could just see the love so so much and it made me happy.
OH LORD, and then the ending came for the first part and my heart broke in pieces once again. Tears. So many tears. Poor family, poor Qinaya. 🙁 I was bracing myself for the second part, I knew a lot would happen and I would need even more tissues than I needed in the first part of the book.
The second part, well. I enjoyed it, but I don’t know it just didn’t have the same impact as the first one. Though sure, there were two moments that had me crying. That last part, holy wow. In this part 2 the old man heads to Peru for reasons, and while he is there he meets people. There is talk about Qinaya, about the earthquake, about family. But we also see the POV of the son and the daughter and also the GeeGees make an appearance. It was interesting to read, but something was just missing. I would just have liked to see something more, some more details on what happened.
The art is fantastic. I love love love the style.
All in all, a great book. I would give the first part 5 stars and the second part 4 stars. In total I will give this book: 4.5 stars
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
So, I read this book in Dutch last year (absolutely loved it btw), sadly, the library I got this one from (and the only one of my libraries who had it) only had the first part. So I was beyond excited when I spotted this book on Netgalley and it was the WHOLE book. I just had to have it despite half the story still being quite fresh on my mind. It does help that this one is in English, while the one I read was in Dutch. Plus, there is like half of the book that is just NEW and from what I remember there will be quite some things happening given the ending of the first part and I am eager to see how things will get solved there.
This book is about an old man whose son and his wife adopt a tiny little girl from Peru after a devastating earthquake that took the lives of hundred-thousands of people. The old man is now a grandfather… but he isn’t too happy with it. But I know that he will love her eventually. It just takes a while and some cuteness from Qinaya to win her new grandfather’s heart. That is the first part, the second part is about the old man going to Peru. Why, you will have to read the book.
Next to the grandfather making peace with the fact he is now a grandfather and Qinaya winning his heart, we also see other parts in the life of this family. Like his fitness buddies or well, just his buddies given that they feast after a bit of exercising. 😛 I love that they kept the name GeeGees, I was worried that may have changed, but no! I loved their friendship and their bond. But we also see the old man’s relationship with his own children, in particular his son. Back in the days when they were small our old man worked so hard he didn’t have a lot of time for them. You can imagine that he now does have the time and with a new grandchild to help out with… that his children (especially his son) may feel jealous. But I am pretty sure that they are also happy to see this other side to their father. There are so many facets and they make this book just absolutely wonderful.
Of course, we also see how Qinaya is adapting to her new surroundings, her new family, and a brand-new language (oh boy, does our old man have some explaining to do given her first word is hooker, yes, don’t ask). She is, as our old man’s wife said earlier in the book, cute as a button. I loved her enthusiasm. I loved how happy she was.
I do hope that my hubby and I are as happy and in love as our older couple in this one. Yes, they had their arguments and yes ups and downs, but in overall you could just see the love so so much and it made me happy.
OH LORD, and then the ending came for the first part and my heart broke in pieces once again. Tears. So many tears. Poor family, poor Qinaya. 🙁 I was bracing myself for the second part, I knew a lot would happen and I would need even more tissues than I needed in the first part of the book.
The second part, well. I enjoyed it, but I don’t know it just didn’t have the same impact as the first one. Though sure, there were two moments that had me crying. That last part, holy wow. In this part 2 the old man heads to Peru for reasons, and while he is there he meets people. There is talk about Qinaya, about the earthquake, about family. But we also see the POV of the son and the daughter and also the GeeGees make an appearance. It was interesting to read, but something was just missing. I would just have liked to see something more, some more details on what happened.
The art is fantastic. I love love love the style.
All in all, a great book. I would give the first part 5 stars and the second part 4 stars. In total I will give this book: 4.5 stars
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
December 14, 2021
★ 4.5 Stars ★
Beautiful... Heartwarming.. Heartbreaking.
The newly retired Gabriel's world is rocked, when his son and daughter-in-law adopt a little girl from a disaster-ridden city in Peru. At first he's not that interested in the little girl - his own children are middleaged, and his grandchildren teenagers, so he's long been done with taking care of small children. But the little girl breaks right through his icy exterior and finds her way into his heart - only for a tragedy to shortly after split their family apart. In the aftermath Gabriel ponders his own role as a father, and questions whether or not he was a good father, and if there is still time for him to act like one.
Stories like this are what I think of, when I think of great graphic novels.
Beautiful... Heartwarming.. Heartbreaking.
The newly retired Gabriel's world is rocked, when his son and daughter-in-law adopt a little girl from a disaster-ridden city in Peru. At first he's not that interested in the little girl - his own children are middleaged, and his grandchildren teenagers, so he's long been done with taking care of small children. But the little girl breaks right through his icy exterior and finds her way into his heart - only for a tragedy to shortly after split their family apart. In the aftermath Gabriel ponders his own role as a father, and questions whether or not he was a good father, and if there is still time for him to act like one.
Stories like this are what I think of, when I think of great graphic novels.
December 5, 2022
50% Sugar 50% Sliced onion.
March 9, 2024
Exemplar da biblioteca, mas a comprar mal se propicie. Para ler e reler.
Muito cuidado com este livro.
Não "entrar" de forma leviana.
Trata de um tema muito humano, muito adulto, de muito amor, de muita dor.
"O amor não se rouba.
O amor não se compra.
O amor merece-se."
Não vou adiantar nada sobre o enredo.
Quem o leu, por favor não o faça.
Peguei, por mero acaso, neste livro por causa do grande Zidrou e também curiosa com o seu título.
Nada me preparou para o que, num sábado de manhã, li e senti.
Foi uma leitura muito bonita, muito sentida e dorida.
Porque a família é isto mesmo. É um conjunto de pessoas unidas por laços de sangue que umas vezes nos traz felicidade, outras sofrimento e desafios.
Uma leitura muito, muito especial.
Muito cuidado com este livro.
Não "entrar" de forma leviana.
Trata de um tema muito humano, muito adulto, de muito amor, de muita dor.
"O amor não se rouba.
O amor não se compra.
O amor merece-se."
Não vou adiantar nada sobre o enredo.
Quem o leu, por favor não o faça.
Peguei, por mero acaso, neste livro por causa do grande Zidrou e também curiosa com o seu título.
Nada me preparou para o que, num sábado de manhã, li e senti.
Foi uma leitura muito bonita, muito sentida e dorida.
Porque a família é isto mesmo. É um conjunto de pessoas unidas por laços de sangue que umas vezes nos traz felicidade, outras sofrimento e desafios.
Uma leitura muito, muito especial.
April 7, 2021
Stunning illustrations.
Heart-rending story.
4.5/5 stars.
I was hoping for a different happy ending though.
Heart-rending story.
4.5/5 stars.
I was hoping for a different happy ending though.
December 2, 2020
So many emotions in such a small book!
When Gabriel's son adopts a little girl from Perú, he isn't thrilled like everyone wants him to be. Why should he be happy? If they couldn't have a child, why did they have to adopt, and from so far away?
But soon his closed heart begins to melt, and he warms up to the little sunshine. She is adorable. And then an awful twist happens, and the mood of the book changed completely to raw and dark emotions. It's been beautiful to live through this with him. Love the conclusion!
Many thanks to Magnetic Press for the complimentary e-copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
When Gabriel's son adopts a little girl from Perú, he isn't thrilled like everyone wants him to be. Why should he be happy? If they couldn't have a child, why did they have to adopt, and from so far away?
But soon his closed heart begins to melt, and he warms up to the little sunshine. She is adorable. And then an awful twist happens, and the mood of the book changed completely to raw and dark emotions. It's been beautiful to live through this with him. Love the conclusion!
Many thanks to Magnetic Press for the complimentary e-copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
July 3, 2023
Qinaya, uma órfã peruana de 4 anos, é adoptada por um casal de franceses. Estes, finalmente conseguem ter o filho que tanto desejavam. Os avós paternos têm assim, a sua primeira e única neta. A avó delira e mima a menina e o avô, que teve pouco tempo para ser pai, tem que aprender a ser avô. Mas, quando todos já se adaptaram a esta mudança na família, acontece algo que vai alterar tudo.
É uma história muito bonita, doce e amorosa, triste mas, ao mesmo tempo, esperançosa. Muito tocante, mas sem lamechices ou exageros. Para mim, é uma história sobre o amor que os pais têm pelos filhos.
Já conhecia Zidrou, o autor do argumento, da BD Dias Felizes e, neste Adopção, consegue tocar ainda mais as emoções do leitor.
Quanto às ilustrações, de Monin, são perfeitas, com destaque para a pequena Qinaya e para o maravilhoso avô Gabriel.
Muito bom! Adorei!
É uma história muito bonita, doce e amorosa, triste mas, ao mesmo tempo, esperançosa. Muito tocante, mas sem lamechices ou exageros. Para mim, é uma história sobre o amor que os pais têm pelos filhos.
Já conhecia Zidrou, o autor do argumento, da BD Dias Felizes e, neste Adopção, consegue tocar ainda mais as emoções do leitor.
Quanto às ilustrações, de Monin, são perfeitas, com destaque para a pequena Qinaya e para o maravilhoso avô Gabriel.
Muito bom! Adorei!
January 14, 2024
Magnífico! Lindo, triste, ternurento. O Amor de diversas formas 🩷
June 9, 2024
Emocionante e completamente traumatizante
January 2, 2021
English Review Below.
قصة مصورة عاطفية جدا عن زوجين فرنسيين يتبنيان طفلة من بيرو ويعودان بها إلى فرنسا بعد كارثة حلت في بلدها، وتتبع القصة الجد الذي يتعلق بالطفلة بشكل غير متوقع وتتخذ القصة مسارا مظلما وغير متوقع. القصة عاطفية ومؤلمة وأعجبتني اللمحات التي قدمتها عن الحياة في فرنسا وكذلك بيرو.
This was a roller coaster of feelings. It started as a sweet adoption story, when a french couple adopt a little girl from Peru and bring her back to France after a disaster hits her homeland, but then it takes a darker turn. The main focus of the story is the grandfather who unexpectedly starts getting attached to the young girl and changes a lot because of her. It was heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. The art was beautiful as well, and I love the light it shed on Peru, despite the minor hints of racism in the beginning.
I thank Netgalley for the digital ARC
قصة مصورة عاطفية جدا عن زوجين فرنسيين يتبنيان طفلة من بيرو ويعودان بها إلى فرنسا بعد كارثة حلت في بلدها، وتتبع القصة الجد الذي يتعلق بالطفلة بشكل غير متوقع وتتخذ القصة مسارا مظلما وغير متوقع. القصة عاطفية ومؤلمة وأعجبتني اللمحات التي قدمتها عن الحياة في فرنسا وكذلك بيرو.
This was a roller coaster of feelings. It started as a sweet adoption story, when a french couple adopt a little girl from Peru and bring her back to France after a disaster hits her homeland, but then it takes a darker turn. The main focus of the story is the grandfather who unexpectedly starts getting attached to the young girl and changes a lot because of her. It was heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. The art was beautiful as well, and I love the light it shed on Peru, despite the minor hints of racism in the beginning.
I thank Netgalley for the digital ARC
July 12, 2021
The Adoption offers a neat twist on the classic "curmudgeon is charmed and opens up after being forced to care for a cute child" story. That's basically the thrust of the story until the half-time break, at which point Zidrou throws a very unexpected twist that's never quite resolved.
Nonetheless, the back half of the The Adoption offers more learning and growing for our curmudgeon, just with a different landscape. Aside from the aforementioned twist, there aren't too many shocks in The Adoption, but it's a well-crafted, engaging story with stunningly gorgeous art. Seriously, seek this book out for the art alone. Colorful and lightly cartoony, it's a Pixar animators dream.
Nonetheless, the back half of the The Adoption offers more learning and growing for our curmudgeon, just with a different landscape. Aside from the aforementioned twist, there aren't too many shocks in The Adoption, but it's a well-crafted, engaging story with stunningly gorgeous art. Seriously, seek this book out for the art alone. Colorful and lightly cartoony, it's a Pixar animators dream.
November 23, 2020
**Received this book thanks to Netgalley and the publisher in exchange of honest review**
This graphic novel surprised me in multiple ways. It was not what I had expected at first and exceeded my expectations. I had foreseen a beautiful story about a grandfather learning to love his new adopted granddaughter but what I got was a lot more than that.
This story is filled with love, grief, sorrow and happiness. It deals with subjects you will not expect when you first pick it up and you will not regret it. This novel has two distinct parts within its pages. In its first part you meet the grumpy old man that is Gabriel. A soon to be grandfather after his son brings back Qinaya, the little girl they just adopted from Peru. Then begin the story of how the little girl slowly breaks the shell of a man who feels like he was never a real father to his own kids. When you reach the "second part" of this novel you are completely blown away. Wherever you thought this graphic novel was going you will be very surprised by what happens.
The art work in this graphic novel is beautiful. The colors and the details are absolutely stunning and it is obvious that a lot of work was put into the small details. Where the characters go , you follow them. Completely transported where they are through the art.
A beautiful read that I will definitely remember.
This graphic novel surprised me in multiple ways. It was not what I had expected at first and exceeded my expectations. I had foreseen a beautiful story about a grandfather learning to love his new adopted granddaughter but what I got was a lot more than that.
This story is filled with love, grief, sorrow and happiness. It deals with subjects you will not expect when you first pick it up and you will not regret it. This novel has two distinct parts within its pages. In its first part you meet the grumpy old man that is Gabriel. A soon to be grandfather after his son brings back Qinaya, the little girl they just adopted from Peru. Then begin the story of how the little girl slowly breaks the shell of a man who feels like he was never a real father to his own kids. When you reach the "second part" of this novel you are completely blown away. Wherever you thought this graphic novel was going you will be very surprised by what happens.
The art work in this graphic novel is beautiful. The colors and the details are absolutely stunning and it is obvious that a lot of work was put into the small details. Where the characters go , you follow them. Completely transported where they are through the art.
A beautiful read that I will definitely remember.
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