What do you think?
Rate this book
Pardalita
16-year-old Raquel lives in a small town in Portugal, the kind of place where everyone knows everyone else’s business. Her parents are divorced and she’s just been suspended for cursing out a school aide asking about her father’s new marriage. She has two best friends, Luísa and Fred, but wants something more.
Then, from afar, she sees Pardalita, a senior and a gifted artist who’s moving to Lisbon to study in the fall. The two girls get to know each other while working on a play. And Raquel falls in love.
From author/artist Joana Estrela comes Pardalita, a beautiful slice-of-life story that is This One Summer meets Ursula K. Le Guin’s Very Far Away from Anywhere Else, told in flashbacks and present day action. Using a gorgeous blend of prose poems, illustrations, and graphic novel format, Estrela captures the feeling of being a teenager in a way that feels gentle, joyful, and real.
Then, from afar, she sees Pardalita, a senior and a gifted artist who’s moving to Lisbon to study in the fall. The two girls get to know each other while working on a play. And Raquel falls in love.
From author/artist Joana Estrela comes Pardalita, a beautiful slice-of-life story that is This One Summer meets Ursula K. Le Guin’s Very Far Away from Anywhere Else, told in flashbacks and present day action. Using a gorgeous blend of prose poems, illustrations, and graphic novel format, Estrela captures the feeling of being a teenager in a way that feels gentle, joyful, and real.
216 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2021
24 people are currently reading
1279 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 500 reviews
![Profile Image for s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1735525095i%2F6431467._UX200_CR0%2C11%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
April 23, 2024
‘Pardalita, I don’t comprehend you. You’re an irregular verb. One to learn by heart.’
Young love tosses us upon the waves of our emotions, recontextualizing all we see and dredges up the sunken ships of our inner selves to understand them anew. Such is the case for 16 year old Portuguese student, Raquel, when her fascination for the older, artsy Padalita begins to give way to deeper feelings in Joana Estrela’s Pardalita. A hybrid of visual storytelling with a graphic novel format complemented by stream-of-conscious blocks of prose bestowing just as vivid of imagery, Pardalita is a quiet tale of budding sapphic love that coalesces the small, disparate details into a beautiful portrait of a sexual awakening and coming-of-age. It is both breezy and melancholy—though more along the lines of an overcast day bringing a hushed, calming feeling than sadness—and the loose, simple art helps you just drift along the story as waves of narrative and Raquel’s recollections wash over you. This timidly progressing first awakening to romance aided with an education in classics like Sappho or the tale of Hero and Leander is a lovely little read that nails fragmented storytelling and moves with the pace and mannerisms of life.
Joana Estrela’s use of blocks of prose accompanying the rather free flowing graphic novel might initially seem overly wordy for the medium, though I ended up find many of these sections to be the brightest gems in the book. Written almost like poetry—with flourishes such as listing verb conjugations for key terms in accordance with her homework—these sections capture the spirit of “show don’t tell” just as much as the actual visual artwork. Which is quite lovely in its simplicity and reminds me a bit of Marjane Satrapi’s art like in Persepolis but sparser. The story moves back and forth from the present narrative with Raquel’s reflections on childhood details and other musings, with all these different elements and their juxtapositions amalgamating into something surpassing the sum of its parts. We have, for example, Raquel describing her father having a new girlfriend (who he is to wed) not by telling us directly but listing all the changes to his apartment like noticing him suddenly having an interest in houseplants, or the appearance of an unknown jacket, a pair of slippers, a different brand of milk. ‘I met her later’ she says by way of letting the reader but it all together. Which is a microcosm of the way this whole story is made up of details that tell their own stories through the abstract spaces that unite them all. Even memories of youthful observances come into new meaning (sometimes even beyond Raquel) through the readers awareness of her coming to recognize sapphic desires.
The story is very sweet too. Raquel and her friend Fred join the drama team which allows Raquel to be closer to Pardalita. As she begins to understand what her interest in the artistic girl means about herself, she also stresses over ‘how close I can get to you without raising red flags.’ We also have charming subplots, such as her divorced mother finally learning how to use the internet in order to listen to Rolling Stones music leading to her awakening in social justice activism and organizing. The story is threaded with references to art, such as a poem by Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen that reads in it’s entirety: ‘The muse, the siren / Her song loud and pure’. This succinctly captures so much about the story, such as Raquel’s attraction to Pardalita (she even recites this as one of the first things she ever says to Pardalita) and the powerful simplicity of the book itself.
Pardalita was a lovely read that made for an enjoyable sitting in the sun and letting the confusing maelstrom of first awakenings to love wash over me. While the ending is abrupt, I also found that to be perfect as it just feels true. We can theorize what comes next and recognize how these things usually expire, but this story is about the awakening, the first steps, the putting together of the details to stand back and see how each individual brush stroke of life forms a portrait through their collaboration.
3.5/5
Young love tosses us upon the waves of our emotions, recontextualizing all we see and dredges up the sunken ships of our inner selves to understand them anew. Such is the case for 16 year old Portuguese student, Raquel, when her fascination for the older, artsy Padalita begins to give way to deeper feelings in Joana Estrela’s Pardalita. A hybrid of visual storytelling with a graphic novel format complemented by stream-of-conscious blocks of prose bestowing just as vivid of imagery, Pardalita is a quiet tale of budding sapphic love that coalesces the small, disparate details into a beautiful portrait of a sexual awakening and coming-of-age. It is both breezy and melancholy—though more along the lines of an overcast day bringing a hushed, calming feeling than sadness—and the loose, simple art helps you just drift along the story as waves of narrative and Raquel’s recollections wash over you. This timidly progressing first awakening to romance aided with an education in classics like Sappho or the tale of Hero and Leander is a lovely little read that nails fragmented storytelling and moves with the pace and mannerisms of life.
Joana Estrela’s use of blocks of prose accompanying the rather free flowing graphic novel might initially seem overly wordy for the medium, though I ended up find many of these sections to be the brightest gems in the book. Written almost like poetry—with flourishes such as listing verb conjugations for key terms in accordance with her homework—these sections capture the spirit of “show don’t tell” just as much as the actual visual artwork. Which is quite lovely in its simplicity and reminds me a bit of Marjane Satrapi’s art like in Persepolis but sparser. The story moves back and forth from the present narrative with Raquel’s reflections on childhood details and other musings, with all these different elements and their juxtapositions amalgamating into something surpassing the sum of its parts. We have, for example, Raquel describing her father having a new girlfriend (who he is to wed) not by telling us directly but listing all the changes to his apartment like noticing him suddenly having an interest in houseplants, or the appearance of an unknown jacket, a pair of slippers, a different brand of milk. ‘I met her later’ she says by way of letting the reader but it all together. Which is a microcosm of the way this whole story is made up of details that tell their own stories through the abstract spaces that unite them all. Even memories of youthful observances come into new meaning (sometimes even beyond Raquel) through the readers awareness of her coming to recognize sapphic desires.
The story is very sweet too. Raquel and her friend Fred join the drama team which allows Raquel to be closer to Pardalita. As she begins to understand what her interest in the artistic girl means about herself, she also stresses over ‘how close I can get to you without raising red flags.’ We also have charming subplots, such as her divorced mother finally learning how to use the internet in order to listen to Rolling Stones music leading to her awakening in social justice activism and organizing. The story is threaded with references to art, such as a poem by Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen that reads in it’s entirety: ‘The muse, the siren / Her song loud and pure’. This succinctly captures so much about the story, such as Raquel’s attraction to Pardalita (she even recites this as one of the first things she ever says to Pardalita) and the powerful simplicity of the book itself.
Pardalita was a lovely read that made for an enjoyable sitting in the sun and letting the confusing maelstrom of first awakenings to love wash over me. While the ending is abrupt, I also found that to be perfect as it just feels true. We can theorize what comes next and recognize how these things usually expire, but this story is about the awakening, the first steps, the putting together of the details to stand back and see how each individual brush stroke of life forms a portrait through their collaboration.
3.5/5
March 31, 2023
In a Nutshell: I don’t know who fell short of requirements: the book or me. But this definitely didn’t go the way it was supposed to. A slice-of-life story as per the blurb, but I guess the slice was too flavourless for my liking.
Story Synopsis:
On the pro side:
🔥 The content is presented in a blend of prose poems, illustrations, and graphic novel format. The constant shift between the three presentations is interesting. (I am not sure if this will work with everyone though. People do expect the text to be incorporated within the panels when they pick up a graphic novel.)
🔥 Key moments from Raquel’s earlier years are presented in the ‘prose poems’. (I read them only as prose, but obviously.) These vignettes were interesting, and easily the best sections of this book.
🔥 Raquel’s friend Luisa is the strongest character of the story, with her firm opinions and humorous nature. Without her, the story would have had zero life.
On the other hand:
💢 Though the blurb seems to suggest a sapphic romance, most of the story is neither sapphic nor romance. There is nothing to indicate Raquel’s confusion over or struggle with her sexuality.
💢 The bond between the two girls is unconvincing and the final scene comes out of nowhere.
💢 There are plenty of important topics raises through Raquel’s conversations with those around her – the refugee crisis, parental separation, the addiction to social media, going vegetarian,… but all of these stay on focus only for 1-2 pages and then get thrown by the wayside. Nothing is explored in deep.
💢 The B&W illustrations weren’t to my liking. I wouldn’t have minded monochromatic artwork like that on the cover, but the artistic style was too simplistic to create any impact.
💢 The writing becomes somewhat philosophical in a few sections. The illustrations too follow the same pattern at times, with pages upon pages of nothing but abstract artwork.
I got nothing memorable from the story. There’s neither great plot development nor intricate character development. I am not sure if this flat feeling is due to something going haywire during translation. However, I honestly can’t recommend this English version as it was too ad hoc a story for me.
Then again, this does have an average GR rating of 4+ right now, so maybe it is just me. Do feel free to give it a go as it is a quick read. The book might work better for the YA age group, with the ‘misunderstood teen having a secret crush on a friend’ theme.
1.5 stars, rounding up as I didn't waste much time on this quick read.
My thanks to Levine Querido and NetGalley for the DRC of “Pardalita”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. Sorry this didn’t work out better.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Story Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Raquel lives in a small town in Portugal, Her parents are divorced and she spends time with them alternatively. Raquel has also just been suspended from school for back-answering a school monitor. Her mother is more popular than her on Facebook, and has newly turned vegetarian.
In short, Raquel’s life is a mess. Even her best friends, Luisa and Fred, can offer only so much comfort. All this changes when Raquel sees Pardalita, whom she gets to know while working together on a play. Raquel’s feelings for Pardalita now provide her with something to look forward to.
The story is written in Raquel’s first person perspective, and addressed to Pardalita.
On the pro side:
🔥 The content is presented in a blend of prose poems, illustrations, and graphic novel format. The constant shift between the three presentations is interesting. (I am not sure if this will work with everyone though. People do expect the text to be incorporated within the panels when they pick up a graphic novel.)
🔥 Key moments from Raquel’s earlier years are presented in the ‘prose poems’. (I read them only as prose, but obviously.) These vignettes were interesting, and easily the best sections of this book.
🔥 Raquel’s friend Luisa is the strongest character of the story, with her firm opinions and humorous nature. Without her, the story would have had zero life.
On the other hand:
💢 Though the blurb seems to suggest a sapphic romance, most of the story is neither sapphic nor romance. There is nothing to indicate Raquel’s confusion over or struggle with her sexuality.
💢 The bond between the two girls is unconvincing and the final scene comes out of nowhere.
💢 There are plenty of important topics raises through Raquel’s conversations with those around her – the refugee crisis, parental separation, the addiction to social media, going vegetarian,… but all of these stay on focus only for 1-2 pages and then get thrown by the wayside. Nothing is explored in deep.
💢 The B&W illustrations weren’t to my liking. I wouldn’t have minded monochromatic artwork like that on the cover, but the artistic style was too simplistic to create any impact.
💢 The writing becomes somewhat philosophical in a few sections. The illustrations too follow the same pattern at times, with pages upon pages of nothing but abstract artwork.
I got nothing memorable from the story. There’s neither great plot development nor intricate character development. I am not sure if this flat feeling is due to something going haywire during translation. However, I honestly can’t recommend this English version as it was too ad hoc a story for me.
Then again, this does have an average GR rating of 4+ right now, so maybe it is just me. Do feel free to give it a go as it is a quick read. The book might work better for the YA age group, with the ‘misunderstood teen having a secret crush on a friend’ theme.
1.5 stars, rounding up as I didn't waste much time on this quick read.
My thanks to Levine Querido and NetGalley for the DRC of “Pardalita”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. Sorry this didn’t work out better.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
August 13, 2022
COMENTÁRIO
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Pardalita"
Joana Estrela
Existem livros que nos fazem sorrir. E outros que nos fazem chorar.
Mas chorar pela felicidade que transportam em si?
Chorei compulsivamente nas últimas páginas deste livro.
Uma primeira nota. A meio desta leitura delirante pesquisei. Estive um pedaço a perceber quem é esta pessoa maravilhosa chamada Joana Estrela. Não sendo um leitor especialista em "arte sequencial" ou "novelas gráficas" fiquei encantando com o traço do desenho, com a construção da narrativa e com a ternura da mensagem presente neste livro. Ou seja fiquei fã da Joana.
Raquel, a nossa protagonista deste livro juvenil, é uma jovem em processo de aprendizagem e descoberta. Como naquele dia em que se cruza com a Pardalita, ou naquele outro em que começa a "fazer" teatro... Quando reflecte sobre a importância da amizade... Ou no dia em que viaja até Lisboa...
Com uma ternura e uma inocência contagiante acompanhamos a descoberta de um modo de amar, de um amor. Mas também a presença de notas críticas ao mundo contemporâneo e à necessaria transformação do nosso quotidiano.
E assim, pelo traço poético e comovente da Joana Estrela acompanhamos o enamoramento entre Raquel e a Pardalita...
Só vos tenho a dizer. Que coisa tão linda! Que lufada de ar fresco...
(li a 12 de Agosto de 2022)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Pardalita"
Joana Estrela
Existem livros que nos fazem sorrir. E outros que nos fazem chorar.
Mas chorar pela felicidade que transportam em si?
Chorei compulsivamente nas últimas páginas deste livro.
Uma primeira nota. A meio desta leitura delirante pesquisei. Estive um pedaço a perceber quem é esta pessoa maravilhosa chamada Joana Estrela. Não sendo um leitor especialista em "arte sequencial" ou "novelas gráficas" fiquei encantando com o traço do desenho, com a construção da narrativa e com a ternura da mensagem presente neste livro. Ou seja fiquei fã da Joana.
Raquel, a nossa protagonista deste livro juvenil, é uma jovem em processo de aprendizagem e descoberta. Como naquele dia em que se cruza com a Pardalita, ou naquele outro em que começa a "fazer" teatro... Quando reflecte sobre a importância da amizade... Ou no dia em que viaja até Lisboa...
Com uma ternura e uma inocência contagiante acompanhamos a descoberta de um modo de amar, de um amor. Mas também a presença de notas críticas ao mundo contemporâneo e à necessaria transformação do nosso quotidiano.
E assim, pelo traço poético e comovente da Joana Estrela acompanhamos o enamoramento entre Raquel e a Pardalita...
Só vos tenho a dizer. Que coisa tão linda! Que lufada de ar fresco...
(li a 12 de Agosto de 2022)
May 18, 2024
Lindo e maravilhoso.
Que obra fantástica.
Como alguém que só recentemente voltou a encontrar o mundo das novelas gráficas depois de largos anos sem ler nenhuma, só tenho tido experiências maravilhosas, e Pardalita não é exceção.
Cheio de pequenos momentos maravilhosos, um livro melancólico que me deixou a querer logo um segundo volume desta história bonita. Escrito de uma forma fluída mas simples, guardei muitos pequenos excertos em fotografias no meu telemóvel. Porque apesar de principalmente uma história visual, com ilustrações de encher o coração, houve também muitas passagens que deixaram a sua marca.
Que obra fantástica.
Como alguém que só recentemente voltou a encontrar o mundo das novelas gráficas depois de largos anos sem ler nenhuma, só tenho tido experiências maravilhosas, e Pardalita não é exceção.
Cheio de pequenos momentos maravilhosos, um livro melancólico que me deixou a querer logo um segundo volume desta história bonita. Escrito de uma forma fluída mas simples, guardei muitos pequenos excertos em fotografias no meu telemóvel. Porque apesar de principalmente uma história visual, com ilustrações de encher o coração, houve também muitas passagens que deixaram a sua marca.
December 2, 2024
4,5*
A secundária é um aquário.
Tinha este livro na lista para requisitar na biblioteca há um bom tempo, mas peguei nele sem o mínimo de expectativas, o que só funcionou a seu favor. Bela surpresa! Os desenhos são o que apelido de utilitários, ou seja, cumprem o seu propósito mas não me impressionam. É a forma habilidosa como “Pardalita” é contada que me cativa, com os seus pormenores (o dos verbos irregulares ingleses, por exemplo) e a inclusão do mito grego de Hero e Leandro. “Pardalita” é uma história de formação em que as angústias naturais da idade não são exacerbadas, as amizades são orgânicas e até a relação mãe/filha é equilibrada. Gostei da Raquel e da Pardalita, mas esta mãe é caracterizada de uma forma fantástica.
Se eu estivesse daquele lado, atravessavas o Tejo a nado?
A secundária é um aquário.
Tinha este livro na lista para requisitar na biblioteca há um bom tempo, mas peguei nele sem o mínimo de expectativas, o que só funcionou a seu favor. Bela surpresa! Os desenhos são o que apelido de utilitários, ou seja, cumprem o seu propósito mas não me impressionam. É a forma habilidosa como “Pardalita” é contada que me cativa, com os seus pormenores (o dos verbos irregulares ingleses, por exemplo) e a inclusão do mito grego de Hero e Leandro. “Pardalita” é uma história de formação em que as angústias naturais da idade não são exacerbadas, as amizades são orgânicas e até a relação mãe/filha é equilibrada. Gostei da Raquel e da Pardalita, mas esta mãe é caracterizada de uma forma fantástica.
Se eu estivesse daquele lado, atravessavas o Tejo a nado?
November 14, 2022
I love this graphic novel. I love it so much that there will never be enough reasons why I love it so much!
Is there good illustrations or perfect artwork? I wouldn’t say yes.
Is there some wholesome perfect cute romance and like? No, I won’t say yes.
Is the narrator someone who we all will love and would call them a perfect 10?! Well, I doubt it.
But I will say the character is as flawed as we are. No matter how hard we try to be the best version of ourselves, people aren’t perfect.
The writing? Well, you will love them as much as I did as they are filled with poetry and short and whimsically realistic.
Will I ever be writing a perfect book review for the best books I have ever read? I doubt it will ever happen.
You will find the most random thoughts in the reviews of my most favourite books like this one. For sure.
Thank you, Levine Querido, for the advance reading copy. Hopefully I have convinced people to pick this book when it comes out. If not, my review is going to be the culprit. But they should know what a cool realistic graphic novel looks like. Am so bad at being sassy. Well, I tried to be like the main character. And she does fail like I do. [Damn you, good book]
Is there good illustrations or perfect artwork? I wouldn’t say yes.
Is there some wholesome perfect cute romance and like? No, I won’t say yes.
Is the narrator someone who we all will love and would call them a perfect 10?! Well, I doubt it.
But I will say the character is as flawed as we are. No matter how hard we try to be the best version of ourselves, people aren’t perfect.
The writing? Well, you will love them as much as I did as they are filled with poetry and short and whimsically realistic.
Will I ever be writing a perfect book review for the best books I have ever read? I doubt it will ever happen.
You will find the most random thoughts in the reviews of my most favourite books like this one. For sure.
Thank you, Levine Querido, for the advance reading copy. Hopefully I have convinced people to pick this book when it comes out. If not, my review is going to be the culprit. But they should know what a cool realistic graphic novel looks like. Am so bad at being sassy. Well, I tried to be like the main character. And she does fail like I do. [Damn you, good book]
April 7, 2024
This is a beautiful, subtle story of queer teenage love set in small town Portugal, told alternately in graphic novel and prose poem format. The art is gorgeous, dynamic, and expressive. The words are poetic yet simple, and authentic in a way that brought me right back to being 16 and having a crush.
"Pardalita, I tried to sit as far away from you as possible. But since we were in a circle, the farthest away meant facing you directly. Not the best plan."
"How far can you be from someone without them noticing you don't want any distance at all?"
Although the object of Raquel's affection, the titular Pardalita -- an older artistic girl with freckles and glasses -- takes up the centre of the story, Raquel's friendships, her mother's burgeoning activism on migrants and refugees, and the aftermath of her parents' divorce all feature prominently. There are some great stylistic choices in the poems, luke Estrela's repetition of the forms of irregular English verbs that Raquel is learning, as they relate to her life. I loved this! Definitely read this if you're a fan of Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki's graphic novels.
"Pardalita, I tried to sit as far away from you as possible. But since we were in a circle, the farthest away meant facing you directly. Not the best plan."
"How far can you be from someone without them noticing you don't want any distance at all?"
Although the object of Raquel's affection, the titular Pardalita -- an older artistic girl with freckles and glasses -- takes up the centre of the story, Raquel's friendships, her mother's burgeoning activism on migrants and refugees, and the aftermath of her parents' divorce all feature prominently. There are some great stylistic choices in the poems, luke Estrela's repetition of the forms of irregular English verbs that Raquel is learning, as they relate to her life. I loved this! Definitely read this if you're a fan of Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki's graphic novels.
August 8, 2025
“O Fred uma vez disse: jacarandá é uma das poucas árvores que têm o mesmo nome comum em todas as línguas. Jacarandá é universal, não se traduz.”
Uma história bonita, carregada de subtilezas, na voz de uma rapariga de 16 anos que se sente atraída por alguém que não conhece e com quem se vai cruzando na escola. Surge a pardalita e com ela uma potencial paixão entre duas raparigas adolescentes.
Apresentado como se de um diário se tratasse, este livro fala-nos de descobertas, de amizades, de relações familiares e de pessoas. Em episódios de linguagem simples, o argumento avança sem esforço entre desenhos de traço preto e grosso sobre fundo branco. Existem passagens verdadeiramente bonitas, sendo o final uma delas.
Peguei-o, achando que não ia entregar grande coisa mas fecho-o com a sensação de que valeu a pena todo o tempo que lhe dediquei.
Aconselho.
Uma história bonita, carregada de subtilezas, na voz de uma rapariga de 16 anos que se sente atraída por alguém que não conhece e com quem se vai cruzando na escola. Surge a pardalita e com ela uma potencial paixão entre duas raparigas adolescentes.
Apresentado como se de um diário se tratasse, este livro fala-nos de descobertas, de amizades, de relações familiares e de pessoas. Em episódios de linguagem simples, o argumento avança sem esforço entre desenhos de traço preto e grosso sobre fundo branco. Existem passagens verdadeiramente bonitas, sendo o final uma delas.
Peguei-o, achando que não ia entregar grande coisa mas fecho-o com a sensação de que valeu a pena todo o tempo que lhe dediquei.
Aconselho.
April 13, 2023
This quiet story follows Raquel, a teenager, through a season of life in her small Portuguese town. Raquel is on the cusp of everything: of being catapulted out of high school and into whatever is beyond it, of moving beyond her small town where everyone knows everywhere, of figuring out who and what she wants to be. And then there's Pardalita, a girl a year or so older who captures Raquel's attention in ways Raquel can't quite bring herself to admit to.
My favorite thing about this is, far and away, the mixed use of art and prose here. Sometimes the book takes the shape of a graphic novel, with fairly simple, straightforward black-and-white drawings, but just as often it falls into a page or two of prose, or prose poetry, as Raquel ruminates on either the current world around her or little vignettes from childhood that influence how she thinks about the world now. The art's not my go-to style (for preference, I guess I lean toward something more lush), but it's clean in a way that makes me twitch to pick up a pen and try to imitate it (I can't draw worth beans, but sometimes, if a drawing is straightforward enough, I can make a reasonable facsimile—if I could draw well enough to make comics, I'd be over the moon).
I suspect this will be fairly hit or miss with readers: it's a quiet story, understated, without a lot of dramatics. I'd have loved to know a bit more about Pardalita and what Raquel sees in her, because to me she's sort of...anywoman? anygirl? And yet I know exactly what Raquel means when she can't help but want to be near Pardalita all the time, when it's almost a relief that Pardalita will be leaving for Lisbon in a few months, because proximity makes the pull that much stronger.
This is one of several graphic novels translated into English that I've read recently, and I'm loving the differences—sometimes just small things, like the shape of the buildings in the background, but also perhaps a difference in the way the story is put together compared to the bulk of the (American) graphic novels I've read. 3.5 stars and would happily read more.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
My favorite thing about this is, far and away, the mixed use of art and prose here. Sometimes the book takes the shape of a graphic novel, with fairly simple, straightforward black-and-white drawings, but just as often it falls into a page or two of prose, or prose poetry, as Raquel ruminates on either the current world around her or little vignettes from childhood that influence how she thinks about the world now. The art's not my go-to style (for preference, I guess I lean toward something more lush), but it's clean in a way that makes me twitch to pick up a pen and try to imitate it (I can't draw worth beans, but sometimes, if a drawing is straightforward enough, I can make a reasonable facsimile—if I could draw well enough to make comics, I'd be over the moon).
I suspect this will be fairly hit or miss with readers: it's a quiet story, understated, without a lot of dramatics. I'd have loved to know a bit more about Pardalita and what Raquel sees in her, because to me she's sort of...anywoman? anygirl? And yet I know exactly what Raquel means when she can't help but want to be near Pardalita all the time, when it's almost a relief that Pardalita will be leaving for Lisbon in a few months, because proximity makes the pull that much stronger.
This is one of several graphic novels translated into English that I've read recently, and I'm loving the differences—sometimes just small things, like the shape of the buildings in the background, but also perhaps a difference in the way the story is put together compared to the bulk of the (American) graphic novels I've read. 3.5 stars and would happily read more.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
January 15, 2024
Amoroso do princípio ao fim!
December 25, 2021
É tão bonito! Sou cada vez mais fã da Joana Estrela.
August 22, 2023
A única coisa de errado com esta novela gráfica foi que acabou.
May 30, 2023
bardzo specyficzne…
March 16, 2023
This is the tale of Raquel, a 16-year-old Portuguese girl who lives in a small town. She falls in love with Pardalita as she struggles to deal with the challenges life has for her.
Raquel's ideas are presented in the text together with a quick summary of significant occasions in her life. The story has anecdotes of how the refugee issue has changed in Portugal added to it as well.
When it comes to the narrative, the author raises concerns like refugee issues, coming of age, discovering sexuality, and distant parents that demand deeper analysis than what was done here. The topics discussed are not effectively connected to one another. In certain places, the writing style seems clichéd, but that could be a lost-in-translation issue.
The distinctive aesthetic of this graphic novel is what most impresses. The publisher describes it as a hybrid. The author/illustrator uses strong brushstrokes in white and black, and the language and drawing are both well-balanced. Three stars were mostly given for the artwork.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Levine Querido, Em Querido for offering reviewers an advanced reading copy of this graphic novel.
Raquel's ideas are presented in the text together with a quick summary of significant occasions in her life. The story has anecdotes of how the refugee issue has changed in Portugal added to it as well.
When it comes to the narrative, the author raises concerns like refugee issues, coming of age, discovering sexuality, and distant parents that demand deeper analysis than what was done here. The topics discussed are not effectively connected to one another. In certain places, the writing style seems clichéd, but that could be a lost-in-translation issue.
The distinctive aesthetic of this graphic novel is what most impresses. The publisher describes it as a hybrid. The author/illustrator uses strong brushstrokes in white and black, and the language and drawing are both well-balanced. Three stars were mostly given for the artwork.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Levine Querido, Em Querido for offering reviewers an advanced reading copy of this graphic novel.
November 15, 2023
Forma ciekawa, bo to po części pamiętnik, po części komiks, przy czym ta część prozatorska jest dosyć intymna i pomysłowa. Problem mam chyba z kreską. Uwielbiam minimalizm, ale tu jest wrażenie, że pełne pustych przestrzeni obrazy służą jedynie dekoracji. Zbyt szybko można je przekartkować bez utraty ważnych aspektów fabuły. Niemniej warto podrzucić dzieciakom w trudnym wieku, bo całość mówi w przystępny sposób o rzeczach, które wcale łatwe być nie muszą
January 1, 2025
4.5⭐
i loved this so much... i need to re-read this in the original language (Portuguese).
(thank you queer liberation library, once again)
the teen queer experience: the unknown, the fears, the loneliness and isolation, the inexperience, the newness, but also the excitement, the butterflies, the community, the happiness...
i loved this so much... i need to re-read this in the original language (Portuguese).
(thank you queer liberation library, once again)
the teen queer experience: the unknown, the fears, the loneliness and isolation, the inexperience, the newness, but also the excitement, the butterflies, the community, the happiness...
June 18, 2023
Uma espécie de diário/novela gráfica que nos dá a conhecer a Raquel, uma miúda de 16 anos, à procura do seu eu.
A relação com a mãe, com a escola, com os seus amigos de sempre e a descoberta do amor.
Uma história bonita, contada de forma sensível, capaz de tocar jovens e menos jovens. A cena final é uma ternurna.
Um livro bem a propósito do mês de Junho, o mês do orgulho LGBTI. #lerlgbti
A relação com a mãe, com a escola, com os seus amigos de sempre e a descoberta do amor.
Uma história bonita, contada de forma sensível, capaz de tocar jovens e menos jovens. A cena final é uma ternurna.
Um livro bem a propósito do mês de Junho, o mês do orgulho LGBTI. #lerlgbti
January 15, 2023
2.5 rounded up
A quick read, entertaining but not memorable.
Pardalita is a slice-of-life graphic novel about Raquel, a teenager living in a small town in Portugal, who starts to develop feelings for a girl in her high school.
The book is filled with random thoughts, which is something I don't necessarily enjoy. Some of them were really cliché, as was the writing, but that may have something to do with the translation.
The graphic style is original, I really liked it, even if it is not perfect it still made me discover a different style from other graphic novels I have read before.
Many interesting topics were covered, but unfortunately, the book was too short to discuss them in depth.
The fact that we switch between text and graphics is quite disturbing, I think I would have preferred the texts to be incorporated into the drawings.
Nevertheless, we get attached to the main character, who lives things that many people can relate to, like the way she deals with the fact that she might be queer.
Thanks to NetGalley for the Arc in exchange for an honest review
A quick read, entertaining but not memorable.
Pardalita is a slice-of-life graphic novel about Raquel, a teenager living in a small town in Portugal, who starts to develop feelings for a girl in her high school.
The book is filled with random thoughts, which is something I don't necessarily enjoy. Some of them were really cliché, as was the writing, but that may have something to do with the translation.
The graphic style is original, I really liked it, even if it is not perfect it still made me discover a different style from other graphic novels I have read before.
Many interesting topics were covered, but unfortunately, the book was too short to discuss them in depth.
The fact that we switch between text and graphics is quite disturbing, I think I would have preferred the texts to be incorporated into the drawings.
Nevertheless, we get attached to the main character, who lives things that many people can relate to, like the way she deals with the fact that she might be queer.
Thanks to NetGalley for the Arc in exchange for an honest review
April 18, 2025
I still need to check out the graphic novel, but I listened to the audiobook through the Queer Liberation Library on Libby and absolutely loved it.
A gentle sapphic slice of life of a Portuguese teenage girl that was filled with an, albeit somewhat minimalist in style, melancholy, wistful adolescent longing.
Maybe it spoke to the fact I was such a soppy, infatuated teen that only discovered feir sapphic nature later in life. Maybe my unique balance of AuDHD, get overexcited about things I like, and very much mark down, as opposed to up means I find hard to give things that touch me less than 5/5.
I don't care. I thought this was beautiful.
A gentle sapphic slice of life of a Portuguese teenage girl that was filled with an, albeit somewhat minimalist in style, melancholy, wistful adolescent longing.
Maybe it spoke to the fact I was such a soppy, infatuated teen that only discovered feir sapphic nature later in life. Maybe my unique balance of AuDHD, get overexcited about things I like, and very much mark down, as opposed to up means I find hard to give things that touch me less than 5/5.
I don't care. I thought this was beautiful.
March 8, 2024
oh my god, this was amazing. one of the most beautiful things i have ever read. so subtle and tender and the perfect, PERFECT exploration of queerness in youth. the whole "what if" page said so much without saying anything at all!! and the jump rope game! wow wow wow. want to read this again and again and again. "if you were on the other side, would you swim across?" <3
March 13, 2024
A beautifully queer story--told and illustrated.
January 1, 2023
"how far can you be from someone without them noticing you don't want any distance at all?"
pardalita is a slice-of-life graphic novel about raquel, a teenager living in a small town in portugal. it's a soft, quiet book about what it feels like to be a teenager beginning realising that the world is far bigger than you can cope with, all the while coming in terms with your own identity and feelings, and trying yo figure out what kind of person you want to become, stepping out of your bubble and into those of others.
reading it feels like flipping through a journal you've found buried deep in a drawer of your childhood home. it's intertwined with raquel learning irregular english verbs by heart. the illustration style strangely made me reminisce the old language learning books i had when i was learning english and german, so they felt like a fitting surrounding for the story.
this ended up being the perfect final read of 2022. after a year as insane as that one, what you need is something simple, something soft and quiet and human.
thanks to levine querido and netgalley for the arc. pardalita is set to be released in april 2023.
pardalita is a slice-of-life graphic novel about raquel, a teenager living in a small town in portugal. it's a soft, quiet book about what it feels like to be a teenager beginning realising that the world is far bigger than you can cope with, all the while coming in terms with your own identity and feelings, and trying yo figure out what kind of person you want to become, stepping out of your bubble and into those of others.
reading it feels like flipping through a journal you've found buried deep in a drawer of your childhood home. it's intertwined with raquel learning irregular english verbs by heart. the illustration style strangely made me reminisce the old language learning books i had when i was learning english and german, so they felt like a fitting surrounding for the story.
this ended up being the perfect final read of 2022. after a year as insane as that one, what you need is something simple, something soft and quiet and human.
thanks to levine querido and netgalley for the arc. pardalita is set to be released in april 2023.
April 14, 2024
Ta powieść graficzna ma w sobie coś takiego hipnoryzującego… Podoba mi się zabawa formą: raz komiks, raz wiele wyrażające same ilustracje, raz notatki jak z pamiętnika. I ta subtelność w fascynacji Ptaśką… Bardzo ciekawy komiks.
October 22, 2025
estic fatal sa putissima marieta q es amiga lesbiana sense ser lesbiana… com me fas llegir això 💔💔💔 pardaleta…
amigues amb germanes petites lesbianes (no sou poques) regal d nadal ja
amigues amb germanes petites lesbianes (no sou poques) regal d nadal ja
November 11, 2023
"Qual é la distanza minima da tenere con qualcuno senza dare l'impressione che non vuoi stare distante?"
❤️
❤️
September 23, 2024
Quina preciositat ✨💜
August 6, 2023
Poetycka powieść graficzna o odkrywaniu siebie i pierwszej miłości. Słodka, miejscami jednak dość skąpa i naiwna. Bardzo dobre polskie wydanie ze świetną okładką ma lekko chropowatym papierem.
September 30, 2023
Thank you net galley for providing me with an arc of Pardalita in exchange for a honest review.
This..... Really failed to impress me. Which is an absolute shame as the promise of the story is strong and so are the themes it explores, however as the story expands I found myself being utterly frustrated as nothing seemed to actually be progressing. The book seemed to be trying to do so many things at once that it ended up falling short on actually exploring the subjects it's trying to, the mcs sexuality included. The characters are all also completely blank including the mc, and if this wasn't an arc I would of dnfed.
The ending was also extreme lacking.
Overall a disappointing read I wouldn't recommend.
This..... Really failed to impress me. Which is an absolute shame as the promise of the story is strong and so are the themes it explores, however as the story expands I found myself being utterly frustrated as nothing seemed to actually be progressing. The book seemed to be trying to do so many things at once that it ended up falling short on actually exploring the subjects it's trying to, the mcs sexuality included. The characters are all also completely blank including the mc, and if this wasn't an arc I would of dnfed.
The ending was also extreme lacking.
Overall a disappointing read I wouldn't recommend.
February 2, 2022
Adorei este livro. É tão fácil e tão bonito.
Confesso que o comprei sem fazer a mínima ideia do conteúdo… estava pousado algures fora do sítio num dos corredores da FNAC, peguei nele e apaixonei-me pelo formato e pela capa e não hesitei em comprá-lo. Fiquei super feliz por tê-lo feito. 🐦
Confesso que o comprei sem fazer a mínima ideia do conteúdo… estava pousado algures fora do sítio num dos corredores da FNAC, peguei nele e apaixonei-me pelo formato e pela capa e não hesitei em comprá-lo. Fiquei super feliz por tê-lo feito. 🐦
April 30, 2023
Quina meravella de còmic. Quina dolçor. Quina forma de descriure visual i textualment una emoció tan intensa. Una preciositat.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 500 reviews