I have been enjoying graphic novels lately and unlike other forms of storytelling, this form has so much more potential and creativity! Are You Listening? by Tillie Walden is a beautiful coming of age story about a teenager, Bea, when she runs away from home and decides to take a ride with her neighbour, Lou. While journeying through the country, they develop a strong bond of friendship. Take a look at the synopsis below and then read on for my thoughts.
Bea is on the run. And then, she runs into Lou.
This chance encounter sends them on a journey through West Texas, where strange things follow them wherever they go. The landscape morphs into an unsettling world, a mysterious cat joins them, and they are haunted by a group of threatening men. To stay safe, Bea and Lou must trust each other as they are driven to confront buried truths. The two women share their stories of loss and heartbreak—and a startling revelation about sexual assault—culminating in an exquisite example of human connection.
Content Notes: (off screen) sexual assault and death of a parent, (on screen) dealing with grief and trauma.
Themes for Thought
If you know me then you would know that I am not a huge fan of Young Adult stories. It is books like Are You Listening? and Aristotle and Dante discover the Secrets of the Universe that expose a side of the teenage experiences that a lot of books either dramatize to an extreme extent (Letters to the Lost) or completely glaze over. What I loved about Are you Listening? was that it was super a unique experience. Below are some of the themes that the book covered.
On Honest Conversations
There are some tough conversations in this book. The characters’ past and what led to them being on this road trip together, what they are running from and are trying to accomplish are all little things we discover in the course of their journey. This book also touches on LGBTQ+ and identity and I loved how that first conversation about coming out to someone was portrayed. It is hard to speak up for oneself but when we find the right people, we get the courage we need to make us stronger. That person was Lou for Bea.
On the Kitty
There is a little cat that plays an important role in this book. I found it a little bit ironic that Bea ran away from home and worried so much about getting the lost cat back to her family. Are You Listening? Has a lot of magical realism with the roads evolving, shady men following the girls and the cat that finds new places to hide, giving opportunities to Bea and Lou to get to know each other.
On Art
What I really appreciated about this book was that the artwork portrayed the feelings of unease (imagine rubbing your feet together in nervousness) very well at the hard points in the story when revelations were being made. The beautiful landscape of Texas was spectacular to explore through the journey and I liked how the atmosphere was eerie but calm at the same time. Both Bea and Lou wanted to be alone and their journey through the unused roads of Texas symbolized this feeling.
If you are looking for a graphic novel to try out with dark humor and breathtaking artwork that will elicit an emotional response, this is the one to pick up!
** Are you Listening? is available in stores. Be sure to check your local library and support them. I actually discovered this book thanks to my library. **
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