 | Hazards of love, book 1 : Bright World Author: Stanley, Stan | |
| Price: $16.39 | ||
Summary:
Amparo's deal with the talking cat was simple: a drop of blood and Amparo's name to become a better person. Their mother and abuela would never worry about them again, and they'd finally be worthy of dating straight-A student Iolanthe. But when the cat steals their body, becoming the better person they were promised, Amparo's spirit is imprisoned in a land of terrifying, flesh-hungry creatures known as Bright World. In graphic novel format.
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 01/01/2021 Gr 8 Up—Stanley offers a thoughtful spin on the "Be careful what you wish for" trope. Amparo, who is nonbinary, has a crush on their classmate Iolanthe but knows the two would make an unlikely couple—while Amparo gets into fights and is facing suspension for pulling the fire alarm, quiet Iolanthe is devoted to her grades. One night a hairless cat enters Amparo's room and offers to grant their wish to be a better person—one who will be a good match for Iolanthe and less trouble for their frustrated family, who have made sacrifices for Amparo's education. But the duplicitous cat takes over Amparo's body, then banishes Amparo to Bright World. While cat-Amparo adheres to the rules and romances Iolanthe, real Amparo struggles to survive. Bright World is lush, filled with beautiful plants and unusual human-animal hybrids, but for people, it is dangerous—inhabitants consume human memories, turning humans into empty servants, and often feed on their bodies. While Iolanthe suspects something is off about the new and supposedly improved Amparo, the real Amparo attempts to hustle back home. Stellar, expressive art, featuring angular, dramatic linework, and an engaging narrative with solid nonbinary representation and well-developed characters bring this fantastical story to life. Scenes of Bright World burst with rich colors; those set in the so-called real world (or topside) are equally appealing despite a more limited palette. Both Amparo and Iolanthe are Latinx, and the use of Spanish dialogue brings us deeper into their worlds. VERDICT This fantastical, stunning tale shines in both story and artwork; a must for libraries serving teens.—Carla Riemer, Berkeley, CA - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 03/15/2021 *Starred Review* Amparo is a troubled teen who desperately wants to become a better person, and they strike a deal with a talking cat. Unfortunately, the magical cat steals Amparo’s name and identity, promising to become the better person Amparo wanted to be. This dooms Amparo’s soul to Bright World, a terrifying, beautiful land of demonic creatures where humans are food and memories are currency. Amparo becomes “Paola,” an indentured servant in a café who is later rescued by El Ciervo and dubbed “Fawn.” Fawn fights desperately for survival in this brutal world, while trying to escape back to the real world and reclaim their life. Meanwhile, the Cat-Amparo is popular, gets the beautiful and smart Iolanthe to become their girlfriend, and does a decent job at being a better person. The imaginative and deeply developed Bright World leans heavily on Latin influences, and the story includes several panels of dialogue in Spanish. This rich, fantastical story is brought to life with Stanley’s vibrant colors and wonderfully bold lines in artwork that is a joy to look at. The cruelty of Bright World will keep readers fully invested in Fawn’s struggle to survive and retain their identity, and the specifics of their nonbinary gender identity, a topic of conversation among several characters, are handled with respect and fidelity. This story beautifully represents Latinx and LGBTQ+ characters. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.
