Pardalita by Joana Estrela

Abstract

Reviewed by: Pardalita by Joana Estrela April Spisak Estrela, Joana Pardalita; tr. from the Portuguese by Lyn Miller-Lachmann; written and illus. by Joana Estrela. Levine Querido, 2023 [224p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781646142552 $21.99 Paper ed. ISBN 9781646142569 $16.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R* Gr. 7-10 In this quiet, thoughtful graphic novel, translated from Portuguese, a girl moves from being a mostly passive participant in her own life to realizing she can break out of what is expected and shape her own destiny. Raquel's small life in Portugal is shaken up by Pardalita, a vivacious and artsy senior at school—Raquel thought she was fine with her new boyfriend until her intense feelings for Pardalita shake up her own assumptions about her sexuality and show Raquel what an actual crush feels like. The writing style is intriguing and deliberate, comprising a mix of bold, black-and-white digital illustrations, prose poems, and graphic novel panels, all used to follow Raquel's awakening through brief vignettes. The result is fluid and effective, with the slice-of-life approach working perfectly with Estrela's creative vision in switching up formats to best convey Raquel's intense and powerful selfdiscovery. Early in the book, Raquel describes a feeling she sometimes has where she is outside of her own body, observing the movements, gestures, and cycles of [End Page 289] life while not feeling connected or part of it—as if it is choreography that she has not quite learned, an experience that might resonate with teen readers who feel like they are passengers rather than the drivers of their fates. Even before the wordless final few pages, this tender, warm book will likely enchant all romantic fans. Copyright © 2023 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois