One of my flaws is that I collect links to reader copies, then forget to read them. I have had one of those links for so long I had forgotten that I not only had it, but all about the book, Leap by Simina Popescu. But once I found this graphic novel, I wasn’t sure I wanted to read it. Dancers? Ballet? Another LGBTQ story? Not that I have anything against any of those subjects or themes, but dancing and ballet are not usually my thing and I had recently read several books on LGBTQ themes and I was looking for something different. And yet, despite any misgivings I might have had, I started a lunchtime read.
My rating is more of a 4.5 than a pure four or five as the big issue I had with this book was that the illustrations were a smidgen too sketchy for me. However, the images for the start of each section/chapter were perfectly colored and detailed. I enjoyed their simplicity, but they were not lacking in detail or in ways that hindered the story. There was a good flow to things, and the relatability of the story (even if you are not a dancer; or female presenting) was strong. The setting is fun (not just a dance school, but Bucharest) and overall there is a good feeling.
Two of our main characters, Ana and Carina, are two dancers in this conservative Romanian academy. The girls have been a couple for around three years, but Carina (after a not so successful coming out for another dancer) wants them to be on the downlow. Yet, Ana wants to be out and proud together. We follow how each girl’s journey in life and dance, Ana’s new roommate, Sara’s own coming of age story is intertwined with Ana’s and how these two girls bond help each other come out in their own unique ways. Part romance, part coming out story, part everyone’s story, this is a clever and interesting read.
Best for at least 13 and up (for concepts more than content) and for adults I think this is a must read, and I look forward to reading more work by the author, Popescu.