Adrian and the Tree of Secrets (Graphic Novel) Review
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“You think it’s fun being a teenager in a hole like this? There’s nothing to do but wait for it to be over.” Adrian is not a happy kid. His controlling mother watches over his every mood, everything from his choice of light reading to his outfit for school is strictly monitored, leaving Adrian with […]
“You think it’s fun being a teenager in a hole like this? There’s nothing to do but wait for it to be over.”
Adrian is not a happy kid. His controlling mother watches over his every mood, everything from his choice of light reading to his outfit for school is strictly monitored, leaving Adrian with little control over his day to day life and little to look forward to. The Catholic school he attends is just as bad. The kids make fun of Adrian for his dress and his odd manner, and the teachers and staff are decidedly authoritarian. There is simply no room for self expression in Adrian’s life, though his aunt fights with his mother to earn him even the smallest freedoms.
Being subject to such a strict upbringing would be tough for any teenager, but it’s especially hard for Adrian. He is gay, and there is simply no room for something that different in his small town life. Though he’s kept it hidden thus far, an unlikely relationship seems to be forming with one of the most popular kids at school, and it threatens to expose his secret even as it brightens his day. All of a sudden things seem to be looking up for Adrian, and his formerly dull and structured life gives way to carefree bike rides and stolen kisses. But when the truth about Adrian gets out, will his new friend choose to stand beside him or walk away?
Adrian and the Tree of Secrets is not your average, happy-go-lucky coming of age story. Adrian lives a pretty sad life, with very little in the way of happiness, and though his new relationship adds variety and spice to his life, the clandestine nature of it means he is unable to share that happiness in anything other than stolen moments. Though Adrian’s happy ending definitely seems far from certain, the act of being able to simply be himself is transforming in its own right.
Adrian and the Tree of Secrets is a graphic novel that is done in simple lines and muted tones, complementing the gravity of Adrian’s daily life and the struggles he faces. Though the subject matter is decidedly on the heavy side, the struggle to be true to yourself against opposition is a story that teenagers of all stripes can relate to.
Amy
