Juliet Takes a Breath
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4.3 • 6 Ratings
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
"F***ing outstanding."--Roxane Gay, New York Times bestselling author
Juliet Milagros Palante is a self-proclaimed closeted Puerto Rican baby dyke from the Bronx. Only, she's not so closeted anymore. Not after coming out to her family the night before flying to Portland, Oregon, to intern with her favorite feminist writer--what's sure to be a life-changing experience. And when Juliet's coming out crashes and burns, she's not sure her mom will ever speak to her again.
But Juliet has a plan--sort of. Her internship with legendary author Harlowe Brisbane, the ultimate authority on feminism, women's bodies, and other gay-sounding stuff, is sure to help her figure out this whole "Puerto Rican lesbian" thing. Except Harlowe's white. And not from the Bronx. And she definitely doesn't have all the answers . . .
In a summer bursting with queer brown dance parties, a sexy fling with a motorcycling librarian, and intense explorations of race and identity, Juliet learns what it means to come out--to the world, to her family, to herself.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This boisterous graphic adaptation of Rivera's YA novel, cocreated with newcomer cartoonist Moscote, captures the generous spirit and spirited provocations of the original. Juliet Milagros Palante, age 19, is a baby dyke from the Bronx, N.Y., with a secret long-distance girlfriend. It's the summer after her freshman year of college, and she's headed to Portland, Ore., for an internship with Harlowe Brisbane, author of Raging Flower: Empower Your Pussy, Empower Your Mind. The night before her departure, Juliet decides to come out to her Puerto Rican family; while her abuela kisses her goodbye on the cheek, her mother is less accepting. So starts a summer of self-discovery, culture clash, and growth. "Feminism... still sounds weird. Too white," admits Juliet. The pitch-perfect cast of characters she meets up with in Portland, imbued with a particular self-congratulatory brand of activism, provide ample fodder for humor and conflict. Moscote's exuberant art celebrates Juliet's curves and curls. The color palette is heavy in pinks, purples, peaches and deep blues capturing heartbreak, summer crushes, and the sunrise of new beginnings. Rivera pokes at big questions around the intersection of race and queerness, and even if some of her headier message have been simplified here, this brightly drawn version maintains its integrity. Juliet's original outing won Rivera devoted readers, who will surely champion this accessible adaptation.
