Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

This Swedish import features a child in need of a friend.Much of the narration is wordless, depicted in detailed black-and-white panels. Readers watch as Adrian is bullied at school and, later, is unable to respond when the teacher utters the titular phrase during reading. Adrian and time freeze, and the child imagines flying on a trapeze. Viewers will begin to understand that in contrast to the penciled scenes, these colorful gouache-and-ink spreads signal either a new chapter or joy. Entitled "Before I Met Heidi," this first chapter ends with Adrian at home with loving but distracted parents. Enter Heidi, with the size and shagginess of an Irish wolfhound. The two bond outside the ice cream store, and Heidi follows Adrian home. Adrian reads well when touching her. Those with a low threshold for blurred reality/fantasy boundaries or deus ex machina solutions may be frustrated; others, including, perhaps, those who've benefited from "Reading with Rover"-type programs, will be all in. In the third section, child and dog encounter Heidi's rightful owner, a woman with a cane. At her dwelling, she explains that she is nearly blind; seeing her performing on the trapeze in a scrapbook photograph, Adrian says "I can read to you." Repeated perusals yield further clues to the child's love of the circus and yearning for a pet. Some characters of color can be spotted in the background, but the primary characters are all white.The minimal text and particular plot twists will garner appreciation from struggling readers; endearing characters and a fresh design will attract many more. (Graphic fiction. 6-8)

ALA Booklist (Wed May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

Adrian is happiest at school when he goes unnoticed. The minute he's called on, fear takes over, and he is unable to speak, read, or respond. It's a lonely existence and one that sparks dread every morning until he meets a stray dog he names Heidi. With Heidi by his side, he can calm the knots in his stomach and untangle the words on the page, but when Heidi is reunited with her owner, what will happen to Adrian? Beautifully illustrated and highly introspective, this is a realistic and sympathetic rendering of what it's like for children who experience extreme anxiety. Highly detailed pencil drawings in each panel capture the minutia of Adrian's days, from his love of nature to the cruelty he experiences at the hands of his classmates. Pivotal moments in the story are rendered in brightly colored, single-page panels, lightening the melancholy air that pervades much of the story. Unusual in both tone and style, this should evoke empathy for those experiencing learning and emotional challenges.

Horn Book (Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

This expressionistic, sensitively told story about confidence and connection is distinctively set within a flexible comics format, alternating between panels, full-page, and double-page spreads. An imaginative circus enthusiast, Adrian is bullied and struggles with reading. His life blossoms after a dog follows him home, but his joy is short-lived when the dog's true owner appears. However, the owner and Adrian turn out to be kindred spirits.

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

This Swedish import features a child in need of a friend.Much of the narration is wordless, depicted in detailed black-and-white panels. Readers watch as Adrian is bullied at school and, later, is unable to respond when the teacher utters the titular phrase during reading. Adrian and time freeze, and the child imagines flying on a trapeze. Viewers will begin to understand that in contrast to the penciled scenes, these colorful gouache-and-ink spreads signal either a new chapter or joy. Entitled "Before I Met Heidi," this first chapter ends with Adrian at home with loving but distracted parents. Enter Heidi, with the size and shagginess of an Irish wolfhound. The two bond outside the ice cream store, and Heidi follows Adrian home. Adrian reads well when touching her. Those with a low threshold for blurred reality/fantasy boundaries or deus ex machina solutions may be frustrated; others, including, perhaps, those who've benefited from "Reading with Rover"-type programs, will be all in. In the third section, child and dog encounter Heidi's rightful owner, a woman with a cane. At her dwelling, she explains that she is nearly blind; seeing her performing on the trapeze in a scrapbook photograph, Adrian says "I can read to you." Repeated perusals yield further clues to the child's love of the circus and yearning for a pet. Some characters of color can be spotted in the background, but the primary characters are all white.The minimal text and particular plot twists will garner appreciation from struggling readers; endearing characters and a fresh design will attract many more. (Graphic fiction. 6-8)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

In this Swedish graphic novel, somber pencil drawings by Lidström introduce Adrian, a boy who daydreams in color about circus acrobatics but is defeated by school. First, a bully steals and ruins his hat; then his teacher asks him to read, and he freezes. Scenes at home make it clear that the family is stretched thin, but there-s genuine love between father and son. One day, Adrian meets Heidi, a huge wire-haired dog he finds wandering about, her leash still attached. He revels in her quiet companionship, and her love makes the impossible possible: -I could feel Heidi-s soft fur. The words came to me. I was reading.- Soon afterward, Heidi-s owner takes her back, and Adrian is bereft. But another twist leads to a gratifying reunion and shared interests. Text by Öberg, ably translated by Apelqvist, is crystalline in its economy. Full-color spreads of happy moments punctuate the dreary gray of everyday reality, especially in Adrian-s dream world, in which his tumbling form is liberated from earthly cares. The creators draw a convincing portrait of a boy whose lucky break gives provides a sense of redemption and relief. Ages 7-10. (May)