Adrian and the Tree of Secrets
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Average rating3
15
Ratings1
Average rating3
A bittersweet graphic novel about a nerdy teenaged boy who falls in love with the cool kid at school. Adrian isn't very happy these days. He lives in a small town and goes to a Catholic high school. He wears glasses, secretly reads philosophy books, and wishes he had more muscles. He's dogged by a strict mother, bullied by fellow players on the soccer field, and chastised by the school principal, who considers rumors about Adrian being gay as a sign that he is "ill." But Jeremy, the coolest kid at school, thinks otherwise; he takes Adrian on scooter trips, where they end up in Jeremy's secret treehouse stealing kisses. Adrian finds himself falling in love, until Jeremy's girlfriend rats them out, sending Jeremy into a tailspin of embarrassment. What will become of Adrian? Adrian and the Tree of Secrets is a poignant, beautifully illustrated graphic novel about first love, growing up, and having the courage to be true to yourself.
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Spoilers. On the one hand, I wasn't pleased with the ending. It was realistic, but so very depressing. On the other, even though this story took place in a very Roman Catholic French village, anyone who grew up in a conservative religious household can relate to the misery of Adrian. Even if one's upbringing wasn't as awful. But this kid can't catch a break. I feel like this book is less for LGBT+ readers and more a warning to parents, communities, religious institution, and schools not to be so terrible, cruel, sanctimonious, ignorant and prejudiced. Even Adrian's nice aunt was problematic and more concerned with pacifying her sister than supporting her nephew. Still though, I'd have liked to read an ending where the LGBT+ protagonist didn't die again. As an American, I felt that, between the art and the conclusion of the story, the village itself, this graphic novel felt dated. But then someone mentioned YouTube, and I was completely flummoxed that this story was contemporary. That made the ending even more depressing.
