Adrian and the Tree of Secrets

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.