Three Shadows (GN)

is a multi-awarded graphic novel by French artist and author Cyril Pedrosa that is sad, touching, haunting, vivid, strange, poetic and beautifully drawn all at the same time. Almost all who have read it--many of them new to the medium of graphic novels--find it mesmerizing and are at a loss for words to describe their experience and the emotions they felt. It is published by First Second Books, an imprint of Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishers, which owns some of America's most prestigious publishers, known for great integrity and literary quality, such as Henry Holt, FSG, St Martin's Press, Tor and Picador, all of which have garnered the most coveted prizes in publishing. Among the many awards that Three Shadows has garnered are: Contra Costa Times Best GN (Graphic Novel) of the Year ; Harrisburg Patriot-News Best GN of the Year ; Newsarama Best GN of the Year; Oregonian Best GN of the Year; and Publisher's Weekly Comics Week Best Comic of the Year. But don't let the rave reviews and all the adjectives color your judgment. Find out for yourself. Read. A high-quality Minutemen-DTs scan.

Can you ever escape your fate? Three shadows stand outside the house – and Louis and Lise know why the spectral figures are there. The shadows have come for Louis and Lise’s son, and nothing anyone can do will stop them. Louis cannot let his son die without trying to prevent it, so the family embarks on a journey to the ends of the earth, fleeing death. Poignant and suspenseful, Three Shadows is a haunting story of love and grief, told in moving text and sweeping black and white artwork by Cyril Pedrosa. --

Country life is simple and sweet for young Joachim and his parents, Louis and Lise—filled with cozy winter nights, lazy summer days, and, always, the chores associated with running the orchards. One day three Shadows appear on the horizon, and everything changes. Louis and Lise know that these shadowy fates have come for Joachim. Determined to save the boy, Louis flees with Joachim, desperate to stay one step ahead of the deathly Shadows. Pedrosa’s intriguing, poignant fable unfolds beautifully in both words and pictures. The fluidity of the art reflects Pedrosa’s roots in animation, and the high-contrast shading effectively underscores the tension and emotion of the narrative. One brief instance of non-sexualized nudity should be noted, but that detracts not at all from this dark, well-crafted tale. Grades 9-12. --

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