HONORIA

Tween girls grapple with grief, strangers, and loneliness.

It’s 1929, and 9-year-old Ida is leaving New York City and her stressed-out parents to stay with the Murphys at their summer home on the Mediterranean. Ida’s unhappily married parents assure her it will be wonderful; the Murphys have a daughter, Honoria. When Ida arrives in France, the Murphy parents are warm and friendly, but Honoria is aloof and cranky. Worse, Honoria’s 11 and worldly, a big enough power imbalance to cause a dynamic where Honoria bosses Ida around and Ida desperately seeks Honoria’s approval. The gregarious Murphys open their home to elite guests from the literary, artistic, and entertainment worlds. Ida soon realizes that despite appearances, all three Murphys are in great distress. The reason for their grief is the tender tether of this enchanting graphic novel debut. Shapiro draws readers into Ida’s perspective and quietly portrays her blossoming with humor and innocence. The panels are drawn in a bold black and white that’s sometimes sparse and sometimes filled with lush, intricate details. Ida confronts big traumas—divorce, grief, antisemitism, loneliness—and the author is thoughtful as she conveys the trepidation felt by and tacit acceptance demanded of this young girl. Ida and Honoria frequently sound older than their years, and the lack of context for historical cultural references will pose a barrier to many teen readers. Characters present white.

A touching depiction of the tenderness of forced friendship and family loyalty with appeal for adult readers.