Arturo Marquez

This was weird in a good, heartwarming way. What’s life like when you’re the only one who had a heart? Hard. Everyone else is numbed to their emotions, but June can't help but feel. Drawing and her sister are the few things keeping her tethered until that thin string snaps as well.

I don’t like to make comparisons because it can cheapen things at times. But this gave me a Studio Ghibli vibe with a magical circumstance, a girl and a boy depending on each other, and love at its core.

The color direction is deliberate and works well.

3.5… (mais)

Not too long ago, the Scientist discovered that if you removed your heart, you no longer had to deal with sadness, anxiety, or anger. That’s all it took for everyone to line up. Everyone except June - but the pressure and loneliness is getting too much for her.

One day though, June finds a heart in a jar abandoned in an alley. The heart intrigues her and gives her an idea; an idea filled with hope. But the heart also brings her to a classmate, Max, who has a secret of his own.

The art of this novel is of muted colors with splashes of bright colors. It really works well to show what those without their heart look like. Some panels can be a bit much, because so much is happening in them, but it wasn’t enough to stop me from continuing to read it.

I think that those who like Coraline would enjoy this novel, as it gives out those vibes a lot. This story could relate to a lot of people - especially those who feel too much. Because as much as you would love not to feel the dark, that means you can’t feel the light either, and this book really shows that.

This is both a simple read and also a complex read. I feel like a lot of different people could enjoy this, again, especially those who are feeling big emotions that they may not want to be feeling. It let’s them feel seen but also gives the cautionary tale of what could happen if you don’t feel those things anymore.… (mais)

(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through Netgalley.)

June lives in a gray and colorless world: most of the people around her, including her siblings and parents, have chosen to have their hearts removed and placed in a numbing agent. The Scientist who pioneered the method sought to help humanity by freeing it from negative emotions like anxiety, sadness, and fear; problem is, she also robbed her patients of joy, happiness, creativity, and wonder.

June and her older sister, Maya, used to be close; both artists, they bonded over sketchbooks and in greenhouses. But when Maya decided to undergo the procedure, June lost the one person in the world who truly understood her.

Now, with a wave of thefts rumored at the Tabularium - the massive building where the abandoned hearts are stored - and under increasing pressure at home to remove her own heart, June starts researching The Scientist to see if there's a way of reversing the procedure. June soon finds that she's not alone: a classmate named Max, suddenly plagued with phantom emotions, has been engaging in his own covert investigation. Can they find the mysterious doctor before Max succumbs to his pain?

THE FAINT OF HEART is a strange and wonderful creation. The synopsis was so weird that I had no idea what to expect, so it turned out to be a lovely surprise. Through contrasts in color, Wilson does an excellent job of building a gray and drab world, devoid of emotion or excitement - save for June, the seemingly one person who's resisted the procedure. Splashes of orange, red, blue, and yellow give life to June's "abnormal" sentiments. The ending is kind and compassionate - exactly what we need more of in these times.… (mais)