Lou! #1: Secret Diary by Julien Neel

Secret diaries aren't rare in literature; everyone from Charlotte Bronte to Laura Palmer seems to have one. But Lou's secret diary is something different, because Lou herself is a little different. She lives in a messy apartment with her mom (she's never known her father) and has a big, terrible, wonderful, at times debilitating crush on a guy named Tristan. She's trying to set her mom up with the new guy who moved in across the hall while balancing school, friendship, fashion design and video games.

Lou is a spunky, spirited character who I found to be completely engaging. Her energy jumps right off of the page. One of my favourite pages was of Lou running home in the rain only to jump in the shower when she got home. There were no words, just movement. This is my first time reading about Lou; I had no idea of her popularity in France or that this book was a translation of a French work until after I'd started reading. It did take a little while to get used to the rhythm of the story; there was something about it that seemed unfamiliar to me. Maybe it is the difference between an English and a French approach to comics? I haven't read enough French comics (or enough translations) to say anything conclusive. It seemed like it took awhile to get used to the rhythm, but Lou! is only 48 pages long, and I had a feel for it by the end, so maybe it didn't take as long as I thought. The first book, Secret Diary, is being published at the same time as a second book, Summertime Blues, so keep an eye out for both titles.

Here's a cartoon version of Lou that introduces all of the main characters:



 Here's Julien Neel's blog (it's in French).

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Lerner Books (Graphic Universe).

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
Lou! #2: Summertime Blues by Julien Neel
Laser Ninja by Julien Neel
Owly: The Way Home and Bittersweet Summer by Andy Runton