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Pilu of the Woods

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Pilu of the Woods
By Mai K. Nguyen
Oni Press, Inc., 2019. Graphic Novel.

Willow's family recently suffered a terrible loss. Willow is sad, angry, and confused and sometimes her emotions bubble out of control. On one such occasion, Willow yells at her sister and then runs into the woods until she can calm down. While Willow is in the woods she comes across a small tree spirit named Pilu, who also recently had a disagreement with a family member and ran away. Now Pilu is lost and it's up to Willow to help her get home.

This graphic novel is a master piece. It teaches young readers about loss through words and imagery that is unparalleled. While Nguyen doesn't use any shading in her illustrations, her fine attention to detail and color make the images pop in a way I haven't seen in a graphic novel before. This book was beautifully illustrated and the writing tone used by Nguyen ties it all together. I recommend this graphic novel to anyone and everyone.
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