Mario BrassardBesprekingen

A interesting graphic that offers the reader little guidance in terms of a final definition. It may not be for everyone, but I found it enjoyable.

This book was so gorgeously illustrated. I loved the artwork so very much, it really captured the feel of the writing. It was heavy, the writing, the message. It ended on a better note, but it was still a heavy read about WWII era Germany. I would recommend it to children 13+ though, I think they would be able to understand what was happening, and why this story is important. 4/5 stars.

This ARC is a melancholy fable of the effect of war and bombs on civilians, and how some persist and survive. It won Canada's Governor General's Literary Award. Nine year old Mina is forced to travel to a bombed out ruin of a town where the local stray cats comfort her. She stands on line with hundreds of others in hopes of getting some undefined relief. Only her uncle, who defies authorities while wearing a red clown nose knows, what is really going on. Soon he disappears. Mila and her parents do survive, with differing memories of what they've been through. The old-fashioned illustrations (by Gerard Dubois) are lovely, with some suitable for framing. Only the glum gray cover does the story a disservice; I hope it doesn't dissuade many readers.

I felt this was a very quick read that mildly hints at the topics of war and trauma. The illustrations are sepia-toned, which gave the book a bit of a unique feel for me. That's what drew me in initially. I feel like much is alluded to and the reader can draw their own conclusions. But it wasn't done in a way that you'd feel lost as you read. If something can be both subtle and obvious, I think this book pulls that off well.

The serious subject matter was handled very well in this English translation of the original french title!
Simple art, accompanies the heart wrenching story in this gripping graphic novel... highly recommended!

With poignant art and a story told through subtleties and suggestion, I found Who Owns the Clouds evoked both the disconnect and connection between ourselves as adults and as children through the medium of memories very well.

The general theme, not being tied to just one instance of displacement, gives it a broad appeal that may resonate with a larger audience who have had similar experiences while also showing a degree of uniformity to such human experiences.

Even though it’s been years and Mila is no longer a child, she still holds memories of a childhood torn apart by war. But even with those memories, Mila has a hard time distinguishing between what was a dream versus reality - especially the lines that her and her family stood in - and the clouds…

What a beautifully drawn, heart wrenching graphic novel originally in French, now in English.

There’s not a lot of text in this - it’s almost like a picture book, but with spooky, thought-provoking art about a childhood in war. But then, you’ve got text like this:

“Maybe memories are like clouds. Some, lighters, float high above; others are darker, weighing heavily on our shoulders for a long time, until the day we’re finally ready to let them fly”

Beautiful and highly recommended.

*Thank you Tundra Books and LibraryThing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Absolutely lovely. The artwork is mainly in sepia-tone and gives an old photo vibe, which works perfectly for the story. The story is about displacement and war, told in a vague and dreamy sort of way, keeping the reader at a distance on purpose. The design work put into this book is amazing as well--the naked hardcover is light blue with clouds on it to contrast the dark gray dust jacket; I love it :)

Subtle enough in its portrayal of sadness and trauma that an eight-year-old could read it and understand, and so could her parents. I think the choices Mario Brasserd maid are quite interesting. That he chose a woman to be his protagonist, settling the story firmly in "fiction" even if it reads so close to memoir. I liked the vagueness of the woman's story of remembering her family's displacement, the death of her uncle who chose to defy authoritarian oppression, and the sadness she still feels about missing her homeland--although the art points to a European diaspora, this story could take place anywhere, any country and any decade from the 1930's to the present. The artwork is a magnificent counterpoint. I can see this book being a great leaping-off point to begin conversations with young people about "who owns the clouds."

I received this book as part of the LT early reviewer program. Let me start by saying, this is the kind of book everyone should read-- not just children or teens. While the subject matter is quite heavy, the way in which the story unfolds is almost whimsical. The artwork is stunning and a perfect accompaniment to the prose. The reader gets taken on a very engaging dreamlike experience that still conveys the horror of war and those displaced by it. Very well done.½

graphic story (children's/teen/adult), originally published in French

A beautifully illustrated poetic narrative of a 9 y.o. girl escaping a warzone with her family and entering a sort of dreamland/nightmareland while they await an unknown future. Drawn in a mostly monotone pallete (with very sparse color), the people and their clothing look a bit old-timey, but her non-location-specific story could be that of so many current refugee families from various origins.

Violent scenes are obscured by explosive clouds in red, and this might be shared with younger children who have survived their own traumatic escapes, as well as older adults. My library has classed this book in the teen graphic novel section, where it seems to be languishing, but the book can still be appreciated by people who know to look for it.½

An illustrated novel depicting the violence and horror through a child's eyes. There isn't much text but the illustrations are haunting and beautiful. A child has trouble determining what was a dream and what was real. Her experience in the war was so awful that it can hardly be separated from nightmares. The illustrations make this book a masterpiece. Definitely a profound book for all ages.

This is the sort of book you read, contemplate and then re-read. The target audience will benefit from an open and empathetic adult listener because the allegorical theme isn't a quick process and will catch some graphic novel fans by surprise. None of that is meant to be negative. My initial impression was that it related to a personal experience during the Holocaust, but the more I read, the more I realized the emotions experienced by Mila would be familiar to anyone who has ever experienced life in a hostile environment, whether it be in Africa, the Middle East, Central America, the Ukraine, or even in parts of our country where hate seems to be able to run riot. A worthy addition to most libraries.

This book won the Governor General's Literary Award, and deservedly so. It is a beautiful book. The illustrations by Gérard DuBois with their muted colors enhance the mood of this story about refugees. Told in first person, from the point of view of a young girl, the story tells of lines, waiting, uncertainty, and violence. The setting is unspecific, lending universality to the story.

I just received this book and I’ve read it twice already, once to soak in the beautiful evocative images and once to soak in all the words. I think I cried harder the second time around. I can’t wait to be able to share this book with my child when they are a little older. While I know some of this poignancy was lost in me, the rief and ache were not. I think traumatic events happen to everyone far more often than we realize and the time those harder memories hold on are not determined by any discernible timeline. While I cried I also found the story left me and children knowing that it doesn’t always have to be dark days there are many lighter days. I’m so thankful to have been given the opportunity to read this book.

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

Mila is just nine years old when her family is forced to evacuate the ruins of their bombed-out town. Her mindscape is filled with impossibly long lines, stray cats, black and white clouds drifting overhead, and a sinister arms factory on the outskirt of the city, which she never manages to pass. She is tired - so tired! - yet resists sleep because "[T]he world grew a little harsher when I wasn't looking." Now in her thirties, Mila recounts those draining, nightmarish days - memories that are at once so far away and yet so near her consciousness.

WHO OWNS THE CLOUDS? is a curious beast - it's presented almost like a picture book for kids, but its themes are quite adult in nature. I've read it cover-to-cover several times now, and I'm pretty sure I'm still missing more of the philosophical nuances. It's an enigmatic rumination on the nature of memory and long-term effects of trauma, especially as related to war and the refugee experience. The artwork is kind of quaint, with an old-timey feel that makes me think of the Holocaust (maybe it's the muted colors, save for pops of red: red leaves, a red clown nose), although I don't think the book is tied solely to WWII.