Book 1,035: Bloom – Kevin Panetta & Savanna Ganucheau

I forgot how beautiful the graphics are and how sparse and yet well written the story is in this graphic novel. I read Bloom back in 2019 and adored it, but re-reading it this time and knowing the gist of the story allowed me to truly luxuriate in the graphics and the relationship of Ari and Hector.

As part of my graphic novel/manga binge I was always going to revisit this, but when Panetta and Ganucheau announced there was going to be a follow up, I 100% knew I was going to reread this at least once—if not multiple times—in the lead up to its release, which was originally projected for Fall 2023 but is still TBD.

Most of my first review still stands. Ari and Hector are at different places in their life. Cameron is a dick. Ari’s family means well but none of them know how to communicate with each other.

The one thing I’d dial back on is my complaints about Ari. The older I get the more I realize how much I was the same and I’m looking at some of the stories from my now and not my then. Of course, you’re going to be a “woe-is-me-I’m-misunderstood” teenager when you’re going through figuring out your sexuality on top of puberty and the world changing around you. It’s no wonder teenagers aren’t even more messed up than they are. The past five years alone and how we talk about mental health and coming-of-age has changed so much that I’m like oof that part of my response doesn’t read well.

What was missing for me from this re-read was Hector’s story. We get pieces of it, but there seems to be a significant amount that is left unsaid/unwritten and I’m very curious about it. This could be me forgetting, but why was his grandma so important? Where were his parents? I think some of this we might’ve found out in the time between the big dramatic event and Ari and Hector’s making up and the end of this first part—a good chunk takes place off page—as their relationship develops and they get to know each other.

What I’m most looking forward to is them growing together as a couple and Ari finding himself more. Hector has so much confidence and knows what he wants, but Ari was still searching for it at the end of this story. I just hope the second part of their story is just as beautiful and slow-paced as the first.

Recommendation: JUST READ IT. Seriously, even though it has a pretty decent amount of self-created angst (thanks, Ari), it’s pretty low key and such a beautifully drawn and written story that I could read it and then immediately turn around and read it again.