Superluminous
by Ian De Haes
Date: 2020
Publisher: Annick Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley
Nour loves the luminous glow she was born with, but it’s only when it starts to dim that she discovers the true power of her brilliant light.
Nour has a superpower: she glows. Her light shines so bright, she feels like a star in the night sky. But when kids at school notice her glow, they’re not impressed. If she had a real superpower, they say, she could fly or turn invisible. So Nour stops feeling special. And as her light dims, her world darkens... until a nighttime cry from her baby sister shows her how powerful her glow can be.
Ian De Haes’s heartfelt story and radiant illustrations highlight themes of self-confidence, bravery, empathy, and the imaginative power of a strong female protagonist—whose name means light in Arabic.
(synopsis from Goodreads)
On the surface, this is a story about a little girl who literally glows... until her confidence is shaken by the unkind words of others. Really, though, it's not about a kid who glows like a superhero; it's the story of someone learning to rediscover a valuable part of themselves.
The story is simple, but written well. The illustrations are the real star here, though. Heavy on turquoise and gold, the scenes with Nour practically glow. The whole book is pleasant to look at. I appreciate the diversity shown, both at school and within Nour's own family; her Arabic name also ties in nicely with the plot.
I would definitely recommend this one. It's a cute story with a good message about being brave enough to own our strengths, and being able to use them when someone needs our help.
Thank you to NetGalley and Annick Press for providing a digital ARC.
Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5
Enjoyment: 4/5
Overall: 4 out of 5
No comments:
Post a Comment