Lost Girl [Paperback]

Nabiel Kanan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2003

A young girl, close to womanhood, on vacation with her family meets another somewhat older one who is on her own. Free-spirited, mysterious, even possibly dangerous, her new acquaintance is fascinating and her rebellious ways alluring, yet she remains frustratingly elusive.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A few frissons do not add up to a complete thriller in the latest graphic novel from British artist Nabiel Kanan (Exit). While on vacation with her parents somewhere in the British countryside, teenage and bourgeois Beth befriends a young punk who lives by her wits. Her new, nameless pal sleeps with strangers and steals cars; their brief acquaintance ignites a longing within Beth, but no sooner does she smoke her first joint and ride bareback than it is time to return home and face the new school year. Or will she? Once home, Beth unlocks the attic door and discovers that it leads to the field where she frolicked with her friend. This disappointing attempt at surrealism is at odds with the rest of the novel's hyperrealism, especially given the artist's geometric, black-and-white drawings. Kanan's panels capture a strong Hitchcockian feeling: the juxtaposition of the two main characters in the opening evokes Strangers on a Train, the stranger peering through a curtain recalls Rear Window and the punk's possible dual identity brings to mind Marnie. But his refusal to answer any of the tale's larger questions and his inability to combine these elements into one organic whole provide no satisfying payoff.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

On vacation with her family, teenage Beth is drawn to a "wild girl," a young woman who scorns societal norms and appears to be happily homeless. As Beth befriends the older girl, she is increasingly drawn to the rebellious lifestyle, which seems a true expression of individuality and mystery. However, when Beth suspects that her friend is holding a young girl (the lost girl of the title) hostage, she attempts to pull herself away from the older girl's hypnotic grip. When Beth returns home, the routine of getting ready to return to school disappoints her, and she feels the influence of the older girl so strongly that she must act upon it. The drawings are black and white and accurately reflect the understated, seductive quality of the story. British graphic artist Kanan (Exit, Caliber, 1996) is a storyteller and stylist to watch. For larger public libraries.AStephen Weiner, Maynard P.L., MA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Nantier Beall Minoustchine Publishing (January 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561632295
• ISBN-13: 978-1561632299
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,861,812 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #99 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Literature & Fiction > Women's Fiction > Friendship

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As good as it gets, August 26, 2008

By 

Simon G. Barrett (london, england) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lost Girl (Paperback)

Delicate coming-of-age story that manages for the most part to avoid the pitfall comix cliches of horror, fantasy or prurience; the author shows great empathy with a young girl's mind. Lovely manga-influenced graphic style; excruciatingly convincing dialogue to convey the family background; atmosphere in spades. A gem.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, yet confusing, February 20, 2000

By 

[e-mail] (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lost Girl (Paperback)

I recently read "Lost Girl." It is a mix between a comic book and novel. I liked the drawings and the plot, yet I found myself slightly confused at the end.