Claudine

Featuring flowing layouts and glamorously stylized, statuesque figures, the first English translation of this novella, originally published in 1978, from the creator of The Rose of Versailles is well-timed to spark conversation around transgender representation in literary history. The tale follows Claudine, a transgender man, as he goes through life in early-20th-century France seeking unconditional love and acceptance among friends, family, and society—and perhaps even from himself—as he navigates thorny family secrets and dramatic twists of fate. Each part of Claudine’s life is framed by the types of pushback and doubt trans people face. Claudine’s psychiatrist friend provides frequent voice-over to help the reader understand Claudine’s plight and character; however, the cultural verbiage is occasionally dated, and the translation stiff. The reading of each page, too, requires closer attention than modern manga, which may prove challenging for some fans—though arguably easier for readers of Western comics. However, technical details aside, this is a properly PG-13 melodrama of the type teenagers love to swoon over—and it might just teach them something important about believing in oneself, too. (June)