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Pilu of the Woods
A heartwarming story of friendship, loss, and finding your way home from debut author/illustrator Mai K. Nguyen!
Willow loves the woods near her house. They’re calm and quiet, so different from her own turbulent emotions, which she keeps locked away. When her emotions get the better of her one day, she decides to run away into the woods.
There, she meets Pilu, a lost tree spirit who can’t find her way back home—which turns out to be the magnolia grove Willow’s mom used to take her to. Willow offers to help Pilu, and the two quickly become friends.
But the journey is long, and Pilu isn’t sure she’s ready to return home yet—which infuriates Willow, who’s determined to make up for her own mistakes by getting Pilu back safely. As a storm rages and Willow’s emotions bubble to the surface, they suddenly take on a physical form, putting both girls in danger… and forcing Willow to confront her inner feelings once and for all.
Willow loves the woods near her house. They’re calm and quiet, so different from her own turbulent emotions, which she keeps locked away. When her emotions get the better of her one day, she decides to run away into the woods.
There, she meets Pilu, a lost tree spirit who can’t find her way back home—which turns out to be the magnolia grove Willow’s mom used to take her to. Willow offers to help Pilu, and the two quickly become friends.
But the journey is long, and Pilu isn’t sure she’s ready to return home yet—which infuriates Willow, who’s determined to make up for her own mistakes by getting Pilu back safely. As a storm rages and Willow’s emotions bubble to the surface, they suddenly take on a physical form, putting both girls in danger… and forcing Willow to confront her inner feelings once and for all.
151 pages, Paperback
First published April 17, 2019
About the author
Mai K. Nguyen
4 books265 followersMai is a Vietnamese-Japanese American comics creator, illustrator, and ice-cream enthusiast living in Northern California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,590 reviews
April 7, 2019
This was so precious. MY HEART.
March 27, 2019
My thoughts in a nutshell
It was cute! Perfect middle-grade book with a valuable lesson.
The story is about…
Skip over this point if you don't like the sneak peek.
A little girl, Willow, who is dealing with grief. The other kids in the school are bullying her because she likes books and nature. One day she has an awful fight with her sister and Willow runs away into the woods, where she meets the forest spirits who also runs away from home. They get to know each other and find out what will they do.
What impressed me the most 😊
The more you ignore something, the louder it gets... nobody likes being ignored.
I fall in love with the art style. It is so gorgeous!
The plot is about how to understand and process the feelings. Willow is dealing with her inner monsters. The monsters are always growing, and if they become so huge, Willow could not handle her emotions anymore and she says out loud her thought. This is the reason why she fought with her sister.
In through the storyline, Willow will learn how to face them.
Make a conclusion
I gave it 4 stars because I really like it but the ending was a little fast.
I recommend it to anyone who loves middle-grade graphic novel or who has a child. It is a very colorful, beautiful, cartoony comic and it will enchant and teach your children (or you).
Atmosphere collage aka. how did I imagine the book vibes?
*ARC generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
July 19, 2022
Pilu of the Woods is an MG fantasy graphic novel about a little girl named Willow who gets in a fight with her big sister and goes running off into the woods, where she meets Pilu, a forest spirit. As they adventure together, Willow is forced to come to terms with her "monsters"—the emotions that cause her to lash out at her loved ones or to think poorly of herself—and she must learn how to take care of those feelings and deal with them in a healthy way, without hurting her family.
I don't know if a graphic novel has ever given me quite as many Feels as Pilu did, but wow, this little story is incredible. Don't be turned off by its marketing as a middle grade story, because it is without a doubt the sort of tale that could be enjoyed by anyone of any age. The artwork is stunning and some of my favorite I've ever seen in a graphic novel, the plot is beautiful, and the characters are so lovable.
Even though the hard copies won't be out for a little while, I've already added the final edition to my shopping list to pick up later because it's so lovely and precious that I know I'll reread it again and again. Be warned, though: you should probably have tissues on hand, because the ending of this little graphic novel had me weeping the most bittersweet tears. ♥ Well done on crafting such a gorgeous little world, Mai!
Thank you so much to Oni Press for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I don't know if a graphic novel has ever given me quite as many Feels as Pilu did, but wow, this little story is incredible. Don't be turned off by its marketing as a middle grade story, because it is without a doubt the sort of tale that could be enjoyed by anyone of any age. The artwork is stunning and some of my favorite I've ever seen in a graphic novel, the plot is beautiful, and the characters are so lovable.
Even though the hard copies won't be out for a little while, I've already added the final edition to my shopping list to pick up later because it's so lovely and precious that I know I'll reread it again and again. Be warned, though: you should probably have tissues on hand, because the ending of this little graphic novel had me weeping the most bittersweet tears. ♥ Well done on crafting such a gorgeous little world, Mai!
Thank you so much to Oni Press for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
July 10, 2019
So freaking adorable 😭
Read
January 19, 2024Beautiful illustrations, but a mess of ideas and subplots.
March 7, 2021
A gorgeous graphic novel about grief, friendship, and those finnicky things called emotions.
I think this is a great story about grief and losing a loved one for children. It may feel a little heavy-handed for adults, but for its intended target audience, I think it works perfectly. Gorgeous to look at, rich with metaphor and fantasy-like imagery that will ignite young imaginations, Pilu of the Woods is the kind of book that readers will treasure.
I think this is a great story about grief and losing a loved one for children. It may feel a little heavy-handed for adults, but for its intended target audience, I think it works perfectly. Gorgeous to look at, rich with metaphor and fantasy-like imagery that will ignite young imaginations, Pilu of the Woods is the kind of book that readers will treasure.
July 1, 2020
Só queria deixar registrado que essa história além de ser lindamente ilustrada e de tratar questões delicadas de uma forma linda, conseguiu deixar o meu coração quentinho enquanto estava assustada demais com o ciclone que estava passando por aqui.
Foi a leitura que precisava pra me acalmar em meio a ventania, a falta de energia e a tempestade que estava acontecendo por aqui.
Foi a leitura que precisava pra me acalmar em meio a ventania, a falta de energia e a tempestade que estava acontecendo por aqui.
May 26, 2019
Beautiful illustrations! And a great story about regulating your emotions, I think lots of middle grade readers will relate to this book a lot.
January 12, 2019
Thank you Netgalley and Oni Press for sending a review copy in exchange for an honest review
Pilu of the Woods is possibly one of the cutest MG graphic novels i have ever read. I don’t think I’ve ever cried while reading a graphic novel before this one. The story was about love, loss and grief, and it was perfect. It really touched my heart and I had some tears spilling by the end of it. The illustrations were gorgeous and I’m definitely going to pick up whatever Mai K. Nguyen writes from now on.
Pilu of the Woods is possibly one of the cutest MG graphic novels i have ever read. I don’t think I’ve ever cried while reading a graphic novel before this one. The story was about love, loss and grief, and it was perfect. It really touched my heart and I had some tears spilling by the end of it. The illustrations were gorgeous and I’m definitely going to pick up whatever Mai K. Nguyen writes from now on.
December 29, 2018
A heartwarming tale about friendship and how to deal with your feelings. This was obviously targeted for middle school age children, but there's enough there to like about it for all ages. The art is fantastic. It reads like a picture book in graphic novel form.
Willow has a fight with her sister and runs off into the woods. There she runs into a tree nymph that also has run away after a fight with her mother. As Willow helps her find her way home, they become friends while learning how to process their feelings. Willow's dad is a botanist and we also learn about several of the plants growing in the forest. Make sure you have a box of tissues by you, the story will more than likely make you weep.
Received an advance copy from Oni Press and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
Willow has a fight with her sister and runs off into the woods. There she runs into a tree nymph that also has run away after a fight with her mother. As Willow helps her find her way home, they become friends while learning how to process their feelings. Willow's dad is a botanist and we also learn about several of the plants growing in the forest. Make sure you have a box of tissues by you, the story will more than likely make you weep.
Received an advance copy from Oni Press and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
April 16, 2023
যে ছেলেবেলার কথা মনে করলে আমাদের চেতনায় লাল ডিউস বল গড়িয়ে যায়,একশো একটা অভিমানে ঠোঁট ফুলে,পড়ে পা ছড়ে গিয়ে যখন কাঁদছি,কোথাও অনবরত শোনা যায় পিউ কাঁহা, পিউ কাঁহা সেই হারিয়ে যাওয়া ছেলেবেলার মতো স্নিগ্ধ। ক্রোধের, অভিমানের যে ছবিটা আঁকা হয়েছে,এই গল্পটা আসলে আমাদের সবার।
January 5, 2019
I received an ARC of Pilu of the Woods from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
5 wonderful stars
I don't know how to describe this graphic novel... it is just something else.
The art is stunning and the color scheme and the way it changes throughout the story as the emotions change is really clever.
I found this graphic novel to be a masterpiece.
We follow a young girl (Willow) dealing with the grief of losing her mother, one day after arguing with her sister she runs into the woods near her house. She finds Pilu, a tree spirit that is lost and doesn't know her way home. Willow offers to help her and the story takes on from there.
This a story of a little girl dealing with her "inner monsters" and learning how to face them.
If you have the possibility, please read this graphic novel when it comes out. It's really good and this review doesn't come close to describe how amazing this story is. It got me a little teary-eyed and left me with a smile on my face.
5 wonderful stars
I don't know how to describe this graphic novel... it is just something else.
The art is stunning and the color scheme and the way it changes throughout the story as the emotions change is really clever.
I found this graphic novel to be a masterpiece.
We follow a young girl (Willow) dealing with the grief of losing her mother, one day after arguing with her sister she runs into the woods near her house. She finds Pilu, a tree spirit that is lost and doesn't know her way home. Willow offers to help her and the story takes on from there.
This a story of a little girl dealing with her "inner monsters" and learning how to face them.
If you have the possibility, please read this graphic novel when it comes out. It's really good and this review doesn't come close to describe how amazing this story is. It got me a little teary-eyed and left me with a smile on my face.
January 29, 2023
This graphic novel is so damn precious. Just read it. All your life's regrets will come pouring out and you will absolutely feel like becoming a better person to yourself and to those close to you. The story is just fantastic. I love how character driven the story is. The illustrations and the colours are a joy. Experience this!
Trigger warning for loss of a loved one and handling grief.
Trigger warning for loss of a loved one and handling grief.
May 27, 2019
I love the art, especially that adorable dog!
But the story is a little girl's downbeat slog through a forest with a spiritless tree spirit as she comes to terms with loss and grief. Dull and predictable.
But the story is a little girl's downbeat slog through a forest with a spiritless tree spirit as she comes to terms with loss and grief. Dull and predictable.
June 2, 2021
‘Pilú de los bosques’ es un precioso cómic para toda la familia que cuenta el encuentro entre una niña humana y una hija del bosque. La historia habla sobre la gestión de las emociones, la superación de la pérdida y el respeto a la naturaleza. El dibujo es, de verdad, de morirse de bonito. Muy recomendable, por ejemplo, para los fans de la serie de dibujos ‘Hilda’.
April 9, 2023
রাগ করে বাড়ি থেকে বেরিয়ে পড়লো Willow, সাথে প্রিয় কুকুরটা। বনের মাঝে দেখা হয়ে গেল Pilu র সাথে, সেও ঘরছাড়া। Willow খুব ইন্টারেস্টিং চরিত্র, বনের গাছপালা ফুল সে অনেক ভালোবাসে, তার বিশেষ ভালোলাগে উইসটেরিয়া, লিলি অফ দা ভ্যালি, কোস্টাল রেডউড এবং ম্যাগনোলিয়া, মাশরুম নিয়েও অনেক কিছু জানে সে। Pilu র তাকে ভালো লেগে গেল, তারা বন্ধু হলো।
রাগের নেতিবাচক দিকে আলোকপাত করায় এই গ্রাফিক নোভে��টার শিক্ষাগত মূল্য যেমন বেশি, নৈসর্গিক সৌন্দর্য চিত্রায়নের কারণে এটা চোখের জন্যও তেমন তৃপ্তিদায়ক।
ধন্যবাদ হারুন ভা��� 🤍
রাগের নেতিবাচক দিকে আলোকপাত করায় এই গ্রাফিক নোভে��টার শিক্ষাগত মূল্য যেমন বেশি, নৈসর্গিক সৌন্দর্য চিত্রায়নের কারণে এটা চোখের জন্যও তেমন তৃপ্তিদায়ক।
ধন্যবাদ হারুন ভা��� 🤍
July 8, 2023
I sobbed through this whole book. Pure perfection in story and art.
December 3, 2022
just so lovely and delightful and kind
May 2, 2021
A truly adorable and heartwarming story with cute artwork exploring a child's inner demons as he learns to embrace his emotions and share his journey towards forgiveness and love with a lost friend.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
March 26, 2019
I really didn't like this one at all. The drawings weren't my thing, the story was both depressing and confusing, and the book was riddled with typos and odd style choices.
Pilu of the Woods, despite the title and the cover illustration, is actually about a girl named Willow who lives with her father and older sister, Linnea. She had a mother once, but she's dead now, and Willow is always getting in trouble because she doesn't know how to deal with her feelings. She bottles them up (literally) until she just has to let them out in a fit of anger and/or violence. This part of the book had me confused at first, because there are these drawings of little creatures in bottles throughout the panels, and I wasn't sure what that was about for the longest time. The bit about the mother is also confusing, because it almost seems like her death is what caused Willow to become the way she is. But that's not the case, because her mother tells her (before she dies) to always treat others with kindness and compassion, and even makes Willow promise this. It seems like a weird promise to have your child make, unless you know you're about to die (but that's not the case; it's implied the mother died in a car accident on a rainy night). So Willow gets even more screwed up by her emotions because she's trying to keep this promise to her dead mother. She bottles up all her feelings until they come exploding out, taking actual physical form in the woods and threatening her and her new friend, Pilu.
Despite her name being in the title, I actually think Pilu is kind of unnecessary. Aside from agreeing with Willow about how tough feelings can be, she doesn't really add much to the story or offer any interesting insights or revelations. I guess she's almost like a Manic Pixie Dream Girl in that respect, since her problems are only there so that Willow can come to her own realizations and solve her own problems. She's some sort of nature sprite who runs away from her magnolia grove because she feels ignored. But it's actually Willow who knows more about the woods, and teaches Pilu a few things about it. (Some of those bits were the most interesting parts of the book; I wish there had been a little bit more of that and a lot less of the girls trudging through the woods in silence.)
That last point brings me to one of the most annoying things about this book, and that's how it's all put together. Aside from many typos and annoying onomatopoeia that uses repetition of silent letters (I can't stand it when people write that something is "cuttteee!", so I really wasn't pleased to see things like "RRUSSSTTTLLEEE" in the panels), the drawings are littered with near-empty speech bubbles with nothing but ellipses to show when the characters are being silent. Call me crazy, but wouldn't not having them say anything show the same thing just as well with less clutter? Also, the speech bubbles are all over the place. Sometimes they're smooth, sometimes they're jagged (which I think signified shouting), and sometimes they look like clouds... which seems odd, because I usually think of cloud shapes as thought bubbles, while here they're used for actual speech... for no real reason that I could see.
I don't like the drawings here, either. They're too cutesy, and the author seems to like drawing tears and snot just a little too much (there's a panel near the beginning of the book that has Willow snorting back a slurpy booger that just about made me gag). One scene also has Willow sharing a peanut butter sandwich with her brand-new friend, which I thought was kind of irresponsible; teaching kids to share peanut butter with someone of unknown allergy status is not the best idea.
Overall, I'm disappointed. The story's premise is okay, but there's far too much crying going on and not enough about actually dealing with negative feelings. (Willow eventually comes to realize that she has to acknowledge those feelings and not keep them bottled up, but it's not really shown how she's going to do that.) And with so many typos and weird style choices for the format, it's not one of the stronger graphic novels I've read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for providing a digital ARC.
Pilu of the Woods, despite the title and the cover illustration, is actually about a girl named Willow who lives with her father and older sister, Linnea. She had a mother once, but she's dead now, and Willow is always getting in trouble because she doesn't know how to deal with her feelings. She bottles them up (literally) until she just has to let them out in a fit of anger and/or violence. This part of the book had me confused at first, because there are these drawings of little creatures in bottles throughout the panels, and I wasn't sure what that was about for the longest time. The bit about the mother is also confusing, because it almost seems like her death is what caused Willow to become the way she is. But that's not the case, because her mother tells her (before she dies) to always treat others with kindness and compassion, and even makes Willow promise this. It seems like a weird promise to have your child make, unless you know you're about to die (but that's not the case; it's implied the mother died in a car accident on a rainy night). So Willow gets even more screwed up by her emotions because she's trying to keep this promise to her dead mother. She bottles up all her feelings until they come exploding out, taking actual physical form in the woods and threatening her and her new friend, Pilu.
Despite her name being in the title, I actually think Pilu is kind of unnecessary. Aside from agreeing with Willow about how tough feelings can be, she doesn't really add much to the story or offer any interesting insights or revelations. I guess she's almost like a Manic Pixie Dream Girl in that respect, since her problems are only there so that Willow can come to her own realizations and solve her own problems. She's some sort of nature sprite who runs away from her magnolia grove because she feels ignored. But it's actually Willow who knows more about the woods, and teaches Pilu a few things about it. (Some of those bits were the most interesting parts of the book; I wish there had been a little bit more of that and a lot less of the girls trudging through the woods in silence.)
That last point brings me to one of the most annoying things about this book, and that's how it's all put together. Aside from many typos and annoying onomatopoeia that uses repetition of silent letters (I can't stand it when people write that something is "cuttteee!", so I really wasn't pleased to see things like "RRUSSSTTTLLEEE" in the panels), the drawings are littered with near-empty speech bubbles with nothing but ellipses to show when the characters are being silent. Call me crazy, but wouldn't not having them say anything show the same thing just as well with less clutter? Also, the speech bubbles are all over the place. Sometimes they're smooth, sometimes they're jagged (which I think signified shouting), and sometimes they look like clouds... which seems odd, because I usually think of cloud shapes as thought bubbles, while here they're used for actual speech... for no real reason that I could see.
I don't like the drawings here, either. They're too cutesy, and the author seems to like drawing tears and snot just a little too much (there's a panel near the beginning of the book that has Willow snorting back a slurpy booger that just about made me gag). One scene also has Willow sharing a peanut butter sandwich with her brand-new friend, which I thought was kind of irresponsible; teaching kids to share peanut butter with someone of unknown allergy status is not the best idea.
Overall, I'm disappointed. The story's premise is okay, but there's far too much crying going on and not enough about actually dealing with negative feelings. (Willow eventually comes to realize that she has to acknowledge those feelings and not keep them bottled up, but it's not really shown how she's going to do that.) And with so many typos and weird style choices for the format, it's not one of the stronger graphic novels I've read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for providing a digital ARC.
November 24, 2018
"You know maybe, it's okay to cry sometimes."
WOW. I'm so glad that I discovered this gem on NetGalley!
First of all, I love the art so much! I couldn't stop geeking out about it on every page! I love the colors, which kinda has a watercolor feel to it and the super cute doodly and cartoony illustrations! SO GOOD!
The story is as lovely as the art. The protagonist, Willow, ran away to the woods after having a fight with her older sister. In the forest, she met a tree spirit, Pilu, who also ran away from her home.
I absolutely adore these two characters. Willow has these monsters that she keeps inside jars, afraid that they might cause chaos if she lets them out. She ignores the fact that they're a part of her. But as Pilu said, no one wants to be ignored, even her monsters... which is such a good metaphor to feelings. In the end, Willow learned that it's okay to accept them.
I thought being strong meant not crying, or whining, or complaining, or being sad... but I was wrong...
It resonated so much to me. I tend to ignore some feelings, such as sadness because I usually think that it's a negative thing to feel, but in reality, there's something good and cathartic about accepting it. OHH... yeah, this reminds me of the movie Inside Out!
Pilu is also a character whom I could identify with. She ran away from home because she felt very alone and invisible, but in reality, she's loved and cared for. I also feel that way at times! Surrounded by lots of people, I tend to feel alone and a complete stranger, but I realize that among these waves and waves of people, there are those who genuinely care for me and are ready to back me up anytime.
In conclusion, this is such an adorable and heartwarming graphic novel. It might be a children's book, but it made me reflect on some things in life and about myself. Huhu. The feels. I sincerely hope that lots of people would be able to read this book when it's released next year because it's such a special and beautiful book!
Thanks so much NetGalley for this eARC!
August 13, 2024
Beautiful story, Beautiful artwork♥️. Thanks Haze for recommending this really cute and awesome graphic novel♥️!!
April 6, 2023
মানব অনুভূতির মধ্যে ক্রোধ বা রাগ সবচেয়ে ভয়ঙ্কর। ক্রোধের কাছে অন্যসব অনুভূতিরা ম্লান হয়ে পড়ে। আমরা এমনসব কান্ড করে বসি যার ফলে পরবর্তীতে কাটাতে হয় অনুশোচনা করে। এই ক্রোধকে চাইলেও জীবন থেকে চিরতরে মুছে ফেলা যায়না। একে সঙ্গে নিয়েই বাচতে হয়। শিখতে হয় ক্রোধকে নিয়ন্ত্রণে আনার ক্ষমতা। বইটা পড়তে গিয়ে নিজের একসময়ের ঘটনা মনে পড়ল। বলি সে ঘটনাটা,
স্কুলজীবন তখন শেষের দিকে। বাড়িতে মানুষ বলতে আমি আর আম্মা। ছোটবেলা থেকেই কড়া শাসনের মধ্য দিয়ে বড় হয়েছি। কিন্তু সে বয়সে গিয়ে শাসনকে মনে হতে লাগল স্বাধীনতায় হস্তক্ষেপ। ফলে প্রায়ই আম্মার সাথে বাধাবাধি হয়ে যেত আমার। মাঝেমধ্যে ইচ্ছে করত দুচোখ যেদিকে যায় বেড়িয়ে পড়ি। খুব দুঃসাহসী ছিলাম না বলে বেড়িয়ে পড়াটা আর হয়নি। তবে আম্মার সাথে ঝামেলা চলতেই থাকল। শুধু মনে হতো এই ভুবনে কেউ আমার ভালো চায় না, কেউ আমার আপন না! খুবই অদ্ভুত কিন্তু মারাত্মক অনুভূতি।
স্কুলজীবন তখন শেষের দিকে। বাড়িতে মানুষ বলতে আমি আর আম্মা। ছোটবেলা থেকেই কড়া শাসনের মধ্য দিয়ে বড় হয়েছি। কিন্তু সে বয়সে গিয়ে শাসনকে মনে হতে লাগল স্বাধীনতায় হস্তক্ষেপ। ফলে প্রায়ই আম্মার সাথে বাধাবাধি হয়ে যেত আমার। মাঝেমধ্যে ইচ্ছে করত দুচোখ যেদিকে যায় বেড়িয়ে পড়ি। খুব দুঃসাহসী ছিলাম না বলে বেড়িয়ে পড়াটা আর হয়নি। তবে আম্মার সাথে ঝামেলা চলতেই থাকল। শুধু মনে হতো এই ভুবনে কেউ আমার ভালো চায় না, কেউ আমার আপন না! খুবই অদ্ভুত কিন্তু মারাত্মক অনুভূতি।
May 27, 2024
4.5 stars ⭐️
This is a great palate cleanser because it's so wholesome and heartwarming 😭 There are a lot of times in the story where I almost cried. I love it so much 😭❤️
This is a great palate cleanser because it's so wholesome and heartwarming 😭 There are a lot of times in the story where I almost cried. I love it so much 😭❤️
June 23, 2023
Pilu of the Woods, a mesmerizing graphic novel by Mai K. Nguyen, is a breathtaking journey through the depths of emotion and the power of friendship. From start to finish, this beautifully illustrated and profoundly touching tale captivated my heart and left me with a renewed appreciation for the magic of storytelling.
One of the standout features of this graphic novel is its stunning artwork. Nguyen's illustrations are a true feast for the eyes, combining delicate lines, vibrant colors, and a dreamlike quality that effortlessly transports readers into the enchanting world of the story. Each panel is meticulously crafted, evoking a range of emotions and effectively conveying the inner struggles and triumphs of the characters.
At the core of Pilu of the Woods lies a poignant exploration of grief and the complexities of navigating loss. The story follows Willow, a young girl grappling with her own feelings of guilt and sadness after the death of her mother. When she stumbles upon a mysterious forest creature named Pilu, their unlikely friendship becomes the catalyst for healing and self-discovery. Nguyen's portrayal of grief is raw, honest, and deeply resonant, allowing readers of all ages to connect with the profound emotions experienced by the characters.
The characters themselves are beautifully fleshed out and remarkably relatable. Willow's journey of self-acceptance and forgiveness is sensitively portrayed, while Pilu serves as a comforting presence and a symbol of resilience. Their interactions are filled with warmth, vulnerability, and moments of genuine growth, highlighting the power of empathy and compassion in navigating difficult emotions.
Beyond its exploration of grief, Pilu of the Woods also delves into themes of nature, identity, and the importance of self-expression. The forest setting acts as both a sanctuary and a metaphorical landscape for self-discovery, providing a rich backdrop for the characters' emotional journeys. The narrative effortlessly weaves together these themes, resulting in a multi-layered story that invites readers to reflect on their own experiences and find solace in the universal aspects of human emotions.
In conclusion, Pilu of the Woods is an extraordinary graphic novel that embraces the complexities of human emotion with grace and sensitivity. With its breathtaking artwork, heartfelt storytelling, and profound exploration of grief, identity, and friendship, it is a testament to the transformative power of literature. I wholeheartedly recommend this remarkable work to readers of all ages who appreciate thought-provoking and emotionally resonant storytelling.
One of the standout features of this graphic novel is its stunning artwork. Nguyen's illustrations are a true feast for the eyes, combining delicate lines, vibrant colors, and a dreamlike quality that effortlessly transports readers into the enchanting world of the story. Each panel is meticulously crafted, evoking a range of emotions and effectively conveying the inner struggles and triumphs of the characters.
At the core of Pilu of the Woods lies a poignant exploration of grief and the complexities of navigating loss. The story follows Willow, a young girl grappling with her own feelings of guilt and sadness after the death of her mother. When she stumbles upon a mysterious forest creature named Pilu, their unlikely friendship becomes the catalyst for healing and self-discovery. Nguyen's portrayal of grief is raw, honest, and deeply resonant, allowing readers of all ages to connect with the profound emotions experienced by the characters.
The characters themselves are beautifully fleshed out and remarkably relatable. Willow's journey of self-acceptance and forgiveness is sensitively portrayed, while Pilu serves as a comforting presence and a symbol of resilience. Their interactions are filled with warmth, vulnerability, and moments of genuine growth, highlighting the power of empathy and compassion in navigating difficult emotions.
Beyond its exploration of grief, Pilu of the Woods also delves into themes of nature, identity, and the importance of self-expression. The forest setting acts as both a sanctuary and a metaphorical landscape for self-discovery, providing a rich backdrop for the characters' emotional journeys. The narrative effortlessly weaves together these themes, resulting in a multi-layered story that invites readers to reflect on their own experiences and find solace in the universal aspects of human emotions.
In conclusion, Pilu of the Woods is an extraordinary graphic novel that embraces the complexities of human emotion with grace and sensitivity. With its breathtaking artwork, heartfelt storytelling, and profound exploration of grief, identity, and friendship, it is a testament to the transformative power of literature. I wholeheartedly recommend this remarkable work to readers of all ages who appreciate thought-provoking and emotionally resonant storytelling.
December 10, 2023
"We gotta be careful not to hurt the things around us, because nothing's really gone forever.. not words, not things, not people.. Everything leaves a little mark."
September 9, 2023
Oh my God! This book! So deep and emotional!
5 FULL STARS!
I would love to thank Mai K. Nguyen, Oni Press and NetGalley for this book in exchange for an honest review.
I totally recommend this graphic novel book!
The illustrations are perfect and the story is very heartwarming!
We see the story of Willow, a girl who struggles with her emotions (we can actually see them as little black monsters, which is really accurate and cool!) and she is running away from home after she's got into a fight with her big sister.
She's going into the woods where she finds Pilu, a lost tree spirit girl and they become good friends. Willow wants to help Pilu find her way home.
Along the way they encounter a few problems, but they manage to escape, while Willow learns how to befriend her emotions and we learn more about her.
The end is very satisfying and I loved it! I recommend this book for every person, no matter how old are you!
5 FULL STARS!
I would love to thank Mai K. Nguyen, Oni Press and NetGalley for this book in exchange for an honest review.
I totally recommend this graphic novel book!
The illustrations are perfect and the story is very heartwarming!
We see the story of Willow, a girl who struggles with her emotions (we can actually see them as little black monsters, which is really accurate and cool!) and she is running away from home after she's got into a fight with her big sister.
She's going into the woods where she finds Pilu, a lost tree spirit girl and they become good friends. Willow wants to help Pilu find her way home.
Along the way they encounter a few problems, but they manage to escape, while Willow learns how to befriend her emotions and we learn more about her.
The end is very satisfying and I loved it! I recommend this book for every person, no matter how old are you!
July 21, 2019
Eh, maybe I'm just too old for this one . . .
I was not moved by this tale of a young girl's learning to cope with grief, and I was not tickled by the gum-droppy cute artwork. Don't listen to me though: I'm sure the younger set, and/or girls who worship unicorns will be enchanted.
I was not moved by this tale of a young girl's learning to cope with grief, and I was not tickled by the gum-droppy cute artwork. Don't listen to me though: I'm sure the younger set, and/or girls who worship unicorns will be enchanted.
August 13, 2024
"Pilu of the Woods" is such a beautiful, emotional and heartwarming story 😭😭♥️♥️
The art work is gorgeous 😍 🥰 ♥️
This graphic novel beautifully and gently addresses empathy and friendship. The sensitive emotions are oh-so marvelously expressed. It's a touching story subtly teaching you how to embrace your emotions.
The art work is gorgeous 😍 🥰 ♥️
This graphic novel beautifully and gently addresses empathy and friendship. The sensitive emotions are oh-so marvelously expressed. It's a touching story subtly teaching you how to embrace your emotions.
January 22, 2019
Willow is feeling lost, figuratively and literally. She's just run away from her sister and her home to the woods where she once spent time with her mom. Her mom who's lost forever.
In the woods she meets Pilu, a tree spirit who is lost as well. Willow and Pilu's lives parallel each others in some ways. Willow and Pilu are both angry at their circumstances and don't know a way out their own turbulent anger. As Pilu starts talking about how she feels invisible and how she isn't sure she wants to go home something starts being drawn out in Willow. Pilu not wanting to go back home to her mother makes her think of the mother she will never get back to. This anger manifests into something real and scary. Will Willow be able to get control of her emotions? And will Pilu decide to face her family?
Pilu of the Woods is a story about facing our emotions before they get the better of us. The concept of Pilu of the Woods is one that could easily bring up my emotional side. The backstory alone got me teary eyed. The illustrations are colorful and have a pretty aesthetic. Everyone seems to love this comic, problem is, I don't.
Yes, I liked the concept and some of the artwork but there were so many little things that added up to me thinking this was just an okay read. First of all, did you think the person on the cover was a little girl? Because I didn't. I love art so if something feels off it sticks with me. I like how Willow is a tomboy and is a bit nerdy but she looks like a miniaturized tomboy teenage girl. Not a little girl who's a tomboy. She actually looks like Harry Potter. And me being a stickler for art design, it was an unnecessary distraction.
Also, do you see that dog on the cover? Yeah, he's hardly in the story which was a bummer. The other character who was actually part of the majority of the story, who is an adorable tree spirit, would have looked great on the cover but I digress.
Now the art design of Willow could have been looked over however, the pacing of the story was off and the message was a little too much in your face. Willow goes to the woods, finds the tree spirit, and immediately we get into what Willow needs to learn about her family life. I would have liked her to realize everything in the end. She automatically couldn't believe why Pilu didn't want to go home. How could she do that to her family? So then that should have been it. She learned her lesson so why would everything else need to happen?
So right away the message of the story is put in the forefront. Something that could have been put off. And then still while we journeyed and at the end of the story the message was pushed upon me again and again. I got it the first time so that frustrated me. The message is a good one that I think is great for the audience of this comic - children. I thought it was brilliant to have her emotions manifest because it shows how real her emotions feel to her. And just like kids (and sometimes adults too) she didn't know how to handle it. It's all great but not executed to my liking. But hey, everyone seems to like this comic and you may too. The author's illustrations are really pretty. I placed a couple of her images from her tumblr below so you can enjoy. Pilu of the Woods just wasn't for me.
In the woods she meets Pilu, a tree spirit who is lost as well. Willow and Pilu's lives parallel each others in some ways. Willow and Pilu are both angry at their circumstances and don't know a way out their own turbulent anger. As Pilu starts talking about how she feels invisible and how she isn't sure she wants to go home something starts being drawn out in Willow. Pilu not wanting to go back home to her mother makes her think of the mother she will never get back to. This anger manifests into something real and scary. Will Willow be able to get control of her emotions? And will Pilu decide to face her family?
Pilu of the Woods is a story about facing our emotions before they get the better of us. The concept of Pilu of the Woods is one that could easily bring up my emotional side. The backstory alone got me teary eyed. The illustrations are colorful and have a pretty aesthetic. Everyone seems to love this comic, problem is, I don't.
Yes, I liked the concept and some of the artwork but there were so many little things that added up to me thinking this was just an okay read. First of all, did you think the person on the cover was a little girl? Because I didn't. I love art so if something feels off it sticks with me. I like how Willow is a tomboy and is a bit nerdy but she looks like a miniaturized tomboy teenage girl. Not a little girl who's a tomboy. She actually looks like Harry Potter. And me being a stickler for art design, it was an unnecessary distraction.
Also, do you see that dog on the cover? Yeah, he's hardly in the story which was a bummer. The other character who was actually part of the majority of the story, who is an adorable tree spirit, would have looked great on the cover but I digress.
Now the art design of Willow could have been looked over however, the pacing of the story was off and the message was a little too much in your face. Willow goes to the woods, finds the tree spirit, and immediately we get into what Willow needs to learn about her family life. I would have liked her to realize everything in the end. She automatically couldn't believe why Pilu didn't want to go home. How could she do that to her family? So then that should have been it. She learned her lesson so why would everything else need to happen?
So right away the message of the story is put in the forefront. Something that could have been put off. And then still while we journeyed and at the end of the story the message was pushed upon me again and again. I got it the first time so that frustrated me. The message is a good one that I think is great for the audience of this comic - children. I thought it was brilliant to have her emotions manifest because it shows how real her emotions feel to her. And just like kids (and sometimes adults too) she didn't know how to handle it. It's all great but not executed to my liking. But hey, everyone seems to like this comic and you may too. The author's illustrations are really pretty. I placed a couple of her images from her tumblr below so you can enjoy. Pilu of the Woods just wasn't for me.
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