Secret Passages
Secret Passages by Axelle Lenoir, published by National Geographic Books on March 22, 2022, is an imaginative autobiography that explores the author’s unique perspective on her girlhood. This 184-page work invites readers into a world where Lenoir reflects on her experiences growing up in a small-town in Québec during 1985, navigating the complexities of identity and self-perception. Through a blend of comic-strip style anecdotes and surreal narrative twists, Lenoir presents her childhood adventures alongside her brothers and their eccentric parents.
In Secret Passages, readers will find a creative exploration of themes related to LGBTQ identity and the challenges of growing up “in the closet.” The narrative begins with the death of Lenoir’s “cosmic twin,” setting the stage for a series of lively and humorous reflections on her childhood. The book features a mix of playful storytelling and pop-culture parodies, reminiscent of classic comic influences. As the story unfolds, it delves into the duality of Lenoir’s existence, ultimately leading to a thought-provoking climax that challenges conventional narratives of memoir and identity.
Official synopsis Publisher
Welcome to an autobiography from another dimension. A wildly inventive cartoonist begins her imaginary memoir — exploring the girlhood she never had.
Many LGBTQ adults look back on their youth and wonder: what might have been? Growing up “in the closet” tends to produce a sort of double identity, between the inner self and the self seen by the outside world. Now, cartoonist Axelle Lenoir, in her unpredictable and imaginative way, makes this metaphor real.
Secret Passages, narrated by the adult author, begins with the death of her (male) “cosmic twin.” From there it launches into a rollicking ride of childhood antics, set in 1985 small-town Québec. We get to know Axelle (a rebellious little girl who dreads Grade 1 and is captivated by the spooky forest near the house), her brothers (who share her off-the-charts enthusiasm for cartoons and toys), and their long-suffering parents (who may or may not be aliens).
These lively comic-strip style anecdotes, reminiscent of Calvin & Hobbes and packed full of pop-culture parodies, are juxtaposed with surreal twists as Axelle’s existential crisis mutates the narrative, building to a mind-bending climax.
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