This is the best kind of romantic tale: innocent and unfussy, yet overwhelming. And, as rendered in the pages of this graphic novel, food can be the substance of a flirty courtship. People prepare meals together, eat together as a family, go out to eat on first dates, celebrate milestones at restaurants, build careers out of food, farming, gardening, harvesting. There’s alchemy in stories in which people connect over food. To say more would spoil the story.īloom is neither a fantasy epic nor a sci-fi adventure, yet there is a powerful magic present. It’s apparent, however, that he enjoys spending as much time as possible with Hector. It becomes clear to everyone that Ari’s priorities are shifting his behavior becomes mysterious and erratic, and he is not sure anymore of what he wants or needs. As the weeks pass and the beachy summer air grows balmier, Ari and his friends’ plans for their band begin to unravel. After he takes the job at the bakery, a rapport between the two boys begins to blossom.Īri, no longer so moody, and less reluctant now to work at the bakery, takes a shine to his newfound friend, who is a wizard with a mound of dough. Hector recently ended a relationship with his boyfriend back home, so he feels a little lonely. He has a warm smile and a strong presence. Hector is tall and broad-shouldered, with hair thick and wavy on the top, shaved on the sides and in back. Hector’s passion in life is baking, and he happily responds to the “Help Wanted” posters that Ari posts. He doesn’t want to knead and braid dough and sweat in a hot kitchen all summer.Įnter Hector Galeai, a recent graduate of culinary school who has moved up to East Beach from Birmingham, Alabama, to take care of some family matters. In order to leave home, he has to find a replacement for himself at the family bakery. He looks kind of like current Hollywood it-boy Timothée Chalamet. (If the success of the band Beach House is any indicator, Ari and his friends are wise to want to move there.) Ari is beautiful: thin and lithe, with brooding, feminine eyes and wild, black hair. Their dream is to move to nearby Baltimore, where the music scene is hopping and they might have a chance at the big time.

He and his friends live in East Beach and spend their time playing in an indie-pop band.

Universally toned in a dreamy, oceanic monochrome of pale blue, the illustrations - created in Photoshop using GrutBrushes’s pastel “papaya grind” - breeze you through the book.Īri Kyrkos is a recent high school graduate. The words (by Panetta) are earnest, touching, and unpretentious, while the art (by Ganucheau) is comfortingly reminiscent of iconic comic-book art (think Archie). BLOOM, A NEW GRAPHIC NOVEL by Kevin Panetta and Savanna Ganucheau, is about two high-school-age boys who meet and fall in love one summer while working at a family bakery.

Bloom book kevin panetta