Brielle and Bear, Volume 1: (A Graphic Novel)

by Salomey Doku

Overview

A tale as old as time refreshed for modern readers. This Beauty and the Beast retelling captures the magic and romance of first-year university students Brielle and Bear and the fairytale they are destined to live.

Once upon a time, Brielle met Bear. And then they fell in love.

But that's just the beginning. Fairytales have a way of twisting and swirling before you get to "happily ever after." And though modern-day Once Upon a Time University first-year, Brielle, is a dreamer, always with her nose in a book, her imagination can't help but run wild with potential romance.

To her, Bear is perfect. . . until Brielle discovers a secret he's been hiding for a long time that just might shatter their fairytale love. . . .

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593711170
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	04/22/2025
Series:	Once Upon a Time University
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.32(h) x 0.68(d)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

SALOMEY DOKU is a self-taught freelance author-illustrator from Leeds, England. Originally trained in architecture, in which she worked for over 3 years, she started watercolour painting in 2018 and quickly fell in love with the art of storytelling. She is an ardent lover of kids books and bubble tea, and is inspired by her diverse community, the natural world, and all things bright and beautiful. When she is not drawing, she is either daydreaming, going on long walks around Yorkshire, jetting off on international city breaks, at church, or talking to her pet hedgehog Strawberry.

Editorial Reviews

"A fun, feel-good ­romance about a sports star falling for a book nerd." —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

2025-01-18
Brielle knows all the rules of the fairy tale, but will Bear follow them?

Brielle Da Rosa, a Portuguese British self-proclaimed fairy-tale expert, attends the aptly named Once Upon a Time University. While she’s working at a bookshop, she literally runs into Atohi “Bear” Yonas, an American who’s “Hispanic/mixed” and a star rugby player. They’re instantly smitten, and after a series of encounters, they’re finally brought together—but various challenges arise, calling into question whether the relationship will last. Doku uses text boxes throughout the graphic novel to list fairy-tale rules (“A good fairy tale isn’t complete without…a good villain”) and introduce side characters (“Pavão Castelo: Socialite and most popular boy on campus”). She also includes some thoughtful discussion around triggers. The art is beautifully executed, with the seasons and color palette changing in tandem. Although Brielle has vitiligo, the illustration style makes it difficult to notice; readers may only realize she has this condition because it’s explicitly mentioned. It can become hard to track the subplots because insufficient time is given to building any attachment to the story’s numerous side characters. Some hopeless romantics will be satisfied by this sweet and simple tale, although it lacks the emotional punch for readers seeking something with substance.

A fluffy fairy tale that’s enjoyable but not particularly memorable. (artist’s note, character designs, location designs, visual development, process notes, Bear’s journal, the cast)(Graphic romance. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews