Rebis: Born and Reborn

by Irene Marchesini, Carlotta Dicataldo (Illustrator), Carla Roncalli Di Montorio (Translator)

Overview

"Evocative."
—Kirkus, starred review

"Breathtaking." —Booklist, starred review

For fans of Nimona and Snapdragon comes a medieval fantasy steeped in mystery and a haunting and hopeful tale of transformation and found family.

Born with paper-white skin, Martino is an outcast. To the villagers, albinism is more than a curiosity—it’s a curse. Bullied and shunned, Martino seeks refuge in the deep woods—and finds it in Viviana. Powerful and beautiful, Viviana belongs to a sisterhood of outcast women. Martino is welcomed into the fold and, drawing on the magic of the forest, is reborn.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250424525
Publisher:	First Second
Publication date:	04/01/2025
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	192
File size:	80 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	14 - 18 Years

About the Author

Born in Modena, Italy, Irene Marchesini quickly realized that while she loved cartoons and comics, she also had and all-encompassing passion for writing. She attend the International School of Comics in Reggio Emilia, focusing on scriptwriting. She then tried her hand at a career as cartoonist through small local projects. Her collaboration with Carlotta Dicataldo became a reality with Rebis, their first creation together.

Carlotta DiCataldo was born in Modena, Italy, and currently lives in Bologna. After finishing her studies at the International School of Comics in Reggio Emilia, she debuted as an illustrator and cartoonist in 2017. She has worked with Disney, Dark Horse, Dupuis, Petit à Petit. In 2021, she started teaching cartooning and manga at the Scuola Romana dei Fumetti. In her spare time, she collects art-books and raises beetles.

Irene Marchesini, born in Modena, Italy, in 1994, quickly realized that, as well as her immeasurable love for cartoons and comics, she had an all-encompassing passion for writing to contend with. She completely ignored this vital need of hers until she decided to attend the International School of Comics in Reggio Emilia, focusing on scriptwriting. She then tried her hand at a career as cartoonist through small local projects, which she later opted to cast aside when her collaboration with Carlotta Dicataldo became a reality with Rebis, their first
creation together.

Carlotta DiCataldo was born in Modena, Italy, in 1994 and currently lives in Bologna. After finishing her studies at the International School of Comics in Reggio Emilia, she debuts as an illustrator and cartoonist in 2017. In 2018, she works with Disney, Dark Horse, Dupuis, Petit à Petit and illustrates the thirty-third episode of Monster Allergy. In 2021 she starts teaching cartooning and manga at the Scuola Romana dei Fumetti. Meanwhile, her artistic collaboration with her friend and colleague Irene Marchesini becomes a reality and she publishes Rebis with BAO Publishing in 2023. In her spare time, she collects art-books and raises beetles.

Born in Rome, Carla Roncalli di Montorio grew up amid siblings and languages. She since spent twenty years in the UK, where she completed her degree in Classics and
worked with an Oxford publisher, before returning to her Italian roots in 2011 and deciding to devote herself to her original love for translation. She has translated over 130 Italian graphic novels over the last ten years.

Editorial Reviews

"Lush, evocative illustrations draw readers effortlessly into this world of pain, retribution, magic, kinship, and love." —Kirkus, starred review

"This breathtaking coming-of-age tale encapsulates queer and feminine experiences that will resonate with teen readers looking for a sense of belonging in the world. A captivating and empathetic pick for fans of historical fantasy." —Booklist, starred review

"Dicataldo and Marchesini form a cohesive mood for the tale by mixing dark and light in both word and color." —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

★ 2025-05-09
In this translated graphic novel from Italy, Martino, who’s shunned for being different, is embraced by found family and reborn into a new identity.

In a small medieval European village, a child is born with albinism on the same day that two accused witches are burned at the stake, due to rumors that they were lovers. Martino’s cruel father, Girolamo, speaks of banishment but the protection of a defiant mother saves the baby—for a time. Eventually Girolamo agrees to the villagers’ demands to get rid of the “cursed” child. But little Martino escapes to the forest before this can happen, meeting Viviana, one of the burned witches who has mysteriously risen from the dead. Living reclusively, she takes Martino—who chooses the new name Rebis and finds joy in wearing gowns—under her wing, and they form a loving bond. When Rebis’ beloved sister, Maria, marries, the child risks being spotted by Girolamo and the villagers and attends the wedding. But Rebis is recognized and shunned again: “If you ever come back, we’ll burn you at the stake. Like vermin….” Lush, evocative illustrations draw readers effortlessly into this world of pain, retribution, magic, kinship, and love. This complex story invites and rewards repeated readings, with new treasures to discover each time within both dramatic text and cinematic artwork.

Haunting yet filled with warmth, this luminous story of identity and belonging will fascinate readers. (note from the author and illustrator, art gallery)(Graphic fantasy. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews