Alizée fend la bise
(Alizée Lightning-pedals) Book not yet available in English
Summary:
Alizée wants a bicycle for her birthday. But not just any old bike, a racing bike. Unfortunately, her parents, who call her “little fairy,” buy her a pretty little pink bike. Alizée is embarrassed by her “girly bike” and hides it at the dump, where parts of it get stolen. That gives her the opportunity to customise it into a racing bike. At last she can pedal like the wind and earn her new nickname, Alizée Lightning-pedals. [Source: publisher]
Edited by: Université Sorbonne Paris Nord
Comment:
The rhythmical, almost musical language lets the reader share in the girl’s anticipation, disappointment, guilt, and enthusiasm. The pointless differentiation between girls’ and boys’ bikes is undermined by the original transformation of the bike into Alizée’s dream bike, one that is just like her, one that she has chosen and put together herself.