La prova dei cinque petali
(The five petal test) Book not yet available in English
Summary:
Tian is a chosen one, destined by his father for a future as an emperor’s guard and therefore immersed in kung fu. Jin is a girl with no past and a future yet to be invented, a simple street artist whose heart beats for kung fu. Jin and Tian know that whoever succeeds in the fearsome challenge of the Five Petals of the Plum Blossom will have the honour of becoming an emperor’s guard. And many great warriors have failed.
Their destinies cross paths unexpectedly, balancing on sharp poles, between mistakes to learn from, attempts at redemption and the desire to be themselves.
Edited by: Centro MeTRa - Università di Bologna (Italy)
Comment:
In this highly readable graphic novel, the glorious and noble martial art of kung fu intertwines with a story of friendship, of liberation and redemption, of kindness becoming strength. The world of kung fu and China serve as the backdrop for the adventures of the two protagonists, Jin and Tian, who are in search of themselves. She makes a living as an acrobat in a circus; he is preparing to face the arduous and dangerous Five Petals challenge he has been admitted to, determined not to let his father down, even though he is not really sure about it. When Jin’s circus troupe arrives in the city of Tian, the boy is enchanted by her acrobatics. After talking and getting to know each other, they discover that they are a lot alike and decide to train together, exchanging advice, skills and arts: acrobatics and kung fu share, after all, the same commitment, concentration, determination, agility, perseverance, strength and humility. To become skilled in both arts, they discover that no choice, if made consciously, is worse than another. But above all, they learn that making mistakes does not mean failing but having more chances to find their own way. Friendship allows Jin and Tian to overcome the limitations imposed on their freedoms, to become more self-aware and to confront the past. The two young people thus challenge long-established traditions, relationships and stereotypes.
Paolina Baruchello’s clear, concise, gentle yet powerful words and Andrea Rivola’s warm illustrations, with their shades of purple and orange and their constantly moving lines, draw us into a story that opens up to the discovery of oneself and one’s desires, to the awareness of one’s fears, comforting us in our imperfection. “This graphic novel not only plunges us in a far-off China, but also helps us understand that, in the end, everyone builds their own way of being in the world. A book that speaks to us of the courage to live and the madness of pushing beyond our limits” (Igiaba Scego, Internazionale).