Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
“The Girl and the Glim” by India Swift is a cute graphic novel that follows Bridgette, a young girl who has just moved to a new town and is eager to make new friends. I immediately loved Bridgette’s spirit. Unlike most protagonists in ‘new girl in town’ stories, who tend to whine, cry, sulk, and generally be miserable about moving, Bridgette is optimistic about starting over. While she’s clearly sad about leaving her best friends behind, she hopes for reunion meetings where they can catch up (though we know that’s not really happening, is it?).
At first, I wasn’t sure what “The Girl and the Glim” would be about, but it centers on Bridgette’s struggles. Despite her positive outlook, she is bullied at her new school by her classmates and she quietly endures everything. In one incident, after a bully locks her in a room, Bridgette escapes through a window and finds herself in a forest, where she encounters a monstrous bear composed of tiny black creatures she calls ‘Glum.’ However, unlike these scary black monsters, she also discovers a shiny little creature that looks like a mix between a spider and a dandelion. Instead of dwelling on the bullying, Bridgette focuses on capturing the black monsters with the help of her new sparkly companion, whom she names ‘Glim.’ Hence the title – The Girl and the Glim.
The artwork by India Swift is the best part of this quick read. Unfortunately, the graphic novel ends abruptly, without explaining who or what the black creatures are. I had assumed it was a standalone story, but it’s not, so fair warning – maybe hold off until Volume 2 is in sight. However, if you don’t mind open-ended climaxes, the comic has some super fun illustrations with a real Cartoon Network vibe – think Dexter’s Laboratory, with Bridgette channeling Dee Dee’s energy. She’s not as wild or crazy, but instead is a lot more innocent, nice, and cheery. Her parents are both mental health professionals, who do sense something is amiss with Bridgette’s behavior, but don’t really intervene in the story so far.
Rating: 3 on 5.
Read Next: What If We Were 2 Review – Nat, Marie, and Madness
Also Read: The Perfect Couple’s Ending is Totally Different in the Book! (Audio Version Below)