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Reviewed by:
  • Lint Boy by Aileen Leijten
  • April Spisak
Leijten, Aileen Lint Boy; written and illus. by Aileen Leijten. Clarion/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017 [128p]
ISBN 978-0-544-52860-4 $16.99
Reviewed from galleys         R Gr. 3-5

In this quirky graphic novel, a collection of lint, buttons, and discarded wool in the back of a dryer transforms into a charmer of a sentient boy who discovers all sorts of life lessons, both perilous and wonderful, once he leaves the safety of his dryer home. Lint Boy has a friend, Lint Bear, but he's still dissatisfied and tired of hiding each time the door opens, and he wonders what lies beyond the dryer. Unfortunately, it is Lint Bear, who was content to stay secreted away forever, who gets grabbed with the laundry, and Lint Boy has to become a hero to save his bestie and countless other floppy, stuffed creatures from a woman who believes they are actually alive—and who hates them. The plot is absurd, but it's so captivating that readers likely won't spend an instant questioning that they are emotionally invested in lint. Creepy, atmospheric illustrations ramp up the drama, particularly whenever Tortura, the cruel woman, is on the scene. Washed colors, prim old-lady clothing, and plain, frills-free dolls create a timeless vibe, suggesting something that could be contemporary or set much earlier. Trim, memorable, and poignant, this graphic novel surely wins the prize for best book about living lint.

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