Pardalita is a beautifully illustrated book that combines poetry and the graphic novel form. Translated from Portuguese, it is a simple but lovely story of sixteen year old Raquel. She lives in a small town where everyone knows everyone. Longing for a little more space to breath, she meets Pardalita. 

This is a slice of life story, and some parts don't feel very connected as a result. The overarching mood that I felt was that of gentle observation. I longed for a bit more connection to the characters, especially their emotions. But the beautiful art kept me reading, and I'm glad I did. The ending was superb.