Cover Image: Yasmina and the Potato Eaters Part 1

Yasmina and the Potato Eaters Part 1

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Member Reviews

This was SO cute! I read this very quickly, and found myself literally laughing at the story. Yasmina loves to cook, and she cooks every single night for her father, who works at a fast food joint called Frutti Tritti. The local rival gardeners love to give Yasmina their vegetables, until the day when the land is plowed down to make a potato garden (hence, the title).
I can’t say enough about this graphic novel. The colors of it are beyond pretty, and I loved Yasmina. She was very quirky, and her love for her father was so sweet. I love when books show family love, it just warms my heart. I was actually sad when I finished this book, because I liked it that much. I highly recommend this for when you’re in a reading slump, or for a cozy rainy day read. I am definitely going to be waiting until the day part two comes out.

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This was really cute and I did really enjoy it. It was quite short so I felt like the story was over very quickly and it was more of the first part of a story than a complete story in itself so I don't know how to rate it yet overall, but it was a good start. Mannaert does a lot of interesting things with his art, he does things like a full page cross section of a building showing all the different apartments and characters, and you can visibly see things like the smell of the chips on a character that works at a chip shop and the affect it has on people as he walks past them, like in a cartoon. There are a lot of fun things like that. Overall, it was a very different kind of graphic novel than I'm used to reading and I'm excited to see where the story goes.

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I really enjoyed this book and can not wait for Part 2.

I really enjoyed the plot line of the book. Having a girl doing her best to care for her family at a young age and the struggle of living in a place with limited fresh food. How a girl can be passionate about cooking at the culinary level.

I like the illustration style as well. A picture is worth a thousand words and several pages are just illustrations. Letting the drawings speak for themselves. The author is telling a story with so many different layers but it is done in such a simplistic and natural way that the story can be read and understood by anyone. I never thought I would appreciate a little graphic novel as much as I do this one.

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Eleven-year-old schoolgirl Yasmina loves cooking. She is creative, knowledgeable, and above all, passionate about food. The lunchboxes she prepares for her Dad are little works of art, although his co-workers do not recognize her creativity and try to convince Yasmina's father try more mundane burgers and ketchup. Yasmina is always on a lookout for fresh ingredients and luckily she has two gardener friends. One day, however, she learns that the community area with their gardens gets replaced by a field with strange potatoes. Yasmina is desperate to find affordable vegetables, but, first, she must solve the mystery of the addictive potatoes.
I loved the characters in this story. Yasmina is adorable- she is so strong-willed and caring at the same time. Yasmina's father obviously loves her very much and appreciates the way she takes care of him. The story is refreshingly original and entertaining, while the artwork is simply gorgeous.
Thank you to NetGalley and Europe Comics for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

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I loved this book! The illustrations were beautiful and the food looked delicious.
This is a fun and light middle grade read. Yasmina is a passionate chef and foodie. The story follows her search for fresh produce to feed her and her father who works at some dreary fast food place. I would definitely recommend this to tweens!

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Yasmina and The Potato Eaters Part 1
By Wauter Mannaert
Europe Comics

Yasmina is enthusiastic about vegetables and all stages of their use, from growth to prep to meal, so much so that she wants to replace all the academic portions of her school with classes that allow for more time with the food. She’s an inventive cook who prepares delicious meals for her father, Omran, who works at a fast food restaurant and shows his support and pride by easily digging into the lunches Yasmina makes for him rather than stuffing himself with hamburgers and french fries.

Yasmina is also a peacemaker in the world of food extremes, trying to help Cyril, a pesticide user, and Marco, an all-natural gardener, find common ground and accept that their differences are fine.

But there are other forces in the world, outside of Yasmina’s influence and therefore impervious to her persuasive charms. It’s here that the book gets into social and political criticism by addressing the proliferation of industrial food processing to feed the world and the way it trains taste buds to expect lower quality even during hunger pangs, and of the scarcity of access for fresh food, leading the danger of it becoming out of the reach of ordinary people, something just for the wealthy. But it also takes it further, to the point where designer food takes precedence over fresh with even the upwardly mobile, thrusting Yasmina’s idyllic gastronomic existence into a commercially-driven, Frankenfood-dominated dystopia.



I suppose it’s easy to read this as a criticism of GMOs, and you can certainly do that if you choose, but I think the wider point is about the commodification of food and the separation that much of humanity feels from its origins, which the marketing of GMOs is definitely in alignment with, regardless of your views on the science (Disclaimer: I’m fine with GMOs, just as I am fine with organic farming).

The marketing has turned food into something more than what it is — a symbol for lifestyle or ease or status or technology or even interaction with other humans — and Yasmina’s story works as advocacy for direct interaction with food. A personal relationship with food, you might say, one that includes recipes as an understanding of culture and history, and home-cooked meals as interaction between people, expressions of affection and concern, and invitations to welcoming someone into your personal space.



Yasmina’s world itself is stunning, filled with exciting overviews of the landscapes both urban and rural, capturing the intricacies of both the gardens Yasmina frequents and the city in which she wanders. Alternately, Wauter, whose art was so exemplary on the recent Weegee bio by Max de Radigues, is genius at focusing in on the physical humor of a single moment, elongating it into absurd proportions and making Yasmina’s world burst with energy regardless of the vantage point the reader is offered. The book features dialogue but also has many extended moments of pantomime that guide us through the world around Yasmina, as well as her own processes of cooking and other types of engagement.

This is a great book for kids and adults alike. Younger folks will appreciate the energy and humor of the story and the complexity of the artwork. Grown-ups will respond to all that too, and also the satirical element, and the opportunity to incorporate the book as a dialogue-started about multiple subjects with their kids.

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This is a fun little middle grade graphic novel about a young girl who loves cooking fancy food, but runs into an ingredient supply problem when a mysterious company suddenly kicks her friends out of their veggie plots. With no access to cheap produce, Yasmina must find a way to continue with her passion.

Meanwhile, strange things start happening when the mysterious company starts producing a potato product, and Yasmina's neighbour clearly has something strange going on in her secretive gardening shed.

The story is fun and the art is very nice. My only real complaint is that this volume ends mid-story, and I'm not sure why the two parts aren't combined into one book.

4 stars for Yasmina and the Potato Eaters Part 1, but note that my rating would probably have been lower if I didn't have Part 2 waiting for me when I finished this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and Europe Comics for providing me with a DRC of this book.

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It took some time for me to get on the right wavelength to enjoy this book, but I did – more or less. Translated into English while the ink was still wet on the original French/Belgian editions it concerns a young gourmand, who has lost her mother but cooks for her father daily. She loves food, and he loves her food too, as he is surrounded by the stinky fries of the fast food joint he works in. But something evil is going to hit the neighbourhood… It's no surprise people are complaining about the blurb giving too much away, when it's for a full-length graphic novel, and not only this Part 1. Yup, this publisher is trying to fleece two purchases out of one title. Humbug. Still, at least there is enough intrigue left-over to make the reader return for seconds, and a great moral when all is said and done. But the many wordless scenes, montage scenes and stupid argument scenes could put people right off from the start. An acquired taste, then, but one I grew to more or less savour. Three and a half stars.

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This was such a unique little story. I was in love with the whole world and Yazmina and how talented she was at cooking despite being so young. I don't think I even knew how to cook basic rice at that age let along think about cooking it. But she knew about fresh ingredients and how to utilize them to her advantage. Creating dishes for her and her father. And the fact she made lunch for her dad was too cute.
Everything about this story was so perfect for me. It's a quick read with a great story.

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This was such a pleasant little surprise. I was immediately drawn in when I saw the title and the cover of this graphic novel on Netgalley, and the blurb promised a unique story. I was expecting a longer standalone, partly because the blurb sort of tells you the whole story for this novel, leading you to expect a continuation and conclusion beyond what is in the blurb. This doesn't happen, so be aware that this novel may be a bit shorter than you expected, especially since it seems to only be the set-up for the main plot - it ends where Yasmina's adventure is just starting to begin. This is the only reason it gets 4 stars.

The reason it took a whole novel to set up the plot, I noticed, was because the story was told at just the right pace. Mannaert took the time needed to introduce the characters, setting, context, and conflict at a speed that allows the reader to get comfortable with these characters, like them, get invested with them, that you don't realise that you've read right through to the end. In hindsight, this story was told like the perfect pilot episode, meant to draw you in to Yasmina's world.

Another aspect that I really enjoyed from reading this graphic novel were the illustrations! They are so beautiful and detailed and immersive that you can definitely see the characters animated in your head. There are no panels; the story flows page by page and uses space very cleverly so that it's a whole other experience in itself just looking through the art.

The dialogue is also very realistic and congruent with the whole tone of the novel, there is a sense that every aspect of Yasmina's world is well-crafted and thought about. It's light and funny, and offers some great messages about food wrapped up in a heartwarming story about a girl who tries to figure out why everyone in her town is obsessed with a new potato chip product.

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This was a totally adorable and wonderful graphic novel. Yasmina is a great main character, a curious child with a knack for cooking. The artistic style is absolutely beautiful, and the way the panels are laid out adds a little something extra to the story. Great for any food lovers looking for a cute graphic novel!

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Yasmina and the Potato Eaters: Part 1 presents the story of a young chef and her quest to find high quality ingredients for her family meals. The story is impactful though simple, showing us a father struggling to make ends meet and a girl who does what she can to feed the family. It’s interspersed with the story of a mysterious rooftop garden whose owner holds more secrets than she’s willing to admit. We get to see Yasmina falling in love with cooking and food. Her passion weaves through the pages, making for a compelling journey. The story eventually becomes a look at corporate greed and the economy’s intention to wring money out of consumers instead of encouraging them to be healthy. We see a man who makes potatoes as addictive as cigarettes, leading to a frenzy among Yasmina’s neighbors.

I absolutely love the art style of this graphic novel. It’s a beautiful style with intricate details that are never the same twice. Everything flows perfectly, and the representations of daily life are done in such a unique way. A man walking up the stairs is made into a great bit of story as we see the actions of the neighbors on each floor. It’s fascinating to see.

Overall, Yasmina and the Potato Eaters: Part 1 is a great story filled with gorgeous artwork that needs to be experienced. You’ll want to spend some time examining the details and reveling in the artist’s expertise.

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This isn't your normal graphic novel- it sets a high standard for the future of comics and graphic novels.

I liked the way that the panels are not set into regular shapes but form a part of the story, almost as if it is a scene from the larger page rather than being squashed into the shape.

The story line was easy to follow and it is clear how much time and effort went into the illustrations. It was harder to enjoy on a computer but I liked the story enough to recommend buying this title in print form.

I will test this one with my son as well, as he is moving into this stage of reading.

An interesting story, well developed characters and some excellent graphic novel features.

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*Disclaimer: I received this for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't know what to expect going into this but I was pleasantly surprised! The story revolves around food, both the joy of cooking and the growing of it, as well as the commercialisation of food which in turn has an affect on our health. In this first volume there is a hint of a science fiction twist which I'm looking forward to exploring in the second volume.

The illustration style is my preferred art style; it uses bold and colourful but muted tones which just makes it a pleasure to read.

The closest thing I can compare this too is Chew but without the cannibalism and written for children! I just got the same feelings whilst reading especially in terms of the scientifically modified food.

Overall I would highly recommend this and will be diving straight into the second volume!

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Firstly, this is a graphic novel with amazingly beautiful illustrations; more like a comic book.

It starts with a woman experimenting on a potato and cut to- Yasmina and her kitchen!
Yasmina is a school going girl living with her father. She is extremely passionate about cooking and more so cooking with fresh and raw vegetables. She cooks lunch for her father every day who wors at a fast-food joint. His colleagues appreciate Yasmina's beautiful cooking but always criticize her for not including meat in it, which for them is quite essential. But Yasmina's father neglects them and enjoys his healthy diverse meal.
She cannot afford to but most of them so she either sneaks into that woman's garden (which right up her house) or she gets them from her grown-up friends to whom she seldom gives gardening advice. Until one day when all these gardens were demolished and bulldozered by the authorities to grow a different kind of potato that came in many flavors. She goes to the supermarket to get some veggies but all she can see is this new age adulterated and flavored ready-to-eat potato that people were going gaga over!

It ends on an uncertain note and we don't know what might happen next.

I am very intrigued to see how Yasmina changes this situation and keep pursuing her love for cooking.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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A cooking/food related graphic novel will always get my attention, Yasmina loves to cook and she especially loves veggies. The only problem is.. keeping a supply of veggies to satisfy all of her cooking demands. She is resourceful and a problem solver but we’re left to wonder how long that will work for her. Her single dad works hard at the local fast food joint, but they are struggling to get by. I love the scenes where he opens up his lunch at work to a sweet note and something that looks scrumptious. This was just part one and I am curious to see where this goes.

Thanks to the publisher and a Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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This was an unexpectedly pleasant surprise! A quirky, charming graphic novel with art that you'll want more of. And though the panelling style is rather unusual, I eventually found it as charming as everything else. Recommended for all ages.

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I liked the art-style, but personally I felt the story was just a bit too short to feel anything for. It felt like we just established what the story was going to be before the volume was over, so personally I would have preferred it if the volume had been just a bit longer. Still, I am probably going to read the second part when it comes out in English.

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Yasmina absolutely loves food. She's obsessed with cooking, she's obsessed with natural ingredients, she's obsessed with using what nature has given her to nourish her body and to help her friends. She spends all of her time with her nose in a cookbook, her hands in the dirt of the rooftop garden, and a song in her heart. But when her friends' community gardens are destroyed to make way for factories who are planning on mass-producing processed potato products, Yasmina watches her world slowly fall apart.

This is a beautifully illustrated comic book. I really enjoyed reading the first issue, and would be happy to continue to read as each issue is released. The themes in this comic are current and on trend; they really mirror current society in many ways. I think this is a wonderful way of illustrating the point.

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Yasmina and the Potato Eaters (part 1) was a beautiful example of a graphic novel and would be a great introduction for future fans of the genre. I'm personally just getting into graphic novels and am encouraging my students to enjoy the genre for appreciation of both art and storytelling.
I both wanted to race through this to find out what happened, but also slow down and linger over the illustrations. I went back through several times to appreciate the gorgeous artwork with so much movement and character.
I think my students, some of whom are learning English as a second language, would really enjoy this story.
The values of the story are also important. Yasmina strives to make homemade food, and the other characters we get to know in the novel grow their own vegetables, even if they have different opinions on how it should be done!
Without giving away any spoilers, their lifestyles are threatened, and I can't wait for part 2 to find out what happens next!!

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