The Graphic Novel “The Lost Sunday” by Ileana Surducan follows the young female protagonist Nina on her quest to find the missing day of the week. Everyone in town knows that Sunday has been stolen by an evil witch but no one is able to muster the courage to confront her. Meanwhile the people of the town work themselves too hard every day resulting in many accidents and mistakes.

While this book is categorized as Middle Grade I can wholeheartedly recommend this book for every age range. I would go as far as to say that this story is even more relevant for adult readers since they tend to neglect their work life balance the most. This story is not only about getting a free day back but focuses on the message of searching for a moment of joy every day of the week and that being productive and relaxed don't have to be mutually exclusive. It discusses values and burnout in a whimsical way that captivated me.

The story is inspired by a mix of old folk and fairy tales from different countries and transforms them to discuss relevant topics. I really appreciated the section in the back of the book explaining the inspirations. Together with the beautiful and expressive illustration style I was absolutely enchanted by this book.

A big thanks to NetGalley and the publisherOni Press for giving me the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Frau Holle was a fairytale I loved as a child because it felt like it showed the value of work that was often overlooked and underappreciated. This beautifully illustrated retelling takes a much needed approach of acknowledging hard work and the potential rewards of it, while also recognising that without a break work becomes a relentless grind where the rewards never come because the work never stops.

Burnout is a very real issue we are faced with today, the pressure upon everyone, adults or children, is so high, and so much of the time the focus is always on motivation to keep going. Stories like this, where the focus is on finding the balance and the joys in life, are so important. Motivation will stem naturally from the moments that make the work worthwhile.

The artstyle here is beautiful and wonderfully expressive, and the use of colour is so well done as we move from the constant unmotivated grind to joy and accomplishment and rest, at last. I would honestly recommend this book to everyone, I don't think there's a single person out there who couldn't benefit from this message, addressed in such a charming way.

*Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*

I really liked this fairytale adaptation! The illustrations were gorgeous and the wolves were so cute. I like how different versions of the tale along with the author's experience were combined really well

The residents of a cluttered little town have endless work to do, for their Sunday is missing. But no matter how much effort they put in, everything comes out feeling pointless. At last, one brave girl descends into the underground to find the witch who has taken Sunday. She meets her doppelganger, who insists on getting as much rest and "personal care" as possible.

This whimsical story has touchstones in many classic fairy tales, but it more broadly speaks to the need for balance in rest and work. The residents of the town are burnt out after endless days of toil, but an opposing character is the doppelganger, who is so committed to self-care that she appears selfish. The book is not subtle with its themes, but because of that, it can be very playful in its interpretations. The text is readable, the scenes dynamic, and the art truly a joy to behold. While it's currently Thursday morning and I've a ways to go, I'm now looking forward to my own Sunday quite a bit.

Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

What a sweet and unique art style! I thought it felt a lot like fairytales I read growing up and it turns out it did take inspiration from variations of the story around the world. Making time to rest and care for yourself and spend meaningful time with others feel like such important values to instill these days. The emphasis on community is a lovely thing to see. Character designs are are quirky and fun; I loved Nina's expressive hair and her shadow version's colorful attire. I think this would make a great addition to a middle grade graphic novel library collection.

The Lost Sunday is a beautiful tale of a girl searching for the forgotten peace of a Sunday - life filled with endless work, chores and tasks to be completed. On the journey to find.a day of rest, she completes small tasks which reap greater rewards later - a beautiful tale of mindfulness, and that to accomplish tasks allows for rest in the longer term.

Thank you Oni Press for sending this copy on NetGalley.

In a desolate town, where dust swirls through the air like the remnants of forgotten dreams, Nina struggles to navigate a life overshadowed by the relentless presence of six fierce wolves, each representing the burdens of the week—Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Each day is a grueling cycle of monotonous chores and tedious responsibilities, leaving little room for joy or respite. The townspeople whisper of a mythical seventh day, a day meant for rest and rejuvenation—Sunday. However, it is widely believed that an evil witch has cast her wicked spell, stealing this sacred day and locking it away in a dark, hidden chamber, ensuring that no one can reclaim the peace it once offered. As Nina endures the weariness of her daily grind, she begins to feel a flicker of determination ignite within her heart. The weight of the wolves' demands grows heavier with each passing day, and she realises that she can no longer accept a life dictated by their relentless chase. Resolute and filled with a newfound sense of purpose, Nina decides that enough is enough. She sets forth on an ambitious quest, armed with courage and a desire to reclaim her town's stolen day of rest. But the journey ahead will not be easy; she must confront the malevolent witch, navigate treacherous paths, and face the unknown dangers that lie ahead. Will Nina possess the strength and cunning to vanquish the witch and restore the lost Sunday, or will the shadows of the past continue to loom over her town, trapping everyone in a never-ending cycle of toil? The fate of her community hangs in the balance as she embarks on her daring adventure.

I like the way when Nina finally decides to take a rest from these mountainous tasks – Hide and Seek with Monday, Sand castles with Tuesday, Marshmallows with Wednesday, Stars with Thursday, Drawing with Friday, Fireworks with Saturday, and then a pillow fight! Would anyone like to join me in this adventure?

I love the illustrations in this book. They are wonderful. I also love the characters that Nina works with all the six days and I will be listing it here with their place of work – Ma Selena (The Great Garden), Uncle Martin (The Clockmaker), Chef Woden (The Cook), Professor Julyne (The Lab), Master Peter (Fix The Houses), Lady Artemis (The Throwaways). Imagine working with all these people and learning so many things!

This book will be released on June 2025. So go and grab yourself a copy of this if interested!

I really appreciated this book’s perspective on how we treat our days and weeks. It demonstrated the way we see each day as something to pack to-dos into every hour, seemingly never resting and leaving us exhausted of the weekly cycle. There’s no joy in doing this, and it shows the young person getting progressively more disillusioned and tired, so much so she tries to see why they have no Sunday (in many cultures known as “the day of rest”).

Since this is for a middle grade/young child, I’m not sure they will fully understand what the book is getting at unless they have a caregiver explaining it to them (maybe an older middle grade child would? I’m not sure), so I’m not sold on age appropriateness. I do think that the illustration style was phenomenal, and I appreciated the diversity of characters. There are characters of different body shapes, sizes, and capabilities as well as dress and faith. I loved the contrast of the bright colored pages (seems to be when she’s doing something that is meaningful to her) vs. the muted pages (where she’s doing the dreaded things/chores) - such a nice touch! Overall, a lovely book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for me to review!

HEHEHHEE THIS WAS SO CUTE

Truly the cutest little fairy tale remix with lovely pastel-y illustrations

10/10 love this so much

I absolutely adored this story and the advice it gives in making a little time each day for something you love to do and creating that free time.

The illustrations are beautifully done and had a comforting feel to them. The colours of the book reflect the moods of the story and each page is a treasure trove of details.

The author talks through the original/ traditional fairytales that The Lost Sunday is built upon at the end and this really intrigued me.

It's a beautiful addition to the bookshelf and would enchant any bookish heart at whatever age.

A huge thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and fall in love with: The Lost Sunday

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC for this graphic novel - this did not have any impact on my review.
I loved this!

This is a very short children's graphic novel based on Frau Holle. I love the story of Frau Holle, and this was done very well in such a short novel. The drawings were absolutely adorable, and I would've adored this book as a kid. This is suitable for all ages (since I enjoyed it very much) and the story is so endearing.

I really like the editorial choices of Oni press, it's become an argument to convince me to read a book!
This is a retelling of 2 stories, one German ‘Frau Holle’ and the other Romanian ‘The old man's wise daughter’. Remixed with modern problems, burnout and work overload to the point of no longer taking time for oneself. All this while sharing the value of work in spite of everything.

How horrible it would be to have no more Sundays!

I really liked the representation of the days of the week as wolves and the explanations at the end, which are always interesting.
It was short and fun to read, with charming drawings (long live the cats who make pancakes) for young and old alike.

Stunningly illustrated with a beautiful story that harks back to the old fairytales, without being too old fashioned. It has a wonderful set of morals and delightful characters. Just beautiful throughout!

What a wonderful book! Beautifully illustrated, this is a masterclass in storytelling, reshaping a fairytale for the modern world with perfectly delivered extended metaphor. This touched my soul, reminding me of the mountains I so often create for myself. I will be gifting to many friends who need to hear its message. If you are trudging through exhaustion, burnout or pressures, then let this soothe your soul and help you to find your own treasure. Thank you, Ileana Surducan, for sharing yourself and your talents in this way.

A quick and wholesome read. Ileana transported me to a new universe that felt like a warm hug. Starting at the colours and ending on the plot itself, from the beginning to the end I felt intrigued and welcomed in this world.
Could not recommend more for a little break on a busy day 😉

The Lost Sunday by Ileana Surducan is a fascinating and beautifully illustrated children's book that touches on the themes of rest, joy and work. At first, the reader may be confused about the relationship between the wolves and the days of the week, but as Surducan leads the reader and the main character along the way, we begin to understand the relationships and the deeper meaning behind the characters. I can see this book being used in a multitude of ways in a lower elementary classroom, and it is a book I will definitely be picking up. Thank you so much to NetGalley for this copy of The Lost Sunday to enjoy!

Be still, my heart! I adore this retelling! In Germany we grow up with the fairy tale of Frau Hölle and at first I was a little grumpy that she supposedly is a witch. But like in fairy tales it wasn't as it seemed at first and had some other layers of the story.

I love the introduction of the weekdays and how they were later groomed by Nina. Those illustrations are so beautiful that I want one tattooed on my body! The twist of the Double as a counterpart to Nina, the latter always simply doing the work because it has to be done, was lovable. I'm always a little bit conflicted about the message of "doing nothing brings you nowhere" because as a person with mental health problems I think it is always responsible to take breaks.
Of course, the Double is in this iteration not only "lazy" but actively letting others to the work to profit of it. So it felt much less condemning for people who want but can't work as hard as others.

What I also love is the community Nina has - it stands behind her decision to get Sunday back and it waits for her because she is an important part of their town.

I will be happily reading more by Ileana Surducan!

Again I chose to ask for this on NetGalley because of the beautiful artwork on the cover, and the story sounded really interesting.

Both didn’t disappoint, the artwork is glorious throughout and has an energy and life that really makes you embrace the storytelling full-heartedly, exploring each page for all the lovely detail that expands the story from the words to much much more.

The story takes us to the world of Nina, a world where there is no free time only drudgery, each day is full of work, but work that is never satisfying or completed. There are always mistakes or ways of making more work.

and most importantly of all there is never a Sunday, a day to rest, a day to relax, a day of frivolity and food in your best clothes.

Nina sets out to find what has happened to Sunday and see if she can restore this to the town.

Full of wonderful characters which support Nina there is a strong fairytale feel to this story, to be more precise a Slavic influence, especially in dress and the Wolves but this there is also a strong thread of this in Germanic storytelling.

I wolfed this down and had to go back and read it again immediately, this is also a book I’m going to have to buy for myself as a keeper, loved it!

I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fantastic story and loved the artwork too! I need a copy for the library and a copy for home so I can read it over and over. All ages need to read this book and appreciate a daily times to rest and relax for a moment.
Thank you so much NetGalley for introducing me to this lovely book 📕 ❤️

This is a wonderful tale about how important it is to have some time off in your busy life. Beautifully illustrated, this is a lesson everyone should take to heart. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this