A darkly funny, coming-of-age graphic novel about childhood courage, imagination, and rebellion - told through the eyes of a fearless 6-year-old in 1980s Romania.
In a working-class neighborhood shaped by the so-called "Golden Age," young Lorinel escapes daily frustrations by embarking on a surreal mission: to confront the powerful leader everyone fears... yet everyone pretends to admire.
Along the way, she is "guided" by Father Pop - a tiny, grumpy, pleasure-loving priest whose questionable wisdom and wild stories spark Lorinel’s curiosity about truth, authority, and propaganda. As her sense of justice awakens, Lorinel’s imagination becomes her greatest weapon.
Her journey only grows stranger when a dream about Vlad the Impaler (Dracula) pushes her to return to the presidential palace for answers she’s determined to find.
What she discovers is not what she expected - and it sets her on a path that challenges everything she was taught to believe.
A Graphic Novel for Readers (All Ages) Who Love:
Humor-infused childhood stories
Comic-memoirs with heart and rebellion
Visually rich, slice-of-life adventures
Coming-of-age tales in unusual settings
Satirical, character-driven storytelling
Works like Persepolis, Maus, Fun Home, and The Wall
Why You’ll Love This Book
A unique comic memoir blending humor and emotional depth
A child’s perspective on power, fear, and imagination
Striking visuals that bring absurdity, warmth, and nostalgia to life
A bold mix of satire, childhood innocence, and symbolic encounters
A story that is both deeply personal and universally relatable
Perfect for Fans Of:
Graphic memoirs
Dark humor and satire
Coming-of-age stories
Eastern-European-themed nostalgia comics
Imaginative, surreal storytelling
A darkly humorous, visually driven allegory for fans of Persepolis, Maus, and The Wall.