Lou Lubie is a French graphic novelist known for exploring emotions, identity, and social issues. Originally from Réunion Island, she gained recognition with A Fox in my Brain, a candid story about bipolar disorder. She has published twelve books and founded Forum Dessiné, a digital art platform that has brought together thousands of illustrators since 2008.

★ " A woman recounts the complicated history of her hair in Lou Lubie's fascinating graphic novel The Roots of My Hair.

On Reunion Island, near Madagascar, Rose lives among people from a number of ethnic backgrounds. Still, she never feels like she fits in because of her light skin and kinky Black hair. As Rose gets older, she endures painful, expensive treatments to emulate the dominant styles. After years of suffering, she reclaims her natural hair; in doing so, she achieves a sense of peace.

Rose's story is fused with research on hair. For instance, in a memorable scene, Rose's employer says that her hair "looks unprofessional"; it's a devastating blow to her self-confidence. Alongside this, the book forwards arguments regarding the unfairness of the mental, physical, and financial costs demanded of women with coily hair.

Within the exemplary illustrations, Rose is seen at a variety of ages, with the crucial differences in her hair textures and styles made apparent. Clear, interesting infographics about hair and history appear too, including a step-by-step review of the process of hair growth and examples of powerful Black women who use hair relaxers to fit cultural ideals. Such historical context is both enlightening and disturbing: A striking visual array of popular styles during the twentieth century is used to illustrate that Black women have often faced prejudice for keeping their hair natural.

The Roots of My Hair is an engrossing graphic novel about the history and marginalization of Black women's hairstyles.

PETER DABBENE (May / June 2026)" - Foreword (STARRED review)

★ "With all of the wonderful children's picture books being written about Black girls' hair, this is a welcome addition for adults." - Booklist (STARRED review)

"The enlightening English-language debut from French cartoonist Lubie (A Fox in my Brain) takes on ethnic identity and beauty norms with passion and vulnerability. Rose, a biracial girl, lives on Réunion Island near Madagascar with her parents and brothers. She loathes her "hideous, unruly mane" and envies the popular "zoreil" (mainland French immigrant) girls at school. Intense bullying by classmates ("Did you do your hair with a firecracker?") leads Rose to brutally cut her locks, which her mother then shaves off. The extreme style incites a retrospective journey through Rose's anxiety-riddled collegiate years in Paris, where she finds "a woman's appearance is a constant subject of unnecessary commentary" as she wears weaves, relaxers, and braids. Cheeky infographics and testimonials intercut the rounded, expressive and classically cartoony comics that show manga influences, drawn in appealing earth tones. The factoids--detailing the percentage differences in the gender-based prices of haircuts, or the exploitation supporting the global beauty industry--underscore gut-punching emotional revelations. The research interrupts the flow a touch too often, but comedic visual beats enliven the stuttering pace and showcase Lubie's fondness for expressive anime flourishes. Rose's self-acceptance arrives in a heartfelt full-circle moment that affirms those who've wrestled with their own complex heritage. This is for fans of Ebony Flowers's Hot Comb and the graphic edition of Stamped from the Beginning. (May 2026)" - Publishers Weekly

Publishers Weekly graphic novel Summer Pick 2026