The Eternal Smile: Three Stories (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
Three separate stories, nice little stories, a little uneven. The first one was intriguing, but the resolution was a bit simplistic--a young member of the king's guard is having great luck in saving the kingdom and winning the maiden, but he sees odd things and his reality is sort of coming apart. The second one was a somewhat heavy-handed parable--Uncle Greenbax the frog is very greedy, and he corrupts nice things to get more money, and eventually, in an odd way, he learns what really matters. Kind of. It was interesting, something unusual, but it had a Point.The third story was my favorite, about a very, very meek girl who develops an online relationship with a Nigerian prince who just needs a bit more of her savings to turn his life around, and then they can be together. It was sweet and touching and a little unexpected. Very much the best of the lot. Fantastic graphic novel told in three short stories, each with a different style of storytelling and illustration. The connecting theme has to do with taking action to make dreams become reality rather than wasting so much time fantasizing about what you wish your life was like instead. In each story, creativity and imagination are used in both positive and negative ways and The Eternal Smile explores the consequences of each. Couldn't put this down and haven't stopped thinking about it since. Most appropriate for older teens.
What do You think about The Eternal Smile: Three Stories (2009)?
Great fun and fanciful, yet philosophical...I'll definitely be reading more from Yang and Kim.
—Boss
The stories are quirky but I especially love the different styles of illustration throughout.
—alfredl
3 great stories teaching very real lessons. A fast and enjoyable read.
—Kirsty
