Invisible Differences TP Review

 

Invisible Differences TP Review

Writer: Julie Dachez

Artist & Colorist: Mademoiselle Caroline

Translator: Edward Gauvin

Editors: Amanda Meadows & Grace Scheipeter

Designer: Sarah Rockwell

Cover Designer: Rachel Dukes

Sensitivity Read by: Ashanti Fortson

Publisher: Oni Press

Price: $19.99

Release Date: September 9, 2025

 

Marguerite doesn’t feel like she fits in. Still, she works hard. The twenty-seven-year-old arrives early to work. Monsieur Martineau, her overall boss, praises her efforts. Yet Marguerite finds working with others difficult, and she struggles in her personal life. Why must Marguerite suffer so? Can anyone help her? Let's grab a flight to France, leap into Invisible Differences TP, and see!

 

Story

Marguerite finds comfort in routine. So, she takes the same route to work each morning. She eats many of the same foods each day. And Marguerite avoids opening the mail, anxious about what each envelope might contain. Her boyfriend knows her preferences. Still, like the other people in her life, Florian makes jokes that Marguerite finds offensive. His jokes also confuse her. Florian wants to put Marguerite at ease. He seeks to help her interact more with society. Yet Marguerite prefers a quiet evening at home, surrounded by her pets, to noisy outings with people.

 

In Invisible Differences TP, Marguerite cares about the world. She eats carefully, speaks truthfully, and shares her values with others. Marguerite dislikes small talk, socializing, and parties. While Monsieur Martineau gently points out that these are also aspects of her job, her immediate boss insists that Marguerite make a greater effort to be a team player.

 

Society celebrates individual achievements. Yet, it also urges conformity. Marguerite wants to please the people in her life. But the things that don't bother them, or that they enjoy, stress her out. The more Marguerite tries to join in, the more stressed she becomes. When she realizes that she's failing everyone in her life, Marguerite seeks out answers.

 

In Julie Dachez's story, an internet search yields answers that the health care industry never provided. More importantly, it gives her hope. Still, Marguerite has a long road ahead before she can become the hero to herself and others she desires to be.

 

Art

Mademoiselle Caroline lends a hand-drawn Children's Book vibe to Invisible Differences TP. Her graceful lines and quirky characters propel you through this nearly 200-page graphic novel for teens and adults. Settings like the bakery where Marguerite buys her usual Spelt roll, and the streets with planter boxes adorning the upper-story windows, place readers in France. Most, such as her modern, open-plan workplace and her apartment, could be anywhere, just like those sharing Marguerite's struggles.

 

Like her art, Mademoiselle Caroline uses color sparingly. Many pages are black and white, with perhaps one or two items of color. As Marguerite’s stress level rises, words creep into the panels in Invisible Differences TP. The handwritten cursive words and sounds slowly surround Marguerite, until even the beeping and humming of office equipment overwhelms her. Surrounded by a storm of words, small white lines swirl around Marguerite. They build like a Category Five hurricane, until Marguerite seeks out a calmer environment.

 

The lettering is also hand-printed. The thin, delicate letters reside in white, gray, or colored balloons. Letter size ranges from tiny to generous. The arrows connect dialogue, while dots link Marguerite to her thoughts. If the font and color schemes of the lettering stress your eyes, take a break, and return when you feel rested.

 

Invisible Differences TP contains valuable insights into how Autism affects each person differently. Who knows? Perhaps, like Marguerite, you'll emerge from reading the book with a better understanding of what makes you tick. Thanks to Oni Press for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

We all want to fit in. Some of us spend our lives searching for where we belong. Invisible Differences TP helps us understand how we can better love and empower others who don’t fit into our neatly defined categories.

 

Rating 9/10

 

For more info see my Invisible Differences Spotlight.