By Karin from Illinois

I’m not about to turn fifty, nor am I considering adoption (or motherhood, for that matter), nor am I familiar with Maxine, Marian Henley’s comic strip. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed her newest project–the graphic novel, The Shiniest Jewel. She writes (and draws) about adopting her son, William Igor, from Russia and all of the ensuing drama that she welcomed into her life as a result. Although Henley’s adoption application was approved, she was not able to adopt the first child she was promised, and during a subsequent interview with her agency she was told that she was not an ideal “family” for a young child as she was older, single, and worked full-time. Henley managed to traverse these disappointments and setbacks with grace (for the most part) as well as frustration, and her perseverance eventually brought William Igor into her life.

Marian Henley’s simplistic black and white drawings really lend themselves well to her story. Her self-portraits are spot on (check out her website for a comparison!) and she manages to convey a lot of emotion (as well as humor) with her well-chosen words and images. Henley’s story should resonate with a lot of people–regardless of whether or not they share her situation or experience–as it is primarily about welcoming love and life into one’s home and heart.

Filed under: Reader Submitted Stories • THE SHINIEST JEWEL Advance Reviews