• 14 Dec, 2025 *

A Dutch graphic novel, also available in French, Polish and Japanese. The title translates into ‘(a) way out’.

The story follows a woman in Poland, Magda, who is in need of an abortion, but can’t receive one in her own country due to legal restrictions, risk of prosecution, and social taboo. This is her story on how she tries to find a way out of her situation, first in Poland, then online, then eventually in the Netherlands. The methods, organizations and resources shown are accurate to life.

Like the afterword states, most stories about abortion center young girls, survivors of rape, or fetuses with severe illnesses. In other words: they focus on either the unfairness of the situation for the child/woman, or on the possible child’s future life being full of suffering, and this makes access to abortion sound reasonable. It’s a way of making the reader sympathetic to the case. This book deviates from that frequently used narrative. Magda is a ‘regular’ adult, she goes to work, she had sex, now she’s pregnant, she doesn’t want a child, the end. That should be enough of a reason. Abortion is essential healthcare.

The art style of this graphic novel is great. I think it’s water colors and colored pencils? What I loved most was the paneling. It’s so original and different on almost every page. It always suits the mood (just like the colors used). Frantic panels that quickly follow each other in a panic. Cozy and sweet, but also claustrophobic panels that promote secrecy when avoiding the topic in the family home. Large, stretched-out panels in the flat Dutch landscape. Calm in quiet moments of reflection, swirls in excitement. I was amazed by all the variations, it was so fun to see.

If you want to sample some art first, you can view a few pages and illustrations on the author’s website here.

#Belgium #Dutch #Netherlands [#graphic novel](https://readingrecluse.bearblog.dev/reviews/?q=graphic novel) #review