Children can see heroes where no one else notices them. For João, Felipe is such a superhero. He comes to the rescue of the eight-year-old in a toilet at the community center when he is being called a “sperm whale” by older boys. This sounds all too familiar to Felipe. His own nicknames at school are “wrecking ball”, “pudding”, “fat”. Pure bullying.
Now, for the first time, the 17-year-old gathers all his courage and fights back, albeit in someone else’s name. As thanks, João gives him a drawing that shows him in a Batman costume. With it he flies through a fleecy blue sky. He has never felt as heroic and strong as his alter ego in the drawing.
The readers of “15 days are forever” can also get an idea of Felipe. Right at the beginning, the Brazilian author Vitor Martins drew his first-person narrator: there he sits in a Batman T-shirt, waves and lists everything he likes: musicals, comics and his mother are among them. On the opposite page is who the novel is written for: “For anyone who’s ever left their shirts on in the pool.” Then ruthlessly the first words of the book: “I’m fat.”
“It’s pretty hard to believe that someone really likes you.”
This unmistakably names the central theme of Vitor Martins’ debut: body shaming. With great empathy he tells of his hero’s self-esteem problems. Very casually and calmly, he lets him go to therapy, where he is supposed to learn to stand by himself. This is difficult. Felipe is very aware of how derogatory many of those around him look at him. He would prefer to be invisible. He finds it difficult to look other people in the face while speaking.
The novel follows how Felipe gradually overcomes his shyness and shame. The ball starts rolling when his neighbor Caio, who is the same age, stays with him and his single mother for 15 days during the holidays. He and Caio were pool buddies as kids. Until, at the age of thirteen, Felipe suddenly didn’t dare to go swimming anymore. To further complicate matters, Felipe has been in love with the handsome Caio for as long as he can remember.
It is one of the great strengths of the book that being gay is not made a big issue. But simply a matter of course. Caio has always been attracted to boys, too. In the following, it’s all about whether and how Felipe can win him over, because: “It’s pretty hard to believe that someone really likes you when you’ve heard your whole life that you’re only one disgusting fat guy.” For a long time, Felipe can only talk to his crush in the dark. During the day, however, there is an awkward silence between the two for a long time.
Vitor Martins has written a very classic love story in the style of “Beauty and the Beast”, including a happy ending. Just settled in a small Brazilian town. The story is also alluded to directly. In general, it is teeming with references to films, musicals and books. Lyman Frank Baum’s classic “The Wizard of Oz” is particularly important. Felipe’s grandmother gave her grandson the book because in it the cowardly lion learns to be brave.
“15 days are forever” is a carefully told story, in the course of which even the seemingly perfect, irresistible Caio reveals his weaknesses. And the reserved Felipe has many strengths. First of all, that he is a storyteller gifted with wonderful self-mockery, who, despite all the uncertainties, can also poke fun at himself.
Vitor Martins: 15 days are forever. Translated from American English by Svantje Volkens. One, Cologne 2022. 288 pages, 12.99 euros. For young adults.