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Island Book #1
Island Book
Set sail with Island Book, Evan Dahm's epic graphic novel about friendship, teamwork, and the wisdom we gain when we face the unknown with bravery and an open heart.
Sola is cursed. (At least, that’s what everyone tells her.) It all started the day the Monster came to the island. While others fled, Sola stood before the creature, alone and unafraid. Since then she’s been treated like an outcast.
Shamed and feared for an event she doesn’t understand, Sola sets out to sea looking for answers. In uncharted waters far from home, she discovers that her island isn’t alone in the endless ocean―and the Monster isn’t the only life to be found there.
Sola is cursed. (At least, that’s what everyone tells her.) It all started the day the Monster came to the island. While others fled, Sola stood before the creature, alone and unafraid. Since then she’s been treated like an outcast.
Shamed and feared for an event she doesn’t understand, Sola sets out to sea looking for answers. In uncharted waters far from home, she discovers that her island isn’t alone in the endless ocean―and the Monster isn’t the only life to be found there.
278 pages, Hardcover
First published May 14, 2019
2 people are currently reading
315 people want to read
About the author
Evan Dahm
35 books87 followersEvan Dahm is an artist who is currently living in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
February 11, 2019
Island Book looked like it would be a very sweet and fantastical read, but instead, I got an art style I didn't enjoy, a narrative voice I found boring and slow, and a plot that meandered before firmly burying itself in the end. I have no idea what has happened, or what the purpose of this graphic novel was. I suppose it's one of those stories where you're meant to focus on the journey and not the destination, but the journey really wasn't saying much, either.
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
June 22, 2022
This book was so strange! The main character (she's on the cover) is super cute, but everything else was either weird or nonsensical. And there's not really a plot... Not one that makes sense, anyway.
May 15, 2019
What did I just read? No seriously, I don’t know.
The art style is cute, but I HAVE. NO. CLUE. WHAT. I. JUST. READ.
Is it a book about a journey? Facing your monsters? Finding friends from strange places? No clue. I’m kind of flabbergasted that after all that I have no answers to what I read. I don’t know if the villain is really a villain, what their motives were, or even what that ending was.
My apologies to Evan Dahm, but I don’t know what to say?
The art style is cute, but I HAVE. NO. CLUE. WHAT. I. JUST. READ.
Is it a book about a journey? Facing your monsters? Finding friends from strange places? No clue. I’m kind of flabbergasted that after all that I have no answers to what I read. I don’t know if the villain is really a villain, what their motives were, or even what that ending was.
My apologies to Evan Dahm, but I don’t know what to say?
June 23, 2019
This is a book about what we know and don't know. It's about assumptions, myths, and legends. It's about the courage to explore, and the ways explorers bend the truth of their travels in the stories and poems they weave when they return home. There is no curse, there is no monster, and no one people have a lock on any kind of truth.
July 19, 2019
A wonderful book about discovering yourself even as those around you seek to define what you are. A book that echoes that classic Nietzschean quote: "He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster."
June 18, 2019
I was captivated by this gorgeous book. The art is truly beautiful and imaginative with a dream-like feel to it. The use of panels and color is exceptional.
I found the story interesting and compelling, wanting to turn the pages to find out what happens next but also wanting to linger over the illustrations. I'm a bit amused by the variety of ratings for the book on Goodreads and while I can understand people's reactions to the ending, it is notable that those reactions underscore one of the themes. I found the ending both oddly satisfying and thought-provoking.
There are several strong themes here - friendship, teamwork, the crippling insularity that fear can bring, and most interestingly, the powerful drive to know and understand versus the often unknowable nature of life. Fascinating stuff to think about and done in such an unusual way.
This story asks young readers big questions and gives them a very accessible and entertaining entryway to consider them.
I found the story interesting and compelling, wanting to turn the pages to find out what happens next but also wanting to linger over the illustrations. I'm a bit amused by the variety of ratings for the book on Goodreads and while I can understand people's reactions to the ending, it is notable that those reactions underscore one of the themes. I found the ending both oddly satisfying and thought-provoking.
There are several strong themes here - friendship, teamwork, the crippling insularity that fear can bring, and most interestingly, the powerful drive to know and understand versus the often unknowable nature of life. Fascinating stuff to think about and done in such an unusual way.
This story asks young readers big questions and gives them a very accessible and entertaining entryway to consider them.
February 10, 2020
A very entertaining and beautiful graphic novel. This is not the most innovative novel ever, as the illustration and story are relatively conventional. Even so, this hit all the right spots for me. The illustrations looked stellar, with a fantastical world of islands and isolated villages all terrorized by a giant, mysterious monster. The story was fun in a fantasy setting, with a young girl who is cursed by the monster, and seeks a way to stop the attacks. This is a fast paced read, and certainly worth a shot for fans of graphic novels. I enjoyed my time with this, and plowed through it in its entirety in an afternoon.
July 16, 2019
Loved the art but I didn't feel that the whole idea of the monster was resolved. I did love the very visual storytelling, with very little text. Possibly a book that would be great to unpack with kids as I think they would love the story but be confused by the ending.
February 2, 2020
Classic adventure story. Simple, clean. What I like especially is that all the different islands have different styles of boats.
Library copy
Library copy
May 9, 2019
I’ve been a fan of Dahm’s work for many years now and count Rice Boy as one of my favorite books/graphic novels ever, so I jumped at the chance to read an ARC of his latest work.
I didn’t know it was a middle grade book at first, and while it didn’t bug me that it was, it definitely meant that the surrealness of Dahm’s usual works was toned down. Where the surreal illustrations and pop-surreal color schemes dominant Dahm’s webcomics, the surreal architecture wasn’t there (aside from some Kay Sage inspired architecture on the White Island) and the color palettes were more muted. The color-washing of the background/sky boxes though were still inherently symbolic and thematic with the worlds, which was nice. The artwork overall is also lovely in its own right, don’t get me wrong! It’s just not the style I was expecting.
The story itself was definitely on par with the standard questing tropes that Dahm’s other works focus on, but with more of a purpose and moral this time. Sora has been “cursed” by the Monster and quests to go find it and learn why it singled her out. Along the way she falls in with a small group of misfits who are also seeking the Monster for their own reasons, and Sora visits islands she never knew existed before (I liked the pseudo-elemental themes of these).
While the moral of the story is two-fold, in my reading–Sora faces her fear/the unknown and returns wiser for doing so, while also learning that people can view fear/the unknown in different ways (fearing it, worshipping it, denying it, fighting it, accepting it)–the ending definitely was lackluster and anti-climactic. I can’t really even spoil the ending, as it really just came to a head and then immediately cut to our crew members returning to their home islands. These bits did show that each character had taken their own lessons from their journey, but it still didn’t explain the overarching reason why the Monster existed in the first place, what it was, or why Sora was singled out.
It definitely felt more like the first book in a series (a la Amulet), setting up worlds and characters for further exploration; however, I haven’t seen anything mentioned about this being a series.
It was a great read, and considering the target audience, has some great themes to it. However, the ending just fell too flat for me to enjoy it, and I was expecting the heavily surreal style that makes Dahm’s other works so awesome.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy to review!
(Cross posted on my blog.)
I didn’t know it was a middle grade book at first, and while it didn’t bug me that it was, it definitely meant that the surrealness of Dahm’s usual works was toned down. Where the surreal illustrations and pop-surreal color schemes dominant Dahm’s webcomics, the surreal architecture wasn’t there (aside from some Kay Sage inspired architecture on the White Island) and the color palettes were more muted. The color-washing of the background/sky boxes though were still inherently symbolic and thematic with the worlds, which was nice. The artwork overall is also lovely in its own right, don’t get me wrong! It’s just not the style I was expecting.
The story itself was definitely on par with the standard questing tropes that Dahm’s other works focus on, but with more of a purpose and moral this time. Sora has been “cursed” by the Monster and quests to go find it and learn why it singled her out. Along the way she falls in with a small group of misfits who are also seeking the Monster for their own reasons, and Sora visits islands she never knew existed before (I liked the pseudo-elemental themes of these).
While the moral of the story is two-fold, in my reading–Sora faces her fear/the unknown and returns wiser for doing so, while also learning that people can view fear/the unknown in different ways (fearing it, worshipping it, denying it, fighting it, accepting it)–the ending definitely was lackluster and anti-climactic. I can’t really even spoil the ending, as it really just came to a head and then immediately cut to our crew members returning to their home islands. These bits did show that each character had taken their own lessons from their journey, but it still didn’t explain the overarching reason why the Monster existed in the first place, what it was, or why Sora was singled out.
It definitely felt more like the first book in a series (a la Amulet), setting up worlds and characters for further exploration; however, I haven’t seen anything mentioned about this being a series.
It was a great read, and considering the target audience, has some great themes to it. However, the ending just fell too flat for me to enjoy it, and I was expecting the heavily surreal style that makes Dahm’s other works so awesome.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy to review!
(Cross posted on my blog.)
May 21, 2019
Sola lives as an outcast within her small community on an island. She is cursed - that's what everyone says - because a Monster came to the Island when Sola was a child; everyone around her ran, but Sola alone stood before it, and it reached out to her. The destruction left in the monster's wake, coupled with its interest in Sola sealed it: the rest of the Island branded her. As Sola reaches adolescence, she's curious: what drew the Monster to her? Tired of living with everyone's fear, and wanting answers, Sola leaves the island, taking to the open water. As she travels, she discovers that the Island isn't alone: there are new lands and people to meet.
Island Book is Sola's story. A quietly strong female protagonist, she faces adversity at home and has a curious streak that contributes to her own community's distrust and fear of her. The plot meanders on a bit in spots, but is mostly a solid story about courage and curiosity; about friendship and working together, and about opening oneself up to new ideas and experiences. The characters are humanoid but not human; the artwork is bright and the nature is beautifully depicted.
The first in a new series, Island Book is a good choice for middle grade book discussion groups, too. Ask kids if they've ever felt like Sola, unable to change someone's mind or looked down on because of their age. Does Sola do the right thing by going off on her own? Would Sola's community encourage relationships with other beings?
There's a soundtrack for Island Book available, along with two books of development artwork, through author Evan Dahm's website. There's a great review by the AV Club here.
Island Book is Sola's story. A quietly strong female protagonist, she faces adversity at home and has a curious streak that contributes to her own community's distrust and fear of her. The plot meanders on a bit in spots, but is mostly a solid story about courage and curiosity; about friendship and working together, and about opening oneself up to new ideas and experiences. The characters are humanoid but not human; the artwork is bright and the nature is beautifully depicted.
The first in a new series, Island Book is a good choice for middle grade book discussion groups, too. Ask kids if they've ever felt like Sola, unable to change someone's mind or looked down on because of their age. Does Sola do the right thing by going off on her own? Would Sola's community encourage relationships with other beings?
There's a soundtrack for Island Book available, along with two books of development artwork, through author Evan Dahm's website. There's a great review by the AV Club here.
April 25, 2019
Beautiful, strange, and perfect.
Told in the narrative style of a fairytale and dreamlike artwork, this was a fantastic little story I picked up on my lunch break and couldn't put down until I finished. While I felt like the story resolution could have been developed and laid out a tad bit clearer, it was still a lovely read from start to finish.
Would definitely recommend for fans of The Dark Crystal, Fraggle Rock, graphic novels in general, and anything weird and off beat.
Told in the narrative style of a fairytale and dreamlike artwork, this was a fantastic little story I picked up on my lunch break and couldn't put down until I finished. While I felt like the story resolution could have been developed and laid out a tad bit clearer, it was still a lovely read from start to finish.
Would definitely recommend for fans of The Dark Crystal, Fraggle Rock, graphic novels in general, and anything weird and off beat.
May 21, 2019
I'm just as disappointed in an anticlimactic ending as everyone else here, but the book is so beautiful - drawings, colors*, characters, themes, words - that I don't mind.
(*All color-as-storytelling classes should use this book as a master guide, it's that good.)
(*All color-as-storytelling classes should use this book as a master guide, it's that good.)
April 6, 2021
The art work stands out, even among good and great graphic novel art work. I particularly liked that the dialog bubbles do not interfere with the beauty of the panels and the text within them is free of “Augh” and “Waaa”.
In this journey Sola sets out to find and kill a monster that has been visiting her island. The people of this island believe she is responsible for this frightening monster, so she is somewhat of an outcast.
The journey shows her to be resourceful as she learns to sail, distil water and survive. She discovers new islands and makes friends.
I don’t want to give away the end… but I have to credit the author for it.
While any age group can enjoy this book, I think it would be excellent for middle schoolers. While the character from the Wind Island is a little complex this book is a great platform for discussions adventure, bravery, exploration, different cultures and the nature of success.
In this journey Sola sets out to find and kill a monster that has been visiting her island. The people of this island believe she is responsible for this frightening monster, so she is somewhat of an outcast.
The journey shows her to be resourceful as she learns to sail, distil water and survive. She discovers new islands and makes friends.
I don’t want to give away the end… but I have to credit the author for it.
While any age group can enjoy this book, I think it would be excellent for middle schoolers. While the character from the Wind Island is a little complex this book is a great platform for discussions adventure, bravery, exploration, different cultures and the nature of success.
June 28, 2019
I especially appreciate the strong themes that are revealed through this quest, especially the power of fear to create a dominant narrative. I wonder about the abrupt shifts or endings, which leave much unsaid and require the reader to infer or continue the story in their own mind. On one hand, this engages the reader in creating their own story, but on the other hand, it can be difficult to follow.
June 25, 2019
I once said that If you’re newer to the alternative scene for comics, like myself, Evan Dahm’s Riceboy is perhaps one of the industry’s best-kept secrets and certainly one of the best books to take a chance on. As a veteran of the indie comics scene, more and more of his past work is surfacing to those who previously only read mainstream comic book and titles. And newer work of his is finding new audiences today. Island Book fits into that second category, and I’ve glad to have read it.
This graphic novel for the middle school crowd, Island Book, features a main character by the name of Sola. She’s different in a way that’s mostly frowned upon, is ever curious about the outside world, and how society is structured. Because of this, the folks label her as cursed, the other kids won’t play with her, and think her hobbies like map making are strange. When a creature known simply as The Monster came to their island, young Sola stood transfixed, unafraid and alone while others fled in fear. Ever since then, she’s been treated as an outcast, and it soon serves as a catalyst for her to embark on a journey to face what lies beyond her home.
Dahm thrives in creating worlds and all manner of creatures and beings of all shapes and sizes that speak to a vivid imagination. His poetically unique art style features some towering structures and some far-off things on and off the sea that fit perfectly into the fantasy genre. In his world building, across pages we are granted glimpses of the sea, of the waves page after page and the glimpses of The Monster, ever elusive. Some of my favorite visuals include panels of Sola coming into conflict with those who are older, supposedly wiser who have settled into authority figures territory. Sola’s determined and much smaller defiance in opposed to their imposing figures is a contrast to see and soak in.
Island Book ventures into a superb narrative that can stand on its own that reminds us of how valuable teamwork is; no one can do it alone, of friendships found and held fast on to as we’re redefining who we are. This graphic novel dives into who you become when facing what you’ve been chasing—challenging the norm and what’s been set in stone by others and choosing your destiny. This is a book that in which characters wrestle with fear, complacency, and being lost in more than one way.
Read the rest of my review here: https://blacknerdproblems.com/island-...
This graphic novel for the middle school crowd, Island Book, features a main character by the name of Sola. She’s different in a way that’s mostly frowned upon, is ever curious about the outside world, and how society is structured. Because of this, the folks label her as cursed, the other kids won’t play with her, and think her hobbies like map making are strange. When a creature known simply as The Monster came to their island, young Sola stood transfixed, unafraid and alone while others fled in fear. Ever since then, she’s been treated as an outcast, and it soon serves as a catalyst for her to embark on a journey to face what lies beyond her home.
Dahm thrives in creating worlds and all manner of creatures and beings of all shapes and sizes that speak to a vivid imagination. His poetically unique art style features some towering structures and some far-off things on and off the sea that fit perfectly into the fantasy genre. In his world building, across pages we are granted glimpses of the sea, of the waves page after page and the glimpses of The Monster, ever elusive. Some of my favorite visuals include panels of Sola coming into conflict with those who are older, supposedly wiser who have settled into authority figures territory. Sola’s determined and much smaller defiance in opposed to their imposing figures is a contrast to see and soak in.
Island Book ventures into a superb narrative that can stand on its own that reminds us of how valuable teamwork is; no one can do it alone, of friendships found and held fast on to as we’re redefining who we are. This graphic novel dives into who you become when facing what you’ve been chasing—challenging the norm and what’s been set in stone by others and choosing your destiny. This is a book that in which characters wrestle with fear, complacency, and being lost in more than one way.
Read the rest of my review here: https://blacknerdproblems.com/island-...
May 24, 2019
Special thanks to NetGalley for a copy.
Island Book follows a girl named Sola who is thought to be cursed by her people. She is feared and mistreated because she was not afraid when the white monster appeared on the island some years ago. When she's told her people fear her because they don't understand the monster or what it wants with her, she decides to sail away to find it. Along the journey, she encounters other islands and people, all who know of the monster but aren't sure what it is or how to handle it. With her new friends Hunder and Wick, she sets sail for the white island which is said to be the home of the monster. What they find, however, is something else entirely.
I enjoyed this book. It felt like it was trying to say something about different people and their points of view but I'm not sure what it was saying. The dialogue is all focused on the events of the story, finding the monster, etc. so there isn't really any development on other ideas, though I'm sure someone can read into it a bit more. The art is great. It's simple and bright and every character and island looks different. I espeially like how the ocean is done.
This book might not be ground breaking, but it is nice and pretty and I do recommend it for anyone looking for a gentle read.
Island Book follows a girl named Sola who is thought to be cursed by her people. She is feared and mistreated because she was not afraid when the white monster appeared on the island some years ago. When she's told her people fear her because they don't understand the monster or what it wants with her, she decides to sail away to find it. Along the journey, she encounters other islands and people, all who know of the monster but aren't sure what it is or how to handle it. With her new friends Hunder and Wick, she sets sail for the white island which is said to be the home of the monster. What they find, however, is something else entirely.
I enjoyed this book. It felt like it was trying to say something about different people and their points of view but I'm not sure what it was saying. The dialogue is all focused on the events of the story, finding the monster, etc. so there isn't really any development on other ideas, though I'm sure someone can read into it a bit more. The art is great. It's simple and bright and every character and island looks different. I espeially like how the ocean is done.
This book might not be ground breaking, but it is nice and pretty and I do recommend it for anyone looking for a gentle read.
January 10, 2019
I really enjoyed this one. Sola lives on an island that gets attacked by a mysterious monster who appears to be after only her...so she sets off on a voyage alone across the sea to find the monster and find out why it wants her. Along the way she runs into other islands - each unique in topography and peoples, and it was fascinating to me to see how each new group viewed the monster (with awe, with disbelief, with anger and pitchforks, etc.) I saw other reviews that were disappointed in the ending because we (and Sola) never gets the answers to her questions of what was the monster and why was it after her, but I liked it - because that's just how life is sometimes, isn't it? That the way we viewed things weren't how they turned out to be, and some things just don't have explainable answers. The beauty was really in the journey in this book and Sola learned multitudes along the way.
December 13, 2018
A very cute graphic novel about empathy and understanding and cultural differences, as well as how we relate as individuals to our community and the larger world. All bundled in an adorable cartoon.
March 11, 2019
This kicks off with a whole lot of telling and backstory, which is disappointing, but still, I was interested in where this might go. Somewhere around panel 40, this becomes more interesting. Luckily, with this simple format, you can progress to that panel quickly, so just hang in there through the rocky start.
The artwork is very simple and clean with mostly muted colors that I really enjoyed. It gives everything a nice, moody feel. There’s actually a lot of visual depth in the scenes, and you can feel the action and motion in the drawings, especially in terms of the movement of boats and water. Honestly, the artwork is probably my favorite things about this one.
In the first 40 panels, most of the characters look identical, so that is confusing. However, the side characters from the first world don’t really seem to have names, personalities, or much of a purpose, other than to interact with Sola, the MC, so once you figure out which one is Sola, the scenes start to make more sense.
I think that the simple format and storytelling is good for the intended audience, overall. This just completely lacks character development and clarity in the world building, other than what you can guess at from what you see in the artwork. It basically becomes a long journey with multiple stops to add new underdeveloped side characters. The dialogue tends to be a bit vague and often awkward or cheesy. It doesn’t always move the story forward effectively. I have to confess that I liked the wordless panels the best.
The end is pretty confusing, anticlimactic, and disappointing. You don’t get any true answers, and if it’s trying to express a deeper message, the younger intended audience isn’t going to get it. I’m 38, and read a lot, and I was completely unconvinced of any deeper meaning or message. I felt like I just went on a long, useless journey. Sure, it was interesting, when I thought it was building to something, but once I realized there wasn’t going to be any true plot development or resolution, I just had to force myself through to the last panel.
Still, despite these many concerns with the format and storytelling, something is compelling about this one. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is, other than I enjoyed the otherworldly quality and adventure of it. It’s best for young readers who are new to graphic novels, and it likely won’t have as much appeal to older graphic novel fans who like to read across age categories, particularly teens and adults, as we tend to expect a more solid storyline and some actual character development.
Thank you to Netgalley, and the publisher, for allowing me to read an advanced copy. This graphic novel will be published on May 14, 2019.
The artwork is very simple and clean with mostly muted colors that I really enjoyed. It gives everything a nice, moody feel. There’s actually a lot of visual depth in the scenes, and you can feel the action and motion in the drawings, especially in terms of the movement of boats and water. Honestly, the artwork is probably my favorite things about this one.
In the first 40 panels, most of the characters look identical, so that is confusing. However, the side characters from the first world don’t really seem to have names, personalities, or much of a purpose, other than to interact with Sola, the MC, so once you figure out which one is Sola, the scenes start to make more sense.
I think that the simple format and storytelling is good for the intended audience, overall. This just completely lacks character development and clarity in the world building, other than what you can guess at from what you see in the artwork. It basically becomes a long journey with multiple stops to add new underdeveloped side characters. The dialogue tends to be a bit vague and often awkward or cheesy. It doesn’t always move the story forward effectively. I have to confess that I liked the wordless panels the best.
The end is pretty confusing, anticlimactic, and disappointing. You don’t get any true answers, and if it’s trying to express a deeper message, the younger intended audience isn’t going to get it. I’m 38, and read a lot, and I was completely unconvinced of any deeper meaning or message. I felt like I just went on a long, useless journey. Sure, it was interesting, when I thought it was building to something, but once I realized there wasn’t going to be any true plot development or resolution, I just had to force myself through to the last panel.
Still, despite these many concerns with the format and storytelling, something is compelling about this one. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is, other than I enjoyed the otherworldly quality and adventure of it. It’s best for young readers who are new to graphic novels, and it likely won’t have as much appeal to older graphic novel fans who like to read across age categories, particularly teens and adults, as we tend to expect a more solid storyline and some actual character development.
Thank you to Netgalley, and the publisher, for allowing me to read an advanced copy. This graphic novel will be published on May 14, 2019.
October 18, 2020
Quick, light read and I really liked the art.
Not-Moana goes around trying to defeat the creature that terrorizes her people. She meets a hermit, a warlike clan, a poet clan, and a tribe in a tower, and a sea-dwelling people. Then she faces off with the monster.
I wanted there to be more of a showdown with the creature, or for there to be more of a resolution, or for the creature to represent something abstract, like death-- but I did like the way .
Not-Moana goes around trying to defeat the creature that terrorizes her people. She meets a hermit, a warlike clan, a poet clan, and a tribe in a tower, and a sea-dwelling people. Then she faces off with the monster.
I wanted there to be more of a showdown with the creature, or for there to be more of a resolution, or for the creature to represent something abstract, like death-- but I did like the way .
August 4, 2023
Detailed illustrations✔️
Good plot ➖(there wasn’t really a plot!)
Good protagonist➖(didn’t tell too much about the characters)
Good side characters➖(a bossy bird thing and a “not sure what I’m gonna do” tortoise thing)
Good problem➖???(was there even a problem?????)
*Good solution*➖
*There wasn’t really a solution*
In review, this book gets a 3.5 stars. It was okay I Guess, but not much happened. I kind of have no clue what I just read. I’m not sure if I will read the rest of the trilogy.
Good plot ➖(there wasn’t really a plot!)
Good protagonist➖(didn’t tell too much about the characters)
Good side characters➖(a bossy bird thing and a “not sure what I’m gonna do” tortoise thing)
Good problem➖???(was there even a problem?????)
*Good solution*➖
*There wasn’t really a solution*
In review, this book gets a 3.5 stars. It was okay I Guess, but not much happened. I kind of have no clue what I just read. I’m not sure if I will read the rest of the trilogy.
July 4, 2019
A lovely middle grade graphic novel, I just feel like the author could have gone much more in depth with the plot!
I enjoyed the mood and colors, and I liked the look of the different islands!
(Also, I first thought that one of the protagonist´s companions was meant to be a ninja turtle!)
I enjoyed the mood and colors, and I liked the look of the different islands!
(Also, I first thought that one of the protagonist´s companions was meant to be a ninja turtle!)
February 14, 2021
This was cute! This is a kids graphic novel about Sola and her adventure to find the monster. It was a great story for kids. I loved how inclusive it was. I also loved the artistry throughout the novel. I just wish it went a little deeper but it’s a kids novel so I understand why it didn’t.
November 17, 2019
Island Book is weird and I like it so much. Mmmmmmmmmmm.
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February 17, 2021Nyt veti kyllä mietteliääksi. Hiljainen, rauhallisesti etenevä, filosofinen ja kaunis. Vai sitten halpaa paolocoelhoilua. Nyt täytyy kyllä miettiä oliko tässä etsinnässä järkeä ja löydettiinkö jotain.
January 11, 2020
A gorgeous graphic novel about exploration and wonder and bravery. I love this story and will have to get my hands on the other books in the series to continue the story!
July 2, 2019
An epic, captivatingly illustrated adventure full of battles, shipwrecks, and courage.
June 9, 2019
Sola lives on a small, green island with nothing but stars and sea for miles and miles. The calm and sweet life of her people was disrupted years ago when a monster rose from the depths of the water, seeming to seek out only Sola before disappearing once again. Shunned for something she doesn't understand, our young hero sets out to discover what lies beyond the horizon and starts a quest that will bring her questions and answers as well as friends and foes.
Dahm's illustration style is well suited to a young fantasy tale, opting for bold swaths of color to portray a setting in lieu of detailed scenes, allowing readers to quickly grasp a panel's meaning as well as allowing each new island to have a distinct color palette to convey the many lands, peoples, and ideas encountered of the journey. Younger readers will be able to easily implement their visual literacy skills with text and dialog that matches well.
Unfortunately, this title felt rushed and even aimless. Sola and, later, her friends arrive at one new island and seem to almost immediately leave. Dahm does not take time to build worlds or introduce characters so the mystery of Sola's world only deepens with an added sense of dissatisfaction that we know so little about the potentially wondrous places we encounter. In addition to rushed settings, characterization is pressed into select scenes instead of being drawn out as a focus for the story. With all this, readers are left with many wordless panels of travel and mild action with little emotional attachment.
Dahm's illustration style is well suited to a young fantasy tale, opting for bold swaths of color to portray a setting in lieu of detailed scenes, allowing readers to quickly grasp a panel's meaning as well as allowing each new island to have a distinct color palette to convey the many lands, peoples, and ideas encountered of the journey. Younger readers will be able to easily implement their visual literacy skills with text and dialog that matches well.
Unfortunately, this title felt rushed and even aimless. Sola and, later, her friends arrive at one new island and seem to almost immediately leave. Dahm does not take time to build worlds or introduce characters so the mystery of Sola's world only deepens with an added sense of dissatisfaction that we know so little about the potentially wondrous places we encounter. In addition to rushed settings, characterization is pressed into select scenes instead of being drawn out as a focus for the story. With all this, readers are left with many wordless panels of travel and mild action with little emotional attachment.
December 14, 2018
This was an interesting book. It is a middle-grade graphic novel and I feel it fits that genre well as it's not overly complex in the story but it still has interesting characters. It was an enjoyable read, if a bit simplistic for someone reading high school level or above. The illustrations were colorful and interesting and I kind of wish this was a more in depth story.
The story follows Sola, who lives on a green island that is terrorized by a monster. Her people seek understanding of the stars and the endless waters around their island but there is much that isn't understood still. She is considered cursed by many of those on the island because she survived a monster attack while no one else has. After her care-taker/mentor mentions to her that no one understands what the stars are Sola decides she wants to go find the monster and takes a boat out to sea.
Sola meets some interesting characters and makes some discoveries but ultimately she doesn't exactly find the answers she thought she would. I think this book conveys that it's okay to not have all the answers but you should still be curious. You should also not let others in the majority keep you from doing what you think is right.
The story follows Sola, who lives on a green island that is terrorized by a monster. Her people seek understanding of the stars and the endless waters around their island but there is much that isn't understood still. She is considered cursed by many of those on the island because she survived a monster attack while no one else has. After her care-taker/mentor mentions to her that no one understands what the stars are Sola decides she wants to go find the monster and takes a boat out to sea.
Sola meets some interesting characters and makes some discoveries but ultimately she doesn't exactly find the answers she thought she would. I think this book conveys that it's okay to not have all the answers but you should still be curious. You should also not let others in the majority keep you from doing what you think is right.
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