What do you think?
My Own World
Mike Holmes, the artist behind the hit series Secret Coders and Wings of Fire, delivers his solo debut: My Own World, a middle grade memoir-inflected fantasy graphic novel.
Life is difficult for nine-year-old Nathan. All he dreams of is hanging out with his older brother, watching Raiders of the Lost Ark, and enjoying summer vacation far away from the neighborhood bullies. When he overhears his parents talking about a family crisis, he seeks sanctuary from his troubles. In an abandoned lighthouse, Nathan discovers a portal to a berry-colored world where time has little meaning and he, finally, is in control. There, his imagination takes him on wondrous adventures, across seas and through the air, with new extraordinary friends of his own creation. In his magical hideaway, Nathan is safe from the anxieties of his life—but can he bring himself to face the real world?
Life is difficult for nine-year-old Nathan. All he dreams of is hanging out with his older brother, watching Raiders of the Lost Ark, and enjoying summer vacation far away from the neighborhood bullies. When he overhears his parents talking about a family crisis, he seeks sanctuary from his troubles. In an abandoned lighthouse, Nathan discovers a portal to a berry-colored world where time has little meaning and he, finally, is in control. There, his imagination takes him on wondrous adventures, across seas and through the air, with new extraordinary friends of his own creation. In his magical hideaway, Nathan is safe from the anxieties of his life—but can he bring himself to face the real world?
240 pages, Paperback
First published June 22, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
July 2, 2021
Mike Holmes is my son, so I’m prejudiced. He’s been drawing since he was a little kid, and has always had a wonderful imagination. His reaches into your imagination - you know, the one you used to have - and challenges your vulnerability. And if you’re one of those people who as a child had an inner life you kept hidden, Mike’s story will touch you. It’s not meant for the cynical, unless your cynicism has a lovely crack in it. And he leaves space for your story to come alongside.
March 23, 2021
An interesting comic about introvertism, escapism and loneliness, but the art didn't work out for me and neither the overall pace.
Although 'My Own World' provides the tools for a child to imagine their own safe places so they can explore it and evade the problems from their actual world and take a break from life when things are getting out of control.
Although 'My Own World' provides the tools for a child to imagine their own safe places so they can explore it and evade the problems from their actual world and take a break from life when things are getting out of control.
June 29, 2021
A beautiful exploration of childhood grief, highly recommend!
November 19, 2021
Nathan just wants to hang out with his older brother, but that brother is distracted by teenage things - and also is deathly ill. So, naturally, Nathan discovers a magical portal leading to another world where he can manipulate glowing red balls into anything he imagines. My Own World is quite literal in that way: Nathan spends a huge portion of the book in this other world, with the plot basically abandoned in favor of psychedelic art.
When the plot comes back around (), it's fairly devastating, but far too abrupt. My Own World has the bones of a strong book about a child coping with tragedy, but it messes around in murky meaninglessness for far too long.
When the plot comes back around (), it's fairly devastating, but far too abrupt. My Own World has the bones of a strong book about a child coping with tragedy, but it messes around in murky meaninglessness for far too long.
March 8, 2021
3,2/5
Quality of writing: 4
Plot development: 3
Pace: 3
Characters: 3
Enjoyability: 3
Ease of reading: 3
This... was not for me. The art didn't impress me, the story was a bit confusing, characters just seemed... flat.
Review copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Quality of writing: 4
Plot development: 3
Pace: 3
Characters: 3
Enjoyability: 3
Ease of reading: 3
This... was not for me. The art didn't impress me, the story was a bit confusing, characters just seemed... flat.
Review copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 8, 2021
I received a copy of this book from the publisher as part of a Goodreads giveaway. Unfortunately, this fell extremely flat for me. It was very confusing at times, disjointed, and just didn’t really flow well overall. I’ve seen much better explorations of grief. I just wasn’t really impressed with this one.
January 3, 2021
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an Advanced Reader Copy.
The gist of the story, for me, was that a boy desperately needed an escape, so he created one..
That is a good message. Sometimes life is so rough that we need to create safe spaces for ourselves. Places to dream and to create and to find love and connection... even if those places are imaginary.
I appreciated the premise of this story, but didn't always follow it. Maybe I'm too literal. I was confused if this fantastical place really existed or just existed in the boy's imagination. It seems to be rooted in a physical place in the story, but was it all a figment? What was the sugar correlation? Did he conjure this world on a sugar high? Was sugar just part of the pleasure and the escape?
I'd like to read this with students to see what they glean from the story.
The gist of the story, for me, was that a boy desperately needed an escape, so he created one..
That is a good message. Sometimes life is so rough that we need to create safe spaces for ourselves. Places to dream and to create and to find love and connection... even if those places are imaginary.
I appreciated the premise of this story, but didn't always follow it. Maybe I'm too literal. I was confused if this fantastical place really existed or just existed in the boy's imagination. It seems to be rooted in a physical place in the story, but was it all a figment? What was the sugar correlation? Did he conjure this world on a sugar high? Was sugar just part of the pleasure and the escape?
I'd like to read this with students to see what they glean from the story.
January 12, 2022
'My Own World' was a lot better than I expected. I thought the main character was going to be a brat but he was doing his best under the circumstances and I really felt for him. Nathan discovers a secret place with glowing orbs that bend to his will. He plays for days and yet no time passes in the real world while he's there. At the same time, his family struggles under a personal tragedy. I think this was pretty good at showing depth of character in this short book and I always love seeing things in the "after" when the plots wrapped up and all that's left is resolution. I like a longer resolution.
I think this is a good one for middle schoolers dealing with grief.
I think this is a good one for middle schoolers dealing with grief.
January 15, 2021
There isn't a lot of think I hate in comic book more than a cover that didn't reflect the actual art inside. The art on the cover is stunning, the art inside isn't, way more sketchy and looking «older» than the polish and very modern cover art. That being said, the story was a bit mehhh, easy, not really original and I never connect with the character. the review so far seem good, so maybe I'm the problem but I didn't like it!
July 9, 2021
I wish I enjoyed this book as much I liked the cover art. This was painful to read.
June 12, 2021
Nathan feels like a loner this summer. His older brother, Ben, who used to be his best friend seems to be leaving him behind for his teen friends. His older sister totally ignores him. The neighbor kid only likes him for the quarters he can provide, and then his parents seem distracted with something going on with Ben. One day Nathan stumbles across a portal to a world that is all his own. He can create awesome stuff there, including the perfect friends. He has a blast. But is it too good to last?
This is part fantasy portal world for a lonely kid and part exploration of how siblings deal with one of them being seriously sick. I came away from this wanting a little bit more. It felt like you barely started to figure out what was going on and then it was over. I guess that’s better than including too much and getting bored. Nathan’s fantasy world is fun, and readers can debate as to whether or not it is real or in his head. I can see this really resonating with kids who feel lonely (and if you talk to many middle school kids, that pretty much is all of them at some point).
Notes on content [based on the ARC]: Two minor swears, some profanity, and scribbles used to represent what you can tell is supposed to be worse swearing (though not clear enough to know which words). No sexual content. There are some bullies in the neighborhood and a very angry father who is out of control. No one is seriously hurt, but definitely traumatized. There is one death .
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is part fantasy portal world for a lonely kid and part exploration of how siblings deal with one of them being seriously sick. I came away from this wanting a little bit more. It felt like you barely started to figure out what was going on and then it was over. I guess that’s better than including too much and getting bored. Nathan’s fantasy world is fun, and readers can debate as to whether or not it is real or in his head. I can see this really resonating with kids who feel lonely (and if you talk to many middle school kids, that pretty much is all of them at some point).
Notes on content [based on the ARC]: Two minor swears, some profanity, and scribbles used to represent what you can tell is supposed to be worse swearing (though not clear enough to know which words). No sexual content. There are some bullies in the neighborhood and a very angry father who is out of control. No one is seriously hurt, but definitely traumatized. There is one death .
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 12, 2024
A lonely child finds solace from his pain in a magical world fueled by his own imagination.
Nathan longs for nothing more than his brother Ben to pay attention to him. But instead, his brother wants to hang out with his friends, leaving Nathan to fend for himself against the bullies and insecurities in his life. When he discovers a magical lighthouse, he finally can take control of his own life. In his sanctuary, the only limits are the limits of his imagination. Unfortunately, his real-world anxieties still exist outside of his sanctuary and Nathan will have to learn to face harsh reality.
There are elements of this book that I think are neat. One being the fact that Nathan wants to be with his brother, but Ben doesn't have time for him. This is a super realistic conflict that I feel many young children can relate to. Secondly, I enjoy the content of Nathan's magical world that he creates (especially Meow). Lastly, the grief that Nathan feels over the family emergency and the progression of this issue broke my heart. Beyond that though, I mostly found this book to be incoherent, discombobulated, and odd. I didn't hate it, but I feel that I could have connected more to everything going on if the transitions would have been a bit smoother and the mini story arcs would have been threaded together better.
Overall, "My Own World" is a quick middle grade graphic novel that many kids can probably relate to, but it didn't do much for me. It was a bit confusing and I feel that this book should have been able to draw more emotions out of me. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't anything special either.
Nathan longs for nothing more than his brother Ben to pay attention to him. But instead, his brother wants to hang out with his friends, leaving Nathan to fend for himself against the bullies and insecurities in his life. When he discovers a magical lighthouse, he finally can take control of his own life. In his sanctuary, the only limits are the limits of his imagination. Unfortunately, his real-world anxieties still exist outside of his sanctuary and Nathan will have to learn to face harsh reality.
There are elements of this book that I think are neat. One being the fact that Nathan wants to be with his brother, but Ben doesn't have time for him. This is a super realistic conflict that I feel many young children can relate to. Secondly, I enjoy the content of Nathan's magical world that he creates (especially Meow). Lastly, the grief that Nathan feels over the family emergency and the progression of this issue broke my heart. Beyond that though, I mostly found this book to be incoherent, discombobulated, and odd. I didn't hate it, but I feel that I could have connected more to everything going on if the transitions would have been a bit smoother and the mini story arcs would have been threaded together better.
Overall, "My Own World" is a quick middle grade graphic novel that many kids can probably relate to, but it didn't do much for me. It was a bit confusing and I feel that this book should have been able to draw more emotions out of me. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't anything special either.
December 23, 2021
This is an unusual story, powerful and very odd. The graphic novel form for this story was pretty much a necessity for the "other world" parts, and worked very well there.
Nathan is a decent kid who seems to be mostly ignored by his family, except when they want to keep him from doing something that he wants to do. As the story progresses, though, we learn at least one of the reasons why other things are on their minds.
He adores his older brother Ben, but clearly Ben doesn't want to be a full-time babysitter for the summer. In addition, Nathan is the kind of kid who pokes his nose into things without thinking about consequences or hazards to his well-being...which is sort of how he discovers another world.
Much of the story is his simple adventures in that other world, where there's no one else other than a few creatures that he made himself, out of spare bits of that world. Because he's him, he doesn't stop to figure out any of the rules, or follow any of the clues, so he gets himself into a few bits of trouble. That's when the rest of the story kicks in, and we learn Ben's full story, part of which is told in the background.
Was Nathan's other world a dream? Well...that's part of the story, sort of, so I won't spoil it for you, but be prepared to both laugh and cry in this story. It's not absolutely brilliant, because it's tough to get to be inside Nathan's head at times, but this story is well worth reading
Nathan is a decent kid who seems to be mostly ignored by his family, except when they want to keep him from doing something that he wants to do. As the story progresses, though, we learn at least one of the reasons why other things are on their minds.
He adores his older brother Ben, but clearly Ben doesn't want to be a full-time babysitter for the summer. In addition, Nathan is the kind of kid who pokes his nose into things without thinking about consequences or hazards to his well-being...which is sort of how he discovers another world.
Much of the story is his simple adventures in that other world, where there's no one else other than a few creatures that he made himself, out of spare bits of that world. Because he's him, he doesn't stop to figure out any of the rules, or follow any of the clues, so he gets himself into a few bits of trouble. That's when the rest of the story kicks in, and we learn Ben's full story, part of which is told in the background.
Was Nathan's other world a dream? Well...that's part of the story, sort of, so I won't spoil it for you, but be prepared to both laugh and cry in this story. It's not absolutely brilliant, because it's tough to get to be inside Nathan's head at times, but this story is well worth reading
March 4, 2024
SOME SpoilersThis is an odd book. If you are a 10 to 14 year old, you might take it at face value: a boy finds a magic world to hide in. A world where he is in charge and does what he wants, when he wants, how he wants. It is safe from bullies, broken promises, teasing siblings, and no friends. If you are an adult you might see it for the symbolic value: A boy is hiding from the world inside of his imagination, where he can pretend nothing is wrong with his family, brother, or him. It is a symbol of how one young child deals with the sickness of a family member, then the years when the family moves to help that person and five years later when they return "home." A home the youngest child doesn't remember (as she was a baby), the oldest sister doesn't come to as she's off in school, and the boy of the beginning is now a teenager, about the age of his brother when he took ill and now is the spitting image of him. The artwork is simple, detailing what is needed and when it is needed. The simplistic nature is not negative, but allows for you to focus on the story, but also see how the surrounding things are important (practically the entire time of the brother's illness is wordless and little clues are important). Colors are important as the "rose/berry/red colored world" is to show you imagination and reality. The color blue is also important, as is the lack of color or lack of anything but a black page. Not for everyone, but an interesting read.
January 6, 2022
This was an emotional and hard read. The basic premise of the book could boil down to "how do you cope with a world that is changing so fast and you do not know what to do physically and/or emotionally". The book follows Nathan who at age nine has to deal with changes that is happening in his brother Ben, but he finds this really cool place where he can literally escape from his problems, until he has to ultimately face them again. To be honest, I do not really get the end. It was one of those endings where you have to infer for it is open-ended for it doesn't tell you what ultimately happens. From what you can tell is Nathan is at least more at ease than he was.
Verdict: I think this is a story that can help kids process a family or friend situation like Nathan, but I felt it was gear to older kids even though the main character is nine. Yet, I think this depends on the kid and the parent. Even though he is a fictional character, I would give this book to Damian Wayne, because he is a kid who had a tough background and had the resilience to get through it. While all kids should learn how to cope and each kid is different, I know it would probably would be a mistake for a sensitive soul kid to read it for they may overreact and I am staying this as someone who was and still is a sensitive soul.
Verdict: I think this is a story that can help kids process a family or friend situation like Nathan, but I felt it was gear to older kids even though the main character is nine. Yet, I think this depends on the kid and the parent. Even though he is a fictional character, I would give this book to Damian Wayne, because he is a kid who had a tough background and had the resilience to get through it. While all kids should learn how to cope and each kid is different, I know it would probably would be a mistake for a sensitive soul kid to read it for they may overreact and I am staying this as someone who was and still is a sensitive soul.
January 13, 2021
My Own World is a story about a boy who overhears his parents talking about a family crisis. He can't deal with it at the moment so he runs off to find peace and ends up finding a portal to another world. I could not find information about the creative team in the review copy. It does state by Mike Holmes, which oftentimes means he was the writer, artist, letterer, and colorer.
In the beginning of the book the colors were very flat. I loved this effect. This is the story of a kid who things that things are as bad as they get. He's running from bullies, getting in trouble, and stuck waiting for big brother. The effect of muted tones and a more dull finish really sets the mood. Then the color shift from our world to the magical world. WOW. The colors are glowing. Everything is coming alive on the page. It was breathtaking.
The story fit with this so well. Once I started My Own World I couldn't put it down. You get so sucked up in the magical world that you forget that Nathan has problems waiting for him in the real world. I was surprised. I loved every minute of this book. I have already asked my local shop to order copies for myself, my classroom, and to carry in the shop. I can't wait to see this book when it isn't on my phone screen!
In the beginning of the book the colors were very flat. I loved this effect. This is the story of a kid who things that things are as bad as they get. He's running from bullies, getting in trouble, and stuck waiting for big brother. The effect of muted tones and a more dull finish really sets the mood. Then the color shift from our world to the magical world. WOW. The colors are glowing. Everything is coming alive on the page. It was breathtaking.
The story fit with this so well. Once I started My Own World I couldn't put it down. You get so sucked up in the magical world that you forget that Nathan has problems waiting for him in the real world. I was surprised. I loved every minute of this book. I have already asked my local shop to order copies for myself, my classroom, and to carry in the shop. I can't wait to see this book when it isn't on my phone screen!
June 15, 2021
Thank you to Net Galley and First Second for a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
My Own World was an emotional journey that blended reality and fantasy to portray feelings of isolation and otherness that many kids go through as they grow up.
Nathan feels like an afterthought both in and outside of his home, so when he finds a portal that transports him to a world where he's in control, it's like he's finallly able to breath for the first time in a long while. But Nathan can't escape forever, and soon, he's forced to face problems that are much closer to home than he ever imagined.
At times I found it difficult to keep track of characters, and the lettering also contributed to this. (Although the lettering was clear for the most part, there was a lot of text in some places, and some world balloon positioning made it difficult to parse through the text.) But My Own World handled grief in a way that's accessible to young readers without being preachy, and I think it would be a valuable addition to a growing book collection.
My Own World was an emotional journey that blended reality and fantasy to portray feelings of isolation and otherness that many kids go through as they grow up.
Nathan feels like an afterthought both in and outside of his home, so when he finds a portal that transports him to a world where he's in control, it's like he's finallly able to breath for the first time in a long while. But Nathan can't escape forever, and soon, he's forced to face problems that are much closer to home than he ever imagined.
At times I found it difficult to keep track of characters, and the lettering also contributed to this. (Although the lettering was clear for the most part, there was a lot of text in some places, and some world balloon positioning made it difficult to parse through the text.) But My Own World handled grief in a way that's accessible to young readers without being preachy, and I think it would be a valuable addition to a growing book collection.
November 23, 2020
I received an advanced copy of this from NetGalley.
This graphic novel introduces us to 9 year old Nathan. He is struggling in real life, being bullied, wanting to be with his brother but his brother has his own things going on.
Nathan discovers a deserted lighthouse and enters a safe dreamworld when time seems to last forever. He creates his own creatures and landscapes. He is finally in control. But then reality kicks in. No spoilers so I won’t go on.
The use of colour is really effective. There is a dramatic difference between the yellows and greens of Nathan’s real life and the reds of his dreamworld. There is also a playful use of panels. Some pages follow convention but others use the whole page and insert long thin panels to tell a part of the story within the background image. There are also a few plain black panels, placed for high impact.
I was totally immersed in this story and it hit the emotional scale. Always the sign of a good story, well told.
This graphic novel introduces us to 9 year old Nathan. He is struggling in real life, being bullied, wanting to be with his brother but his brother has his own things going on.
Nathan discovers a deserted lighthouse and enters a safe dreamworld when time seems to last forever. He creates his own creatures and landscapes. He is finally in control. But then reality kicks in. No spoilers so I won’t go on.
The use of colour is really effective. There is a dramatic difference between the yellows and greens of Nathan’s real life and the reds of his dreamworld. There is also a playful use of panels. Some pages follow convention but others use the whole page and insert long thin panels to tell a part of the story within the background image. There are also a few plain black panels, placed for high impact.
I was totally immersed in this story and it hit the emotional scale. Always the sign of a good story, well told.
June 20, 2021
Thank you Net Galley and First Second for a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
This book was not what I think it would be when I requested it. I thought it would be a heavy scifi graphic novel with lots of action but it was mostly a book about a teenager trying to deal with life.
The art is okay, some pages in the boy's safe place are interesting but otherwise I didn't really like it much.
The story is a bit confusing, as a reader you know from the beginning that the protagonist isn't fine, that his family is hiding something from him but you only end up knowing the truth at the end of the story. The moments in the safe place were interesting but confusing too: is the protagonist dreaming? Imagining something? Really living in a fantasy-like safe place?
This book wasn't my cup of tea I guess but I like the mental health themes it had, as a reader you do care (even just a bit) about the protagonist!
This book was not what I think it would be when I requested it. I thought it would be a heavy scifi graphic novel with lots of action but it was mostly a book about a teenager trying to deal with life.
The art is okay, some pages in the boy's safe place are interesting but otherwise I didn't really like it much.
The story is a bit confusing, as a reader you know from the beginning that the protagonist isn't fine, that his family is hiding something from him but you only end up knowing the truth at the end of the story. The moments in the safe place were interesting but confusing too: is the protagonist dreaming? Imagining something? Really living in a fantasy-like safe place?
This book wasn't my cup of tea I guess but I like the mental health themes it had, as a reader you do care (even just a bit) about the protagonist!
September 23, 2022
*1.5 Stars*
TW:
I get what the creator was trying to do here. A young child in an out-of-control world takes solace in an imaginary (or not-so-imaginary) world of his own making, where he can escape the struggles of regular life and shape his own reality. Unfortunately, the whole thing fell very flat for me.
On the positive side, the colors of this imaginary world are striking, and the cover art was what first made me pick it up. There's also a questionable yet satisfying ending of sorts. However, the plot seemed a little loosey-goosey throughout, the story left me with more questions than answers, and some of the adult role models, while in a difficult place themselves, didn't present themselves well. This isn't something I would go out of my way to recommend to young readers.
TW:
I get what the creator was trying to do here. A young child in an out-of-control world takes solace in an imaginary (or not-so-imaginary) world of his own making, where he can escape the struggles of regular life and shape his own reality. Unfortunately, the whole thing fell very flat for me.
On the positive side, the colors of this imaginary world are striking, and the cover art was what first made me pick it up. There's also a questionable yet satisfying ending of sorts. However, the plot seemed a little loosey-goosey throughout, the story left me with more questions than answers, and some of the adult role models, while in a difficult place themselves, didn't present themselves well. This isn't something I would go out of my way to recommend to young readers.
March 10, 2022
This is a sad and strange story about Nathan, a nine-year-old boy, who is dealing with bullying, loneliness, and an older brother who doesn't want to hang out with him. Nathan overhears the adults talking about illness in the house and starts to venture into the woods. He finds a fantasy world by a deserted lighthouse where he can create his own adventures and friends and where time stands still.
This book really captures Nathan's feelings of isolation and worry. The art conveys the contrast between Nathan's real world (drab, muted, stressful), and his fantasy world (bright and vibrant). I felt like too much time was spent in the fantasy world and not enough was focused on the very emotional real-world story. This story explored grief in a creative and beautiful way. The ending brought some things full circle but did seem ambiguous.
This book really captures Nathan's feelings of isolation and worry. The art conveys the contrast between Nathan's real world (drab, muted, stressful), and his fantasy world (bright and vibrant). I felt like too much time was spent in the fantasy world and not enough was focused on the very emotional real-world story. This story explored grief in a creative and beautiful way. The ending brought some things full circle but did seem ambiguous.
January 12, 2021
I received a digital ARC through NetGalley from First Second. In this middle grade graphic novel, 9-year-old Nathan is dealing with bullying, finding his place in a big family, and missing his busy brother who used to be his best friend. Nathan discovers a fantasy place that he can build to his own needs and he never loses time. Nathan is making his own friends in this world, but he is hiding from his real world problems.
While the illustrations were quite evocative of the moods Nathan was feeling, there was more art than story. Pages after pages with little text, that left me wanting a bit more substance. There is a lot of drama within the pages and sadness with Nathan’s brother having cancer, but I’m not sure tweens would grasp the nuance in the ending.
While the illustrations were quite evocative of the moods Nathan was feeling, there was more art than story. Pages after pages with little text, that left me wanting a bit more substance. There is a lot of drama within the pages and sadness with Nathan’s brother having cancer, but I’m not sure tweens would grasp the nuance in the ending.
July 12, 2021
I received this book as part of a giveaway. As soon as I got it in the mail I began reading it. It’s a very quick read as it’s a graphic novel but worth every page. This book tugs at the heart strings and gives a beautifully illustrated look at the inner workings of grief through childhood and beyond. The main character experiences emotions anyone who has ever been through true hardships can relate to and offers an escape we all long for in those times.
This book feels very closely to A Monster Calls and I recommend to anyone who loved that book as well. This book doesn’t offer the happiest of endings but ends in a tragically beautiful way that leaves you misty eyed but content with what’s left.
This book would be great for reading level and up.
This book feels very closely to A Monster Calls and I recommend to anyone who loved that book as well. This book doesn’t offer the happiest of endings but ends in a tragically beautiful way that leaves you misty eyed but content with what’s left.
This book would be great for reading level and up.
August 21, 2021
It's a hard read. Nathan's reality is unpleasant at best - a distracted family in a small town, the former not understanding him and the latter seemingly hostile towards him. The exception to both is his older brother Ben, who Nathan practically worships but is losing to the realities of a teenage social life - and worse. Hiding from bullies, Nathan discovers an alternate world, one which he has complete control over. The allure of this world, however, has its own perils.
Both artwork and plotline are a bit chancy - sometimes it's hard to understand what's going on in Nathan's world, and the ending is maddeningly ambiguous. Although the protagonist is nine years old, both he and the book's audience seem older. Still, I round it up to four stars for the emotional value of the book.
Both artwork and plotline are a bit chancy - sometimes it's hard to understand what's going on in Nathan's world, and the ending is maddeningly ambiguous. Although the protagonist is nine years old, both he and the book's audience seem older. Still, I round it up to four stars for the emotional value of the book.
April 26, 2022
To be honest, I’m not usually a big fan of magical realism. It often feels like taking narrative short cuts instead of trying to actuall pay work out a problem, although I do understand the appeal. This story was different. And I’m not exactly sure I can understand why. Perhaps it’s because this story is about an introvert and loneliness and making your own games and creating your own world. And it’s presented in a way that both makes no sense and is completely identifiable and understandable. In many ways this was what my childhood was like. It seemed like I could only ever be happy when I was alone. So I totally grok Nathan and his experience, even if his experience was nothing like my own.
June 17, 2021
The book definitely surprised me. Going in, I expected to like the story. Halfway through, I felt like it wasn't particularly what I was hoping for. But things go way better from there.
What bugged me at first was the color palette. It wasn't exactly easy on my eyes. But as the story progressed, I understood that it was chosen to convey a certain feeling, an atmosphere of sorts. I am new to graphic novels, so that's probably why. All in all, I loved it. It was emotional, relatable, and endearing. At times, I was worried and sad. If you are looking for a quick, touching, middle-grade graphic novel, then this is it.
What bugged me at first was the color palette. It wasn't exactly easy on my eyes. But as the story progressed, I understood that it was chosen to convey a certain feeling, an atmosphere of sorts. I am new to graphic novels, so that's probably why. All in all, I loved it. It was emotional, relatable, and endearing. At times, I was worried and sad. If you are looking for a quick, touching, middle-grade graphic novel, then this is it.
December 20, 2021
3.5 stars. Nine-year-old Nathan adores his older brother, Ben. He just wants to hang out with him and have fun. But, something is going on with Ben. He seems to be pulling away and there is talk of illness in the house. While running from bullies, Nathan finds a hiding place that takes him...somewhere else. To another world. A world of his own that he controls completely. Nathan escapes here again and again, but can he find the will to make his way back to the real world? This started out as a lovely story that reminded me of the wonderful I Kill Giants. But the ending really threw me for a loop. It left me unsettled and unsure of what exactly had happened.
January 15, 2024
I feel bad that I didn't like this book, because there's something genuine at the core of it. The main character is introverted, struggling with loneliness and an older brother who's growing away from him, and reacts by withdrawing into a fantastical otherworld. Sounds appealing on the surface. The main character's time in his otherworld just wasn't very engaging to me, since it's mostly him playing with what are basically legos in a vacuum and talking to himself. And it takes up so much of the book that the emotional payoff gets crunched into far too few pages. And to be honest, I really hated the art style. The grotesque thing just doesn't work for me.
May 9, 2021
Super depressing story! A kid with a sick brother and bullies that go beyond just sucky to a real physical danger (not a lot a 9 year old can do against multiple teen assailants threatening them but run and hide).
If the story doesn’t sound too traumatic to you it is is an interesting look at a boy trying to deal with his brother’s illness and his isolation. I think a lot of readers might find it pretty dark but maybe it would be a starting point for a parent to talk about feelings with a kid who has lost someone close to them.
If the story doesn’t sound too traumatic to you it is is an interesting look at a boy trying to deal with his brother’s illness and his isolation. I think a lot of readers might find it pretty dark but maybe it would be a starting point for a parent to talk about feelings with a kid who has lost someone close to them.
July 22, 2021
I’m not sure what to make of this one. A child runs away into an imaginary world to avoid his brother’s distance and his own loneliness. I was waiting for there to be some type of catch with the world when Nathan kept falling asleep there, but it never happens. This really felt memoir-ish with some magical realism elements.
With the artwork, the coloring outside the imaginary world is so dingy like greenish water from a community pool, and, although, the characters are very expressive sometimes they appear ugly in this style.
2.5
With the artwork, the coloring outside the imaginary world is so dingy like greenish water from a community pool, and, although, the characters are very expressive sometimes they appear ugly in this style.
2.5
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