Treasure in the Lake

by Jason Pamment

Grand adventures stories often begin where you least expect them…Iris knows this because she’s read them all. However, as a thirteen-year-old stuck in the tiny town of Bugden, real adventure seems like a distant dream. But when Iris and her best friend, Sam, stumble upon an unusually dry river on the outskirts of town, they’re led to a discovery beyond anything Iris has ever read a hidden city and a forgotten tale of friendship.In Jason Pamment's middle grade graphic novel debut, perfect for fans of Hilda and This Was Our Pact , can Iris and Sam uncover the truth in time to keep their own friendship afloat, or will history repeat itself and pull them apart forever?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Adventure, Comics, Childrens, Mystery

Paperback

First published September 7, 2021

Reviews

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Childhood friends Iris’s and Sam’s interests have diverged now that they have reached middle school: Iris dreams of leaving their quaint town for archaeological adventures, while Sam is content with his life as is. When the local river suddenly goes dry, the kids happen upon a formerly submerged town downstream that had been abandoned years ago when a nearby dam threatened the villagers and was revealed only because of low waters. Adventures await these two friends, but soon an argument and rising waters put them in danger. Relying upon a Chibi style for the characters, debut author and illustrator Pamment has created an appealing town that seems inspired by the French countryside. Sharp-eyed readers will pick up on clues in various panels about the fantasy element in the second half of the story. Not everything is spelled out, but readers will gain a greater understanding through the illustrations. The palette is soft, with blues and purples dominating.

Verdict: A strong story about friendship that incorporates fantasy and whimsy; fans of Hilda and Adventure Time will be charmed. A great addition to any middle school library collection.

I reviewed this graphic novel for the School Library Journal and the review can be found here: https://www.slj.com/?reviewDetail=tre...

[Maiya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Treasure In The Lake by Jason Pamment: this middle grade graphic novel is about two friends, 13 year old Iris and her best friend Sam. Living in small town Bugden has always been super boring and Iris dreams of the day she can leave…when one day they stumble upon a hidden city. Iris can’t believe her eyes, whereas Sam is weary. What is this going to do to their friendship?
🌊
Thank you SO MUCH @harpercollinsca for this ARC and for opening my eyes to the world of graphic novels cause I absolutely loved this one!! I love middle grade fiction but I can’t remember the last time I read a graphic novel. So not only was this a welcome change from my usual reads, it was a very very good change!
🌊
This novel is part fantasy, part adventure, part mystery..it’s got a bit of everything awesome. I had to go back and read it again because I noticed that there are so many hidden clues in the illustrations that I missed when I first went through it super fast. @jasonpamment you’ve done very well for your debut novel. The clues were so cleverly placed throughout the book which made it that much more enjoyable

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this from bookopolis to read, share, and review.

I really liked the artwork in this book, but I felt like the story suffered from graphic novel symptoms--the author knew what story he wanted to tell, but didn't give enough details to make it completely clear to the reader. Several story threads just seemed unfinished.

[Lacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the art. Confused about the plot.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute, well drawn family friendly adventure featuring two thirteen year olds. Iris, who can't wait to get out of this small, inconsequnetial town and Sam, her buddy who just wants to enjoy life right here and now. They stumble upon a hidden city beneath the recently dried up old lake. Iris wants to go adventuring but Sam isn't as sure. It's a nice exploration of friendship and second chances.

The artwork is cute, very cartoony and kind of reminds me of the picture books I used to read as a kid. Just really nice and wholesome.

[Helen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not the graphic novel for me. We follow two friends as they go on an adventure and find a lost city. I possibly was not in the mood for it because when it ended I had more questions than I had answers. I did think the illustration style was well done.

[Federico · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a little and boring world where, apparently, there is nothing else left to discover, and the only solution would be to run away, two kids discover a ghost town that was hidden by the waters of a lake. Here, the two protagonist will discover a lost world where present and past intersect with each other, and will understand that even in a little and boring world many wonders can hide. Definitely a little gem of a graphic novel, complete with wonderful drawings.

STYLING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
ORIGINALITY: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
CHARACTER DEV.: ⭐⭐⭐
PLOT DEV.: ⭐⭐⭐
IMPORTANCE: ⭐⭐

[Momo · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5

This was such a good little mystery/thriller middle grade. The art was so nice and I loved the paper used for the pages! I am so happy I won this through a giveaway because I may have never picked it up.

Disclaimer: I won this in a Goodreads giveaway

[Claire (Wezet) Winternheimer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art in this middle grade graphic novel is absolutely adorable and the story of friendship between a tween boy and girl is, however cliche it might sound, heartwarming.

[Keisha | A Book Like You · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute adventure story! I love the lost city theme!

[✨Veruca✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ultimately reminded me of the graphic novels and animated TV show Hilda. It was a bit confusing at times but it was an interesting story.

[Kennedy Elder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the story ❤️

[Jsphn♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's cute and nice and heartwarming.
Ben <33
The treasure that never ages!... did you catch that? ;)

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Iris loves to pick up the treasures she discovers near the river and under rocks. Usually it’s bent forks and spoons, but Iris sees them as special. After all, there’s not much to do in their tiny town of Bugden and nothing special ever happens there. Then one day, the river dries up, exposing new treasures for Iris and her friend Sam to discover. The two follow the dry river bed and make the discovery of a lifetime. There is an entire town that is usually underwater! Sam is reluctant to explore the forgotten city, but Iris refuses to leave. When Sam get lost on his way back, he is saved by an old man who has ties to the forgotten town. Meanwhile, Iris is making discoveries and meeting an unusual girl who lives in the normally underwater city.

In this graphic novel, Pamment shows the amazing way that hidden cities can be discovered. He shares at the end of the book facts about real underwater towns. In his novel, he shares his excitement and wonder at these lost towns through Iris, a girl who is brave and resourceful, determined to see all of the treasures before her. Sam, on the other hand, is content in their small town, eager to see the new statue in the town square unveiled, and also a true friend to Iris, who often pushes him away. Their friendship is complex and marvelous to see in a graphic novel format.

The art in this graphic novel is full of wonder and connection. When Iris finds a strange object, it is echoed later in the town she discovers. The town is falling apart from being underwater. This is captured in small and big details in the illustrations, that show the beauty of the elements of the town and all that was lost when water covered it over.

Based in real drowned towns, this graphic novel is a treasure worth seeking. Appropriate for ages 9-12.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This graphic novel, geared for tweens, follows the story of two best friends, Iris and Sam, who live in a small town. Iris dreams of far off adventures while Sam is content with his life in Bugden (as long as Iris is there too!). Adventure, however, is just around the corner for these two as they come across a city that had been flooded. The graphic novel follows their adventure and along the way they discover more than just a lost city; they discover the heart of true friendship.

I thoroughly enjoyed Pamment’s artwork and storytelling. His panels were beautiful. Iris and Sam were delightful and realistic characters. I loved that the hidden city they found was flooded, and A+ for the history of flooded cities at the end of the graphic novel. This is a great conversation starter for kids and can encourage them to discover more about buried towns.

As a former educator, this is a graphic novel I would highly recommend for middle school students and for older kids who need something lighter. There is minor peril in the story (flooding and the potential of drowning).

I hope to see more adventures of Iris and Sam! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.

[Michael Sorbello · Rating 3 out of 5]

Iris and Sam dream of going on adventures discovering buried treasure and undiscovered ruins. Sam is comfortable exploring the nearby wilderness of their quiet hometown, but Iris wants to go off and explore the whole world. Their difference in life goals begins to drive them apart as friends, but the two might be able to rekindle their bond as the two of them stumble upon a drowned city with a bleak history behind it.

A wholesome summer read about adventure, discovery and kids wanting to grow up way too fast. I liked the sense of discovery and the drive of the main character Iris, but I do think a lot of the smaller plot points were messily jumbled together and had no real resolution. It had some nice moments and it gave me just enough information to sort of piece things together, but I think exploring the history of the drowned city in more depth could've added a lot to the experience.

[Me, My Shelf, & I · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best part is that there's a list of formerly underwater cities at the end-- gave me and my friend some new travel destination ideas. :)

[Blue · Rating 4 out of 5]

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Thank you Allen & Unwin for this book in exchange for an honest review


Ahhh
Isn’t this the cutest cover going around?!?!
Treasure in the Lake introduces us to Same and Iris, adventurous best friends that have childish and fun personalities that really balance each other out. While these two characters try to maintain their friendship, weird occurrence start to occur in town which adds the suspense to the plot.
This cute little graphic novel is bright and vibrant and perfect for the youthful audience to sit down and enjoy the tale of two friends discovering a hidden city!

[Christina Baehr · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely, glowing little gem of a graphic novel with excellent pacing and a time-shift story with wholesome themes of appreciating where you’ve been planted. My children ate it up and happily passed it on to me.

[Lindsay♫SingerOfStories♫ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic novel was quite the treasure! I absolutely loved the concept, though the execution left a little to be desired. MCs Iris and Sam are best friends who love exploring the woods outside of their town. Iris is itching to get out of their small town, while Sam loves his home and family. On the day the town's new statue is to be revealed, the two discover the river is mysteriously dry and an ancient town has been lying in wait all these years. Iris, who is an aspiring archaeologist, is excited by this discovery! Sam just wants to make is back to town to celebrate the new statue with their home town. While Iris discovers the town's history through adventures, Sam meets a mysterious old man who tells his own tales of the town. I wish the wrap-up had been a little neater--I didn't feel there was much resolution with Iris and her mother, feeling content on staying in the town, etc. And Ben's story line just kind of was hinted at. So that was the only downfall for me. Otherwise I really loved the concept and the illustrations were really great.

[Jessica Di Salvio · Rating 5 out of 5]

J’ai ADORÉ! Les personnages sont incroyables, j’ai aimé la « confrontation » des idéaux entre Iris et Sam. L’histoire au côté historique/fantastique était sublime. Et que dire des illustrations? MA-GNI-FI-QUE. Extrêmement heureuse de cette trouvaille!

[eva ⚘ · Rating 4 out of 5]

okay if you like "when marnie was there," i think you're gonna love this ❤️ i literally finished it in one sitting and i'm in awe rn. the artwork is splendid, the characters multi-layered and the plot... god, the plot... so amazing. even though i believe that if i reread it, i will discover more clues that i missed during my first read.

overall, one of the best mg graphic novels ever

[J MaK · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.0) Really nice artwork (softer hues) with a storyline focusing on an evolving friendship between a very adventurous Iris and homebody Sam. Honestly, I did not anticipate elements of intrusion fantasy with great detailing in this book.

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fine way to start my birthday: by having the time to read this in one sitting! (The day ended with a sick toddler who puked on me twice, but I’m focusing on the positives. 🤪) This was super unique! Iris was an entitled brat until she learned an important lesson in friendship, but the story of the town was fascinating! I was left satisfied, but with a whole host of questions!

[Dimitris Papastergiou · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun adventurous and magical story about two friends in a little town getting into a little bit of trouble. The artwork is really nice and colorful and everything looks fantastic. The story was nice and personal!

[Brena Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the trippiest children’s book I’ve ever read 😂

[Librarian Kult · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader's copy of this title via NetGalley. #TreasureintheLake #NetGalley
I love the concept for this book! The adventure Sam and Iris have when they find the hidden city reminds me of daydreams I would have on long trips or at my sister's soccer games. It is whimsical and creative. Even better, there are multiple real cities under water today that kids can look up after reading "Treasure in the Lake".
This is the story of an adventure shared between two friends who are growing apart as they grow up. Iris wants to escape Bugden and become an explorer. Sam has no interest in leaving Bugden and is proud of their hometown. When Iris's best chance at leaving is taken from her she runs to the river where she and Sam have played for years only to realize the water is gone. Sam reluctantly joins her as she collects artifacts from the dry riverbed. Their friendship is tested once they find the hidden city and go separate ways. They each meet a mysterious stranger who teaches them a lesson about the trials friends go through together.
This beautiful story might have been better told through a more traditional format (book/audiobook). The story is wonderful and beautiful, but I feel the author's verbal description of the action would have added more tension than the artwork accomplished. The artwork was excellent, but I felt did not bring enough emotion into the storytelling.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two and a half stars, very middle-of-the-road to me. The story had potential, but I feel like there was much more that wanted to be told, and the graphic novel format kind of limited it. It was a neat premise, just executed a little clunky. I did like the characters, their friendship, and the pain of growing up - and possibly growing apart. I would have liked more of their personal stories though; we didn't get a lot of backstory, so some of the plot points didn't hit as hard as they should have. But the art was beautiful, and the heart was there.

[Cassidy Washburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a local river dries up enough to reveal a forgotten city, best friends Iris and Sam think they’ve made a spectacular discovery. But when the river floods again, they must learn to believe in each other and their friendship before it’s too late. By incorporating beautiful artwork and a touch of fantasy, author Jason Pamment delivers a powerful middle grade graphic novel, a must have for any bookshelf.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

With thanks to NetGalley and HarperAlley for an early copy in return for an honest review.

The art in this graphic novel is simply gorgeous! I like the premise of the story and it's a great bonus for early middle grade readers that it's a quick read which can help them feel a reading win.

For my students, it has a bit less text than they are used to in a graphic novel so it will require more inferencing from the illustrations to understand the plot of the story.