Island Book

Although it did not end up being a nominee, I was impressed by this book while reading through the entries for the Excellence in Graphic Literature Awards. Island Book is a gripping adventure story that also offers a great message about courage and perseverance.The main character here is Sola, and she is a humanish creature who lives in a seemingly idyllic island. Only her life is not so rosy, as the inhabitants all shun and isolate her because when she was younger a giant monster wreaked havoc as it sought her out. Now she is associated with this gigantic, mysterious creature and they think she is bad luck.

So, she leaves the confines of home and sets out to find this monster and learn its secrets. On her journey, she ends up in strange, new lands and meets a number of very different peoples and creatures. She ends up recruiting a couple of other adventurers to accompany her, though they have their own motives for the search. I am not going to spoil what happens to them all, but I will say that their journey is rewarding, perilous, frustrating, and informative, though it also lacks resolution.

Above is the opening page of the book, and as you can see the artwork is clean and bright. The characters are well designed, unique, and bold. They have strong personalities, and they work well together as an ensemble cast. The scenery and backgrounds can be vast and epic or small and personal, as suits the narrative. The storytelling was economic and intriguing, which kept me rapt and wanting more.

What I loved about this book was how each chapter ratcheted up plot and suspense, casting new light on this world and the beings that live in it. This book features the most excellent sort of adventure tale, full of bravery and daring deeds while tempered by real stakes and consequences. It held me spellbound, and I cannot wait to revisit this world. This is the first book in a series, and book 2 has not been solicited yet, but I'm eagerly looking forward to it.

This book was created by Evan Dahm.  He has a few different series under his belt, including Riceboy and Vattu, which were originally published as webcomics.  He speaks about his works and career in this interview. For fans of Island Book, he's even created a soundtrack to accompany the book, which you can buy here.

All of the reviews I have read about this book have been positive. Caitlin Rosberg called it "the perfect all-ages read for kids with a lot of empathy and curiosity." Francis Bass wrote, "Dahm’s imaginative, iterative world-building is on full display here, and it is a delight to explore." Publishers Weekly praised the "polished, sure storytelling skills," and added, "Dahm offers shipwrecks, battles, and unflagging action. Underlying the story’s events is an allegory about how real knowledge comes only from seeing for oneself." Carrie McLain called it "an unconventional looking book about facing the unknown and coming back with the understanding that not everything in the world is to be understood or solved or conquered and accepting that."

Island Book was published by First Second, and they offer a preview and more here.