Today's read caught my attention thanks to the cover. The energetic, elderly couple with an overly excited teen in the background promises silliness and all sorts of unexpected situations. I know that you can't judge a book by its cover, but it can give some insights, anyway. This one is a graphic novel and, which surprised me, a dystopian. It heads off into a world, where nuclear war has changed everything, and a teen is trying to assist the couple in reaching a safe haven only to discover some dark secrets. So, I'm not sure if it will be humorous or darker or...who knows.
Only one way to find out! So, off we go!
THE MARSH FELLOWS
by Anna-Laura Sullivan
Top Shelf Productions
YA Dystopian / Graphic Novel
152 pages
COMING MAY 19th!!!
Beloved online cartoonist Anna-Laura Sullivan makes her graphic novel debut with a captivating adventure about misfits exploring the dark edges of their world! After a nuclear war plunged the world into darkness, the last beacon of hope is the island utopia called Slumber City. In this rainy, happy town, one angst-filled urchin doesn’t see what there is to smile about. But after being taken in by the elderly Marvin and Pearl, Urchin is pulled into their quest to solve the dark, damp riddles lurking outside Slumber City—and uncover the plans of its mysterious mayor.
MY TIDBITS
A city survives behind walls with light and positive attitudes keeping the constant rain from wearing down and the citizens alive. Due to the danger in the outside world, no one is allowed to visit the swamps beyond the walls. When Urchin's latest foster parents insist on sneaking out to collect trash from these outer swamps, he's not sure what to think. He already knows they are odd, but they are his last chance before landing in juvie thanks to his lean toward mischief and accidents. When they let him visit the amusement park as a treat for helping them with the garbage, he can't believe how kind they are, but his accident proneness catches up quick. Before he knows it, he accidentally puts the entire city under a blackout. The mayor demands that one of the four lights, which keeps the city alive, be turned off to provide enough energy for the rest of the town, but that also means that an entire section of the city is no longer livable. Urchin decides to convince his mechanically-gifted foster father to head to the light and fix it, but that means an illegal and dangerous trip beyond the walls. Luckily, his foster mother is a pro with experience in the swamps, and soon, the trio finds themselves underway to somehow save the day. But what they find is nothing any of them could ever have suspected and flips everything they thought they knew on its head.
At first, I thought this might be the beginning of a new series, but the entire tale unfolds within these pages. The author dives right into the world, letting necessary backstory trickle in with the plot. This keeps the pacing steady the entire way through. It also guarantees large twists and turns as the characters aren't even aware of many things, allowing the reader to uncover the secrets right along with them. The characters pack visual and personality quirks, making them interesting and adding spice. Especially the grandma holds a sharp edge, which brings her to the border of unlikable...but the author is able to weave in just enough of underlying softness by the end.
The illustrations are bold and carry an unique twist, especially on the color scheme. This fits well to the world and characters, since the entire thing borders on ludicrous while still carrying serious tones and more than a little fuel for thought. The text flows well, sticking mostly to dialogue to balance with each scene. While this is sold for the young adult audience, it is no problem for upper middle graders to pick-up and dive in and is appropriate for this age group as well. It reminded me a bit of City of Embers but with a quicker pace and more quirks.
And here she is...
Originally from Nebraska, now living in bustling Brooklyn, Anna-Laura Sullivan is a traditional artist and graphic novelist. Her storytelling recognizes the magic in the mundane, offers reminders of cosmic nostalgia, and celebrates presence. She has gathered an audience of over a million eager hearts on social media through pint-sized parables.
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