‘Island Book’ is an Unconventional Look at Facing the Unknown

Words & Art: Evan Dahm / First Second Book 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.

Since this graphic novel is geared more to the younger reader, I appreciate him explicitly making the main character a child and a girl at that. Too often I read epic tales for this age group and sincerely wish more young women, especially girls were the heroes, the leaders, the captains in the stori…