The Gulf

December 11, 2023
With high school graduation rapidly approaching, cynical Oli is almost free to leave for Evergreen Community, a commune in British Columbia’s Gulf Islands, where she plans to do “meaningful work.” Her best friends Milo and Liam are set to join, but after a hookup between Oli and Liam turns awkward, Milo’s friend Alvin signs on instead. Oli, Milo, and Alvin abscond after their penultimate day of school, and their journey starts and stays rocky due to the confiscation of Oli’s go bag and the group’s general lack of preparation. Thanks to much-needed assistance from a few nonjudgmental adults, the teens finally make it to Evergreen, which, upon arrival, differs from what Oli imagined. Ample wordless panels allow the teens’ actions and conversations to linger and take up space, while shaky, hand-inked drawings by de Souza (Ish, for adults) reinforce the uncertainty and distrust Oli expresses about her future. The limited color palette shifts to reflect the characters’ emotions and dialogue throughout their 2007-set journey, making for a contemplative and optimistic take on adolescent fears surrounding growing up in an inequitable world. The book’s cover depicts Oli, Milo, and Alvin with tan skin; other characters’ skin tones reflect the white of the page. Ages 14–up. (Mar.) ■

February 1, 2024
Three Vancouver teens on the cusp of graduation set off to join a community on an island in British Columbia's Gulf Islands. The thought of going to The Evergreen has appealed to Olivia ever since she found the commune's promotional brochure as a child. Disillusioned with the grind of modern life, Oli and her two best friends, Liam and Milo, agree to run away to live there together. A run-in with a bully on the penultimate day of high school and an initially unexplained conflict with Liam derail Oli's original plan, however, leaving her without her backpack of supplies--and with Milo and Alvin, Milo's crush, as her traveling companions. As they make their way across the island, Oli plows through obstacles--sustaining injuries, getting lost in the woods, and accidentally abandoning camping gear--with single-minded determination, brushing off the consequences of her impulsivity and conflict avoidance until they suddenly catch up with her. Visual references, including Oli's flip phone, AOL Instant Messenger, and Milo's camcorder, establish the 2007 setting. Oli's frustration with the demands of capitalist society will resonate with contemporary readers. The portrayal of the teens, who are alternately goofy, angsty, brash, and self-conscious, is convincing, particularly in their banter and bickering. The illustrations use dynamic perspectives to emphasize moments of strong emotion, while monochromatic shading in muted colors conveys different moods. The characters are racially ambiguous; Oli's mom has a Korean name. Evocatively captures adolescent earnestness and idealism for living meaningfully. (land acknowledgment) (Graphic fiction. 13-18)

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March 1, 2024

Gr 10 Up-Deep emotions emerge throughout this journey that couples teenager Oli's internal struggle with an external quest to find a commune she once read about. Several teens, there for their own reasons, end up with Oli on her expedition, trekking through an area near Vancouver to an island that might hold the meaning they seek. Oli has lost her way, and as a result of significant bullying and shaming at school, she physically attacked another student. Feeling the pressure of graduation nearing, she makes a panicked decision and sets out after school one day, shocking those around her. De Souza's graphic approach includes crowded panels that forfeit standardization in favor of movement and emotion. Showing scenes mostly outdoors, the blue, yellow, and green hued backdrops are ethereal and provide the story's atmosphere of heightened impatience. Comparable to the hero in The Catcher in the Rye, the teens want more from life, including their relationships, but also bond in their shared misery. As the story builds toward the teens finding the commune, each guidepost provides answers to their questions without them realizing it. By the time they reach their destination, both readers and characters recognize that the quiet moments were the profound ones, giving the book an existential quality, aided by the fitting ending. VERDICT While not for every teen, this graphic novel will provide a niche audience a way to reframe how they see the world when facing a crisis, making it a purposeful purchase for social-emotional learning.-Alicia Abdul

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Starred review from February 1, 2024
Grades 10-12 *Starred Review* Oli has always yearned to escape the demands of society and lead an untethered life. She has been planning her grand escape with her two best friends, Liam and Milo, since they were kids. Now, in 2007, Liam has screwed everything up. Even so, Milo and Oli are ready to ditch the last days of senior year and finally make it to the Evergreen Community--a commune off of the central coast of British Columbia. Milo has tricked his dorky yet charming crush, Alvin, into tagging along with the two misfits for what they assume will be a spectacular journey. But instead of running away from their problems, the trio is forced to face a messy reality: they're lost. Equal parts heart-wrenching and witty, Oli, Milo, and Alvin--and, separately, Liam--awkwardly traverse through different facets of existence on the precipice of change. De Souza, author of the award-winning comic strip Blind Alley, captures the melancholy nature of emerging adulthood as it unfolds against the captivating backdrop of the Canadian wilderness. With its vintage aesthetic and emotive sketches, this explores the poignant uncertainties of growing up. An evocative tale reminiscent of Jillian and Mariko Tamaki's This One Summer (2014), this book is a great match for teens searching for community, purpose, and the possibility of existing just for the sake of it.

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