Dion MBD

Trigger Warnings: civil war, violence, death

Ever since Nimmi turned sixteen, she’s yearned to meet her mother in Sri Lanka to ask her why she refuses to leave the island. Her father is going back there for the first time since the war as a reporter on assignment, but he refuses to take her, telling her Sri Lanka is too dangerous.

But when Nimmi has a dream about her mother asking to come find her, Nimmi knows she must go. Sneaking a purchase of an airplane ticket, her father is livid when show more he sees her at baggage claim in Sri Lanka - but by then it’s too late and he agrees to help Nimmi make contact with her mom. Nimmi tags along with her father and his guide, past checkpoints and armed soldiers, increasing the knowledge of war that rages there.

The day after Christmas, disaster strikes and a tsunami hits the island. Now, stranded amid the destruction, Nimmi must try and reunite with her family.

Besides this graphic novel having interesting characters and plot, this also offers a lot in the cultural and historical context of Sri Lanka. Because, okay, I knew about the 2004 tsunami and the devastation it caused throughout the Indian Ocean, but I don’t think I realized that Sri Lanka was going through a Civil War at the exact same time. It’s also just kind of crazy. It's brought up that there are tourist areas and then there are the war areas and that people would still go on vacation there?! That’s wild to me.

Overall, this is a beautifully done graphic novel that brings up the themes of emotional, physical, and mental ramifications of both civil war and the tsunami as well as empathy, bearing witness, and coming of age.

*Thank you HarperAlley and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review show less

Nimmi Campbell's family was torn apart in the 1980s by the Sri Lankan civil war when she was an infant. Raised in South Dakota by her American father, she longs to see her Sri Lankan mother, long kept apart from them by the continuing conflict and governmental red tape. In December 2004, 17-year-old Nimmi is finally able to travel to Sri Lanka for a reunion, unaware that another disaster is looming over her family.

A nice story about family, identity, and survival that provides a welcome show more glimpse into the culture and history of this far-away country. show less

This multi-racial story and poem has the unifying thread of we all come from the same stardust and from single cells, from there are stories are linked by migration stories - places and beings. Each migration story is unique but similar in the themes of coming from somewhere and someone. The vibrant illustrations reinforce the words and can help to demystify the story for younger children, adults can take in the artwork and enjoy the colors and talent.

I appreciated the authors did not shy show more away from talking about race in a multifold way, including talking about slavery and calling it out: "White people called my ancestors "slaves," and Native boarding schools: "I come from ... ancestors forced to learn English at boarding schools." Addressing it in children's books is how we grow our racial fluency and to face our realities.

I can see teachers or artists using this book as a jumping-off point for activities related to identity.

I'm looking forward to getting my hands on a bound paper copy of this book. I have a feeling the pages will pop with vibrancy.

Previewed an e-copy with NetGalley show less

Four authors tell their stories, not just of the places they lived, but of the history, culture, and spirit of their beings: where they truly come from.

Initially, when describing humanity’s commonalities, this poetic text begins, “We come from…” (stardust and single-celled organisms, etc.). Then the refrain becomes, “I come from…” for the remainder of the book, with the authors each sharing aspects of their own backgrounds. The four authors represent a diverse array of show more experiences (Wilson is Dakota, Shin is Korean American, Gibney is Black and Irish American, and Coy is Irish and Scottish American), describing places, folklore, history, and personal memories that range from painful to joyous, taking turns in fixed order without using names. Digital illustrations represent both the historical and spiritual aspects of the text, but many of the human figures lack details and don’t engage emotionally. It’s a tall order: Some pages address sweeping historical contexts, such as the European slave trade, while others mention specific details, such as Native American boarding schools or the Korean invention of movable type. Readers may be distracted by tracking which author is speaking, as the book offers neither clear delineations of voice nor a comprehensive cohesion of content and style. Rather, what emerges is a quilt of many details that gives the reader less a feeling of understanding one person than a sense of the rich tapestry that is America. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Individual details form a warm and inclusive, though scattered, view of humanity. (more information about where the authors come from, pronunciation guide, further reading, bibliography) (Picture book. 4-8)

-Kirkus Review show less