Bayou

Oh!  What a heavy story line and the comic format adds so much to the reader’s emotions as the author, Jeremy Love, allows for each character to show their true selves through not only the story line, but the rich use of color and character choice.  At first, I was not ready to read such a heavy topic; just flipping through the pages one would see the injustices and horrific terror endured by the African Americans in the South. This historical novel is about the significant struggle for true justice and the mystical representations of characters that either help Lee, the main character, or intensifies the dreadfulness of the journey to save her father from wrongful accusations and eventual death.  This is a phenomenal series for not just every reader, but for those having to study and understand the conflicts and inequalities of the South many years after slavery was abolished.  Students will have many questions arousing the readers’ interests and asking such questions of this graphical novel - “Why is that character a ferry?” “Why is this happening?”  My constant question: “Why does the main character’s eyes go blank?” causing me to flip back and read the story again, slowly, putting my reading strategies to work as others will as well, making sure not to miss a single beat!  - Lily Woll