Cast Away on the Letter A

Reviewed by: Jill O'Connor - North Yarmouth Academy, Yarmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 8, 2015

Review

Recommend this graphic novel to readers who enjoyed the Phantom Tollbooth and particularly those readers of the Tin Tin books as this book comes out of the same Franco-Belgian comics scene. This is a translated work of a 1972 comic by Fred (translated by Richard Kutner), and it looks like the first of a series of Toon Graphics (the next will come out in May 2015). Philemon is a young farm boy whose father doesn't believe his tall tales, one of which is that he is sucked down into a well which in turn spits him onto an imaginary island in the middle of the ocean, on the letter 'A' of the words 'Atlantic Ocean'. This comic is brightly colored, surreal, and psychedelic. The pictures have amazing detail and the story is odd and quirky. There are bits of Robinson Crusoe and Greek mythology, as well as art allusions and captivating storytelling. Middle school readers will enjoy this fantastical adventure and will likely clamor for more.

Overall Book Score: very good