In the Sounds and Seas

This wordless black and white graphic novel is a rich, highly cerebral, and deeply melancholic adventure tale that walks a line between familiar storylines and something altogether unique. It begins at a campfire circled by three "singers," who, instead of producing sound, open their throats to create animals of the sky, sea, and land. They do so with somber expressions, later mirrored in the faces of a trio of friends working together to build a ship. One character acts as the heart of the story, the group, and of the vessel, her hair literally braided with the rope used to operate the sails and connect to the anchor. While at sea, they experience a brief moment of joy together before a disastrous storm threatens to destroy the ship. This title defies anyone who has ever believed that graphic novels are a dumbed-down reading experience. To fully understand and appreciate this title, student readers may need to revisit it multiple times and participate in supporting discussions or research the author's use of symbolism. Libraries in schools with filmmaking classes exploring visual storytelling or classes teaching The Odyssey or Moby Dick should find this title particularly useful.