Isla to Island by Alexis Castellanos

 

Isla to Island by Alexis Castellanos was the second graphic novel I read while I was on vacation at Niagra Falls. This turned out to be a good choice to read in the car, because as I discovered, there is almost no words in this one--just a whole lot of beautiful illustrations to look at. The lack of words don't diminish the story in the slightest though, and this was the perfect book to get lost in on a long road trip.

The story follows a young girl named Isla who is sent from her home in Cuba to live with an adoptive family in New York City as part of Operation Peter Pan in the 1960s. At first, Isla is desperately homesick and sad, but her foster family helps her to gradually come out of her shell. She starts attending American school and learning English, and she discovers a passion for plants and books that help fill her days. She eventually flourishes under difficult circumstances and watching her grow from a frightened little kid to a confident and intelligent young woman shows what is possible with kindness, understanding, and determination.

This book was truly phenomenal. As there are almost no written words in it, the illustrations do all of the work in getting the story across. Castellanos uses color to convey a lot of the emotions Isla experiences, with the sections where she is sad being in black and white, and color slowly creeping back in as she starts adjusting and feeling better. The art style itself is friendly and expressive. Each page was a pleasure to look at, and I often found myself pausing in my reading to appreciate the pictures further. Isla was an easy character to root for, and her adoptive parents in New York were incredibly sweet and loving. Everything about the story was heartwarming and by the time I got to the end, I was on the verge of happy tears. This book was one of those one that you can immediately tell is special.

So obviously, I absolutely loved Isla to Island. The almost wordless format and beautiful illustrations combine with the inspirational story to create a reading experience that is moving and unique. This is Castellanos' first graphic novel, and I will certainly be picking up anything else she comes out with in the future.

Challenge Tally

Middle Grade Mission: 26/24 - Finished!  

Total Books Read in 2022: 78