Drawn to Change the World Graphic Novel Collection

July 24, 2023
Reynolds (Amara and the Bats) spotlights 16 global environmentalists—including Jerome Foster II, Daphne Frias, and Dara McAnulty—in this ambitious anthology of comics by creators such as Derick Brooks, Teo Duvall, and Anoosha Syed. Ample front matter rendered in prose details what climate crisis is, which parts of the ecosystem the crisis affects, what measures have been taken to combat it, who is most vulnerable, and what individual people can do to mitigate its reach. Subsequent short comics summarize how well-known activists joined the climate change movement, followed by a two-page “What Are They Doing Now?” update. Employing dot-eyed characters and moody, amorphous shapes, Reynolds profiles Greta Thunberg, whose Fridays for Future demonstrations feature in later chapters. Jade Zhang’s section on Ou Hóngyì follows Hóngyì’s Shanghai school strikes, which led to her arrest in China. And in a contribution about Ugandan Leah Namugerwa, Natasha Nayo chronicles the subject’s eco-conscious decision to plant “Birthday Trees.” The biographies overflow with quotations and are bookended by information-dense sections that make for a sometimes confusing read. Contributor biographies, timelines, a glossary, and further resources conclude. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8–12.

Starred review from November 1, 2023

Gr 4-6-Reynolds and an assortment of artists have created something spectacular with this middle grade graphic novel perfect for young activists and those interested in bettering the world. Readers are introduced to 16 different climate activists and their stories, many of which include the spark that first drove them to be who they are. Reynolds does not shy away from the hard parts of the climate activists' stories; she talks openly about how people did not agree with Greta Thunberg, how President Trudeau has continually broken promises to the First Nations People of Canada (despite Autumn Peltier's efforts to make change), and even how economic and religious struggles affected Iqbal Badruddin Jamal's attempts at helping Pakistan with climate change. The images are striking and emotional in places, moving in all the right ways, which perfectly complement the stories being told. VERDICT While the topics are heavy and the text is a little dense for a traditional graphic novel, this would be a perfect fit as a nonfiction graphic and is a fantastic first purchase.-Jessica Clark

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