Global (Paperback)

I purchased this book to add to my classroom library. My middle school students love graphic novels. A good read!

So timely! A new essential read for children and adults!

One – a young boy living by the sea in India has to travel with his lone grandfather further and further out to the oceans to find fish that is already growing sparse due to commercial overfishing. Not only that; this brave, struggling duo also keep losing their home to erosion caused by the removal of mangrove trees to make more room for hungry families fleeing violence to – ironically – steal their tiny makeshift “house”. So the boy wants to find his mother’s “magical” knife to bring better fortune to his poor family. Another – an adolescent Inuit girl – wants to collect evidence that innocent bears are facing a serious threat by the global warming (polar bears and grizzly bears were able to meet and mate together due to the rising temperatures to produce a whole new species of offspring that could NOT hunt for the same reason.) And this fearless young heroine also puts her own life on the line along with her gorgeous, loyal dog that looks like a curious hybrid of a Siberian Husky and an arctic fox. (How hypocritical, too! lol) This book is a visual testimony to very serious problems that we humans along with animals will have to deal with – because of the “climate change”, though we have already been involved with it along with other environmental issues since the very first Earth Day in 1970 (looks like things will not be improving any time soon, sorry to say this.) And at the end of the story is a little cautionary note from the creators that includes this sentence: “Each generation of humans are only custodians of the planet – temporary occupants looking after it, for whoever comes next.” No offense, but this is mildly offensive at least to me (I am childfree by choice.) I think this planet is about FAR more than keeping it clean so it can be handed over like a big birthday gift to our dear, sweet little angels who are already SPOILED ROTTEN (especially this current young generation obsessed with modern technology.) Many, many nonhuman species also inhabit Earth and they are already losing their homes and lives due to climate change, pollution, and natural habitats being cleared away – so ironically, more and more children being born can have a home to live. Children already inherited this planet because they WERE born on it, so they should also learn to take care of the fragile environment they now live in (this book, Global is a good start, BTW.) And ironically, the fewer children, the better, too (perhaps the kids themselves didn’t do anything bad to Earth, but they still contribute nevertheless to the depletion of natural resources, especially with their increasing number. That is why I seriously believe we should reduce our human population to save the world and its animals as well as untold scores of FUTURE GENERATIONS yet to come, of course.) At the very back of the book are some facts that describe what is happening to our planet right now and it is not pretty at all. In fact, it is truly a horror story packaged within a children’s graphic novel to alert the young readers. (Like huge, frozen arctic lakes melting to possibly release tons of methane into the ozone layer to WORSEN the greenhouse effect, for instance!) Created by the same authors and artist for another heartbreaking graphic novel with juvenile heroes, “Illegal” (it is about African migrants trying to escape to Europe, FYI and I also wrote a review on it), the art is quite lush with great details and rich, organic colors. The pictures themselves are peppered by little boxes of dialogue telling the sad tale. The young characters look very lively and Disney-like as they both go on very daring adventures to meet dangerous animals and VERY perilous situations that COULD snatch away their short lives in an instant. But they both saved the day with their quick, resourceful thinking in the very end. And they both inadvertently helped out each other, too.

Two different stories told from opposite ends of the world grip the reader as they learn that the connecting factor linking them together is global warming. While some individuals claim that global change and global warming are just fictious, Yuki and Sami lives are living proof that it’s happening, and its effect is very real. From “here” Sami is a fisherman, like his grandfather in the Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean. The sea is once again pushing its way onto the banks of his village. The seawall is crumbling, and the houses will once again have to be moved more inland. Land is becoming scarce as the ocean claims everything around them. Fishing is their livelihood, their means of existence. The water that was once their friend has now become their enemy as a constant struggle occurs as they struggle to bring home enough fish to earn a paycheck and the ocean tries to claim their home. Just when Sami and his grandfather thought that they had caught the “big one” and their luck had changed, they realized that the water was not their only problem. From “there” Yuki, his dog Lockjaw live with her parents inside the Arctic Circle in Northern Canada. With the warmer winters, the snow and sea ice are melting rapidly creating issues for the residents and the bears who rely on it. With less ice, the bears are moving into the residential areas to forge for their food. Yuki doesn’t like how the town addresses this issue, so she takes it upon herself to find a better solution. Bundled against the cold winter landscape, fourteen-year-old Yuki sets off with Lockjaw for the answer. As Sami and Yuki shared their stories, their stories felt real. The details and the emotions that were expressed felt heartfelt and sincere. The illustrations in this graphic novel were terrific! You could feel the tension, frustration, and excitement within each text box. The colors used helped create this dramatic storyline and it was hard book to put down. I enjoyed the extra text pages at the back of the book as they helped explain the idea behind the book and about global warming. I really enjoyed reading this graphic novel. 5 stars

Super cute story and great illustrations. Enjoyed it! Great quality also on paper and cover.

Excellent illustrations and stories

Bravo 🥳🥳🥳🥳 c’est très réussi et très bien , J’ai hâte de voir la suite ! Merci beaucoup pour tout cette belle histoire 👍

The collaborative team of Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin and Giovanno Rigano really delivered something special with "Illegal", jettisoning the typical caped crusaders of comic book fare for heroism of a different kind. The multi-award-winning best-seller was a hard one to top. Yet that's exactly what the trio have achieved with this compelling and epic tale of two children at different points on the globe who face the harsh realities of global warming. It's told through their point of view in a convincing way - yet at no point does it feel agenda driven or overtly political. It's an appeal for common sense from the next generation we put at risk while their elders often pontificate. Whether it's Yuki and her dog stalked by a hungry Grolar bear in the arctic wilderness or Sami living (just) with the devastation of their environment in the Bay of Bengal on the Indian Ocean - both must rise to the challenges they face. This is a gripping journey for both that's expertly paced, exciting, poignant and beautifully rendered. I was completely swept away while reading it. This is powerful storytelling and a classic in the making.

Bought to engage reluctant readers in my class. It worked!