Before We Wake

Before We Wake is a poignant coming-of-age story told through the blurred lines of dreams and reality. The main character, Alicia, struggles with change as she deals with life after the loss of her father, moving to a new house, and feeling that her best friend is pulling away from her. All of these changes overwhelm Alicia and as a result she turns to her dreams as a place of refuge and finding the way to self-acceptance. But when the dreams become too real, she is forced to look at the truths that lie beneath the surface.

This graphic novel explores the concept of lucid dreams and overall, how dreams can be powerful tools in our lives. Alicia’s dreams though filled with many fantastical elements are also grounded in the reality of her subconscious. Once she realizes she is dream she uses her dream world to work through her issues at her own pace. These dream sequences (along with entire graphic novel) are gorgeously illustrated and give off the whimsical feelings that dreams can have. Glock does a wonderful job of providing a great contrast of the real vs the dream world by using monochrome and vibrant watercolor techniques that align the pages. The artwork alone added depth to the story and puts the reader fully in Alicia’s shoes.

As for the romantic elements of the story, I felt the progression of Alicia and Quentin (the love interest) felt natural due to their deeper conversations through the dream. The quiet yet meaningful meet cutes between the two teens was endearing to read. The story as a whole is very relatable for its audience, and I think Glock crafted a strong story about grief, longing, conflict, and self-love.