Review Detail

COMING BACK is an intriguing graphic novel about family, tradition, and acceptance. Preet and Valissa live near a small community, where Valissa works at the library and Preet uses her magic to heal and take care of the townspeople. Her magic is deeply rooted in their traditions. However, when a mysterious fog rolls in and endangers the town, Valissa decides that she should be the one to enter and try to resolve it - the town needs Preet too much.

Although Preet knows she should not, she cannot help herself from breaking one of the most sacred laws rooted in tradition, and the consequences of this lead to her exile. With Valissa lost in the fog and Preet exiled, will they ever find their way back to each other?

What I loved: This graphic novel is primarily told through the illustrations with very little text throughout the whole story. This is really a story that shows rather than tells. Sweeping and imaginative illustrations highlight this world of magic and all its challenges. The themes around parenthood, forgiveness, mistakes, the way history changes in the telling, and traditions are quite thought-provoking and elevate the story in a way that would be interesting for a book club or other discussion.

The illustrations are really lovely with a clever use of color in different settings to evoke different emotions, and all the detail and designs leading the storytelling. There is much that is open to interpretation and that is emotionally evocative. The art is really beautiful and poignant.

Final verdict: A thought-provoking and emotional story, COMING BACK is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel about traditions, history, and moving forward.