Review Detail

What I Liked: This book is a bit confusing from the start as it transitions between the various characters’ perspectives. Something else that is confusing at the beginning of the book is that Alex is missing, and the conspiracy theories the characters are creating seem realistic because you are just as lost as they are. While these portions can be confusing its important to continue reading as things get explained further along the story.

The book is told through several different perspectives, and we get a view from Noah, Sky, Izzy, Jamie, and Alex. These various perspectives do a fantastic job of providing you with a glimpse at each of their relationships with Alex and how that relationship impacted Alex’s life. Each of these perspectives is fascinating as you get a chance to see how they all feel about Alex’s disappearance and how they each feel about “failing” him. Jamie’s portion is important to the story, as that is when you get more insight into his mom, and the information that Jamie was aware of that was kept from Alex.

The minute the book shifts and we begin looking at things through Alex’s perspective, and we learn about how this is Alex’s world, it gets heavy as we see how Alex’s psychosis is impacting him. The illustrations throughout this portion of the book work great in contrast to the other characters’ portions, as they are darker, and the text on the page isn’t clear, as some of the text includes the voices that only Alex can hear. This part can also be confusing as it’s complex and layered, and there are moments in which you aren’t sure if Alex really is a bad guy and if his beliefs are framed in reality.

There are so many heartbreaking scenes throughout this book as we get a glimpse into Desdemona’s life and how her mental health deteriorated. It was hard to see as Alex began exhibiting symptoms of schizophrenia, and how scared he was because he wasn’t aware of the family history. As Alex finds out more information about his mom and the magic he possesses, he’s able to learn how to cope and move forward, given this diagnosis. This book does a great job of highlighting the importance of a support system and how others can help someone as long as they are patient and willing to stand by them.

Final Verdict: Hello Sunshine is a detailed graphic novel that provides a realistic and compassionate portrayal of schizophrenia. Young adults ages 14 and up will enjoy reading this, and it’s great to gain perspective on mental health issues and the impact they have not only on the individual but those around them.