A review by deedireads
On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden

adventurous emotional funny hopeful fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.

TL;DR REVIEW:

On a Sunbeam is a beautiful graphic novel about young queer love and found family. I read it all over the course of a Sunday afternoon and loved it.

For you if: You want to try graphic novels and / or are drawn to stories of found family.

FULL REVIEW:

“I like ALL of you, Grace. Even the parts I don't get yet. I'm not dating the 12% of you that I understand, I'm dating 100% of you. Including all your secrets that I don't know.”


This is the first graphic novel I’ve read in years — not because I don’t like them, just because I’ve failed to pick one up in a while. But what a return!

Recommended by and borrowed from my friend @christophermetts, blurbed by Becky Chambers and Martha Wells, and nominated for the Hugo and Lambda Literary Award (among others), On a Sunbeam is a beautiful story of young queer love and found family. The main character, Mia, settles into life with her new crew as they travel to different parts of space, restoring or renovating old buildings. In flashbacks, we watch her fall in love with a girl — and become tragically separated from her — back in 9th grade.

This book isn’t just a beautiful story, but also beautifully rendered. I read it over the course of a Sunday afternoon and loved every second. Mia and all her friends — all women and nonbinary people, by the way, no cis men in this book (or seemingly this universe?) — will just burrow into your heart and stay there.

If you’re looking for an escape into an uplifting story, grab a copy of this one.



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