Global

Climate change aren’t limited to one country or region, and it’s today’s children that will be one of the generations that have to live with its devastating effects. Many children already are.

In this stunning graphic novel – by the same author and illustrator team as Illegal, which told the story of Ebo, a 12-year-old boy fleeing grinding poverty in his small village in Africa and travelling to Europe as an illegal immigrant – we see two different stories belonging to two different children. Both are at the mercy of climate change.

In the arctic wilderness, Yuki and her dog are being stalked by a hungry grolar bear; a cross between a grizzly and a polar bear, whose territories have collided.

Sami’s home has been swept away in a cyclone. Now, he and his grandpa struggle to catch anything on their fishing trips. If he can find his mother’s lucky knife, submerged in the treacherous ocean, perhaps he can change their fate?

Illustrated throughout in blues and greens, Rigano represents land and sea with sensitivity and artistry, and the story itself moves quickly, meaning that there’s never a dull moment in this gripping read – and certainly never a page without remarkable beauty. Global will fascinate young readers with its topical theme, but also the relatable stories of young people just like them. Excellent.