BEHIND THE BOOK: On a Sunbeam

“On a Sunbeam” by Tillie Walden is a stunning science-fiction graphic novel about a crew traversing through space and reconstructing old buildings. The book follows two timelines in the life of protagonist Mia: one during present day, as she learns the ways of the crew and one of the past, five years ago when she attended boarding school. At its core, however, “On a Sunbeam” is a story about love. It’s about both the love we feel for our chosen family and the love we feel with schoolyard romances.

Furthermore, the art style is stunning. The use of color differentiates the two timelines, and later the different scenes happening to multiple characters. The art elevated the tone of the story so beautifully. The pure talent it takes to be able to both illustrate and write such a profound story is astounding. I absolutely adore every little thing about this book.

I'm a huge fan of so much in this book. From the space setting, to the dual timelines, and especially to the dynamic and loveable characters. “On A Sunbeam” is definitely a must-read for fellow graphic novel enthusiasts. Even if you haven’t read graphic novels before, “On a Sunbeam” is a great starting point as it will introduce you to how much a story can be elevated by that added visual component. Readers of most ages can enjoy this book, though I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone younger than middle school.

Happy reading!

Originally published in "The Titan Times," a page in "The Voice Newspaper"