The Well by Jake Wyatt
Springfield-Greene County Library (SGCL) 's catalog places this work in Young Adult Comics, within the following genres: action and adventure comics, monster comics, graphic novels. fantasy comics, and comics (Graphic works).
Comics and graphic novels are highly popular among teens and young adults, and SGCL recommended ages 14 to 17 due to age-appropriate themes: magic, monsters, quests, family secrets, and sexuality.
The Well is an enticing story filled with adventure, mysticism, monsters, choices, and consequences that will keep readers' attention until the story's conclusion! The plot alternates between Lizzy's devotion to her grandfather, and their livelihood, and her journey where she encounters a well full of coins, and makes a fateful decision. Throughout this modern fable, readers discover the power of consequences, and how everyone must be aware of their personal limits while concurrently exploring new horizons.
I chose this work after interacting teens and yound adults desiring modern graphic novels featuring fables and quests, and could not put it down until finished; the plot, text, characters, and illustrations combined to weave a wonderful story!
I will be evaluating character, tension, and illustrations.
Lizzy, the main character, is a woman bordering on teenager and young adult, and encounters a common dilemma: devotion to family while yearning to be her own person. This is accomplished by bargaining with her grandfather who agrees to let her indulge, yet, return with a minimum amount of money after concluding business at the market. Some might argue these quests undertaken as unrealistic for a young woman of her age - however, the same could be said for Bilbo Baggins, and concerns due to his diminutive stature, or potential ineptness due to his long,peaceful life in the shire!
The tension is well-suited to specific moments throughout the plot: the bashful expression when Lizzy bargains with Ah-Gong, the timidity when flirting with Eli, anxiety when encountering otherworldly figures, and apprehension when attempting quests. Relaying aptly-placed tension is performed via characters' facial expressions and body language, and bridges sequential pages - making readers want to continue reading towards resolution: will bargaining efforts with Ah-Gong be successful, will feelings for Eli be reciprocated, will Lizzy succeed in her quests, or fail?
Finally, the illustrations need to be addressed as for me, they enhanced the plot, and a critical reason behind me reading this book in an entire afternoon! Using light pastel colors to emphasize uplifting moments alternatively against dark, tense hues to relay dangerous situations, or denote authoritative, domineering figures. Another method in which the illustrations contribute to the plot where differing tones within dark environments: dark blue hues depicting goblins within the already dark chamber inseminating questions within readers' minds - will Lizzy prevail?
Curtis, M. (2022). The Well book cover image. Book Review of The Well by Jake Wyatt and Choo. Forever Young Adult. Retrieved June 2, 2024, from https://foreveryoungadult.com/book-report/the-well-jake-wyatt-choo/.
Wyatt, J., & Choo. (2022). The well. First Second.
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