Roaming

This is a fantastic book - I think this book would make a great gift for any young woman about to enter college. That's not the only demographic that would enjoy this, as my book club as a whole really liked this, but since it focuses specifically on three college freshman women, I think it will be especially poignant for that group. The story follows a trip to New York by two college freshmen who had been best friends in high school but ended up in different colleges. A new companion who only knows one of the young women tags along on the planned trip. For anyone who went on their first big adventure while in college, the story will feel very nostalgic - all the decisions that went awry, the plans you made that got cancelled, the minor disasters that at the time seemed like the biggest thing ever - this book does a beautiful job living in that moment when the college-aged take their first big trip alone without any chaperones or guides. But the book also explores the dynamics of changing personalities and friendships after you graduate high school - how a best friend can quickly become an unknown, how new friends can upset that balance and how intoxicating the romantic freedom of being a college student can feel. There are also several nice moments of honesty about how hard college can be that first year, when the coursework is more demanding and you are no longer the top of your class but one of many students who were the top of their class. The art style is sublime—every character carefully designed to be immediately recognizable on the page. The simple linework allows for a wonderful expressiveness to come out of every panel, showcasing the characters' feelings without having to write everything down. The colors are soft, like a memory, evoking the timeless nature of those first steps into self-determination and expression. Highly recommended! Especially for bookclubs as it made for a great discussion!