But when she is happy, or glimpses an object that makes her happy, the panels or the object appear in color. When Marisol feels sad, her world is gray. The images are beautifully done, as well, with colors being used to convey meaning. Just as Marisol has to work to interpret what is happening around her, so do readers.

And even readers who do know Spanish have to decode most of the book through the actions and facial expressions of the people, since the book is mostly wordless. Readers who do not understand Spanish have to guess at meanings through the images. Thus, readers get a glimpse of what Marisol is experiencing. The graphic novel is wonderfully done, with the images carrying the narrative and the bulk of the (minimal) text occurring in Spanish. But Alexis Castellanos gives this story a happy ending, ultimately giving the message that happiness can be found anywhere, and love will carry us through. Watching Marisol struggle to understand English, struggle to make friends, and struggle to find anything that seems familiar and beautiful is heart-wrenching. Though her foster parents try hard to make her feel comfortable, Marisol naturally misses her home and her family, and struggles to find a place where she belongs. Thus, a young Marisol sets out alone to live under the care of a foster couple. When political unrest occurs in Cuba, Marisol’s parents take advantage of a program that rehomes Cuban children in the United States. Isla to Island is a poignant graphic novel about feeling lost in a new place.

Isla to Island by Alexis Castellanos